On a tourist visa and planning to stay with your partner in Australia? Get guidance on partner visa options, eligibility and applications.
Navigating your way through Australian immigration law is far from straightforward. For those people here on a tourist visa, hoping to remain in the country with their partner, the process can feel overwhelming.
Many people are unaware of their options or make costly mistakes by trying to amend their visa incorrectly. At Align Law Immigration, our experienced partner visa lawyers, available in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and all over Australia, work with clients every day who are looking at partner visa options. We help you understand your rights and build strong cases to help you stay in Australia with your partner.
We’ll look at the different types of visas available, and explain how Align Law Immigration can help you transition from one visa type to the other.
An Australia tourist visa (subclass 600) is a short-term visa authorisation that allows non-citizens to enter Australia for the purpose of a holiday, sightseeing, visiting family and friends, or other recreational activities. It allows entry into Australia for up to 12 months and requires applicants to be outside of Australia when applying.
You can use a tourist visa to attend a business conference or explore business opportunities in Australia, as well as short-term study opportunities of up to 3 months.
You must be a genuine visitor to Australia and have sufficient funds to afford your time. This is because you are not allowed to work while you are here on a tourist visa.
An applicant must be outside of Australia while applying, and must have adequate health insurance to cover their time here. Some tourist visas allow multiple entries, while others allow just a single entry.
There is a Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which is a digital visa allowing people to visit Australia for 3 months at a time within a 12 month period. It is a digital visa, has a 20AUD servicing fee and is electronically attached to your passport. You can apply for an ETA visa here.
An Australian partner visa allows a married spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, to live in Australia. It is usually a two-stage process:
Someone who holds a partner visa is eligible to live, work and study. It serves as a pathway to permanent residency and eventually, Australian citizenship.
You can apply for this type of visa offshore (Subclass 309/100) or, if you’re transitioning from a tourist visa to a partner visa, you would apply for the Subclass 820/801 visa.
Common requirements for a partner visa include:
A partner who is on the tourist visa has the problems of the ‘no further stay’ conditions, the inability to work and the high risk of further visa refusal via the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.
Part of the proviso of gaining a partner visa is showing 12 months of evidence showing you are in a relationship. Due to the restrictions of time allowed in Australia with a tourist visa- up to 12 months, it can be difficult to establish a chain of evidence to suitably show a relationship.
If a holder of a tourist visa has broken any of the restrictions, such as working while on a tourist visa, this may count against them when applying for a partner visa.
Moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa (subclass 820/801) in Australia is possible. You can’t just convert from one visa to another, it requires a rigorous and costly application, nearly $10 000.
Making the transition from a tourist visa to a partner visa in Australia involves more than just submitting an application. There are strict eligibility requirements, deadlines and a significant amount of documentation involved. Getting it wrong can put your stay in Australia, and indeed your relationship, in jeopardy.
At Align Law Immigration, our partner visa lawyers can guide you through the process and make it easier to understand.
The team at Align Law Immigration is here to help you with all the complexities of visa applications. We understand your needs when it comes to living and working in Australia, and we do our best to ensure you get to stay here, on the right visa, permanently. If you, or your partner, are in the situation of needing to obtain a partner visa, then get in touch with us today so we can begin the process of having you stay with us, and your partner, in Australia.
I had a fantastic experience with Align Law! I worked with Michelle Collins to transition from a Working Holiday Visa to a Temporary Skills Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) earlier this year and she made the entire process clear and easy to understand and work through. Not only is Michelle skilled,... More
I had a fantastic experience working with Michelle for my visa application. She was professional, efficient, and very supportive throughout the entire process. Her guidance made everything smooth and stress-free. I would highly recommend her services to anyone looking for reliable visa assistance.
We are beyond grateful to Michelle Collins for her incredible help in achieving our permanent residency. After having two disappointing experiences with other immigration lawyers, Michelle was a breath of fresh air. She was not only extremely knowledgeable but also genuinely cared about our case. Unlike our previous experiences, where... More
From the initial inquiry to the final stages of my application, every interaction was handled with professionalism and care. The staff members were not only knowledgeable but also patient, ensuring that all my questions were answered and every detail was taken care of. It truly made a difference and eased... More
I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your exceptional work in achieving my visa. Your expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment to my case have made all the difference. Throughout the process, you have shown remarkable professionalism and a deep understanding of immigration law. Your guidance... More
Great experience with our lawyer Michelle Collins. Since the moment we started to ask for questions regarding our visa she made sure to always give us the best options for us. Michelle was always available for any concerns we might have. Having Michelle as our lawyer made us feel comfortable... More
I had the pleasure of having Michelle, my immigration lawyer on my visa journey and I couldn't be more pleased with the exceptional service she provided. From day one, Michelle made the entire immigration process easy and stress-free. She was organized, calm, and provided me with sound advice at every... More
If you need Immigration Assistance, make sure your first call is to Michelle Collins at Align Law. She is A M A Z I N G!!!! We worked with Michelle on a very challenging visa issue which turned into three challenging visa issues and at every obstacle Michelle was calm,... More
Michelle was always there anytime we needed her. She knows exactly what she is doing. I couldn’t have moved to Australia without her help. My partner and I have become a family. And I finally got my PR. We are exremely happy with all that we have been able to... More
All the staff are very helpful. Most specially Atty. Michelle, who has been so supportive and hands-on.
The process was quick and reliable.
All the best Align Law. Keep it up!
Michelle was extremely diligent with our submission and whilst there was a lot of information to be provided and some backwards and forwards, it made for a very quick and successful application. Highly recommended.
An easy and pleasant experience liaising with Align Law for my property settlement. Extremely knowledgeable in their field and would definitely recommend them for all your conveyancing/legal needs or requirements.
Jiun and her team is great to work with. They explain everything in detail and made the process a better learning experience. If you need an lawyer these are your guys. Highly recommended.
Efficient, Knowledgeable & Supportive team of professionals.
Felt confident and rest assured to have Align Law to assist in all our legal needs.
Best service, the most enthusiastic help in solving my problems, and very responsible. Thank you so much!
Excellent service from start to finish. Very knowledgeable, diligent and very kind. Always keep you updated with progress of the case. Highly recommended!
Best lawyer in town
Federal Budget 2026–27 migration changes affecting skilled visas, employers, students and temporary residents living across Australia.
Changing employers on a 482 visa requires careful steps. This guide covers your rights, obligations, sponsor transfer process, and how to stay compliant to protect your visa status.
Skills assessments are a key step in skilled migration to Australia. This guide outlines required documents, visa types, and how correct paperwork helps avoid delays or refusals.
Previous Post