The Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) allows you to live in Australia if you are the spouse or de facto partner of:
You must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship.
This visa is processed in two stages. The Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) is the first stage towards a Permanent Partner visa (subclass 100). You lodge only one application for your temporary and permanent visas and pay one application charge. Your application is processed in two stages, about two years apart.
You must be outside Australia when you apply and also when the Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) is granted. You can be in or outside Australia when Partner visa (subclass 100) is granted.
When you are granted the Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) you can enter Australia and stay here until a decision is made about your permanent Partner visa, work in Australia, study in Australia, but with no access to government funding and enrol in Medicare.
When you are granted the Permanent Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 100), you will have access to indefinite stay in Australia, work and study in Australia, apply for Australian Citizenship (if you are eligible) and can enjoy may other privileges.
It is crucial that you must live with your partner and if there is any period of separation, it must be only temporary. In most cases, permanent residence cannot be granted less than two years from when you lodge your application however there can be some exceptional circumstances when you could be granted a permanent visa without having to fulfil the usual two-year waiting period.
Other necessary requirements are:
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