Sponsoring a Partner From Bosnia and Herzegovina

To sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Australian partner must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is at least 18, and the couple must be married or in a genuine de facto relationship. The sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina pathway then runs through one of three visas: the onshore Subclass 820, the offshore Subclass 309, or the Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa for an engaged couple.

This guide is written for Australian sponsors, many of them of Bosnian heritage, who met their partner through family, friends or community introductions and now want to bring that partner to Australia. Anyone planning to sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina will find here what the Department of Home Affairs asks for, how a marriage celebrated in Bosnia and Herzegovina is treated in Australia, which police certificates the partner needs, which visitor visa the partner must hold to visit first, and how a short courtship is assessed. The firm's partner visa lawyers act for sponsors and applicants across all three subclasses.

Who can sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Any Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is 18 or older can sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as long as the sponsorship limitations in the Migration Regulations 1994 do not apply.

The sponsor does not have to live in Australia at the time of application in every case, but an Australian permanent resident sponsor generally must be usually resident in Australia. An Australian citizen living overseas may still sponsor, provided the couple intend to live together in Australia. The firm's guide to the partner visa sponsor living overseas deals with that situation in detail.

Many sponsors in this group were born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or their parents were, and hold Australian citizenship by conferral or by birth. Some also hold Bosnia and Herzegovina citizenship. Holding a second citizenship does not stop anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The guide on the partner visa sponsor who is a dual citizen explains how the Department confirms the Australian status, and the article on partner visa sponsor proof of citizenship covers the documents.

The status of the sponsor matters in a practical way:

• Australian citizen sponsor. The most common case. The firm's page on the Australian citizen partner visa sponsor explains the evidence.
• Permanent resident sponsor. The permanent resident partner visa sponsor guide covers the usual residence questions.
• Eligible New Zealand citizen sponsor. Only some New Zealand citizens qualify. See the New Zealand citizen partner visa sponsor article.

The full checklist of who qualifies sits in the firm's article on partner visa sponsor eligibility, and the broader partner visa sponsor guide explains the sponsor's role from lodgement to the permanent stage.

Which partner visa fits a couple from Bosnia and Herzegovina?

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

• Married or de facto, partner in Australia on a visa that allows an onshore application: Subclass 820, then Subclass 801. The partner must be in Australia when applying.
• Married or de facto, partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina or elsewhere overseas: Subclass 309, then Subclass 100. The partner must be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is granted.
• Engaged and intending to marry: Subclass 300. The partner must be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is granted.

The Subclass 820 partner visa lets the partner apply inside Australia and usually stay on a bridging visa while the application is processed. The Subclass 309 partner visa is lodged while the partner is outside Australia, often from Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Tuzla or a smaller town. The Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa suits a couple who are engaged and plan to marry after the partner arrives.

For every sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application, both the Subclass 820 and Subclass 309 are the first stage of a two-stage partner visa process. The firm's comparison of onshore and offshore partner visas sets out the practical trade-offs. For a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina case, the choice often turns on one question: can the partner lawfully apply inside Australia at all? That question is covered later in this guide.

The Department's visa application charge for the combined Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 application, and for the combined Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 application, is AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026. The firm's article on partner visa cost explains the other expenses, such as medical examinations, police certificates and translations.

Can you sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina after a family or community introduction?

Yes, a relationship that began with an introduction by relatives, friends or a community contact can found a genuine partner visa. Australian law does not restrict how a couple meet. It asks whether the relationship is genuine and continuing, and whether the couple have a mutual commitment to a shared life together to the exclusion of all others.

Introductions are common among Australian families with roots in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A relative may suggest a match during a summer visit. A friend from the local community in Australia may connect two people online. A couple may first meet at a family wedding in Bosnia and Herzegovina and keep in touch through messaging apps. Each of these starting points is lawful, and none of them is a reason for refusal.

The risk is not the introduction itself. The risk is a file that does not show how the relationship developed after it. A sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application that relies on an introduction should therefore show:

• who made the introduction, when and in what setting;
• when the couple first spoke and first met in person;
• how often they communicated in the months that followed;
• when they decided to marry or commit to each other, and why;
• whether their families know about and accept the relationship.

