Australian Partner Visa for Sri Lankan Citizens

How do Sri Lankan citizens apply for an Australian partner visa?

A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens is applied for online through ImmiAccount, on the pathway that matches where the Sri Lankan partner is and the couple's relationship, with Sri Lankan civil documents, a Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate, English translations and evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing. The Australian partner sponsors the application. There is no separate partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens in Australian law, and the legal test is the same as for every other nationality.

This article sets out how to apply for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens in the order the work is actually done. It covers who can sponsor, which subclass fits, the visa the Sri Lankan partner already holds in Australia, the three Sri Lankan marriage laws, birth and identity records, divorce records, Sinhala and Tamil translations, the police certificate, family-arranged introductions, the four aspects of the relationship, lodgement and the review deadline if the application is refused. It is written for Sri Lankan citizens and for their Australian partners, who are usually the people who make the first enquiry. For the general rules that apply to every couple, read the complete guide to partner visas in Australia.

A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens often starts in Australia, because many Sri Lankan citizens meet their partners while studying or working here. In those cases the visa already held, and any condition on it, can decide whether an application can be made in Australia at all. Couples who want that checked before they lodge can speak with our partner visa lawyers.

The application process at a glance

A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens usually moves through the following stages. Each stage is explained in the sections below.

• Confirm that the Australian partner can sponsor and that the relationship meets the legal definition.
• Choose the pathway: Subclass 820 and Subclass 801, Subclass 309 and Subclass 100, or Subclass 300.
• If the Sri Lankan partner is in Australia, check the current visa, its conditions and any earlier refusal.
• Obtain the Sri Lankan marriage certificate, birth certificate, National Identity Card details and any divorce records.
• Arrange English translations of documents in Sinhala or Tamil.
• Apply for the Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate and any other police certificates needed.
• Gather evidence of the four aspects of the relationship and prepare the relationship statement and Form 888 statements.
• Lodge the application in ImmiAccount, pay the charge and respond to requests from the Department.

The legal test the Department applies

The Department assesses whether the couple are married or in a de facto relationship, whether the relationship is genuine and continuing, whether they have a mutual commitment to a shared life together to the exclusion of all others, and whether they live together or do not live apart on a permanent basis. It weighs the financial aspects of the relationship, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. These are the same tests for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens as for anyone else. The partner visa evidence guide explains how decision makers weigh them.

Who can sponsor a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens?

An Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen who is the Sri Lankan citizen's spouse, de facto partner or fiancé can sponsor a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens, provided the sponsor is approved and is not caught by a sponsorship limitation. The sponsor's nationality of origin does not matter. Many sponsors are themselves Sri Lankan born Australians, and many are not.

The relationship must be a marriage, a de facto relationship or an engagement

A married couple apply as spouses. The marriage must be valid under Australian law, which in most cases means a marriage validly registered in Sri Lanka, in Australia or in another country. A de facto couple must generally have been in the de facto relationship for at least 12 months before the application is made, unless an exception applies, such as registration of the relationship in an Australian state or territory. The article on whether a de facto couple really need 12 months and the de facto partner visa article explain those rules. An engaged couple who intend to marry in Australia can consider the Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa.

Same-sex couples apply for the same visa on the same terms. Our page on the same-sex and LGBTI partner visa explains how those applications are prepared.

Sponsorship limitations

Regulation 1.20J generally limits a sponsor to two partner sponsorships in a lifetime, with at least five years between them, unless there are compelling circumstances. Further limits apply where a sponsor was themselves sponsored as a partner within the last five years. A sponsor who came to Australia on a partner visa, or who has sponsored before, should have this checked first. The Partner Visa Sponsorship Limitations page and the article on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner visa set out the rules.

Family violence and character concerns about a sponsor

The Department also assesses whether a sponsor has relevant convictions, particularly offences involving violence or children. A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens is not affected by this test in most cases, but a sponsor with a criminal history should get advice before the application is lodged. Where a relationship ends because of family violence, separate rules apply, which are explained on our family violence partner visa page.

Applying in Australia or outside Australia: choosing the right subclass

The right subclass for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens depends on where the Sri Lankan partner is when the application is lodged and whether the couple are already married or in a de facto relationship. The applicant must be in Australia when an onshore Subclass 820 application is made, and outside Australia when an offshore Subclass 309 application is made.

