Is an Australian Partner Visa Sponsor required to financially support their Partner?
In their partner visa sponsorship application, the Australian Sponsor agrees to provide this support to their partner:
The sponsor agrees:
To provide information and advice to help the person(s) being sponsored settle in Australia.
To ensure that adequate accommodation is available to them on arrival in Australia or, if necessary, to provide accommodation for up to 2 years from arrival in Australia, or the 2 years following grant of partner’s visa if partner is applying in Australia.
To provide support as required enabling them to attend appropriate English language courses.
So, apart from ensuring that adequate accommodation is available for their partner for up to two years after the grant of the partner visa, there is no specific requirement that a sponsor financially support their partner.
As there is no specific requirement for financial support of the partner, sponsors on low incomes and/or with modest savings can potentially sponsor their partner to Australia – providing they (or their partner) have the funds for the Government’s expensive visa application charge.
Of course sponsored partners may, and aften do, have their own income and/or savings and not need to be financially supported by their sponsoring partner after their arrival in Australia.
Additionally, partners holding temporary partner visas have full work rights in Australia.
Notwithstanding the above, the Immigration department does consider whether or not partners have ‘combined’ their finances – as part of the processing of their permanent visa application.
Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.
Regards.
Ross McDougall.
Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.
This information is correct on April 9th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.
