Australian Partner Visa Part 4; Same sex couple


For the spirit of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade last weekend, I would like to take this opportunity to blog about the Australian Partner Visa for the same sex couple.

Please note that as of today, the Australian law does not recognize the same sex marriage. Therefore, if the same sex couple registered their marriage from somewhere else, it cannot be used to apply for Australian Partner Visa.

There are 2 ways for same sex partner to apply for Australian Partner Visa.

De facto relationship: 
Same sex couple can apply for Australian Partner Visa if they have been in relationship and have shared a mutual life and commitment to one another for at least 12 months. As long as the same sex couple can demonstrate that their relationship is long-term, genuine and continuing, then they can apply for Australian Partner Visa.

Register of relationship:
Same sex couple can apply for Australian Partner Visa even if they have not live or have a shared mutual commitment to one another for at least 12 months. They can register their relationship and apply for Australian Partner Visa. Good things about register of relationship is that it they do not have to wait for the Register of Relationship Certificate to be sent home in order to apply for Australian Partner Visa. They can use the receipt from the authority to apply for Australian Partner Visa immediately.

However, things to note: 
  • Not all states or territories have facilities of "register of relationship". 
  • Each state and territory have different requirement of "register of relationship". 
I will leave the detail of "register of relationship" to another blog.

I hope that this blog will benefit to some. I hope that love will be in the air, both for same sex couple and different sex couple....

Good luck everyone... may the love be with you...