FAQ s
Partner & Prospective Marriage Visas
Q: Can I still apply for a Partner visa if my sponsor is an Australian permanent resident who’s currently unemployed?
A: Yes. An Australian permanent resident can still sponsor their partner even if they are not employed. Get Visa Migration Services assists applicants in preparing these supporting documents to address financial concerns.
Q: What if my partner’s previous sponsorship for another spouse visa was less than 5 years ago — can we still apply?
A: Generally, a sponsor must wait five years between partner-sponsorship approvals, and they can usually sponsor only two partners in a lifetime. If less than five years have passed, you may request a waiver under compelling circumstances, such as long-term commitment or children together. Each case is assessed individually, and strong justification is required.
Q: We started living together just before my student visa expired — will the relationship duration still count?
A: The 12-month de facto period can include time before and after visa expiry if you can show continuous cohabitation and commitment. Supporting evidence—joint lease, bills, declarations—will be critical. Where the 12-month rule cannot be met, Get Visa Migration Services can assess whether exemption criteria apply.
Q: Can a Partner visa be approved if the couple’s finances are separate but they share a home and travel frequently together?
A: Yes, financial merging isn’t mandatory, but you must demonstrate commitment across all four aspects: financial, household, social, and commitment. Frequent travel together, joint living arrangements, and social proof (photos, invitations, family statements) can collectively establish a genuine relationship.
Q: My fiancé and I met in person overseas but haven’t lived together — what evidence should we show for a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)?
A: For a subclass 300, you don’t need to live together, but you must prove a genuine intention to marry and an ongoing relationship. Provide evidence of personal meetings (photos, travel bookings), communication records, and a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) lodged with a celebrant in Australia.
Q: We met online a few months ago and spent only one week together in person — can the person I’m seeing apply for a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)?
A: Possibly, but the Department will look closely at whether your relationship is genuine and ongoing, and whether you have personally met in-person at least once before lodging the application.
Meeting online is common, but you’ll need to provide strong evidence that your relationship is real — such as ongoing communication, travel records from the visit, photos together, and clear plans and intent to marry within nine months after the visa is granted.
Get Visa Migration Services can help evaluate whether your relationship circumstances are ready for a subclass 300 application and guide you on strengthening your supporting documents.
Q: I have a 10-year-old son — can he be included in my partner visa application?
A: Yes. Dependent children can usually be included in a partner visa application if they are under 18 years of age, or over 18 but financially dependent due to study or disability.
You’ll need to provide your child’s birth certificate, evidence of parental responsibility or consent from the other parent, and include them in the same application form.
Q: What are the sponsor’s responsibilities after sponsoring a partner to Australia?
A: A sponsor must agree to provide their partner with accommodation and financial assistance to meet reasonable living needs for at least two years from the date the temporary Partner visa (subclass 820 or 309) is granted.
This means ensuring the visa holder has access to housing, food, clothing, and basic living expenses without relying on government welfare.
Sponsors must also inform the Department of Home Affairs if there are major changes, such as a relationship breakdown or change of address.
Get Visa Migration Services can guide both sponsors and applicants on understanding these obligations before lodgement.
Parent Visas
Q: Can a parent apply for a Contributory Parent visa while holding a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870)?
A: No. A parent cannot apply for a Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143 or 173) while they hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870).
To be eligible for the 143, the applicant must not be in Australia and must not hold an 870 visa at the time of lodgement.
The correct sequence is to first lodge the 143 visa offshore, then later apply for an 870 visa (if eligible) to visit Australia temporarily while the 143 is being processed.
Holding an 870 visa does not give any advantage or bridging to permanent residency.
Get Visa Migration Services can assist in planning the correct order and timing of applications to avoid refusal.
Q: What’s the difference between the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) and the Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864)?
A: Both visas allow parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents to obtain permanent residency in Australia, but they differ mainly in where you apply and the applicant’s age.
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The Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) is for parents of any age who apply from outside Australia.
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The Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) is for parents who are already in Australia and are old enough to receive the Age Pension (currently 67 years or older).
Applicants for the 864 visa usually receive a Bridging Visa A, which allows them to stay in Australia lawfully while their application is processed.
Both visas require an Assurance of Support (AoS) and have similar costs.
Citizenship & Character
Q: Do I need to declare an old overseas conviction, such as a drink-driving offence from more than 20 years ago, when applying for Australian citizenship?
A: Yes. You must declare all past convictions, even if they happened many years ago or overseas. The Department considers your overall character and conduct since the offence, and minor, dated matters rarely cause refusal. Get Visa Migration Services can help you prepare a clear written explanation and supporting evidence before lodgement.
Q: Will an old traffic offence affect my citizenship approval if I’ve had no further offences?
A: Usually not. The Department considers overall character and whether the conduct shows a pattern of disregard for the law. Isolated, minor offences rarely prevent approval.
Q: Can short trips overseas each year affect my residence requirement for Australian citizenship?
A:Usually not. If you have spent only a few weeks overseas each year and have continued to live in Australia as your main home, you can generally still meet the citizenship residence requirement.
Get Visa Migration Services can help you obtain an International Movement Record from Home Affairs to verify your exact travel history and ensure you meet the residency criteria before lodging your citizenship application.