In case you are involved with a permanent resident, or citizen of Australia, or a qualified citizen of New Zealand, you are entitled to file a petition for a Partner Permit. The same will lead to permanent residence; post a time-frame of close-to two years.

During the past couple of years, numerous modifications have reportedly been made to these visas even while several of these are valuable to the candidates, predominantly the introduction of duly registered relationships, and additional choices for individuals onshore, post the rejection of other permit submissions.

Types of Relationship

You can submit a submission for a Partner Permit, in case you happen to be involved with any of these kinds of association with a citizen, or a permanent resident of Oz, or a qualified NZ citizen:

1. Lawfully Wedded

You may be wedded either in Oz, or out-of-the-country. In case married in a foreign country, the same would normally be accepted in Down Under, if both of you are more than 18 years, besides of the different or opposite sexes.

2. Defacto Association

It would usually require you to prove that you have stayed as one for not less than one year. A shorter time-frame would be sufficient in certain specific situations; for instance, in case you have a child jointly, or in a situation wherein residing together is not allowed in your nation, or in case you have suitably registered your association.

3. Registered Relationship

You can get your relationship properly registered by the administration of state or territory of Oz even as the course of action will depend on the territory or state in which you stay. The primary advantage of getting it is that you may file a petition even in case you have stayed mutually for below one year. You, however, still require proving that you are staying together. There is no bare minimum period of time you will require to show though.

Temporary Partner Permits

When you present a petition for a Partner Permit, you make a combined submission for both a Permanent partner & a Temporary Partner Permit. In general, the Temporary Partner Permit is offered first. It offers you complete employment & travel privileges in the country. You ought to also be entitled for Medicare, but would not be given the right to gain complete social security advantages. It continues until a decision is made on the Permanent Partner Permit. It is normally two years, post the presentation of the Partner Permit petition.

Aiming for PR

Significantly, you may gain a Permanent Partner straight away, and not have to first keep your Temporary Partner Permit for a period of two years. Such would be the situation in case you are in what could be called a long term association. The same is duly described as either: an association of not less than three years; or an association of not less than two years, with a dependent kid.

Lodging In the Wake of Permit Denial

In a situation wherein you have had a permit rejection, and are presently on a Bridging Permit, or do not have a permit, it is on the whole not possible to submit an additional visa submission whilst in Oz. The same is called a Section 48 bar.

You can present a Partner Permit petition even in case a Section 48 Bar is imposed on you. For example, in case you have presented a petition for a 485 Permit, you would normally be proffered a Bridging Permit. It enables you to stay in the country post the expiry of your Student Permit. In case your 485 is rejected, post your Student Permit loses its legal validity; you will have a Section 48 bar even as you would not be in a position to submit an additional permit submission in Down Under. But you would be in a position to submit a legitimate submission for a Partner Permit.