Applying in Australia: Subclass 820 and Subclass 801

The Subclass 820 onshore partner visa is lodged together with the permanent Subclass 801 in one combined application. The applicant is usually granted a bridging visa while the application is processed, which normally allows them to remain in Australia. The Subclass 820 vs Subclass 801 explainer shows how the two stages fit together, and the Subclass 820 partner visa requirements guide sets out the criteria.

Applying from Sri Lanka or a third country: Subclass 309 and Subclass 100

Where the Sri Lankan partner lives in Sri Lanka or another country, the combined Subclass 309 offshore partner visa and Subclass 100 is lodged online. Nobody posts a paper application from Colombo. In practice, the Australian partner is usually the person who gathers the evidence, coordinates documents from Sri Lanka and deals with the firm. The applicant must be outside Australia when the Subclass 309 is granted.

Engaged couples marrying in Australia: Subclass 300

The Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa allows a Sri Lankan fiancé to come to Australia to marry the sponsor. After the marriage, the holder can apply in Australia for the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 at a much lower charge.

What the Department charges as at October 2026

As at October 2026, the Department of Home Affairs charge for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens starts from AUD 11,710 for most applicants. A Subclass 300 holder applying in Australia for the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 pays from AUD 1,955. One charge covers both stages of the combined application. Charges are reviewed each 1 July. Police certificates, health examinations, translations and biometrics are extra. The article on what a Subclass 820 visa costs explains each cost.

Processing times

Processing times change and depend on the completeness of the file. The articles on Subclass 820 processing times and how long an onshore Subclass 820 takes explain what affects them. A complete application with consistent documents is the main factor within the couple's control.

Sri Lankan students and visitors in Australia: what to check before applying onshore

A Sri Lankan citizen in Australia can usually apply onshore for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens while holding a substantive visa such as a student visa, but condition 8503, an expired visa, or a refusal since last entering Australia can each block or complicate the application. The visa position must be checked before anything else is done.

From a Sri Lankan student visa to a Subclass 820

The student visa route is the most common path into an onshore partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens. A Sri Lankan student who is married to, or in a 12-month de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen or permanent resident can generally lodge the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 while the student visa is still in effect. Timing matters. If the student visa expires before the partner application is lodged, the applicant may become unlawful and face the Schedule 3 criteria.

A bridging visa granted with the partner application usually takes effect when the student visa ends. Work conditions on the bridging visa can differ from those on the student visa. The article on working while waiting for a Subclass 820 and our guide to Bridging visa A explain those rules. Travel during processing requires a Bridging visa B, which is particularly relevant for applicants who need to return to Sri Lanka for a family event.

Some Sri Lankan students are in Australia as the dependant of another student. A dependent student visa holder who forms a new relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident can also apply for a partner visa, but the history of the earlier relationship will be assessed, and it must be disclosed accurately.

Sri Lankan visitors and condition 8503

Many Sri Lankan visitors are granted visitor visas with condition 8503 (No Further Stay), and it is the condition most often missed by couples who plan a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens during a visit. That condition prevents the holder from applying for most substantive visas in Australia, including the Subclass 820, unless the condition is waived first. The article on the Subclass 820 visa and condition 8503 and the tourist visa to partner visa guide explain what needs to happen before a visitor can apply onshore.

Expired student visas and the Schedule 3 criteria

Schedule 3 criteria 3001, 3003 and 3004 apply to an onshore applicant who does not hold a substantive visa when the application is made. A Sri Lankan citizen whose student visa has already expired, or who holds only a bridging visa, will usually need to show compelling reasons for those criteria to be waived. Our Schedule 3 Waiver page, the article on Schedule 3 criteria for unlawful applicants and the Schedule 3 partner visa waiver article explain how a waiver request is made.

After a refused student visa: section 48

Section 48 of the Migration Act 1958 limits the visas that a person in Australia without a substantive visa can apply for after a visa refusal or cancellation since last entering Australia. A refused further student visa is a common way that a Sri Lankan student becomes subject to section 48. The partner visa remains available, but extra validity rules apply: two statutory declarations from Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens must be lodged with the application, made no more than 6 weeks before lodgement, under subparagraph 1124B(3)(e)(iii) of Schedule 1. Form 888 statements do not satisfy that rule. The article on applying for a partner visa after a visa refusal explains the section 48 pathway, and the Visa Cancellations page covers cancelled visas.