The firm's FAQ on whether the Department asks if families know about the relationship explains why family recognition is useful evidence. The article on partner visas for arranged marriages also helps, because the assessment of a family-arranged or family-introduced match is similar, although an introduction is not the same as an arranged marriage. The FAQ on an arranged marriage spouse visa gives a short answer for clients who ask.

How is a short courtship assessed for a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina couple?

A short courtship is assessed on the same four factors as any other relationship, but the Department looks harder at the depth of the couple's knowledge of each other and at their commitment, because there is less shared history to rely on.

Regulation 1.15A of the Migration Regulations 1994 (for spouses) and regulation 1.09A (for de facto partners) require the Department to consider all the circumstances of the relationship, including:

• the financial aspects of the relationship;
• the nature of the household;
• the social aspects of the relationship;
• the nature of the persons' commitment to each other.

The firm's guide to the four pillars of a partner visa explains each factor. In a short courtship, the fourth factor, commitment, often carries the most weight. The article on partner visa nature of commitment sets out what decision makers look for, such as knowledge of each other's background, plans for the future and the length and duration of the relationship so far.

There is no minimum relationship length for a married couple. The firm's guide on partner visa minimum relationship length explains this, and the article on a short relationship partner visa covers the practical evidence. The FAQ on being married soon after meeting answers the most common worry.

For a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina file built on a short courtship, the firm usually focuses on:

• A clear timeline. A dated account of the introduction, the first contact, each visit and the wedding. The partner visa relationship timeline guide shows how to set it out.
• Communication records. Call logs and message history that show regular contact. The firm's article on partner visa chat evidence explains how to present it without uploading thousands of pages.
• Time spent together. Boarding passes, passport stamps, accommodation records and photographs. See the guide to partner visa travel evidence.
• Personal knowledge. Each partner's statement should show real knowledge of the other's family, work, health and plans.

A short courtship is not a weakness in itself. A thin file is. That is the central lesson for anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina after only a few months of contact.

Sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina: the order of steps

The sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina process usually follows the same broad order, whichever subclass is chosen. Getting the order right saves time, because some documents from Bosnia and Herzegovina take longer to obtain than others.

• Confirm the pathway. Decide between the Subclass 820, Subclass 309 and Subclass 300 after checking where the partner is and what visa the partner holds.
• Check the sponsor. Confirm the sponsor's status, any earlier sponsorship and any criminal history before anything is lodged.
• Collect civil documents. Birth certificates, the marriage register extract, any divorce decree and identity documents, each with an English translation.
• Request police certificates. Start the two Bosnia and Herzegovina certificates early, and any other certificates for countries where the partner has lived.
• Prepare relationship evidence. Statements from both partners, Form 888 statements and the financial, household and social evidence.
• Lodge and respond. Lodge the application online through ImmiAccount, then respond to any request for health checks, biometrics or further information.

The firm's guide on how to apply for a partner visa explains each stage, and the partner visa document checklist lists the usual documents. For a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina file, step 4 is the step that most often causes delay.

What documents does the Australian sponsor provide?

The Australian sponsor provides proof of identity, proof of Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand citizenship, evidence of the relationship from their side, and police checks if the Department asks for them.

In a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina case, the sponsor's evidence is just as important as the partner's. The sponsor's statement should explain the family or community connection that led to the introduction, the sponsor's own visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the couple's plans in Australia. The firm's article on partner visa sponsor documents lists the usual documents, and the FAQ on what documents the sponsor needs gives a short answer.

Sponsors sometimes assume that the partner's documents carry the whole application. That is a mistake. A sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application with a detailed sponsor statement, the sponsor's travel records and evidence of the sponsor's family accepting the relationship is much easier to assess than one built only around the partner's papers.

Can the couple be de facto partners instead of married?

Yes. A sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application can be made on the basis of a de facto relationship, but the couple generally must have been in that relationship for at least 12 months before applying, unless an exception applies.

The 12-month requirement does not apply if the relationship has been registered under a law of an Australian State or Territory, or if there are compelling and compassionate circumstances. The firm's guide on the de facto partner visa in Australia explains the definition, and the article on the Subclass 820 de facto 12-month rule explains how the period is counted.

