The Australian Government limits the rights of Australians to sponsor fiancés, spouses and partners from other countries.
These people are eligible to sponsor:
- Australian Citizen
- Australian Permanent Resident (the holder of any visa or entry permit that provides a right of stay that is indefinite, even if the associated travel facility has expired)
- Eligible New Zealand Citizens (generally this includes New Zealanders who have been in Australia since prior to 26 February 2001; if you are unsure, please check with us)
If you are one of the people listed above, you can sponsor a maximum of 2 people in your life to be your fiancé, spouse or partner. If you have sponsored someone previously, at least 5 years must pass before you are eligible to sponsor another person.
If you originally migrated to Australia because you were sponsored as a fiancé, spouse or de facto partner, you are not eligible to sponsor someone else as your new fiancé, spouse or de facto partner until 5 years pass. After that, you can sponsor a maximum of 2 people in your life to be your fiancé, spouse or partner. If you have sponsored someone previously, at least 5 years must pass before you are eligible to sponsor another person.
Exceptions can be made in sufficiently compelling cases. See us for legal advice before you apply.
Special limitations apply to sponsor’s who were granted a Woman at Risk visa (subclass 204) with the last 5 years.
The Australian Government’s immigration policy refers to people who sponsor more than one life partner as ‘serial sponsors’. The limitation of 2 people is a life-long limit. The Australian Government can be convinced to make exceptions if the case is sufficiently compelling and well presented.
The Australian Government limits other kinds of sponsorships too. If you are effected by another kind of limitation it will not usually effect your right to sponsor a fiancé, spouse or de facto partner.