Sponsoring a Partner From Bahrain

To sponsor partner from Bahrain, the Australian partner must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over, and must be approved as a sponsor by the Department of Home Affairs. The partner then applies for a partner visa as a spouse or de facto partner, or for a prospective marriage visa if the couple is engaged. The law is the same for every nationality. What makes a sponsor partner from Bahrain matter different is who the partner is, where they have lived and how the marriage was formalised.

This guide is written for two different groups of sponsors. The first group wants to sponsor partner from Bahrain who is a Bahraini citizen. The second group wants to sponsor a partner who is a citizen of another country but lives and works in Bahrain, often after meeting there while the Australian sponsor was also working in the Gulf. Both groups use the same visa subclasses. They face different visitor visa rules, different police certificate lists and, often, different documents.

The firm's partner visa lawyers page explains how My Migration Lawyers handles these matters, and the complete guide to partner visas in Australia explains every subclass in detail.

Can you sponsor partner from Bahrain for an Australian partner visa?

Yes. An eligible Australian sponsor can sponsor partner from Bahrain for an Australian partner visa, whether the partner is a Bahraini citizen or a foreign resident of Bahrain. The application is decided under the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994, not under any special arrangement for Bahrain.

There are three pathways when you sponsor partner from Bahrain:

• Subclass 309 and Subclass 100. The partner applies from outside Australia, which includes applying from Bahrain. The Subclass 309 partner visa is the temporary stage, and the Subclass 100 is the permanent stage.
• Subclass 820 and Subclass 801. The partner applies while in Australia. The Subclass 820 partner visa is the temporary stage, and the Subclass 801 is the permanent stage.
• Subclass 300. An engaged couple can use the Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa where they intend to marry after the partner arrives in Australia.

The firm's article on the partner visa two-stage process explains how the temporary and permanent stages fit together, and the guide on which partner visa pathway to choose compares the options. Most couples who sponsor partner from Bahrain while the partner is still living there use the Subclass 309. The guide to offshore partner visas explains that route.

Two different partners: a Bahraini citizen or a foreign resident of Bahrain

The first question in any sponsor partner from Bahrain matter is the partner's citizenship, not where they live. A Bahraini citizen and a foreign national who has lived in Bahrain for years are treated very differently on visitor visas, identity documents and police certificates.

A Bahraini citizen partner

A Bahraini citizen partner usually has a Bahraini passport, Bahraini civil documents and a residence history centred on Bahrain, although many Bahrainis have also studied or worked in other countries. Civil documents are commonly issued in Arabic, and some may be bilingual. A Bahraini citizen who wants to visit Australia before or during the application will usually need a Visitor visa (Subclass 600). The visitor visa rules are discussed below.

A foreign national who lives and works in Bahrain

Many people living in Bahrain are not Bahraini citizens. A partner from India, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Egypt or any other country may have lived and worked in Bahrain for years. For that partner, the sponsor partner from Bahrain application is built on the partner's own nationality:

• the passport and visitor visa options depend on the partner's citizenship, not on Bahrain;
• identity and civil documents usually come from the country of citizenship;
• police certificates are usually needed from Bahrain and from the country of citizenship, if the partner lived in each for 12 months or more in total in the last 10 years since turning 16; and
• a residence permit in Bahrain is commonly linked to employment, so a job change or the end of a contract can affect where the partner will be when the application is lodged or decided.

For a partner in this group, the firm's nationality guides may also help, such as the guides on the partner visa for Indian citizens, the partner visa for Filipino citizens, the partner visa for Egyptian citizens and the partner visa for UK citizens. These explain documents from the country of citizenship. This article deals with the Bahrain side of the file.

An Australian sponsor working in Bahrain

Many couples who want to sponsor partner from Bahrain met while the Australian sponsor was working in the Gulf. A citizen sponsor can sponsor while living overseas. A permanent resident sponsor living overseas needs to consider usual residence and the travel facility on their own visa. The guides on the partner visa sponsor living overseas and the partner visa sponsor resident return visa explain those issues. The short answer on the partner visa process if you live overseas summarises the practical steps.

Met while working in Bahrain: how does the Department look at the relationship?

A relationship that began while both partners were working in Bahrain is assessed under the same legal test as any other relationship. The Department does not treat a workplace or expatriate meeting as a negative factor. It looks at how the relationship developed and what the couple's shared life looks like now.