Many couples in an introduced relationship do not live together before marriage, often for family or religious reasons. The FAQ on cultural or religious reasons for not living together explains that this can be accepted, but it makes the de facto route difficult. For those couples, marriage or the Subclass 300 route is usually more realistic than a de facto claim.

Is a marriage in Bosnia and Herzegovina recognised in Australia?

Generally yes. A marriage celebrated in Bosnia and Herzegovina is recognised in Australia under Part VA of the Marriage Act 1961 if it was valid under the law of Bosnia and Herzegovina when it took place and it is not void under Australian law.

A foreign marriage will not be recognised in Australia if, for example, one party was already married to someone else at the time, the parties are within a prohibited relationship, one party did not give real consent, or one party was below the age Australian law accepts. The firm's guide on whether an overseas marriage is recognised in Australia sets out each ground, and the article on what happens when a partner visa overseas marriage is not recognised explains the fallback options.

For a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina couple, three practical issues arise more often than the legal grounds:

• Civil registration. The Department relies on the official marriage record issued by the civil registry in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A religious ceremony, whether in a mosque or a church, can be a meaningful part of the wedding, but the file should contain the civil record of the marriage. If the couple had only a religious ceremony, the firm checks whether the marriage was registered before relying on it.
• Previous marriages. If either party was married before, the divorce must have been finalised before the new marriage. A divorce decree from a Bosnian court, or an Australian divorce order, should be on file. The article on a partner visa after divorce explains the evidence.
• Name and date differences. Names written with Bosnian letters such as č, ć, š, ž and đ may appear differently in Australian records. The FAQ on different names and dates in documents explains how to deal with this.

The FAQ on whether an overseas marriage is recognised for a partner visa gives a short summary, and the firm's article on the partner visa marriage certificate explains what the Department expects to see.

Does a marriage certificate prove the relationship is genuine?

No. A valid marriage certificate proves the legal marriage, but it does not by itself prove a genuine and continuing relationship.

This is the point most often misunderstood by couples who sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina after a wedding in the partner's home town. The Department must be satisfied of two separate things. First, that the couple are validly married. Second, that they have a mutual commitment to a shared life as spouses, that the relationship is genuine and continuing, and that they live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.

The FAQ on whether a marriage certificate is enough for a spouse visa answers this directly. The firm's guide on the genuine and continuing relationship test explains what decision makers weigh. Wedding photographs help, but they are only one piece of social evidence. The FAQ on wedding photos for a spouse visa explains how to use them well.

What police certificates does a Bosnian partner need?

Home Affairs states that applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina must provide two certificates: a Certificate of No Convictions (Uvjerenje o nekaznjavanju) from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) office at the applicant's place of birth, and a Certificate (Uvjerenje) from the Municipal Court (Općinski sud or Osnovni sud) at the applicant's last place of residence.

This two-certificate requirement surprises many couples. A single document is not enough. For a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application, the police certificate step should be planned early, because the two certificates come from two different offices.

The Home Affairs guidance for Bosnia and Herzegovina also says:

• Citizens living in Bosnia and Herzegovina obtain the Certificate of No Convictions from the MUP office at their place of birth. A citizen born in another country can apply at the place of entry in the National Civil Register. They also obtain the Certificate from the Municipal Court at their last place of residence.
• Citizens living outside Bosnia and Herzegovina can authorise a representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina to apply for both certificates for them, using a notarised power of attorney.
• Documents needed include a completed application form and proof of identity, such as the identity card (lična karta), a birth certificate or a citizenship certificate.
• Non-citizens who lived there as residents apply to the same offices and also provide evidence of residence status issued by the Service for Foreigners' Affairs.
• Non-citizens who were only visitors cannot obtain the certificates at all, whatever the length of their stay, because the authorities do not register visitors.

Home Affairs lists the processing time as approximately 1 to 14 days, with a fee payable.

In a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina matter, the general rule is that police certificates are needed from each country where the person has spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. The firm's guide to partner visa overseas police certificates explains the rule in full, and the FAQ on the validity of police certificates and health checks explains timing.

Sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina: what if a certificate cannot be obtained?

If a certificate truly cannot be obtained, the Department may accept a written explanation with evidence of every attempt, but it decides whether to accept it. The applicant cannot simply choose to skip the certificate.