The firm obtains the applicant's Australian visa history itself. The applicant does not need to find old bridging visa grant notices or earlier application forms.

Sri Lankan marriage certificates and the three marriage laws

A Sri Lankan marriage is registered under one of three legal systems: the general marriage registration law administered by the Registrar General's Department, the Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act, or the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. The marriage certificate relied on for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens should be the certificate issued under the law the marriage was actually registered under, and its details must match every other part of the application.

General marriages

The Registrar General's Department states that a general marriage is available to parties of any nationality or religion, provided both parties are not Muslims. Notice of marriage is given to the Marriage Registrar of the division, and the Registrar General's Department states that 14 days must elapse after the notice is handed over before a general marriage is registered, unless registration under a special licence is requested. Most marriages between Sinhala Buddhist, Tamil Hindu and Christian couples are registered in this way. The Registrar General's Department also has a specific procedure for a marriage between a Sri Lankan citizen and a foreign national, which is relevant where an Australian partner travels to Sri Lanka to marry.

Kandyan marriages

Some Sinhala couples of Kandyan origin register their marriage under the Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act instead of the general law. The certificate is different, and so is the divorce process. A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens that relies on a Kandyan marriage should describe it accurately in the forms and should include the Kandyan marriage certificate, not a document from a different system.

Muslim marriages

Marriages between Muslims in Sri Lanka are registered under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, which has its own registrars and its own divorce process. A Muslim couple applying for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens should provide the registration document issued under that Act. Where either party has a previous Muslim marriage, the divorce record from that system is also needed.

Ceremony date and registration date

Many Sri Lankan couples hold a ceremony on a different day from the legal registration. A Sinhala wedding may include a poruwa ceremony, and a Tamil Hindu wedding may take place at a kovil, sometimes weeks or months away from the registration. For Australian purposes, the date that matters for a married relationship is the date of the legal marriage. The forms, the relationship statement and the Form 888 statements should all describe both events consistently and should not give the ceremony date as the marriage date if registration happened on another day. Inconsistent marriage dates are one of the simplest errors to avoid and one of the most common to find in a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens.

A religious or cultural ceremony that was never registered is not, on its own, a registered Sri Lankan marriage. A couple in that position may still be able to apply as de facto partners if they meet the de facto rules, or they may need to register the marriage first. That choice should be made with advice before lodgement.

Recognition of a Sri Lankan marriage under Australian law

A marriage validly entered into in Sri Lanka is generally recognised in Australia, subject to the rules in the Marriage Act 1961 on matters such as age, prohibited relationships and an existing marriage. The Department assesses validity under Australian law. A marriage entered into while either party was still legally married to someone else is not a valid marriage for a partner visa, even where the second ceremony was accepted by family or community.

Obtaining certified copies of Sri Lankan certificates

The Registrar General's Department issues certified copies of marriage certificates. It provides an online service for certificates registered from 1 January 1960 to 31 December 2023, and applications can also be made at a Divisional Secretariat. A certified copy issued by the Registrar General's system is the usual document for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens. Couples overseas often ask a family member in Sri Lanka to collect the certificate, or use the online service.

Birth certificates, the National Identity Card and other identity documents

A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens needs reliable identity evidence: the Sri Lankan passport, a birth certificate issued from the Sri Lankan civil registration system, and usually the National Identity Card. These documents establish the applicant's name, date and place of birth and parents' names, which the Department compares with every other document in the file.

Birth certificates

Sri Lankan birth certificates are registered through the civil registration system administered by the Registrar General's Department, and certified copies can be obtained in a similar way to marriage certificates. Older birth certificates are often handwritten and may be in Sinhala or Tamil only. A certified copy and an English translation are both needed.

National Identity Card

The National Identity Card is issued to Sri Lankan citizens and carries an identity number that also appears in other records. The number, the name spelling and the date of birth on the card should match the passport and the birth certificate. A copy of both sides of the card is commonly provided.

