To apply for a Partner visa in Australia based on your de facto relationship, you need to provide evidence of having lived with your partner for at least 12 months. This evidence is also required if including your partner or spouse as a member of the family unit in other visa applications. You can be exempt from the 12 month co-habitation requirement if you register your relationship under Australian state or territory laws. States and territories that recognise registered relationships include:
• The partners should be unmarried, aged at least 18 years and at least one applicant must be a resident in NSW;
• The partners should not be related by family, should not be in another relationship or registered relationship;
• The partners should make a statutory declaration stating the above facts;
• The application can be lodged in person or posted by post;
• The registration processing time is 28 calendar days from the time a valid application is lodged;
• There is a registration fee of $219 which includes the standard certificate fee.
• The partners should be aged at least 18 years and at least one applicant must be a resident in Victoria;
• The partners should not be related by family, and should not be married or in another registered relationship;
• The registration processing time is 28 calendar days from the time a valid application is lodged;
• There is a registration fee of $219 and a standard certificate fee of $32.40.
• You can register your civil partnership with or without a declaration ceremony;
• The partners should be aged at least 18 years and at least one applicant must be a resident in Queensland;
• Neither partner can be married or already in a civil partnership;
• The registration processing time is 10 days from the time a valid application is lodged;
• There is no fee for registering a civil partnership;
• The cost for a standard civil partnership certificate is $46.60.
• You can apply by post or in person by appointment with the Tasmania Department of Justice;
• The registration processing time is 28 calendar days from the time a valid application is lodged;
• The partners should be aged at least 18 years;
• Both partners must be residents of Tasmania;
• Neither party can be already married or in a registered relationship;
• There is a registration fee of $187.55 and a standard certificate fee of $48.05
• Both partners should be unmarried, no less than 18 years old and should not be in a civil union or partnership.
• Both partners should not be related by a linear ancestor, linear descendant, brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister;
• At least one of the partners must live in the ACT;
• The is no fee for civil partnership registration.
• From 1 August 2017, you can register your relationship if at least one person in the relationship lives in South Australia;
• You can register your relationship if you are 18 years of age or older;
• As with other states, couples may apply irrespective of their sex or gender identity;
• The partners should not be related by family, and should not be married or in another registered relationship;
• The partners will need to provide statutory declarations, witnessed by an authorised person;
• There is a registration fee of $108.00 and a standard relationship certificate fee of $48.75.
Western Australia and Northern Territory
Relationship registration is not available in the Northern Territory. Couples can register their relationship in WA if they are resident there, but registration is not recognised for migration purposes.
It is possible to lodge a visa application with a shorter period of living together if you register your relationship. Please be aware of each state’s registration requirements if you are relying on this option, given that each state may differ in their processing time and residency requirement.
Should you need any assistance in applying for a Partner visa or including your partner / spouse in a visa application, please contact Swift Migration Australia on (07) 5526 6869 or email hp@swiftmigrationaustralia.com
