Implications of a relationship ending on a Partner visa in Australia

Navigating the complexities of partner visas in Australia can be daunting, especially when faced with the uncertainty of a relationship ending unexpectedly. Partner visas are exclusively granted to genuine and committed relationships. However, we recognise that not all relationships unfold as anticipated, for various reasons. If you find yourself on a partner visa and your relationship comes to an end, it's crucial to understand your rights and options. Our Australian Migration Lawyers understand the stress and confusion this situation can bring. That's why we're here to guide you through the implications and potential pathways forward.

Las consecuencias de la ruptura de una relación estando en posesión de un visado de pareja dependen de si el visado es temporal o permanente, así como de los motivos de la ruptura, reconocidos por el Ministerio del Interior. Si la ruptura de la relación coincide con uno de los motivos aceptados por el Departamento, las consecuencias pueden ser diferentes.

For temporary partner visas, if the relationship breakdown doesn't fall within the Department's accepted reasons, the visa holder may be required to leave Australia unless an alternative visa is secured. Conversely, holders of permanent partner visas generally have the right to remain in Australia, irrespective of their relationship status.

It's essential to recognise your obligations regarding notifying the Department of Home Affairs of any changes to your relationship status. Failure to do so can have serious implications for your immigration status. Our team is here to provide clarity and support during this challenging time. We can help you understand your options for alternative visas and assist you in navigating the Department of Home Affairs process.

Impact of Visa Type on Relationship Breakdown

Las implicaciones de la finalización de su relación dependen del visado que se tenga:

Visado de pareja permanente (Subclase 801/100)

If you are the holder of a permanent partner visa, either subclass 309 or 100, then your right to stay in Australia is permanent. This means that it is not dependent upon your relationship continuing. Therefore, if your relationship does end, you are not required to notify the Department and you can continue living in Australia.

Visado temporal (subclase 820/309)

En caso de que tu relación termine mientras eres titular de un visado temporal de pareja, existe la posibilidad de que tu visado sea revocado. Su principal responsabilidad es informar al Ministerio del Interior del cambio en su situación sentimental. A continuación, le indicamos los pasos que debe seguir para notificarlo al Departamento.

Once you've informed the Department, they will provide an opportunity for you to explain your circumstances. They will then assess whether the cause of your relationship breakdown aligns with their accepted reasons. You'll need to substantiate your claim with evidence, which will undergo a thorough evaluation.

Si el Departamento considera que su explicación y pruebas son satisfactorias, podrá optar a un visado permanente. Sin embargo, si tu explicación o tus pruebas no cumplen sus criterios, el Ministerio puede iniciar el procedimiento de anulación del visado, lo que podría provocar tu salida de Australia. Es crucial que gestiones este proceso con diligencia y que busques asesoramiento profesional si lo necesitas.

Notificación al Ministerio del Interior

Partner visas require proof that a relationship is ‘genuine and continuing. If this changes, and your relationship is no longer genuine or continuing, then you are required to notify the Department of Home Affairs immediately. This is because, without this criterion being met, you are no longer eligible for the visa that you hold.

Existen múltiples formas de notificar al Departamento su cambio de situación:

• La forma más sencilla es cumplimentar el formulario de Notificación de cese de relación en la pestaña "Actualizar datos" de su ImmiAccount.
• También puede notificarlo por correo electrónico presentando un formulario de cambio de circunstancias (formulario 1022).

Es importante notificar inmediatamente el cambio al Departamento. Si se demuestra que su relación ha dejado de ser auténtica y no lo ha notificado al Departamento, su visado puede ser anulado sin darle ninguna oportunidad de explicar sus circunstancias.

