Definitions
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
- Applicant(s)
- The person (or persons) applying to migrate or remain permanently in Australia.
- Australian mission
- An Australian Embassy, High Commission, Consulate, Consulate-General or Australian Trade Commission overseas.
- Australian permanent resident
- A person who is the holder of a permanent visa and is usually resident in Australia.
B
- Bridging visa
- A type of temporary visa that provides the holder with status as a lawful non-citizen. It can only be granted in Australia.
C
- Centrelink
- The agency that delivers social security payments and related services in Australia.
- Close relative
- Your spouse, children (including adopted), parents and siblings and step relatives of the same degree.
- Complete application
- An application that provides all information necessary for processing, including evidence of your relationship, completed health and character checks (if applicable) and other necessary documents.
D
- De facto
- Not legally married, but in a spouse-like or spouse-equivalent relationship. Sometimes known as 'common law' spouse.
- De jure
- Legally married.
- Dependant
- A person who is wholly or substantially reliant on a family member for financial support to meet their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing; or wholly or substantially reliant on their family member for financial support due to being incapacitated for work because of the total or partial loss of bodily or mental functions.
- Dependent child
- A natural, adopted, or step-child, who has not turned 18 years of age, or, if aged 18 years or over, is a dependant. A child must not have a spouse or be engaged to be married.
- DNA
- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material present in every cell of the body. For example, it is in blood, saliva, skin and hair. A comparison of genetic material from two or more people can show whether they are biologically related to each other.
E
- Eligible New Zealand citizen
- A New Zealand citizen who was either in Australia on 26 February 2001 and held a Special Category visa (subclass 444); or was in Australia for at least one year of the two (2) years before 26 February 2001; or has a certificate issued under the Social Security Act 1991 that states that they were residing in Australia on a particular date.
- Family head
- For migration purposes, the family head is generally the person who is most likely to meet the primary legal criteria for the grant of the partner visa.
F
- Fiancé(e) relationship
- A relationship where a couple is engaged to be married or betrothed. In the context of partner migration, the term fiancé(e) is used to mean a man and a woman who intend to marry each other.
I
- Immediate family
- Your spouse and dependent children.
- Interdependent partner
- A partner who is mutually dependent on you. This is usually a same-sex partner.
- Interdependent relationship
- A relationship in which a couple have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others. The relationship between them is genuine and continuing, and they live together, or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis. This is usually a same-sex partner relationship.
L
- Lawful non-citizen
- A non-citizen who holds a valid visa.
- Long-term interdependent relationship
- An interdependent relationship that has continued for five (5) years or more.
- Long-term spouse relationship
- A spouse relationship that has continued for five (5) years or more; or two (2) years or more if you have children of the relationship.
M
- Member of the family unit
- A spouse or dependent child. Also includes single (unmarried, widowed or divorced) relatives who reside with, and are dependent on, the family head.
- Migrate
- Applicants applying from outside Australia will be applying to migrate. Applicants applying in Australia will be applying for permanent residence. In the context of partner migration information, the term 'migrate' covers both.
N
- NOIM
- A Notice of Intended Marriage that is completed by a couple who intend to marry in Australia.
P
- Partner
- Includes married (de jure) and de facto spouses, fiancé(e)s and interdependent partners.
- Partner visa
- A Prospective Marriage, Spouse or Interdependency visa.
- Permanent visa
- A visa permitting a person to remain indefinitely in Australia.
- Prohibited degree or relationship
- A relationship between a person and his or her ancestor/descendent (ie. between a parent and a child or grandparent and a grandchild) or between a brother and a sister (full or half blood). This applies to natural and adoptive relationships.
- Provisional visa
- A temporary visa allowing a person to enter and remain in Australia until a decision is made on the permanent visa application.
R
- Recent passport-size
- A 45mm x 35mm photograph taken within the past six (6) months. This should be of the head and shoulders only, and should show the person facing the camera and against a plain background. You should print the name of the person on the back of each photograph.
- Relative
- A close relative or a grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or step equivalent.
S
- Sponsor
- The Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen partner who undertakes sponsorship obligations. Generally, for the purposes of partner migration, the sponsor is the partner of the applicant.
- Spouse relationship
- A married (de jure) or de facto relationship between a couple where they have a mutual commitment to a shared life as husband and wife to the exclusion of all others, the relationship between them is genuine and continuing, and they live together, or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.
T
- Temporary visa
- A visa permitting a person to remain temporarily in Australia.
V
- Visa
- Permission to travel to, to enter and/or to remain in Australia for a period of time or indefinitely.