Expatriate relationships in the Gulf often share some features that affect a sponsor partner from Bahrain application:

• Employer housing. One or both partners may have lived in accommodation provided by an employer, so there may be no lease in joint names.
• Fixed-term contracts. A contract ending can separate the couple suddenly, with one partner returning to Australia and the other remaining in Bahrain or moving elsewhere.
• Family involvement. Marriage arrangements may involve families in more than one country, and family meetings may have happened by video before they happened in person.
• Different legal systems. The couple may have had to choose where to marry, and the answer affects the documents and the recognition analysis.

None of these features is a problem on its own. Each one needs to be explained with evidence. The firm's guide on partner visa informal living arrangements helps with employer housing, and the guide on a partner visa where the couple lived apart for work explains how periods of separation are treated. Couples whose relationship developed quickly once they met in person can read the short answer on marrying soon after meeting.

Arranged and introduced marriages

Some couples who sponsor partner from Bahrain were introduced by family or friends. An introduced or arranged marriage is a valid basis for a spouse visa if both parties consented and the relationship is genuine. The Department looks at how the couple came to know each other, the role of the families and the relationship since the marriage. The firm's guides on the partner visa arranged marriage and the short answer on an arranged marriage spouse visa explain how these relationships are evidenced.

Who is eligible to sponsor partner from Bahrain?

A person is eligible to sponsor partner from Bahrain if they are at least 18 and are an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen. The Department must also approve the sponsorship under Division 1.4B of the Migration Regulations 1994.

The firm's guide on partner visa sponsor eligibility explains each requirement. The guide on partner visa sponsor requirements sets out what the sponsor must do after approval, including the undertaking to support the partner. The short answer on who can sponsor a partner visa gives an overview.

Sponsorship limits and character rules

Regulation 1.20J limits most sponsors to two approved partner sponsorships, and generally prevents a new sponsorship within five years of an earlier sponsored partner visa application or the sponsor's own sponsored partner visa application. Regulations 1.20KB and 1.20KC deal with sponsors who have certain convictions. The firm's guide on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner visa explains each bar, and the commercial page on partner visa sponsorship limitations explains how the firm handles them.

A sponsor who wants to sponsor partner from Bahrain after an earlier marriage, including a sponsor who previously sponsored a spouse, should check those dates before lodging. The guide on a partner visa after divorce explains how earlier marriages are treated. An earlier marriage must be legally ended before a new marriage can be recognised, which is discussed below.

Which partner visa fits a sponsor partner from Bahrain application?

The right visa depends on whether the couple is married, in a de facto relationship or engaged, and on where the partner will be when the application is lodged.

• Married couples. A spouse can apply for the Subclass 309 from outside Australia or the Subclass 820 in Australia. Married couples do not need to meet the 12-month de facto requirement.
• De facto couples. A de facto partner usually needs to show 12 months of a de facto relationship immediately before lodgement, under regulation 2.03A, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian State or Territory or an exception applies. The guide on the de facto partner visa in Australia explains the test.
• Engaged couples. An engaged couple who intend to marry in Australia can use the Subclass 300. The partner must be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is granted.

Some couples who sponsor partner from Bahrain do not live together before marriage, for religious or family reasons. That is common in many communities and does not prevent a spouse visa. It does mean the de facto pathway may not be available until the couple marries, and that the evidence must explain the relationship in a way that fits how the couple actually lives. The short answer on not living together for cultural or religious reasons explains how the Department approaches that situation, and the guide on a partner visa without living together covers the evidence.

The short answer on spouse or de facto visa explains the difference in practice, and the guide on onshore versus offshore partner visas explains why most couples where the partner is living in Bahrain choose the offshore route.

Bahrain police certificate: what is the Good Conduct Certificate?

The Bahrain police certificate is the Good Conduct Certificate issued by the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Bahrain. A partner who has lived in Bahrain for a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 will generally need one for a sponsor partner from Bahrain application.

The Government of Bahrain describes the Good Conduct Certificate as an electronic service available through its official National Portal. According to Bahraini Government information, the service is open to Bahraini citizens and to expatriates who have previously lived or worked in Bahrain. An applicant who is outside Bahrain applies online, and needs fingerprints registered with the Ministry of Interior. An applicant whose fingerprints are not registered may need to provide fingerprints taken at a police station in their country of residence. A non-Bahraini applicant who is still in Bahrain may need a residence permit and a minimum period of continuous residence. These requirements can change, so the firm checks the current Department of Home Affairs country page for Bahrain and the Bahraini Government service page at the time of each application.

