Have you found true love in Australia? Then you can apply for a Prospective Marriage visa. This visa allows you to stay in Australia on a temporary basis so that you can eventually get married. To apply for this visa, you will need to submit a number of documents and pay a considerable fee.
Application procedure and conditions
You can submit your Prospective Marriage visa application online through the website of the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection. This costs 9,095 Australian dollars, almost 4,700 GPB or approximately EUR 5,500. You must be outside Australia at the time of application. This means you are not allowed to travel to the country on an eVisitor visa or any other visa type.
To apply for a Prospective Marriage visa, you must meet a number of conditions, including:
- You and your partner must be at least 18 years old
- Your partner must be an Australian national or have permanent residency in Australia. There are certain cases where your partner may also hold New Zealand nationality
- You and your family members must not be in debt to the Australian government
- You must not impose an excessive burden on Australian healthcare. You may be required to provide a medical certificate
- You must sign a statement clarifying that you do not intend to break Australian law and that you will accept the way of life in Australia
There are also a number of conditions regarding previously rejected visa applications or any criminal history. A visa application is more likely to be rejected if you:
- have a criminal record
- have made a visa application to Australia in the past that was rejected
Although you are more likely to receive a visa if you meet these conditions, these are not fixed requirements. The Australian Immigration Department treats each application separately. This means that each applicant's personal situation is taken into account. The immigration department may decide that you are still eligible for the Prospective Marriage visa despite a criminal record or a previously rejected visa application.
What does the Prospective Marriage visa have to offer?
As soon as the Prospective Marriage visa is granted, you are allowed to travel to Australia immediately. The visa will be digitally linked to your passport. This means that you will not need to print it before your trip to Australia. Make sure you arrive by the latest arrival date mentioned on the visa. Note that your partner must already be in Australia before you travel to the country.
The Prospective Marriage visa allows you to stay in Australia for 9 to 15 months. During this period, you can travel in and out of the country as often as you please. You are also allowed to study or work in Australia. Keep in mind that some employers may not want to hire employees who do not yet have a permanent residence permit. Additionally, note that you cannot receive a scholarship from the Australian government should you wish to study in Australia.
Applying for a permanent residence permit
The moment you are married, you are eligible for a residence permit by applying for a Partner visa. You can also submit this application online. To do so, you must reside in Australia. Applying for a Partner visa typically costs 9,095 Australian dollars (about 4,700 GBP or or EUR 5,500), the same fee that you would pay for a Prospective Marriage visa. Applicants who already have a Prospective Marriage visa, however, receive a discount and pay 1,515 Australian dollars (slightly under 800 GBP or approximately EUR 930). Once this visa is granted, you may live, work or study in Australia. In most cases, you will be eligible for permanent residence two years later. This often requires submitting additional documents.
Short stay in Australia with the eVisitor visa
If you only want to travel to Australia for a short stay, there is no need to go through a complicated visa procedure. You can easily apply for an eVisitor visa. This visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to three consecutive months and travel to the country an unlimited number of times. The visa is valid for 12 months, unless your passport expires earlier. The day you arrive in Australia must fall within the visa validity period.
The eVisitor visa that you can apply for on this website costs € 24,95 and is processed within 5 days on average. You receive your visa by e-mail.