Getting a tourist visa, followed by an application for a partner visa in Australia?
Is this a good idea?
You may have heard advice from some of the online advice pages, and even from some migration agents, that this is the best way to apply for a partner visa. Apply for a tourist visa to Australia, then get married then apply for a partner visa and the applicant gets to stay in Australia.
Getting advice from amateur forums is not good idea. No care and no responsibility from supposed experts with lots of self-confidence and very little knowledge. The confidence comes from lodging their own application once, compared to a REGISTERED Migration Agent with proper qualifications lodging hundreds of successful applications every year.
And whilst Registered Migration Agents are qualified to give migration advice, agents generally specialise in their own areas of expertise. I don’t give advice on student visas from India and I don’t give advice on Special Investor Visas from China, as I lack the experience. We are the experts in partner visas from Philippines.
Pros
- When you apply for a valid onshore partner visa application (Subclass 820), the applicant gets to stay in Australia on a Bridging Visa during the processing and doesn’t have to return.
- Applicants can apply for Medicare cards straight away
- Applicants usually get work rights on the bridging visa
Cons
- The Government charge is approx $1,500.00 more than for an offshore application
- The tourist visa application might be refused
- Tourist visas are for visiting friends and family or doing general tourism things (patting kangaroos and admiring Ayres Rock, etc). If you apply for a tourist visa in order to get married and bypass the system, this is NOT a genuine reason to apply, and by law they will refuse the application if it’s for another purpose, ie
- You MAY marry in Australia on a tourist visa, however you may NOT apply for a tourist visa with the purpose of marrying in Australia.
- The tourist visa grant may well have a Condition 8503 imposed on it. This means NO FURTHER STAY, and means that she cannot apply for another visa whilst she is inside Australia. She will have to leave at the end of a three month stay. With a Condition 8503 it is not possible to apply for a partner visa inside Australia. She will end up back on the plane.
- Marrying in Australia means meeting with a marriage celebrant, arranging a wedding date (they are often booked months ahead), lodging a Notice of Intent to Marry form, and waiting 30 days for a marriage license. Trying to organise a wedding AND a complex visa application within a 3 month stay is going to be stressful and very challenging.
- She will be dealing with culture shock
- You are probably still going to work every day
- She will require documents from Philippines, which will be hard for her to organise while she’s in Australia.
- The looming deadline will be sitting on your heads while you are trying to prepare everything and to have it all lodged before her tourist visa runs out!
What can Down Under Visa do?
Our job is to help you, and we will do so to the best of our abilities and always within the law! But realise we are not “Yes-men” and will always tell you the truth especially about practical matters. But if you do wish to marry whilst in Australia on a tourist visa, and if you are able to apply for a partner visa in Australia, yes we can manage your application for you in the same way we manage applications here in Manila.
However we would prefer to see you lodge here offshore.
And yes, we know you will miss each other.
This is why we will also advise you to get us to apply for a multiple-entry tourist visa for her at the same time as the partner visa is lodged here in Manila. You will be able to spend most of your waiting time there together while the application is being processed. And you will be able to enjoy your time together without being a candidate for a nervous breakdown!
Please go to our website at www.downundervisa.com and complete an assessment form, and we can discuss your options.
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You are almost certain to get a 8503 condition which means leave the country when the visa is up. And the tourist visa will almost be certainly refused if there is no compelling reason to return. Like work, business, property.
As to trying to obtain documents from the Philippines while in Australia. No chance. Better to obtain an intention to marry visa or simply marry in the Philippines like I did. But that is nothing like getting married in Australia. Cenomar, marriage “counselling”, reproductive health seminar (what a laugh that one!!). Marriage licence, marriage contract. plus other quaint customs like godparents (usually someone with “connections”) just in case the rellies need to get out of something which is often. sigh.!!
My wife tried to obtain a tourist visa to come to Australia to marry me. That was refused. That visa application was of course suggested by un-named rellies using the favorite Manila travel agent aka “migration agent” (which means not registered). I went there myself at my wifes suggestion and he just about had a heart attack on the spot.
Hi Jeff, The post we read… Said about a bridging visa while we process our partner visa….is this available for Arianne to come to Australia while we process partner visa???? Regards Paul and Arianne
Sent from my iPhone
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If you changed to an onshore visa, Paul? Yes. That would mean:
(a) Arianne was in Australia with no Condition 8503 on her tourist visa grant
(b) If you married in Australia
(c) You had everything organised. What we really don’t want to see is anybody trying to get everything organised in a limited time, then ending up in Australia unlawfully…..or lodging a poor application.
