Applicant Eligibility

This page provides information on the eligibility requirements for this visa.

Intent to marry

The main purpose of applying for this visa is to allow you to come to Australia and then marry your intended spouse and live as husband and wife. You must genuinely intend to marry your fiancé. You must also genuinely intend to live with your fiancé as husband and wife.

Eligible sponsor

You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor. An eligible sponsor is someone who undertakes sponsorship obligations, and is one of the following:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Usually, the sponsor is the partner of the applicant.

Age

You must be able to legally marry according to Australian law. This means you must be aged 18 years or over. If you are aged 16 years or over but less than 18 years, you must have an Australian court order allowing you to marry your intended spouse, or you must both be of marriageable age at time of the intended marriage.

Your fiancé in Australia can be aged under 18 years if they have an Australian court order allowing them to marry you. In these circumstances, their parent or guardian must be your sponsor and they must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 years or over.

Gender

You must be of the opposite sex to your intended spouse. Same-sex couples are not eligible for this visa.
See: Partner Visa Options

Relationship

You must have met (as adults) your intended spouse in person and know him or her personally. This must be the case even if:

• it is an arranged marriage
• you and your sponsor met as children and the marriage was arranged before you turned 18 years of age
• you met on the internet (exchanging photographs is not evidence of having met in person).

See: Evidence of a Genuine and Continuing Relationship

Health requirements

You must meet certain health requirements.
See: Health requirements

Character requirements

You must meet character requirements.
See: Character and penal clearance requirements

Reliance on social security

If your circumstances, or those of your sponsor, indicate that you or your accompanying dependent family members are likely to become high users of Australia's social security system, you may need an Assurance of Support (AoS) from an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident.

If you need an AoS, the department will send you a letter advising you that you need an AoS, and explaining how to get one.
See: Assurance of Support

When you may not be eligible

If you have a debt to the Australian Government, you should contact your nearest departmental office or Australian mission before making an application. You may not be granted a visa until you have made satisfactory arrangements to pay that debt.
See: Contact Us

Australian Values Statement

If you are aged 18 years or over, you are required to sign an Australian values statement. The statement is included in your visa application form and all applicants aged 18 years and over will need to sign it to confirm that they will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws. Before signing this statement you are required to have read, or had explained to you, material made available by the government on life in Australia which is contained in the Life in Australia book.

The Life in Australia book provides more information on the values that Australians share and their way of life.
See:
Australian Values - Overview
Life in Australia Book

 

Before lodging an application, please read all related eligibility requirements.
See: Other eligibility