The most common example in a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina matter is an Australian sponsor who spent long periods in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a visitor, for example during an extended stay with relatives. Under the Home Affairs guidance, a non-citizen who stayed only as a visitor cannot obtain the certificates. If the sponsor is asked for an overseas certificate, the explanation should quote that limitation and attach evidence of the stay and of any request made. The FAQ on what to do if you cannot get a police certificate covers the process.

Sponsors with Bosnia and Herzegovina citizenship who lived there as adults are in a different position. They can usually obtain the certificates through a representative under a notarised power of attorney. The firm's article on the partner visa sponsor police check explains when the Department asks the sponsor for checks under regulation 1.20KC.

Does the Australian sponsor need a police check too?

Yes, in many cases. For Subclass 820, Subclass 309 and Subclass 300 applications, the Department can ask the sponsor for an Australian Federal Police check and overseas police certificates as part of the sponsorship assessment under Division 1.4B of the Migration Regulations 1994.

The Department uses those checks to see whether the sponsor has been convicted of a relevant offence under regulation 1.20KC, such as an offence involving violence or the breach of a protection order. If the applicant is under 18, regulation 1.20KB also applies. A conviction does not always end the sponsorship. The Department must refuse it only where the sponsor has a significant criminal record in relation to the relevant offence, and even then it may approve the sponsorship if that is reasonable.

The firm's page on partner visa sponsorship limitations explains every bar. The blog on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner visa goes further, and the article on partner visa sponsor relevant offences lists the offences.

What sponsorship limits apply to a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina case?

Regulation 1.20J limits how often a person can sponsor a partner. A sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application will generally fail the limitation if the sponsor has already sponsored, or been approved to sponsor, two or more partners before, or if fewer than five years have passed since the sponsor last sponsored a partner. The five-year rule also applies where the sponsor was granted their own permanent visa as someone's partner fewer than five years ago.

In a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina case, the Department may waive the limitation where there are compelling circumstances, such as a child of the relationship. The firm's article on partner visa compelling circumstances explains how that waiver is argued. The sponsor's ongoing duties are explained in the guide on partner visa sponsor obligations.

Sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina: identity documents and consistency

The partner's identity must be clear and consistent across every document. For a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application, that usually means a current passport, a birth certificate and the national identity card, with translations where needed.

Inconsistencies are a common source of requests for information. A birth certificate may record a name in Cyrillic script while the passport uses Latin script. A surname may change after marriage on some documents but not others. Dates may be written in a different order. None of these is a problem if it is explained. Each can become a problem if it is ignored, because the Department must be satisfied of the applicant's identity under public interest criterion 4020, and false or misleading information can lead to refusal.

The firm's article on partner visa false information refusals explains why accuracy matters, and the FAQ on a name change after marriage explains how to present a new surname. In a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina matter, the firm prepares a short identity note that lists each spelling and each document, so the case officer does not have to work it out.

Do documents from Bosnia and Herzegovina need translation?

Yes. Every document that is not in English must be accompanied by a full and accurate English translation. That covers the marriage register extract, birth certificates, divorce decrees, police certificates and any other civil documents in Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian, in Latin or Cyrillic script.

Translations made in Australia should be prepared by a NAATI certified translator. Translations made outside Australia should identify the translator and their qualifications. The applicant, the sponsor and their relatives should not translate the documents themselves, even if they are fluent. The firm's guide to partner visa evidence translation explains the standard, and the FAQ on how to translate a marriage certificate answers the most common question.

Message histories are a separate issue. Many introduced couples write to each other in Bosnian, so this issue arises in almost every sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina case. The Department does not need every message translated, but key extracts relied on should be. The FAQ on translating messages for a partner visa explains how to choose them.

Which visitor visa does a partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina need?

A partner who holds a Bosnia and Herzegovina passport usually needs a Visitor visa (Subclass 600) to visit Australia, because Bosnia and Herzegovina is not on the Home Affairs eligibility lists for the eVisitor (Subclass 651) or the Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601).