Please send me an email if you want to do this?
I am applying for a tourist visa for now. Me and my wife Jakelyn Legaspino Ioannidis are married. And we have been married since November last year. What are the requirements for the tourist visa. My partner in marriage has also two children aged 5 ande 3 years of age. They all have passports and we also have a CFO clearance. Please advise me. I am interested in a tourist visa for now so Jackelyn and the kids can come to Australia to visit me. please email me the details. Thank you. Andrew
Please check your email, Andrew. I already emailed you.
Hi Paul,
I have my “second time” multiple entry Visa to Australia issued few days back. I have been wondering if me and my boyfriend decide to marry in Australia during one of my trips, would it be possible? Or can we bridge my tourist visa to fiance visa while inside Australia or maybe leave Australia then apply for a fiance visa while my tourist visa is still valid? Or i have to wait till my multiple entry expires before we apply to a fiance visa? Appreciate your help….
Regards,
Dianne
It depends on whether you have an 8503 NO FURTHER STAY restriction on your tourist visa, Dianne.
Fiancee visas are offshore visas only, ie. you can’t apply for one inside Australia. If you married immediately, you could probably apply for a partner visa while you are there.
Please complete our online assessment form if you need help?
Jeff Harvie
I have lodged my partner visa in the Philippines last July 2015. My wife and I were married last June 2015. I have a multiple entry visitor visa. My application status is now “Assessment in progress.” If the decision for my partner visa was given while I am in Australia, do I still need to go back to the Philippines or can I arrange everything that is still needed in Australia?
Must return, Francis
I’m married to Filipino for over two years what’s my best option to get her to Australia please help me as I would like to go next month for one month kind regards mark
You don’t want her to live permanently with you, Mark? Just one month? Please go to our Visa Assessment Form and we can see if we can help you.
I am married to Indonesian I want her to visit me in Australia what visa do I need, and how long can she stay
You need a tourist visa for her, and 3 months would be a reasonable request
Hey there Jeff, I am confused with my situation. Me and my girlfriend who is from Israel are trying to settle and make a life back home in Queensland. I am confused to what route we should take. Our goal is first just to be with each other and both working in australia. What visa’s should i be getting? I thought tourist then apply to bridge her visa with a partner in progress visa? We are currently in Israel at this moment as we have been travelling for several months.
Cheers Jeff
I manage visa applications from Philippines, Rhys. I have no experience with visas from that part of the world, sorry.
Hi,
I am a Permanent Resident and wants to apply for my husband’s tourist visa here in Perth.
My PR visa was granted Sept 2011 and I stayed here in 2014 for 5 months. I then went back to the Philippines in December 2014 and I finally came back to Perth in July this year to finally settle here. I am currently employed and with my employer for 4 months now.
I am planning to apply for my husband’s tourist visa next month and when he is here, we plan to apply for the Partner Visa by January 2017. Is this possible?
Thanks
It’s possible, yes. But assuming you can put together a partner visa quickly? This is not a good idea, as there is a lot of work involved. Suggest you complete our visa assessment form, and we can probably help you.
Hi Jeff ,my boyfriend is an Australian permanent and im off shore ..is it possible to lodge for a provisional visa 30 and subsequently the permanent visa 100 … is it possible to lodge a multiple entry tourist visa as i lodge this ?And since my partner is in Australia and im offshore are we still eligible to apply for de facto visa or what are required to register our marriage or intention to marry?is marriage a compulsory for a successful visa application?
Plenty of questions there. To answer you properly, I suggest using our free visa assessment form. In short, yes you can apply for a Subclass 309 partner visa if you are married or will marry very soon. And yes, it’s possible to lodge a tourist visa application at the same time. And I can’t answer you whether you are eligible to apply as a de facto couple because I don’t know enough detail. Marriage is not compulsory IF you are in an established de facto relationship.
Hi Jeff ,my boyfriend is an Australian permanent resident and im off shore ..is it possible to lodge for a partner provisional visa 309 and subsequently the permanent visa 100 … is it possible to lodge a multiple entry tourist visa as i lodge this ?And since my partner is in Australia and im offshore are we still eligible to apply for de facto visa or are required to register our marriage or intention to marry?is marrying compulsory for a successful visa application?..i have also noticed the other visa category prospective marriage visa 300 …which visa option is better ? cost wise the provisional visa appears to be cheaper but what are the pros and cons ?
Again, please use the online assessment form and we can help you properly.
