Key takeaways of cost of spouse visa Australia:
- There are many types of spouse or partner visas in Australia – broadly divided into 3 main types.
- Partner visas are a popular option that allow de facto partners or spouses of Australian permanent residents or citizens to come from overseas and live with them in Australia.
- The cost of the visas typically include the visa application fee, in addition to other costs such as prices for medical or health checks and character checks.
What is the cost of spouse visa Australia? While the cost of spouse visa Australia includes the application fees, it also includes other costs for medical checks and police checks. In this blog, we will discuss some partner visas or spouse visas, and look into the cost of spouse visa Australia.
What Is Spouse Visa in Australia?
The spouse visa is for those who are in a de facto relationship, or are married to an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident. Partner visas are of different types. Depending on your individual circumstances, and whether you are onshore of offshore, certain partner visa types may be relevant for you.
Once you check which is the right partner visa for you, you must check the cost of spouse visa Australia. To be eligible for these visas, the parties must be able to demonstrate proof that their relationship is genuine and ongoing.
Let us briefly go over the types of partner visas available in Australia.
Australian Partner Visa Types in Australia
Broadly, there are 3 types of spouse or partner visas in Australia.
1. Partner Visa (subclass 820 and subclass 801)
These include the temporary and partner partner visas. Parties usually apply for both the temporary and permanent visas at the same time. The Subclass 820 visa is a temporary partner visa. The partner or spouse of the Australian must first get this visa to get the permanent partner visa.
The applicant for Subclass 820 visa must be onshore, i.e. in Australia. This visa allows the partner to stay temporarily while the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) processes the permanent visa for the partner. The Subclass 801 visa is the permanent partner visa.
2. Partner Visa (subclass 309 and subclass 100)
The subclass 309 partner visa is a provisional or temporary visa for offshore applicants. This means they must apply for the visa from outside Australia. Moreover, the subclass 100 visa is a permanent visa for temporary visa holders of the subclass 309 visa.
3. Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300)
As the name suggests, the prospective marriage visa is for partners who can come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse. After the marriage, they can apply for the partner visa. Usually, the subclass 300 visa allows the partner to stay in Australia for 9 months.
Example Scenarios
To understand the cost of spouse visa Australia let’s consider an example scenario. Let’s suppose that Alvin is an offshore applicant making an application for the Subclass 820 visa. His partner, Remi is an Australian permanent resident.
Alvin is applying from South Africa. Firstly, he gathers documents that serve as proof of his relationship with Remi. They have collected evidence of their relationship. This includes photographs, joint bank account statements, travel itineraries, and letters from friends and family affirming the authenticity of their love.
Moreover, he has lodged the online application for the visa using ImmiAccount and paid the fee of AUD 8,850. Alvin provided personal details, relationship history with Remi, and information about their future plans together in Australia.
Furthermore, Alvin underwent health and character checks, as required by Australian immigration authorities. These checks ensured that he met all the necessary criteria to be granted the visa.
Cost of Spouse Visa Australia
Each of the visa types we have outlined above have certain application costs associated with it. When applying for a visa, you have to pay the application fees on the ImmiAccount. This is the portal through which you can lodge your visa application on DHA’s website.
The cost of spouse visa Australia (since 1 July, 2023) is AUD 8,850 for the main applicant. This is for subclass 820/801 as well as subclass 309/100 visas. The main applicant will also need to pay the same cost for the subclass 300 – prospective marriage visa.
Note that as we have mentioned, when discussing cost of spouse visa Australia, you must also take other costs into consideration. It is not just the visa application fees, but also other costs that come into play.
What Are Other Costs of Spouse Visa Australia?
Medical Examination
Whether you apply from onshore or offshore partner visa, completing medical and health checks is mandatory for almost all Australian visa subclasses. Depending on the type of visa you are applying for and your medical history, the kinds of tests you may need to take will differ.
For instance, the medical 501 examination, tests for tuberculosis and AIDS, and general physical checks may be necessary. The costs for these are additional to the visa application charges.
Character Checks
The Department also requires applicants to demonstrate that they are of good character. This includes applying for police checks in countries that you have lived in for one year or more. For instance, if you are applying from Brazil, you will need to submit a police check from Brazil.
If you have lived in Brazil and then moved to Australia for making an onshore partner visa application, you will need to submit a police check from Australia in addition to one from Brazil.
Note: Depending on your individual circumstances, there may also be other cost of spouse visa Australia. We advise you to connect with a registered migration agent or migration lawyers for detailed answers.
Importance of Obtaining Advice from Immigration Lawyers
Migration lawyers have a wealth of experience in helping applicants to lodge applications correctly. Whether you wish to make an Australian partner visa application, de facto visa application, or make an application for permanent residency, our team can help you out. The Migration Act can be complex so it is important to speak with lawyers to understand the regulations and conditions outlined under the Act.
We can help you with appeals and administrative review if required. For more information, do not hesitate to contact our friendly team of lawyers.
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