Partner Visa Sponsor Requirements in Australia

Migratio Editorial · Last updated 24 July 2026

TL;DR: To sponsor a partner visa, you must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or older. There is a lifetime limit of two sponsorships and a mandatory five-year gap between them. Sponsors must provide police checks, disclose any relevant criminal convictions to the applicant, and commit to two years of financial and accommodation support.

Applying for a partner visa in Australia is a two-part process. The applicant lodges the visa application, and the Australian-based partner lodges a sponsorship application at the same time. Both must meet their respective requirements for the visa to be granted. While much of the focus tends to fall on what the applicant needs to prove — genuine relationship, health checks, character — the sponsor side carries its own set of legal obligations and eligibility criteria that can affect the outcome just as significantly.

This article covers who is eligible to act as a sponsor, the limits on how many times a person can sponsor, the character and police check requirements that apply specifically to sponsors, and the ongoing obligations that come with the role. It covers the partner visa subclasses most commonly applied for: subclasses 820 and 801 (onshore), 309 and 100 (offshore), and 300 (prospective marriage).

Sponsorship Limits: The Lifetime Cap and the Five-Year Rule

Police Checks and Character Requirements for Sponsors

Disclosure of Criminal History to the Applicant

Same-Sex and De Facto Couples

How the Sponsorship Application Works

Frequently asked questions

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