Options to remain in Australia: The step-by-step process

Una vez que haya notificado al Departamento su cambio de situación, existe la posibilidad de que pueda permanecer en Australia con un visado permanente, dependiendo de sus circunstancias personales. Pueden aceptarse las siguientes circunstancias:

1. You are experiencing domestic and family violence.
2. You have a child with your sponsor.
3. Your partner dies.

Si se da alguna de estas circunstancias, debe dar explicaciones y aportar pruebas al Ministerio. Una vez que haya notificado al Departamento su cambio de circunstancias, se le invitará a responder, normalmente en un plazo de 28 días. Se aplican requisitos distintos para cada categoría de la lista:

Violencia doméstica y familiar

If you are in danger, please call the Police on 000. They can help you in an emergency if your life is in danger. You can also call 1800RESPECT for free, over-the-phone counselling services. Domestic and family violence is a matter that is taken very seriously and ensuring your safety is a matter of first priority. It is important to clarify that your partner can not cancel your visa, even if they threaten it.

If you are safe and under no immediate risk of harm, but you have been the victim of domestic or family violence, then you may notify the Department of the change in your relationship status. You will be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances. Domestic and family violence does not have to be physical violence, but includes any behaviour that places you in fear of you or your family’s safety. The following list provides some examples of family violence:

Abuso financiero:

Financial abuse is a behaviour limiting your access to money.

Puede incluir:

• controlar el dinero para que dependas de ellos
• obligarle a firmar préstamos o contratos
• interrogarle sobre las compras que hace o en qué gasta su dinero
• only giving you money for purchases they agree to, or requiring receipts or proof of purchase for items
• utilizar los fondos comunes para uso personal en contra de su voluntad o sin su conocimiento
• contraer deudas de las que también es responsable
• incurrir en multas a su nombre - incluyendo exceso de velocidad, peajes, multas de aparcamiento, etc.
• not allowing you to work, so you are unable to have an income of your own
• Malos tratos relacionados con la dote, como la reclamación de una dote que no se ha pagado y la exigencia coercitiva de más dinero o regalos.

After submitting the change in circumstances form online for your Partner visa and sponsorship application, your partner will be automatically disconnected from all of your ImmiAccounts. This includes:

• Detachment from both your former partner's and migration agent's accounts
• Prioritising your safety and privacy

The form will prompt you to indicate the cessation date of your relationship with your partner. Additionally, it will inquire whether you have encountered family violence or have children with your sponsor. If both circumstances are applicable to your situation, it is crucial to select both the family violence and children of the relationship options on the form. This step ensures that your application is promptly removed, as selection of the family violence option alone triggers the automatic removal.

It is advisable to create a new ImmiAccount, using an email address inaccessible to your former partner. Subsequently, we will reach out to facilitate the transfer of your application to your new ImmiAccount. For this, we will require your:

• New ImmiAccount username
• Email address for this purpose

When asked to provide an explanation of your reason for separation, you will then be required to submit evidence of the violence, such as:

• medical reports
• police records that support claims of family violence

Professionals like social workers and psychologists may also provide evidence, assessing the consistency of claims and identifying perpetrators. Education professionals can offer observations aligned with the victim's claims, highlighting details and identifying alleged perpetrators to strengthen the case.

Si el Departamento está satisfecho con la información que ha facilitado, es posible que aún pueda optar a un visado permanente.

For onshore Subclass 820 Visa applicants or holders, establishing a claim of domestic violence may lead to the grant of a Permanent Partner Subclass 801 visa. However, for offshore Subclass 309 applicants awaiting visa approval, even with a domestic violence claim, the visa won't be granted until the Subclass 309 is approved. Similarly, holders of Subclass 309 visas in Australia awaiting the Permanent Partner Visa – Subclass 100 may be granted the visa upon establishing a domestic violence claim.

Tiene un hijo con su padrino

If you have had a child with your sponsor, but your relationship is no longer continuing, you may still be eligible for Permanent residence in Australia. To qualify under this category, you must have parental responsibility for at least one child under 18 years of age. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that the applicant is the parent of the child. This may be in the form of a birth certificate or any family court orders that concern the child. If the Department accepts your evidence, you may be granted permanent residence.

Muere su pareja

Si la pareja que patrocina su visado ha fallecido, aún puede optar a la residencia permanente. Sin embargo, tendrá que demostrar que su relación habría continuado si aún viviera. También tendrá que aportar pruebas del fallecimiento mediante un certificado de defunción. Es importante notificar el fallecimiento al Departamento lo antes posible.