Name spelling and name order

Sri Lankan names are often written in different orders or spellings on different documents. A Sinhala name may include a ge name, and a Tamil name may use the father's name as an initial or a surname. Passports, birth certificates and Australian records sometimes record the same name in a different order. These differences are usually innocent, but they must be explained. The Department will see them in the Form 80, in earlier visa applications and in Australian records. Our article on Form 80 personal particulars explains how names and other names should be recorded. An unexplained difference can look like an identity problem in a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens, even when it is not.

Previous marriages and divorce records from Sri Lanka

If either partner has been married before, the partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens must include evidence that the earlier marriage legally ended, by divorce, annulment or death. A divorce of a general marriage in Sri Lanka is a judicial process, and the court decree is the key document. Kandyan and Muslim marriages each have their own divorce procedures and records.

The Registrar General's Department states that, for a Kandyan marriage, a divorce certificate is issued after the 30-day appeal period expires or after any court order if an appeal was made. That timing matters. A second marriage registered before the divorce from the first marriage was final raises a serious validity question. The Department will assess whether the current marriage is valid under Australian law, and the couple should get advice before lodging if the dates are close or unclear.

The same applies to the Australian sponsor. If the sponsor was married before, the sponsor's divorce order should be included. A previous relationship that is not declared, or that is described differently from earlier visa applications, can lead to a finding that false or misleading information was given. The article on why partner visas get refused explains how the integrity criterion works.

Sinhala and Tamil translations

Every document in Sinhala or Tamil that is relied on for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens needs an English translation. Translations made in Australia should be done by a NAATI-certified translator. Translations made outside Australia should be done by a qualified translator and should identify the translator and their qualifications.

The Registrar General's Department also has a process for obtaining translated copies of certificates. Whichever source is used, the translation must match the original exactly, including names, dates, registration numbers and the names of registrars and places. A translation that spells a name differently from the passport creates an inconsistency that the Department may ask about.

Translation also applies to relationship evidence. Messages, letters and social media posts in Sinhala or Tamil should be translated where they are relied on. Selective, dated extracts with translations carry more weight than large volumes of untranslated material. The guide to preparing evidence of a genuine relationship explains how to select evidence.

The Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate

The Sri Lanka Police issues the Police Clearance Certificate that is used for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens. Police certificates are generally needed for each country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16, and the Department usually asks for them at the time of lodgement or during processing.

Applying online through the Sri Lanka Police

The Sri Lanka Police states that applicants can apply through the E-Services section of its website by choosing Clearance Certificates and submitting the application online. Its notice for Sri Lankan citizens living overseas states that the certificate is generally issued within 14 days after the fee is received. The Police Clearance Division of the Sri Lanka Police handles the applications.

Applying from Australia through the High Commission

The Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra states that Sri Lankan citizens who left Sri Lanka after the age of 16 can apply directly online through the Sri Lanka Police website. Those who left before the age of 16, and foreign nationals, apply through the High Commission, which forwards the application to the Sri Lanka Police. The High Commission requires signed original application documents and certified copies of identity documents for postal applications.

Other countries and Australia

Many Sri Lankan applicants have lived in other countries for work or study, for example in the Middle East, Singapore or Malaysia. A police certificate from each country where the 12-month rule is met will be needed. An applicant who has lived in Australia for the relevant period may also need an Australian police check. The partner visa document checklist explains the general police certificate requirements.

Timing

Police certificates have a limited period of validity for visa purposes. Obtaining them too early can mean they expire before the decision. Obtaining them too late can delay the decision. The timing should be planned with the expected processing of the partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens in mind.

Family-arranged introductions and proposals

A family-arranged introduction does not make a relationship less genuine, and the Department does not refuse a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens because the couple were introduced by family, through a marriage proposal or through a matchmaking service. What the Department needs is evidence that, whatever the introduction, the relationship that followed is genuine and continuing and that the couple share a mutual commitment to a shared life together.

How arranged introductions are assessed

Arranged introductions are common in both Sinhala and Tamil families, and they often lead to a short engagement and an early wedding. Decision makers see this pattern frequently. The risk is not the arrangement itself. The risk is a file that does not explain it. A couple who were introduced by parents, met a few times and then married should say so plainly in their relationship statement, and should then describe how the relationship has developed since: how often they communicate, what they know about each other, how they have spent time together and what they plan for the future.

