The new Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill was passed through Parliament on 10 December 2018 and this new legislation is likely to have a significant impact on the visa process for submitting partner applications when the new law comes into effect.
Partner applicants must be sponsored by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Currently the Partner visa application is submitted first to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) followed by the sponsorship form. The new Bill will require the sponsor to submit his/her documents first and have them approved before the Partner visa application can be lodged. At this stage it is unknown how long it will take for the sponsorship application to be assessed which will involve the submission of police reports as part of meeting the character requirement.
The DHA has not announced when the new arrangements will commence but, if you are considering lodging a Partner visa application in the near future and are confident that you can support your application with comprehensive evidence of your relationship history, we would recommend contacting Concept Australia as soon as possible for advice and assistance.
Choose the best option for you:
Skilled Visas
Expression of Interest
Parent Visas
Partner Visas
Resident Return Visas
Other visas
Skills in Demand Visa 482
Temporary 400 Visas
18/05/2026
The Department of Home Affairs has released the nominations approved by Australia's state and territory governments for April 2026.
READ MORE
12/05/2026
The Australian government has left the 2026/2027 permanent migration program planning level at 185,000 places comprising of 70% for skilled workers and 30% for family applicants.
23/11/2025
Thank you so much Pippa for your hard work and help in assisting us through the whole process. I cannot stress how valuable Concept Australia has been in securing our visa, your professionalism and dedication is above and beyond. I will happily endorse Concept Australia to any family and friends.
We would both like to thank you very much for guiding us through this process which at times we found to be quite daunting and bewildering. I think we we’re both caught off guard when the approval came through, it was a surprise to say the least and also a huge relief as we can now both put our anxieties aside and start planning for our future together in Australia. We are both more than happy to if add to your collection of testimonies if you wish and again thank you very much