This matters for the sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina strategy, because the visitor visa shapes everything that follows. A Visitor visa application is assessed on whether the person is a genuine visitor. An officer may ask whether a partner of an Australian intends to stay. The firm's article on a partner visa after visitor visa refusal explains the options if that happens, and the FAQ on a spouse visitor visa to Australia answers the common questions.

Some Bosnian partners hold a second passport, for example from Croatia, through family ties. A Croatian passport is on the eVisitor list. If the partner is a citizen of an eVisitor or ETA country and holds that country's valid passport, the visitor visa choice changes. Every citizenship must still be declared accurately in the partner visa application.

Can a Bosnian partner on a visitor visa apply onshore for a Subclass 820?

Sometimes. A partner in Australia on a Visitor visa (Subclass 600) can lodge a Subclass 820 application only if the visitor visa does not carry condition 8503 (No Further Stay), or if that condition has been waived.

Condition 8503 is often imposed on Visitor visas. It prevents the holder from being granted most other visas while in Australia. A sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina couple should check the visa grant notice and VEVO before the partner travels, not after arrival. The firm's guide to partner visa no further stay conditions explains how condition 8503 works, and the article on a partner visa 8503 waiver explains the narrow grounds for waiver. The FAQ on 8503 and partner visas gives a short summary.

Where there is no condition 8503, a partner on a Visitor visa may apply for a Subclass 820 while the visitor visa is still in effect. A bridging visa usually follows. The firm's articles on moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa in Australia and on a partner visa while on a tourist visa explain the timing. The guide to the partner visa bridging visa covers what happens next.

If the visitor visa has already expired, Schedule 3 criteria apply and the application becomes much harder. The firm's page on Schedule 3 waivers and the article on partner visa Schedule 3 criteria explain the compelling reasons test.

Is an offshore Subclass 309 the safer route for a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Often, yes. For many couples who sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina, lodging a Subclass 309 while the partner is in Bosnia and Herzegovina avoids the condition 8503 problem and the uncertainty of a visitor visa.

The partner must be outside Australia when the Subclass 309 is lodged and when it is granted. The partner can sometimes visit Australia on a visitor visa during processing, but must leave before the grant. The FAQ on whether the partner can visit Australia while a Subclass 309 is processing explains the timing risk. The firm's guide to the offshore partner visa explains the process, and the FAQ on the Subclass 820 versus Subclass 309 compares the two.

The partner will also need health examinations and may be asked for biometrics. See the firm's articles on the partner visa medical examination and partner visa biometrics.

When is a Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa the better choice?

A Subclass 300 suits a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina couple who are engaged, have met in person, and intend to marry in Australia within the visa period.

This route fits families who want the wedding in Australia with relatives present. For people searching how to sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina when the couple are engaged rather than married, it is often the most natural option. The couple must genuinely intend to marry and live together as spouses. The FAQ on whether a couple must have met in person for a fiancé visa explains the in-person requirement. The firm's prospective marriage visa page explains the conditions.

What evidence makes a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application strong?

A strong sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application tells one consistent story across the forms, the statements and the documents, and covers all four factors in regulation 1.15A or 1.09A.

Typical evidence includes:

• Financial. Money transfers, shared savings plans, wedding costs and any joint account. The guide on the partner visa financial aspects explains what counts when the couple live apart.
• Household. Time spent living together during visits and plans for a home in Australia. See the article on the partner visa nature of the household.
• Social. Form 888 statements from friends and relatives, photographs and evidence that families know the couple as a couple. The guide on partner visa social aspects and the article on Form 888 for a partner visa explain this.
• Commitment. Detailed personal statements from both partners. The firm's guide to the partner visa relationship statement shows what a good statement covers.

Sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina couples who live in different countries for long periods should also read the guide on a partner visa long-distance relationship.

Can the partner work and travel while the application is processed?

It depends on the subclass. A partner who lodges a Subclass 820 in Australia usually receives a bridging visa, and the partner's work rights and travel rights depend on that bridging visa and its conditions. A partner who lodges a Subclass 309 waits outside Australia and keeps the rights they have in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For an onshore sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina application, travel back to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a family event needs care. A Bridging visa A does not allow re-entry to Australia. The partner generally needs a Bridging visa B before leaving. The firm's guide to the partner visa Bridging visa B explains the process, and the article on partner visa work rights covers employment.

