Can Your Partner Get PR Too?
Many skilled migrants in Australia, including students, graduates, and workers, often ask a common question:
“Can my spouse or partner also get Permanent Residency (PR)?”
The short answer is yes. Australia’s migration system recognises partners and families, giving them several ways to stay together and obtain PR either alongside or after the main applicant.
Whether you’re applying for a Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189), a State Nominated Visa (Subclass 190), or planning a Partner Visa, your spouse can often be included in your PR journey, provided they meet the basic health, character, and relationship requirements.
In this article, we’ll explain the main PR options available for spouses or de facto partners of skilled migrants, and how each pathway works depending on your visa status, from being included in your skilled visa application to applying independently or through a partner sponsorship.
By understanding these pathways, you and your partner can plan your migration timeline strategically and stay together throughout the journey toward Permanent Residency in Australia.
Option 1: Included as a Dependent in the Skilled Visa Application
If you are applying for a Skilled Migration Visa, such as Subclass 189 (Independent), 190 (State Nominated), or 491 (Regional), your spouse or de facto partner can be included in the same visa application as a secondary applicant.
This is one of the simplest ways for couples to migrate together and achieve PR at the same time.
Who Qualifies as a Partner or Dependent
Your partner can be:
- A legally married spouse, or
- A de facto partner (living together for at least 12 months or registered under state law).
You must be able to prove that your relationship is genuine and ongoing, supported by documents such as shared leases, financial statements, or joint bills.
What the Partner Must Meet
The dependent spouse or partner must:
- Satisfy health and character requirements.
- Provide evidence of competent English (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent).
- If you are claiming partner points, they must also hold a valid skills assessment in an eligible occupation.
If you are not claiming partner points, only proof of the relationship and competent English is required.
Benefits of This Option
- Both the main applicant and partner receive the same visa status once approved.
- The partner has full work and study rights in Australia.
- When the visa leads to PR, both become permanent residents together.
Including your partner in your skilled visa application is ideal for couples who are already living together or planning to migrate at the same time, it simplifies the process and ensures you both share the same visa pathway from the start.
Option 2: Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801 or 309/100)
If you are already an Australian Permanent Resident, Citizen, or eligible New Zealand Citizen, your spouse or de facto partner may be eligible for a Partner Visa, one of the most common family-based pathways to PR.
This visa allows couples to live together in Australia while the partner’s PR is being processed, and it’s suitable whether your spouse is in Australia (onshore) or outside Australia (offshore).
Two Stages of the Partner Visa
The Partner Visa is processed in two stages, but both are applied for at the same time:
- Temporary Partner Visa
- Subclass 820 (onshore) or Subclass 309 (offshore)
- Allows the applicant to live, work, and study in Australia while awaiting the permanent stage.
- Permanent Partner Visa
- Subclass 801 (onshore) or Subclass 100 (offshore)
- Granted about two years later, once the relationship is confirmed to be genuine and continuing.
Who Can Apply
The partner must be:
- Married to an Australian citizen, PR holder, or eligible NZ citizen, or
- In a de facto relationship (living together for at least 12 months or registered under state law).
The relationship must be proven through comprehensive documentation, including shared finances, cohabitation evidence, communication records, and social recognition.
Why Choose This Pathway
- The partner gains independent PR status, not tied to the skilled visa holder.
- Suitable for couples where one partner already has PR or citizenship.
- The partner can live and work in Australia while waiting for the permanent visa stage.
The Partner Visa is ideal for skilled migrants who have already obtained PR and now wish to bring their spouse to Australia permanently, or for couples where one partner is already settled in Australia and wants to reunite under a legitimate and long-term visa pathway.
Option 3: From Dependent to Independent PR Applicant
In some cases, the spouse or partner of a skilled migrant may also qualify to apply for Permanent Residency independently through their own skills and experience.
This option is especially relevant for partners who already hold temporary visas such as the 485 Graduate Visa or have gained local work experience in Australia.
How It Works
While one partner applies for or holds a skilled visa, the other can:
- Gain relevant work experience in an eligible occupation.
- Obtain a positive skills assessment from the proper assessing authority.
- Take an English proficiency test (IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL).
- Submit their own Expression of Interest (EOI) for a Skilled Migration Visa, such as Subclass 189, 190, or 491.
This independent route allows the second partner to secure their own PR status, even if the main applicant’s visa is still temporary.
Why Couples Choose This Option
- Faster pathway if the spouse’s occupation is more in demand or requires lower points.
- Helps couples increase their chances, both can pursue PR separately and see who gets invited first.
- Once either partner obtains PR, the other can later apply for a Partner Visa.
This dual approach is often used by couples studying or working in Australia, as it gives them flexibility and two potential PR routes instead of one.
It’s a practical way to strengthen a family’s overall migration plan, especially when both partners have skills recognised under Australia’s migration system.
How RACC Can Help
Planning a PR pathway as a couple can be complex, especially when one partner holds a skilled visa and the other is still exploring their options.
That’s where RACC Indonesia helps you find the most effective strategy to ensure both partners can live, work, and settle permanently in Australia.
Our team provides:
- Eligibility checks to see whether the spouse can be included in the skilled visa or should apply independently.
- Guidance on skills assessments, English tests, and EOI preparation for both partners.
- Assistance with Partner Visa documentation, including relationship evidence and sponsorship requirements.
- Long-term PR planning, so both partners can align their timelines and visa stages efficiently.
Whether you want to apply together, bring your spouse later, or help them apply independently, RACC ensures your migration plan is accurate, legal, and achievable.
Every couple’s journey is different, but with the right strategy, both partners can build a future in Australia together.
Contact RACC Indonesia today for a consultation on the best PR options for you and your spouse.