For any sponsor partner from Bahrain application, the firm's guide on partner visa overseas police certificates explains the general rules. The short answer on police checks for a partner visa explains when the Department asks for them.

Why the foreign resident of Bahrain needs to plan early

A foreign national who has lived and worked in Bahrain is the partner most likely to need the certificate from outside the country, because they may have already left Bahrain when the Department asks for it. Applying while still resident in Bahrain, or registering fingerprints before leaving, can avoid delay. The short answer on what to do if you cannot get a police certificate explains the options if a certificate cannot be obtained.

Which other countries need a police certificate in a sponsor partner from Bahrain application?

Every country where the partner lived for a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 needs a police certificate. The 12 months is counted cumulatively, so several shorter periods in the same country can add up.

This rule matters most in a sponsor partner from Bahrain matter where the partner is a foreign resident, because that partner has usually lived in at least two countries. A typical profile might involve:

• the country of citizenship, where the partner lived before moving to Bahrain;
• Bahrain, where the partner has lived and worked for several years; and
• one or more other Gulf or third countries where the partner worked under earlier contracts.

Each of those countries may need a separate certificate, each with its own process and timing. A Bahraini citizen who studied abroad for 12 months or more may need a certificate from the country of study as well. The firm's guide on partner visa expired police checks explains when certificates need replacing, and the short answer on police certificate and health check validity gives the short version.

The character test is explained in the firm's guide on partner visa character requirements. A partner who has a conviction in any country should read the guide on partner visa overseas convictions before lodging, and should disclose it fully.

Is a marriage in Bahrain recognised in Australia?

Yes, in most cases. A marriage that took place in Bahrain is generally recognised in Australia if it was valid under the law of Bahrain and none of the exceptions in Part VA of the Marriage Act 1961 applies.

For a sponsor partner from Bahrain application, the exceptions mean a marriage is not recognised where, for example:

• either party was already married to someone else at the time of the marriage;
• the parties are within a prohibited relationship under Australian law;
• the consent of either party was not real consent; or
• a party did not meet the age requirements that apply under Part VA.

The firm's guide on whether an overseas marriage is recognised in Australia explains each exception, and the article on a partner visa where the overseas marriage is not recognised explains the options when an exception applies. The short answer on whether an overseas marriage is recognised for a partner visa gives the summary.

Earlier marriages and polygamy

In a sponsor partner from Bahrain matter, an earlier marriage of either party must have been legally ended by divorce or death before the later marriage took place. A marriage entered into while either party was still married to someone else is not recognised for an Australian partner visa, even if it was lawful where it took place. The spouse definition in section 5F of the Migration Act also requires a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others. The short answer on polygamous marriage and a spouse visa explains the rule, and the answer on applying while still divorcing covers couples whose earlier divorce is not final.

Islamic marriage evidence for a sponsor partner from Bahrain application

An Islamic marriage is a recognised marriage for an Australian partner visa where it was legally valid and registered under the law of the place where it took place. The Department looks for official evidence that the marriage was legally formalised, not only evidence that a religious ceremony occurred.

For a marriage in Bahrain, the key document is usually the official marriage contract or certificate issued or registered by the relevant Bahraini authority. A sponsor partner from Bahrain file should also include evidence that supports the legal and personal reality of the marriage, such as:

• the official marriage contract or certificate, with a full English translation;
• evidence of any earlier divorce or death of a former spouse, for either party;
• evidence of the ceremony and any celebration, such as photographs, invitations and guest lists;
• evidence that family members on both sides know of and accept the marriage; and
• evidence of the couple's life after the ceremony, including communication, visits, financial support and plans to live together.

The firm's guides on the partner visa marriage certificate and partner visa wedding photos explain what decision makers look for. The short answer on whether a marriage certificate is enough explains why a certificate alone does not prove a genuine relationship.

A religious ceremony that was never registered

A religious ceremony that has no legal effect under local law is not a recognised marriage. A couple in that position may be able to register the marriage late under local law, marry again in a legally valid ceremony, or apply as de facto partners if they meet the de facto requirements. The short answers on religious and cultural marriages and unregistered marriages explain the options. A marriage conducted by proxy or online raises separate questions, which the answer on proxy and online marriages covers.

