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The 12-Month Relationship Myth | Partner Visas

VisaOne
14 August, 2015

Question: I just started a new relationship? Can I sponsor my partner?

So you're in a de facto relationship and you've learned from friends, family, government officers, and even the immigration website that you "must" be in a relationship for at least 12 months before you can lodge a partner visa. In fact, the common belief is that you must be "living together" for 12 months and not a day less.

True or false?

Yes this is true.

BUT... The 12 month period can be waived under certain circumstances. For example if you already have a child of the relationship then you can waive the 12 month requirement.

You can also waive the 12 month period if your relationship has been legally registered through any of the Australian State or Territory government registrars. Specifically the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

By waiving the 12 month period, you can sponsor your partner to apply for their partner visa even if you have only recently started your relationship. The length of time is no longer a "must", however you must still demonstrate that your relationship is genuine, continuing & ongoing, and to the exclusion of all others (in other words monogamous).

If you are having trouble proving your relationship is genuine to Immigration, call 1300 619 977.

From the desk of Yuri Marshall | Changing Lives Everyday

 

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36 comments on “The 12-Month Relationship Myth | Partner Visas”

  1. Hi!
    My partner and I are in the process of gathering documents for partnership visa, we haven't lived together for 12 months but have lodged our application for registering our relationship in the state of NSW, my partners visa ends soon, however the expected time to receive our certificate for our relationship is 9 weeks. Can we apply for partnership visa now and add the certificate when we receive it?

    1. Hi Leen,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email.

  2. Hello. I was reading this blog and got a same questikn as well. My boyfriend for m0re than 1 year is working in australia for m0re than 5 years. But he is currently under working visa with a 2 year contract. Is he eligible to sponsor me for a tour. He wants me to visit him there. Thanks

  3. Hello and good morning to the most beautiful people and Country in the world. My names are innocent inedu currently based in Dubia UAE. I was on the website this morning while I was chatting with my lover an Australian woman that has taking my whole love and heart away! I love this woman and God in heaven knows how special she is to me. What do I do to meet her? I really want to settle down with her as she also wants that with me too. I hope to get a reply

    1. Hi Inni,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email

  4. Hey
    I am in relationship
    From 12 month and i have proof and and everything
    My partner is in perth and i was in NSW
    We did not register our relationship
    But i moved to perth in August
    Can i apply for partner visa

  5. Hi,

    My partner and I had applied or a de facto visa. Currently he has a bridging visa. He is a good person who was an ex soldier but Now immigration want us to
    Provide them with police checks and characters test but I’m afraid that criminal records of theft in 2009 and been a good citizen since serving community service without convictions. Will this affect our allocation.

    Please help!

    Thank you!

  6. Hi visa one team,
    I am a student here and my husband applied sucequent visa and it has been 10 mth, in july we submit all the necesarry document as per high commision required, that onward we havent got any respone from high commision.I already fill and submit the online enquiry form but haven't got any reply. It makes me really depress, with whom should I contact about this? Please provide some suggestion.Thank you

  7. Hi,

    How long before my current visa expires should I apply for my partner visa?/ Is there any processing time on the BVA or could I theoretically lodge my partner visa application just a few days before my current visa (tourist) expires?
    (I'm trying to leave it as late as possible to be able to show we've lived together for a while)

    1. Hi Becca,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

  8. Hi Visa One Team.

    I came to Aus as a skilled migrant in July 2015, leaving my wife overseas. Later on In February next year, I became dad of a baby girl. I am working with local government since Oct 2016 and since then I am trying to get them here with different possible options.
    I applied first time family sponsored visitor visa in Jan 2017 and it was refused claiming that my partner will not go back on expiry of her visa. In Dec 2017, I applied for partner visa which is still in Que and processing time is now 25 months.

    I applied again family sponsored visitor visa in June 2018 and again refused by department claiming the same reason that they believe my partner will not go back to home country after expiry of her visa, even knowing that partner visa is the Que from the last 9 months and they have my $9000 fees, my tax money, salary slips, bank statements, appointment letters and my address and everything.

    Now I am living without my family since July 2015 and may be again have to wait for more 25 months which is extra ordinary frustrating.

    Please advise, what might be the possible option to come out of this CREEPY situation.

    1. Hi Atif Shaukat,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

  9. If I register my relationship in NSW, will it be recognised in New Zealand and if so can it be used to waive the 12 month rule there?

    1. Hi Emily,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

  10. Dear there,
    My bringing visa C (partner visa )already reject by immigration also return back my country , can I’m know still can visit my boyfriend in Australia or got ban in Australia immigration

    1. Hi Hea Lee,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

  11. Hi, im from philippines, we planning to apply partner visa, were married 1 week ago, currently im here in Australia holding tourist visa 1 year multiple entry, my visa expired is May 10. QUESTION is do i need to apply now residencecy or not enought time and i have exit first and comeback. and apply permanent residence?

    1. Hi Marissa,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

    1. Hi MAG,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

  12. I am a Australian citizen and my parner Filipino. We have been in a relationship for more than 2 years already and have a baby daugter together.

    My partner is still married, but seperated from his wife for 10 years already. The problem is divorce is elligale in Phillipines or a annulment costly and time consuming.

    Will it be possible to still sponsor my parner on a de facto relationship visa to come to Australia

    1. Hi Tania,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

  13. my australian partner wishes to sponsor me to stay in australia we have twins of two years old who are also australian what do we have to do to get the ball rolling

    1. Hi Paul,
      We have received your enquiry. One of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

    1. Hi Romina,
      We're glad that you liked the blog post. We have received your enquiry, and one of our visa experts will be in touch with you via email. πŸ™‚

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