Horoscope matching and family approval

Families sometimes compare horoscopes, consult relatives and meet several times before agreeing to a marriage. These steps are part of the history of the relationship and can be described in the relationship statement in the couple's own words. Parents and relatives who were involved in the introduction can often give useful Form 888 statements, provided they are Australian citizens or permanent residents. Relatives in Sri Lanka can still give written evidence, but it should not be presented as a Form 888 statement if the person does not meet the Form 888 requirements.

Short courtship and limited time together

Where the couple spent little time together before marrying, or have lived in different countries since the wedding, the Department will look closely at the nature of the commitment and at the couple's communication. The answer is evidence, not argument. In a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens built on an arranged introduction, the period after the wedding usually carries the most weight. Travel records, wedding photographs with family, regular communication, money sent between the partners, and plans to live together all help explain a relationship that began through an arranged introduction.

Evidence of the four aspects for Sri Lankan couples

Evidence of the four aspects of the relationship for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens is the same evidence that every couple provides, but it often looks different in practice because of family structures, remittances, religious communities and long periods apart. The Department weighs the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment together, and no single document decides the case.

Financial aspects

Joint bank accounts, shared bills, a joint lease or mortgage, and transfers between the partners are the usual financial evidence. Many Sri Lankan applicants also send money to parents or siblings in Sri Lanka, and this is one of the most common features of the financial evidence in a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens. That is not a problem, but it should be explained, so that a decision maker does not read regular transfers to family as a lack of financial pooling between the partners. Where the couple live apart, money sent between them is often the strongest financial evidence available. The 820 partner visa evidence checklist lists the common financial documents.

Nature of the household

Evidence of living together, such as a lease, mail at the same address and shared household arrangements, is central for onshore couples. Some Sri Lankan couples live with the sponsor's parents or other relatives, particularly in the first years after the wedding. In a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens that arrangement is common and acceptable, but the relationship statement should explain who lives in the house, how the household runs and how the couple share responsibilities.

Social aspects

Social evidence shows that the couple present themselves as a couple to family, friends and the community. For a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens, this often includes wedding photographs with both families, attendance together at temple, kovil, church or mosque, participation in Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations or other community events, and invitations addressed to both partners. Form 888 statements from people who know the couple in Australia are part of this evidence. The articles on who can make a Form 888 and Form 888 example answers and common mistakes explain how those statements work.

Nature of the commitment

The nature of the commitment is shown by the length of the relationship, knowledge of each other's circumstances, plans for the future, support during difficult times and the way the couple have dealt with periods apart. Couples who married after an arranged introduction should give particular attention to this aspect, because it is where the development of the relationship after the introduction is best explained.

Communication evidence

Sri Lankan couples who spend time apart often use WhatsApp, Viber, IMO, Facebook Messenger and ordinary phone calls. Communication evidence is relevant, but it is not enough on its own. It should be selective, dated and identifiable, with English translations where the messages are in Sinhala or Tamil. A summary of call logs over a period, with a sample of messages, is usually more useful than thousands of screenshots. The article on partner visa evidence explains how communication evidence fits with the four aspects.

The relationship statement and Form 888 statements

A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens has one relationship statement, which is the couple's own account of how they met, how the relationship developed and how they live now, together with Form 888 statements from supporting witnesses. Both are the people's own evidence. They must be accurate, consistent with each other and consistent with the documents.

The relationship statement

The relationship statement should cover the introduction, including any family arrangement, the first meetings, the engagement and wedding, the decision to live in Australia and the way the couple manage daily life. It should cover the four aspects of the relationship in a natural way, without turning them into a checklist. The article on how to write a partner visa relationship statement gives examples.

Form 888 statements

Form 888 statements are supporting statements from Australian citizens or permanent residents who know the couple. Each witness should describe what they personally know. Witnesses should not copy the couple's statement or each other's statements. Form 888 statements are not statutory declarations. Where section 48 applies, two statutory declarations are needed in addition, as explained earlier in this article.

Other forms

The Australian partner completes the online sponsorship. The applicant may be asked to complete Form 80 with a full personal history. A person who appoints the firm completes the appointment form, which is explained in the article on Form 956 and Form 956A.