Marrying in Australia instead

A couple who prefer to marry in Australia can hold an Islamic ceremony that is also a legal marriage, if it is conducted by an authorised celebrant, such as a registered minister of religion, and the legal steps under the Marriage Act 1961 are met, including a Notice of Intended Marriage given in time. The short answers on how to get married in Australia and the Notice of Intended Marriage explain the steps. Couples who are engaged and want to marry in Australia should consider the Subclass 300.

Arabic documents: what translation does a sponsor partner from Bahrain file need?

Every document in a sponsor partner from Bahrain application that is not in English must be provided with a full English translation. A translation made in Australia should be made by a NAATI-certified translator. A summary or partial translation is not enough.

Arabic is the official language of Bahrain. Translation is therefore one of the most common document issues when people sponsor partner from Bahrain. The marriage contract, birth records, court documents and some police and government documents may be in Arabic or be bilingual. Each Arabic part must be translated, including stamps, endorsements and handwritten notes that carry meaning. Names transliterated from Arabic into English can be spelled in different ways across documents. Those differences should be identified and explained before lodgement, not after the Department raises them.

The firm's guide on partner visa evidence translation explains the requirements. The short answers on translating a marriage certificate, translating messages and different names and dates on documents deal with the common problems. Couples who communicate in Arabic, or in a mix of languages, can read the answer on partners who speak different languages.

Sponsor partner from Bahrain: the order of steps

The order matters because documents from Bahrain and from other countries can take time, and some decisions are difficult to reverse. A sponsor partner from Bahrain matter usually follows this sequence.

• Confirm the sponsor. Check the sponsor's status, age, residence and any earlier partner sponsorship under regulation 1.20J.
• Confirm the partner's citizenship and residence history. Identify whether the partner is a Bahraini citizen or a foreign resident of Bahrain, and list every country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16.
• Confirm the relationship basis. Decide whether the couple will apply as spouses, as de facto partners or as an engaged couple for the Subclass 300, and check that any marriage is recognised.
• Request the police certificates. Apply for the Bahrain Good Conduct Certificate and any other certificates early, especially if the partner is about to leave Bahrain.
• Translate and reconcile documents. Arrange full English translations of Arabic documents and resolve any name or date differences.
• Assemble the relationship evidence. Organise the evidence under the four aspects, and prepare relationship statements and Form 888 statements.
• Lodge the visa application and the sponsorship. The applicant lodges the visa application and the sponsor lodges the sponsorship. The guide on partner visa sponsorship lodgement explains how the two are linked.
• Complete health examinations and biometrics. The Department tells the applicant when and where. The guide on partner visa biometrics explains the process.

Couples who want to sponsor partner from Bahrain without missing documents can work from the firm's partner visa document checklist. The sponsor's own documents are listed in the guide on partner visa sponsor documents.

When the partner's residence in Bahrain ends during processing

A foreign resident of Bahrain may lose their residence when a job ends. A Subclass 309 applicant can usually continue the application from another country, but must be outside Australia at the time of grant and must tell the Department of any change of address. The guide on partner visa change of circumstances explains what must be reported. If the partner moves to a new country and stays there, a further police certificate may eventually be needed. In a sponsor partner from Bahrain file, these movements should be planned rather than discovered by the Department.

Identity documents: what if the dates or names do not match?

Identity is a threshold issue in every sponsor partner from Bahrain application. The partner's passport, birth certificate, national identity card, marriage contract and other records should show the same name and date of birth, or the differences should be explained with evidence.

In a sponsor partner from Bahrain application, differences often arise from transliteration of Arabic names, from records issued in different countries for a foreign resident of Bahrain, or from clerical errors by the issuing office. The Department may treat an unexplained difference as an identity concern, or as a question under public interest criterion 4020 if it suspects a false document or false information. The firm's guides on the partner visa different identity issue and PIC 4020 for partner visas explain the risk. An honest error should be explained early, with evidence of the correct details. The short answer on an honest mistake and PIC 4020 explains the difference between an innocent inconsistency and a false document.

Relationship evidence when the couple has lived in different countries

A sponsor partner from Bahrain application is assessed on the four aspects of the relationship in regulation 1.15A for spouses or regulation 1.09A for de facto partners: financial aspects, the nature of the household, social aspects and the nature of the commitment. The Department also asks whether the relationship is genuine and continuing and whether the couple live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.

Many couples who sponsor partner from Bahrain have spent part of the relationship living in different countries, and some have never lived in the same country for long, often because one partner's work is in the Gulf and the other partner's home is in Australia. That is not fatal. The evidence must show how the relationship continued across the distance.

