What is an Australian Spouse Visa?
Foreign spouses of an Australian national can enter Australia by being sponsored by their spouse. The requirements include that the sponsor has permanent residency in Australia, or is a citizen of Australia. Furthermore, a sponsor can also be an entitled New Zealand citizen if approved. The sponsor can apply for a temporary or permanent spousal visa that allows their spouse to enter, work, and live in Australia.
Types of Australian Spouse Visas
- A temporary spouse visa is valid for 2 years and will be adjusted to a permanent spouse visa if the visa holder remains married to the Australian spouse and all legal requirements are met.
- A permanent spouse visa authorizes the visa holder to stay in Australia for an indefinite period of time. Usually, this visa is approved on or before the temporary spouse visa’s expiration date. This is only if you can fulfill all of the legal requirements. Under certain conditions, it is issued accordingly to qualified applicants.
Eligibility of the Sponsor
To be qualified for this visa, one must:
- Be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
- Plan to sponsor one’s partner to Australia
- Be in a married or de-facto spousal relationship with the applicant
- Is generally aged 18 years or over (must need consent if under 18 years of age)
- Is prepared to sponsor the applicant and the applicant’s dependent family
Eligibility of the Applicant
To be qualified for this visa, one must:
- Be married to an Australian citizen
- Be able to meet certain health requirements
- Be free of a criminal record
Benefits of a Temporary Spouse Visa
The spouse may enjoy the following privileges once he or she has been granted a temporary spouse visa:
- The privilege of staying in Australia with your spouse until a visa decision is made
- The ability to work in Australia
- The freedom to study in Australia, but without government funding
- The ability to participate in Australia’s medical benefits expenses and hospital care scheme
Benefits of a Spouse Permanent Visa
As a spouse permanent visa holder, one is entitled to the following privileges:
- The ability to stay permanently in Australia with your spouse
- The ability to work and study in Australia
- The ability to participate in Australia’s medical benefits expenses and hospital care scheme
- To become eligible to receive certain social security payments
- The opportunity to apply for Australian citizenship
Applying for Temporary and Permanent Visas
You may be granted a permanent visa right away without going through the temporary spouse visa phase IF you can show 1 of the following:
- A legal marriage length of not less than 5 years to your Australian spouse
- The sharing of children with your Australian spouse and proof of being in a relationship for at least 2 years
- The spouse holds a protection visa or a permanent visa
If you are unsure of living in Australia and would like to visit on a tourist visa, you can find information here.
For Thai nationals who would like to register their marriage to an Australian national, visit our guide on marriage licenses in Thailand. Other information regarding the legalities of marrying in Thailand can be found by visiting the family section on our page.
