Business (Short Stay) Visa Definitions

De facto partner

A person is the de facto partner of another person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) if:

• they have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others;
• the relationship between them is genuine and continuing;
• they live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis; and
• they are not related by family.

For an application for a permanent, Business Skills (Provisional), Student (Temporary), Partner (Provisional), Partner (Temporary), or a General Skilled Migration visa the de facto relationship must have existed for at least 12 months immediately preceding the date of application.

Dependent child

A dependent child is the child or stepchild of the business visitor or their partner who:

• is not married or engaged to be married or in a de facto relationship
• has not turned 18
  or
• if they have turned 18, is dependent or unable to work.

Partner

A partner is your spouse or de facto partner (including same-sex partners).

Sponsor

An approved sponsor is:

• a member of an Australian parliament (Commonwealth, State or Territory)
• an authorised person representing a Commonwealth, State or Territory government department or instrumentality
• a local government mayor
  or
• a representative from an approved organisation that has been gazetted by the Minister.

Spouse

A person is the spouse of another person if they are in a married relationship. Persons are in a married relationship if:

• they are married to each other under a marriage that is valid for the purposes of the Migration Act 1958;
• 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.