The purpose of the Partner visa is to allow the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to enter into or remain in Australia. The applicant is initially granted a temporary visa, and is eligible for permanent residency if the relationship still exists after a two-year waiting period.
In order to be eligible for this visa, you must meet the following requirements:
The couple must be in a mutually exclusive relationship;
The relationship must be genuine and continuing.
The couple must either live together, or live apart only on a temporary basis.
Prospective Marriage Visa
If your fiancé is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, the Prospective Marriage visa will allow you to travel to Australia in order to be married within nine months of the date that the visa is granted. Once the marriage has taken place, you will be eligible to apply for a Partner visa.
In order to be eligible for a Prospective Marriage visa, you and your fiancé must:
Be at least 18 years old, and not closely related
Be free to marry one another
Genuinely intend to get married within nine months of the visa grant date (the marriage may take place either in Australia or overseas)
Have physically met, and be personally known to each other
Genuinely intend to live together as a married couple