Family migration programs
A relative of a Permanent
Resident or citizen of Australia does not have an automatic entitlement to
residence in Australia. Nor does a spouse, a fiancée, a defacto spouse, or a
dependent same-sex partner. Rather, the individual wishing to remain in
Australia must apply for the relevant visa and must be sponsored by a person
who is a Permanent Resident or citizen of Australia.
We have listed a few of the
most common family migration visas.
Contact
us if you have strong
family connections in Australia.
Spouse
This is a visa, for the wife or husband of an Australian Citizen or
Permanent Resident. The process of obtaining the permanent visa generally
takes 2 years during which time the spouse is in Australia on a temporary
visa. The key requirement is that a committed and exclusive relationship
exists with the Australian sponsor.
Prospective Marriage
(also known as the Fiancé Visa)
This visa is available to a person who is overseas who wants to come to
Australia to marry a person who also agrees to be their sponsor. When
granted the visa is valid for 9 months, during which time the applicant must
marry the sponsor and apply for the spouse visa if he or she wishes to
remain in Australia.
Parent Visas
You should be aware that under
the Family Migration Program a higher priority is given to Partner and Child
visa applications, and so Parent Visa applications are processed more
slowly. There is already a substantial queue for Parent visas and at current
rates of approval an application will take many years to process.
A Contributory Parent visa is now available for those applicants who are
willing to pay a substantial monetary bond. This visa is processed more
rapidly than the standard Parent visa.
Aged Dependent Relative
Available for a single, divorced or formally separated aged person who is
dependent on a close relative living in Australia. The relative must be at
least 18 years old, and an Australian citizen, Permanent Resident, or
eligible New Zealand citizen.
The applicant must be old
enough to be granted an age pension (65 for men and between 60 and 65 for
women, depending on date of birth), and have been dependent on the relative
for at least 3 years before the application is submitted.
Remaining Relative
This visa allows an applicant with all other relatives settled in Australia
to migrate to live with his or her family. The applicant must be the
brother, sister, or child (or step-relative) of an Australian citizen,
Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, who must also be more
than 18 years old. Where the applicant has a spouse, all the spouse's
remaining relatives must also be settled in Australia.
Contact us
for further information or complete the on-line enquiry
form
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