Hi jeff. I am Filipina currently living in Australia now with my 3months visa and we applied for the extension for 6 months, still waiting for the decision. If it is granted, can we get married here in Australia? and apply for the partner visa. Thanks
You can apply inside Australia for a partner visa, yes Iljean. I just hope you are prepared to lodge the application. You have limited time, and you need a lot of information.
Hi Jeff
I first apply for a tourist visa for my Philippine girlfriend last year around November.it was refused because they thought 3 months was to long and not a good enough reason to go back to her job ,, so in march of 2017 i went and married my girlfriend in the Philippines , now i want her to come to Australia on a tourist visa till i can afford a spouse visa , or can apply for a carers visa , as i am on the disability pension , my wife is 38 and i am 55 , do you have any advice as i dont understand all the inner details really , as i was going to do this tourist visa on line , as the first one i got her to do it over in Philippines and was turn down , thank you if you can help in anyway please
You can’t apply for a carers visa for your spouse, Bernard. I would imagine we could help you with a tourist visa, though. But be aware if you want her to remain, you will have to bite the bullet and look at a partner visa. Please complete the free visa assessment form on our website.
Thankyou jeff , can you email , your fees for doing a tourist visa and a partner visa if you please .
Please go to our website and complete our free visa assessment form: https://www.downundervisa.com/visa-assessment/
Hi there.
I am a Filipina, currently working here in Taiwan , i will be going home on August 18, 2017. My boyfriend is Australian, we’ve been talking online for 7 months now. We are planning to be engaged on August 22 for he is.planning to come to Philippines also on August 18. He will be staying 10 days. My questions are..
1. Can we apply for a Prospective marriage visa after he left, say for example by September? How many % is the chance for it to be granted?
2. Or, can i apply for a visitor’s visa under my fiance invitation and then stat there for 3 months on Christmas time? Can it be granted?
Thanks and more power on this site.
Hello Princess. Too much information for a BLOG comment section. Please complete our free online visa assessment form on the website. https://www.downundervisa.com/visa-assessment/
Hi!Jeff?
I have a boyfriend in Australia and he invited me for a tourist there.I just came home here in Phil.,i worked as an OFW in Hong Kong for 6yrs.and i decided to for good and stay here in Phil.?so i don’t have a work now.Can i apply a tourist visa for my status now?May i know also the requirements that i need to provide if i am qualify for the application?If i can,i want to go to your office to process my application.Thanks!
Hello Neda. Most likely we can help you, but need to assess you in more detail first. Not necessary to go to our office. We’re a bit more high-tech than that. Please go here: https://www.downundervisa.com/visa-assessment/
Hi sir, i would like to ask about how and where can I apply for a bridging visa while having my tourist visa for australia? I want to apply for a bridging visa before I apply my partner visa. Me and me husband were married here in the philippines this year.
I suggest you read this article, as you CANNOT “apply for a bridging visa”. This article explains: https://www.downundervisa.com/2017/07/can-apply-bridging-visa/
Hi
I am an Australian travelling in the Phillipines and I have been in a relationship for 4 months with a local girl.
while I will go home to Australia next month , I would like her to visit me there. We dont know each other enough to consider marriage though that could be a future option. But for now I would like her to visit Australia for tourism and to see wether our relationship might develop.
She has no funds so I would be be providing all accomodation, lodgings and plane tickets and hence provide an invitation letter and support docs.
Is the 600 tourist visa the most appropriate one to apply for? if there are no conditions on a tourist visa then could we consider a partner visa if we were to marry in Australia if things developed that way?
Thanking you
Mark
The 600 is the only option, Mark. And yes you could marry, however a partner visa is a mountain of work and they are very unforgiving if it’s not prepared well. Strongly suggest getting a free visa assessment from us, and doing this properly or you can easily mess it up.
Hi, I submitted my application for a visitor visa subclass 600 a few minutes ago.
When it asked me my intention to stay, I stated that I will be celebrating with friends and family.
It also asked me if I was traveling with anyone and I listed my fiancee who has her PR in Australia. I did not mention the PR.
When it asked me to list people I was visiting, I listed two names and when asked the relationship, I stated that it was my fiancee’s Brother in law and Sister.
My question is, I have read that this visa 600 is not intended to travel or spend time with your fiancee and that is is for people that want to travel Australia and pet kangaroos etc. Because I listed my finance and mentioned that we will be visiting her family, Is this grounds for it to be denied? Or is this still fall under the true reasons to select this visa? Any information would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Bre
It’s grounds for refusal if the application wasn’t well-prepared. It’s perfectly OK to visit and spend time with your fiancee. Let me know if it doesn’t work out, and we can see if we can help you.