Lodging the application and what happens after lodgement

A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens is lodged online through ImmiAccount, with the charge paid at lodgement and the supporting documents uploaded with the application or soon after. The Department then processes the application, may request further information and may invite the applicant to provide health examinations, biometrics or police certificates.

Creating the application

The application is lodged through ImmiAccount. The guide on how to create an ImmiAccount explains the account set up. The 820 visa guide to requirements, documents and how to apply and the onshore Subclass 820 visa explainer describe the onshore process in more detail.

Changes of circumstances

If the couple's address, contact details, relationship status or family composition changes after lodgement, the Department must be told. The article on Form 1022 change of circumstances explains when to notify. If the relationship ends, the article on what happens when a Subclass 820 relationship breaks down explains the options.

Requests and natural justice letters

The Department may send a request for more information under section 56, or a natural justice letter under section 57 setting out adverse information and inviting a response. The articles on responding to a section 56 request and on responding to a section 57 natural justice letter explain what to do. A section 57 letter in a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens often concerns a marriage date, a previous relationship or an earlier visa answer, and the response deadline is short.

The bridging visa

An onshore applicant is usually granted a bridging visa with the application. The bridging visas in Australia guide explains how bridging visas attach to a valid application and how they affect work and travel.

Refusal risks for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens and the 28-day review deadline

A partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens is usually refused because the Department is not satisfied that the relationship is genuine and continuing, because it finds false or misleading information, or because an onshore applicant did not meet a Schedule 3 or condition 8503 requirement. Each reason needs a different response, and each response depends on acting within the review deadline.

The common factual patterns include an arranged introduction that was not explained, a short engagement with little evidence of the relationship since the wedding, marriage dates that differ between documents, an undisclosed previous marriage or relationship, names spelt differently with no explanation, and earlier student or visitor visa applications that recorded a different marital status. The article on why Subclass 820 visas are refused describes these patterns.

Review deadline and ART fee as at October 2026

The review deadline is fixed by subsection 347(3) of the Migration Act 1958. An application to the Administrative Review Tribunal must be made within 28 days after the day the applicant is notified of the refusal, or within 7 days if the applicant is in immigration detention. No one can extend that time. An application made late is not properly made, and the Tribunal has no jurisdiction to deal with it.

The ART fee for reviewing a refused partner visa is AUD 3,727 for fees paid on or after 1 July 2026, which is the figure as at October 2026. It must be paid before the review deadline expires. The Tribunal may reduce the fee by 50% for financial hardship, and it refunds 50% of the fee paid if the decision is set aside, varied or remitted to the Department.

For an onshore Subclass 820 refusal, the Sri Lankan applicant applies for review and must be in Australia. For a Subclass 309 refusal where the Sri Lankan partner is outside Australia, the Australian sponsor applies for review under subsection 338(5). Our Partner Visa Refusals and Visa Refusals pages, the article on appeal options after a partner visa refusal and the ART review guide explain the process. A couple who have just received a refusal should obtain urgent immigration lawyer advice and read about when a visa appeal lawyer is needed.

What Tribunal decisions show for arranged marriages, registration and visa history

Tribunal decisions show that arranged marriages, limited time together, religious ceremonies that were not registered, translation errors and onshore visa history are issues the Tribunal examines closely in partner visa reviews. Every decision listed below was remitted, which means the Tribunal sent the matter back to the Department to reconsider it. The headnotes of these decisions do not state the nationality of any party, and nothing about nationality should be read into them. They are listed because their reported issues match the risk points for a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens.

• Gillard (Migration) [2019] AATA 2934, Subclass 309: the reported issues were a concern about the reliability of certain evidence, a language barrier, an arranged marriage, and the relatives' evidence being credible.
• 1803597 (Migration) [2019] AATA 508, Subclass 309: the reported issues were a genuine and continuing relationship, an arranged marriage, living in separate countries, and little time spent together.
• HUSSAIN (Migration) [2022] AATA 1875, Subclass 309: the reported issues were a genuine and continuing relationship, a marriage arranged by parents, money transfers, and the applicant living with the sponsor's parents.
• Saadie (Migration) [2024] ARTA 862, Subclass 309: the reported issues were an expedited hearing, a genuine and continuing relationship, and a valid marriage in the home country months after being introduced and days after meeting in person.
• Mahrami (Migration) [2019] AATA 4654, Subclass 309: the reported issues were a genuine spouse or de facto relationship, a valid marriage, a religious wedding not properly registered in the home country, and remarriage in another country.
• Rai (Migration) [2018] AATA 4906, Subclass 309: the reported issues were bogus documentation, a birth certificate, an unintended translation error, and a new translated certificate that was consistent on the main issues.
• Namsombun (Migration) [2020] AATA 2611, Subclass 820: the reported issues were an application made more than 28 days after the last substantive visa was held, and a bridging visa held pending review of the refusal of a further student visa.
• Tang (Migration) [2026] ARTA 374, Subclass 820: the reported issues were a genuine and continuing relationship, a valid marriage in the home country, a previous application refused, the sponsor's regular visits and the applicant's arrival on a visitor visa.