Common mistakes when couples sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina

The same errors appear again and again in sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina files. Most of them are avoidable.

• Only one police certificate. The Department asks for both the MUP certificate and the Municipal Court certificate. Sending one causes delay.
• Relying on the wedding alone. A marriage certificate does not prove a genuine and continuing relationship.
• Travelling on a visitor visa with condition 8503 and then trying to apply onshore.
• Self-translation. Documents translated by the sponsor or a relative are not acceptable evidence of their content.
• Unexplained gaps. Long periods with no evidence of contact, with no explanation in the statements.
• Inconsistent dates. Different dates for the introduction or the wedding in different forms and statements.

The firm's article on partner visa application mistakes lists more examples. Anyone who has already lodged and has noticed one of these errors should read the FAQ on how to correct a mistake in a partner visa application.

Why are sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina applications refused, and what can be done?

Most sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina refusals turn on the genuine relationship test, missing or inconsistent documents, or a sponsorship issue. A refusal is not always the end. Many refused partner visa decisions can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal.

The firm's guide to partner visa refusal reasons lists the common grounds. Tribunal decisions show how the facts can be looked at again on review. Each case turns on its own facts, and none of the cases below concerned Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• Kantajan (Migration) [2024] ARTA 851. The recorded issues were the genuine and continuing relationship, mutual money transfers, international visits and support for each other's children. The matter was remitted, meaning it was sent back to the Department for reconsideration.
• WELDEMARIAM (Migration) [2024] ARTA 112. The recorded issues were the sponsorship limitation and the fact that there was a child of the relationship and another child expected. The matter was remitted to the Department.
• Nguyen (Migration) [2024] AATA 354. The recorded issues were a previous refusal on another ground that had been remitted with a finding of credibility and commitment, and that the parties were validly married. The matter was remitted to the Department.

The Administrative Review Tribunal fee for review of a partner visa refusal is AUD 3,727 from 1 July 2026. Half is refunded if the Tribunal sets aside, varies or remits the decision. The application for review must be made within 28 days after the applicant is notified of the decision, or 7 days if the person is in immigration detention. For a Subclass 309 refusal, the visa applicant applies for review 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 applies. The FAQ on who applies for review of an offshore refusal explains this. See the firm's articles on the partner visa appeal deadline, the partner visa ART fees and who can lodge a partner visa appeal. The firm's partner visa refusals page explains how a review is run, and the urgent visa refusal review page is for matters close to the deadline.

How My Migration Lawyers helps Australians sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina

My Migration Lawyers deals with complex partner visa cases and acts in many matters for Australian sponsors whose partners live overseas, including sponsors with family ties to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Balkan region. The firm is capable of handling the issues that make a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina matter harder than it first appears, and it works carefully through each one with the couple.

On a sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina matter, the firm:

• advises whether the Subclass 820, Subclass 309 or Subclass 300 suits the couple, after checking the partner's visa history and any condition 8503;
• checks that the marriage in Bosnia and Herzegovina was registered and will be recognised in Australia, and identifies any earlier divorce that must be proved;
• plans the two police certificates from the MUP office and the Municipal Court, including the notarised power of attorney route for partners living abroad, and prepares the explanation where a certificate cannot be issued;
• reviews the sponsor's eligibility, any sponsorship limitation and any criminal history under Division 1.4B before lodgement;
• organises translations and checks names written with Bosnian characters for consistency across every document;
• presents the couple's own account of the introduction and the courtship, through statements that both partners review and correct, supported by their communication, travel and family evidence;
• responds to requests for information and natural justice letters, and runs Tribunal review if a refusal occurs.

The firm's Principal Lawyer, Weiwei Zhang, supervises partner visa matters. The firm works with clients by video across Australia, including through its Sydney partner visa lawyers, Melbourne partner visa lawyers, Brisbane partner visa lawyers, Perth partner visa lawyers and Adelaide partner visa lawyers. Learn more about My Migration Lawyers, or read answers to common questions in the firm's partner visa FAQ centre. The firm's complete guide to partner visas is a useful starting point for anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Book a consultation with My Migration Lawyers, or call 1300 040 300.