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Posible anulación del visado

If your relationship is no longer ‘genuine and continuing’, then there is a possibility that your visa may be cancelled. As explained above, there are a number of reasons that permit temporary visa holders to continue on their path to attain permanent residence, even after their relationship has broken down. However, whilst these circumstances can be common, they do not apply to everyone. If your circumstances do not meet the exempt criteria, then it is unlikely that you will be able to retain your temporary visa, and you may be asked to:

• Solicitar un nuevo visado
• O hacer planes de viaje para salir de Australia.

If you believe that your application was incorrectly decided, you might be able to seek review of the decision at Australia’s administrative review tribunal or, further, at the Federal Court. It is imperative to engage an Australian Migration Lawyer through this process.

Solicitar otro visado

In the event that your partner visa is cancelled, and you are not eligible for a permanent partner visa under one of the categories listed above, you may seek to apply for a different visa. It is not uncommon for applicants to do this, as many have established a meaningful life in Australia and do not seek to return to their home country. Some of the visa options you may consider applying for include:

• Visados de estudiante
• Visado para inmigrantes cualificados
• Visado de vacaciones
• Visado de protección

Una vez que haya solicitado un visado diferente, se le concederá un visado puente que le permitirá permanecer en Australia hasta que se haya estudiado su solicitud.

Busque asesoramiento jurídico si su relación ha terminado y tiene un visado de pareja

If your relationship has ended and you hold a partner visa, it is important to seek legal advice. It is not uncommon for people to notify the Department that their relationship has ended without their knowledge. Resultantly, you may be caught unaware when the Department may then issue you a letter asking you to explain your circumstances. There are tight time frames in which you are required to respond to these requests, and failure to comply may result in visa cancellation. Engaging a lawyer will ensure that the information you provide is satisfactory to meet the Department’s standards and give you the best chance possible of retaining your visa.

Contratar a un abogado de inmigración australiano es muy valioso cuando su relación termina mientras es titular de un visado de pareja. Nuestro equipo le proporcionará experiencia en leyes de inmigración, le ofrecerá asesoramiento personalizado, le ayudará con la preparación de la documentación y le representará en las comunicaciones con las autoridades de inmigración. Con nuestro apoyo, usted puede navegar por los requisitos de visado con eficacia, aumentando sus posibilidades de conservar su visado y aliviar el estrés durante todo el proceso.

Preguntas frecuentes

What happens if my partner’s relationship ends while on a temporary visa?

If your relationship ends while on a temporary partner visa (subclass 820 or 309), you must notify the Department of Home Affairs. Unless you qualify for permanent residency under special circumstances (such as family violence, having a child with your sponsor, or the death of the sponsor), the Department may cancel your visa and you may need to leave Australia or apply for another visa immediately.

Can I stay in Australia if my relationship ends, but I have a child?

Yes, if you and your sponsoring partner have a child together and you have ongoing parental responsibility or involvement, you may still be eligible for a permanent partner visa even if the relationship ends.

What evidence is needed to prove domestic violence to the Department?

The Department of Home Affairs accepts both judicial and non-judicial evidence, such as:

• Court orders (intervention or protection orders) under the state or territory law
• Police reports corroborating the domestic violence
• Assessments from qualified professionals (for example, doctors, psychologists, or social workers)

Do I need to inform the Department if my partner dies?

Yes. You must notify the Department of Home Affairs immediately if your sponsoring partner passes away. In many cases, you may still be eligible for the permanent partner visa, provided the relationship was genuine and continuing at the time of your partner’s death.

Why should I contact a migration lawyer after a breakup?

A relationship breakdown can place your visa status at risk, particularly if you are on a temporary visa. A migration lawyer can:

• Assess whether an exception applies to your case
• Advise you on alternative visa options
• Help you notify the Department correctly
• Reduce the risk of your becoming unlawful

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Reservar consulta

Si está interesado en obtener más información sobre un visado, póngase en contacto con Australian Migration Lawyers para una consulta.

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