Financial aspects

Financial evidence in a sponsor partner from Bahrain file can include money transfers, shared expenses during visits, a joint account, contributions to a home or to each other's family obligations, and plans for finances in Australia. The guides on partner visa financial aspects and the partner visa joint bank account evidence explain how decision makers weigh financial evidence. Couples who keep finances separate for cultural or religious reasons can read the answer on separate finances for cultural reasons.

Nature of the household

Where the couple has lived together, in Bahrain, in Australia or elsewhere, the evidence should show the shared home and how household tasks were divided. Where they have not yet lived together, the evidence should explain why and show plans for the household in Australia. The guide on the partner visa nature of household explains this aspect.

Social aspects

In a sponsor partner from Bahrain file, family acceptance, attendance at family events, friends who know the couple and the way the couple presents itself to others are all social evidence. Form 888 statements from Australian citizens or permanent residents support the application, and statements from family in Bahrain or elsewhere can also be included. The guides on partner visa social evidence and Form 888 for a partner visa explain the evidence. The short answer on whether the families know about the relationship explains why family knowledge matters.

Nature of commitment

For couples who sponsor partner from Bahrain across a long distance, commitment is shown by the length of the relationship, the steps the couple has taken together and their plans. For a couple living apart, regular contact, visits and a clear plan to live together in Australia are central. The firm's guide on the partner visa long-distance relationship covers evidence for couples living apart, and the guide on partner visa commitment evidence covers the commitment pillar. The firm presents each partner's own account of the relationship, which each partner reviews and corrects before lodgement.

Can a Bahraini partner visit Australia while the application is processed?

Yes, in most cases, but the partner needs a visitor visa that suits their passport. A Bahraini citizen generally needs a Visitor visa (Subclass 600), because Bahraini passports are not on the eligibility lists for the Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) or the eVisitor (Subclass 651).

Where the partner is a foreign resident of Bahrain, that partner applies for the visitor visa available to their own passport. Some passports are eligible for the Electronic Travel Authority or eVisitor, and others need a Visitor visa (Subclass 600). The short answer on visiting Australia while a Subclass 309 is processed explains the rules for an offshore applicant, and the guide on a visitor visa during partner visa processing explains what the Department considers.

Condition 8503 and lodging onshore

A visitor visa may be granted with condition 8503 "No Further Stay". A partner whose visitor visa carries condition 8503 cannot lodge a Subclass 820 application in Australia unless the condition is waived. The guides on the partner visa no further stay condition and a partner visa while on a tourist visa explain the limits. A partner who lodges onshore after the visitor visa has expired must meet the Schedule 3 criteria. The firm's commercial page on Schedule 3 waivers explains how the firm handles those cases.

What happens if a sponsor partner from Bahrain application is refused?

A refusal can usually be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. The review application must be lodged within 28 days after the applicant is notified of the decision, or 7 days if the applicant is in immigration detention. For a Subclass 309 refusal, the visa applicant lodges the review application in their own name under regulation 4.02(5)(raa) of the Migration Regulations 1994, not the sponsor. For a Subclass 300 refusal, the Australian sponsor lodges it.

For a sponsor partner from Bahrain refusal, the Tribunal fee for a partner visa review is AUD 3,727, applying from 1 July 2026. Half of the fee is refunded if the Tribunal sets aside, varies or remits the decision. The firm's guides on the partner visa appeal deadline and the partner visa ART review process explain the steps, and the short answer on who applies for review of an offshore refusal explains who lodges for each offshore visa.

Tribunal decisions on financial evidence, relationship history and identity

Published Tribunal decisions show how these issues are reviewed. Each case turns on its own facts, and none of the decisions is connected to any particular nationality.

• In Popov (Migration) [2025] ARTA 2388, a Subclass 309 matter, the recorded issues were a genuine and continuing relationship, money transfers, joint bank accounts and shared work equipment and expenses. The Tribunal remitted the matter, which means it was sent back to the Department for reconsideration.
• In Nguyen (Migration) [2025] ARTA 1653, a Subclass 309 matter, the recorded issues were a genuine and continuing relationship, the financial, household and social aspects and the nature of commitment, and the start and progress of the relationship as older divorcees. The matter was remitted to the Department.
• In Amoah (Migration) [2024] AATA 2511, a Subclass 300 matter, the recorded issues were identity and an educational certificate with a different year of birth, with a probable error by the issuer. The matter was remitted to the Department.

For anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Bahrain, these decisions show the kinds of issues that are reviewed on the evidence: financial ties, the way a relationship between previously married people developed, and a date of birth error in an official document. The firm's commercial page on partner visa refusals and the guide on partner visa ART evidence explain how a review is prepared. The short answer on a refusal because the relationship was not accepted as genuine explains the most common refusal ground.

Common mistakes when you sponsor partner from Bahrain

Most problems in a sponsor partner from Bahrain application come from documents and timing rather than from the relationship itself.

• Relying on a religious ceremony alone. A ceremony that was never legally registered is not a recognised marriage. The legal status should be confirmed before the couple applies as spouses.
• Overlooking an earlier marriage. A divorce that was not final when the later marriage took place means the later marriage is not recognised. The divorce documents should be checked for the date it took effect.
• Partial translations. A translation that leaves out stamps, endorsements or part of a contract can lead to a request for further information.
• Missing third-country certificates. A foreign resident of Bahrain who previously worked in another country for 12 months or more needs that certificate too.
• Unexplained name and date differences. Transliteration differences should be explained before the Department asks.
• Leaving Bahrain without planning the police certificate. A partner who leaves without registering fingerprints or applying may face delay.

The guides on why partner visas get refused and the partner visa refusal reasons explain the grounds decision makers rely on. Couples who receive a request for more information can read the short answer on responding to a section 56 request.

How much does it cost to sponsor partner from Bahrain?

The Department's visa application charge for the combined Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 application, and for the combined Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 application, is AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026. Other costs include health examinations, police certificates from each relevant country, translations and any visitor visa.

The guide to partner visa cost explains each item, and the short answer on the partner visa cost summarises it. The visa application charge is generally not refunded if the application is refused, so the sponsor partner from Bahrain application should be complete and consistent before it is lodged. The guide on partner visa application mistakes lists the errors that most often cause problems.

What happens after the partner arrives in Australia?

Once a sponsor partner from Bahrain application is granted, a Subclass 309 holder must make a first entry to Australia by the date set in the grant, and can then live, work and study in Australia while the permanent Subclass 100 is assessed. A Subclass 820 holder stays in Australia while the permanent Subclass 801 is assessed.

The permanent stage is usually assessed about two years after the combined application was lodged, and the Department asks for updated evidence that the relationship continues. The firm's guides on the partner visa first entry deadline, partner visa second stage documents and the partner visa citizenship pathway explain what comes next. A partner who arrives in Australia may need to show English ability for later citizenship, but there is no English language requirement for the partner visa itself. The short answer on the English requirement for a partner visa explains the current position.

How My Migration Lawyers helps you sponsor partner from Bahrain

My Migration Lawyers deals with complex partner visa cases and acts in many matters for Australian sponsors whose partners live in the Gulf region or come from overseas, including partners who are foreign residents of the country where they live. The firm is capable of handling a sponsor partner from Bahrain matter from the first check of the sponsor's eligibility through to the permanent stage, and through review if a refusal occurs. The firm's Principal Lawyer is Weiwei Zhang, and the firm's approach is explained on the about My Migration Lawyers page.

On a sponsor partner from Bahrain matter, the firm:

• identifies whether the partner is a Bahraini citizen or a foreign resident of Bahrain, and builds the document list around the partner's actual citizenship and residence history;
• maps every country where the partner lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 and manages the Bahrain Good Conduct Certificate and every other police certificate;
• checks the Bahraini marriage contract against Part VA of the Marriage Act 1961, including any earlier marriage or divorce of either party;
• arranges full English translations of Arabic documents and resolves differences in transliterated names and dates before lodgement;
• advises on the visitor visa available to the partner's passport, condition 8503 and the choice between the Subclass 309, Subclass 820 and Subclass 300;
• organises the couple's evidence across the four aspects, including periods living in different countries;
• presents each partner's own account of the relationship, which they review and correct, together with Form 888 statements; and
• responds to requests for information and natural justice letters, and acts on review at the Administrative Review Tribunal if the visa is refused.

The firm acts for sponsors across Australia through its partner visa lawyers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra. Sponsors still working overseas can read the answer on an offshore partner visa lawyer, and those with a complicated marriage or identity history can read the answer on a partner visa lawyer for complex cases.

The best time to plan how to sponsor partner from Bahrain is before the marriage is registered or the visitor visa is lodged, so that the documents and the timing work together. Book a consultation with My Migration Lawyers, or call 1300 040 300.