Hi Jeff. I am asking on behalf of my brother. He has been in a relationship with a Philippine girl for 6 months and they have fallen in love and want to marry. He wants to bring her to Australia as soon as possible so they can start their lives together. They are engaged and plan on marrying as soon as possible. So my question is- what sort of visa should they apply for- prospective spouse? or should they marry and apply for spouse? Should they also apply for a tourist visa at the same time so they can be together more quickly?
Suggest he contacts us via our online visa assessment form. I can’t really advise him via a third party.
I’m a Filipina currently on a multiple entry tourist visa. I am looking to apply for another multiple entry tourist visa with my boyfriend as my sponsor. Do you forsee any problems with applying for another multiple entry tourist visa?I have not overstayed and travelled regularly during the last 12 months.
Highly unlikely. They have a policy not to allow anyone to spend more than 12 months in an 18 month period inside Australia on a tourist visa. I suggest you start considering a partner visa instead.
HI,
I am currently engaged to an australian resident, I am a bit confused of which path to take. We are getting married in august this year in Mumbai, India.
1. Whether should I apply tourist visa first, mentioning that I want to come over ther to visit and spend some time and want to come back together for our marriage in August. If I get the tourist visa I save time to apply tourist after marriage, because if I dnt get do not stay, we can apply onshore.
2. Or should i apply offshore application and then apply for tourist.
and do you also apply spouse visa plus tourist visa in the same fees.
Shall, we don’t manage visa applications from India, sorry. I would be reluctant to advise you.
I am an Auatralian. My fiancee has been working in Singapore for last 10 years. She will return to phillipines in December 2018 and I will join her. We are getting Married 22/12/2018 in her home town. After we are married she must complete her employment contract in Singapore. What are our best options for her then joining me in Australia until we can get a partner Visa. Also what are you costs
Not something I can answer here, Greg. Suggest that you complete our free online visa assessment form. https://www.assessments.downundervisa.com
i applied 3 months tourist visa and extend 6 months
me and my partner would want to get marry before my TV expires can i apply for Partner visa straight away after the wedding? or its thesame as Tourist visa that needs to go home and wait for 6 months and apply again?
You can apply in Australia for a partner visa after marrying IF you are ready to apply. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking an Australian partner visa application is easy. There would easily be five times as much work as there is in a tourist visa, and there will be documents you will need from Philippines which are hard to organise from inside Australia. Plus, the Department will only accept applications which are complete and decision-ready. Incomplete applications get refused. I would urge you to get professional help.
Hi
I am here on tourist visa with no further stay condition on it
I came here as. A genuine visitor but now i got a proposal from australian citizen n she wants me to sponser
Can i apply onshore partner visa while on tourist visa with no further stay condition.
She is saying , it should be all right after we marry n eligible to apply partner onshore visa application coz she wants to stay with me n me too.
Please give me ur expert advice
No Further Stay means No Further Stay! Your girlfriend is completely wrong. Unless the condition is waived, your application will be refused. You should get some professional help.
Can we apply to waive off
NFS condition
Is there any procedure to write dibp/dept of home affairs to waive off this condition
You may apply for a waiver of Condition 8507 (No Further Stay) IF you can demonstrate compelling and compassionate circumstances that were not known or expected at the time of the original application. I can’t advise you how to do this, as this is beyond the scope of a comments section.
Hi, can you please tell me if my dad’s partner who lives in the Philippines is able to come in and out of Australia on a visitors/tourist visa?
she has already been in and out of Australia 3 times and wants to come back again in November.
my dad and her have been together for 5 years and they have a son who is 3 in November. DNA tests prove the child is his.
can she and the child continue to come on a visitors visa, or is there a limit and will need to look at a partner/spouse visa?
they are also looking at bringing her 2 other children who live in the Philippines, to Australia to live in the future.
any help you can provide is much appreciated.
The limit they set is they don’t want anyone inside Australia on a tourist visa for more than 12 months in any 18 month period. The other issue is that no, she can’t just keep returning again and again. Tourist visas are for visiting friends and relatives and for tourism activities. If they think she is avoiding a partner visa and trying to live together with your dad, they will also refuse. If they are committed to each other, they really should look at a partner visa application. And we are happy to help.
Hello, I have been granted my visitors visa. I have to leave the country every 3 months in order to have the next 3 months renewed. However my partner and I want to lodge a partner visa onshore. My question is, If I do not leave the country after the first 3 months and we apply for the partner visa instead, Is there any conflict? Will I be on a bridging visa? Or could I risk being consider to be unlawfully in the country?
