For many couples, living together in Australia is a dream — but turning that dream into reality requires navigating a complex immigration system. A spouse visa Australia (often called a partner visa) allows someone in a genuine relationship to live, work, and potentially settle in Australia. At WAN Lawyers, clients receive legal guidance, cultural understanding, and strategic support tailored to their situation.
A spouse visa allows the married, de facto, or engaged partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia. The process typically involves two stages:
Temporary visa (first stage)
Permanent visa (second stage) once the relationship is confirmed as ongoing
There are different subclasses depending on where the applicant is located:
Subclass 820 / 801 – Applied for within Australia
Subclass 309 / 100 – Applied for outside Australia
Subclass 300 – For fiancés entering Australia to marry, followed by a partner visa
To be eligible for a spouse visa in Australia, applicants must generally show:
A genuine, exclusive and continuing relationship
A sponsor who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
Evidence of shared life across financial, social, household, and commitment aspects
Compliance with health and character requirements
Complete and accurate documentation
For de facto couples, living together for at least 12 months is usually required, unless specific exemptions apply.
Applicants often face difficulties such as:
Insufficient or inconsistent documentation
Lack of financial or household evidence
Previous visa refusals or cancellations
Health or character concerns
Schedule 3 issues or visa conditions (e.g. no further stay)
Relationship breakdown during processing
These issues can delay or jeopardise an application without proper guidance.
WAN Lawyers provides legal assistance across all partner visa types. Their services can include:
Assessing eligibility and recommending the best visa pathway
Organising and reviewing supporting documents
Preparing detailed submissions and statutory declarations
Responding to Department requests or objections
Handling appeals and refusals
Offering multilingual support and cultural understanding
The goal is to create a strong, well-documented application that gives clients the best chance of success.
To improve your chances:
Collect evidence early and consistently
Keep addresses, dates and details aligned across documents
Include photos, travel history, declarations and proof of communication
Provide joint financial records and living arrangements
Be upfront about past immigration or personal issues
Structure documents clearly and logically