These decisions do not decide any other couple's case. Each turned on its own evidence. What they show is that an arranged introduction, a quick marriage, an unregistered ceremony, a translation error or an onshore visa problem can each be dealt with when the evidence explains the facts clearly. They also show that the same issues, left unexplained at the application stage, can lead to a refusal that then has to be taken to review.

How My Migration Lawyers handles a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens

My Migration Lawyers handles a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens by settling the pathway and the Sri Lankan partner's visa position first, then checking the marriage certificate against the law it was registered under, and reviewing every Sri Lankan document, translation and police certificate against the forms and the relationship evidence before the application is lodged. The firm acts in many partner matters for Sri Lankan citizens and their Australian partners, deals with complex cases such as expired student visas, condition 8503, section 48, Schedule 3, Kandyan and Muslim marriages, previous divorces and arranged introductions as a regular part of its work, and is capable of handling these matters from first advice to decision.

The work follows a set sequence.

• Visa position and pathway. The firm obtains the Sri Lankan partner's Australian visa history itself, confirms whether the Subclass 820, Subclass 309 or Subclass 300 is the right pathway, and checks condition 8503, section 48 and Schedule 3 exposure, with particular attention to the expiry date of any student visa.
• Sponsor check. The firm confirms that the Australian partner can sponsor, including any earlier sponsorship or the sponsor's own partner visa history.
• Marriage law and documents. The firm identifies whether the marriage is a general, Kandyan or Muslim marriage, confirms the registration date, and tells the couple which certified copies, birth records, identity documents and divorce records are needed.
• Names and translations. The firm compares name order and spelling, dates of birth and marriage dates across the passport, National Identity Card, certificates, translations and earlier visa applications, and identifies anything that needs to be corrected or explained.
• Police certificates. The firm advises when to apply for the Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate and which other police certificates are needed for the countries where the applicant has lived.
• Evidence review. The relationship statement and Form 888 statements are the couple's and the witnesses' own evidence. The firm reviews them, together with the financial and communication evidence, identifies gaps and inconsistencies, including how an arranged introduction is explained, and the couple correct and confirm their own words.
• Lodgement, processing and review. The firm lodges the application, responds to requests from the Department, advises on any section 56 request or section 57 letter, and advises on the 28-day review deadline straight away if a decision goes against the couple.

Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer, leads the firm's partner visa practice. You can read more about My Migration Lawyers and about Weiwei Zhang, and see how the firm works as partner visa lawyers in Australia. The firm also explains when an immigration lawyer is needed for a partner visa, whether legal help is worth it compared with doing it yourself, the difference between a migration agent and an immigration lawyer and how to choose a partner visa lawyer in Australia. The firm charges fixed fees under a written costs agreement, which is explained in the article on fixed-fee immigration lawyers, and the article on booking an immigration lawyer consultation explains what to prepare. Couples who have already lodged their own application can read about hiring an immigration lawyer after lodgement or getting a second opinion.

Consultations are held by video, and My Migration Lawyers acts for Sri Lankan citizens and their partners across Australia, including clients of our partner visa lawyers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart and Parramatta. For other visa matters, the firm's immigration lawyers act for clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart and Parramatta.

The firm cannot promise any outcome. It can make sure that a partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens is lodged on the right pathway, at the right time, with the right Sri Lankan documents, consistent details and evidence that explains the relationship clearly.

Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers to have your partner visa for Sri Lankan citizens checked before you lodge, or as soon as a problem arises. You can also call 1300 040 300.