Thanks,
Emilia
Emilia, I don’t want to tell you anything definitive without knowing all your details. But I will tell you that if you lodge a valid partner visa application which has been acknowledge, and you then remain in Australia after a 3 month stay, then the bridging visa which has been granted should automatically activate. You need to read your bridging visa grant notice that you would have received when your application for a partner visa was granted.
My name is Leonardo and Im on Bridging Visa in Australia as I have applied for my residency.
I want to call my wife to Australia on visitor visa.
Is that be possible?
What are the documents you required from my end, or what documents are required from my wife.
Please let me know and I want to file the Visa
Of course you can apply, Leonardo. But there’s no guarantee that it will be granted. They will suspect that she will overstay. And sorry, but I run a professional practice. I don’t give out free do-it-yourself advice.
Hi,my husband is coming this dec.for 3 months tourist visa,if i apply him a partner visa can he stay here while waiting the result for the partner visa?
If you lodge a valid application for a partner visa for your husband, then yes he will automatically be granted a Bridging Visa when his tourist visa expires. He may then remain lawfully in Australia during the processing of the partner visa application.
Hi, i have a pending Carer Visa application with my mom that was lodged in aug 2016 but no progress yet since its capped and queued. I applied in 2017 a tourist visa but declined since i have no work. Now im planning to apply a student visa. Do you think its a good plan? Or even tourist visa application can i do that?
Sorry, but (1) carer visa, (2) tourist visa, then (3) student visa? You want my advice whether this is a good plan? Clearly you want to get into Australia no matter what. Sorry, but I deal with genuine visa applicants only. I don’t get involved in schemes.
Hi sir
I had my daughter citizenship by decent granted after 2weeks from the day we apply. Am now waiting for my spouse visa it’s almost 7months now since we apply. Now my husband wants to apply us for subclass 600 tourist visa. For 2.5 months. Is there any problem with that? And if my spouse granted and am still in Australia will embassy will inform me to go home? Please advice
Hello Rochell
Yes, you can apply for a Subclass 600. And yes, the Embassy will let you know when they’re ready to finalise the application so that you may return.
Hi Sir,
I’m planning to visit my fiance on September this year. Will it be okay to apply for a tourist visa first, then when it gets granted, lodge a Fiance visa application? He already bought the plane tickets so I just thought it would be more practical to lodge the tourist visa application first. This will be my 3rd time in Australia. I went there twice last year and my old tourist visa is already expired.
You may lodge a fiancee visa application (a) if you’re ready to lodge it and (b) if you are OUTSIDE Australia at the time of lodgement.
I am applying for a tourist visa for now. My wife and I have been married for a year now.
How do I go about it? Kindly email me information
Find yourself a registered migration agent who can help you, Sel.
Hello Sir
I am from Bangladesh . My husband lives in Australia and he is a PR holder. we got married last year . we have already applied 309 visa. if we want to apply my visit visa is it possible to get visa for 3 months , though i don’t have travel history before .seeking ur kind attention
Can’t give you advice, sorry. I hope you will find a Registered Migration Agent to help you.
Hello
I have stayed here in Australia for almost 3 months with a tourist visa 600,intended to stay for 12 months. is it possible that I can change to fiancé visa ? and how much would it be and how to do it and the requirements needed.?
thanks
You can marry and apply for a partner visa IF your current visa has no restrictions. And I can’t tell you how, nor can I tell you what the requirements are. This is just a comments section at the end of an article. I suggest you find a Registered Migration Agent who specialises in visas from your country.
Hi there,
My wife is currently here on a student visa that lasts until April 2020 and we are looking at applying for a partner visa. It would be preferable for us if she could work rather than study ASAP. I know the bridging visa you get while waiting for the temporary visa would provide the work rights she is after but she can’t cancel the study visa in favour of the bridging visa once we’ve applied. Would it be reasonable to cancel the study visa, get a shorter tourist visa and then apply for the partner visa so she can start working sooner? or would this come across looking quite dodgy/not work for some reason?
Hey Jeff, I’m an Australian living in Australia, and married my partner in the US where he still resides. He is coming to visit me on an ETA with no restrictions on it. When he is here, can we apply for an onshore partner visa? Thank you.
I don’t manage visa applications from the US. I can’t comment, sorry.
hi jeff,
im currently holding tourist visa here in sydney i want to stay longer with my partner but i cannot lodge partner visa because we need more than 12 months together but we are 2 years in a relationship ldr before we only spent 6 months together what visa can still help me to stay longer here in sydney i want to work as well.
You won’t be able to work on a tourist visa, Jene. Please get an assessment and consider becoming our client if you want the best result.