Sponsoring a Partner From Greece

Australians who want to sponsor partner from Greece have two partner visa pathways open to them, and Greek citizens have more flexibility than many other nationalities because they can usually visit Australia on an eVisitor. The decision to sponsor partner from Greece still turns on the same legal tests as every partner visa: an eligible Australian sponsor, a genuine and continuing relationship, an approved sponsorship, and an applicant who meets health and character requirements.

This guide is written for the Australian partner. Many readers are part of the Greek-Australian community. Some hold Greek citizenship themselves, some met their partner while visiting family in Greece, and some married in an Orthodox church in a village their grandparents left decades ago. Others are Australians with no Greek background who met a Greek partner while travelling or working in Europe. Each of these situations raises different questions about documents, registration of the marriage, where to lodge and how to prove the relationship.

The firm's partner visa lawyers page explains how My Migration Lawyers approaches partner matters generally. The complete guide to partner visas in Australia sets out every subclass. This article focuses on the realities that arise when couples sponsor partner from Greece.

Can an Australian sponsor partner from Greece?

Yes. An Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen can sponsor partner from Greece if the couple is married or in a de facto relationship, the relationship is genuine and continuing, and the sponsor is not prevented from sponsoring by the sponsorship limitations in the Migration Regulations 1994.

There is no special Greek visa stream and no quota for Greek citizens. The same partner visa framework applies to every nationality. What changes is the evidence. Greek civil documents are in Greek, Greek marriages may be civil or religious, and the Greek partner's ability to visit Australia without a lengthy visitor visa application opens an onshore option that is not realistic for applicants from many other countries.

The two main pathways are:

• The Subclass 820 partner visa, lodged while the Greek partner is in Australia, followed by the permanent Subclass 801.
• The Subclass 309 partner visa, lodged while the Greek partner is outside Australia, followed by the permanent Subclass 100.

A third option, the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa, suits engaged couples who intend to marry in Australia. Couples comparing the two main pathways can read the firm's guide to onshore vs offshore partner visas and the short answer on Subclass 820 vs Subclass 309.

Who is eligible to sponsor partner from Greece?

The person who wants to sponsor partner from Greece must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, must usually be at least 18 years old, and must have their sponsorship approved by the Department of Home Affairs.

The sponsor's status is the starting point. An Australian citizen can sponsor while living in Greece or anywhere else, as long as the couple intends to live together in Australia. A permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is living outside Australia needs advice before lodging, because the rules about usual residence and travel facilities are more demanding. The firm's guides on a partner visa sponsor living overseas and a partner visa sponsor returning to Australia explain these issues in detail.

The sponsorship itself is assessed separately from the visa. Since 2016, the Department has assessed the sponsor before or alongside the visa application, including the sponsor's police checks and any previous sponsorships. The rules that can stop a sponsorship are explained on the firm's sponsorship limitations page. They include previous partner sponsorships within the last five years, the sponsor's own arrival as a partner visa holder within the last five years, and certain convictions for violent or controlling offences.

Couples who want to sponsor partner from Greece should also read the overview of partner visa sponsor requirements and the list of sponsor documents for a partner visa. There is no minimum income for a partner sponsor, a point confirmed in the FAQ on sponsor minimum income, but the sponsor does give an undertaking to support the applicant.

Greek-Australian dual citizens as sponsors

A Greek-Australian dual citizen sponsors as an Australian citizen, and holding Greek citizenship as well does not reduce or complicate the right to sponsor partner from Greece.

What dual citizenship does change is the paperwork. A dual citizen sponsor must prove Australian citizenship, usually with an Australian passport or citizenship certificate. A sponsor born overseas who holds Australian citizenship by descent proves it with the citizenship certificate. The firm's guides on partner visa sponsor proof of citizenship, a partner visa sponsor who is a dual citizen and an Australian citizen by descent as a partner visa sponsor explain what the Department accepts.

Dual citizenship can also help. A sponsor who is registered in the Greek civil registry can register a marriage that took place outside Greece with the Greek Special Civil Registry, so the marriage appears in the Greek records. The Greek Ministry of Interior allows registration by either spouse, by an authorised third party, or by a lawyer with a notarised special power of attorney. Once the marriage is registered, the Greek family status certificate will show it, which gives the Department a second official record of the marriage from a government source.

A sponsor with Greek citizenship who has lived in Greece for an extended period should expect questions about that period. Sponsors can be asked for overseas police certificates, and a Greek-Australian who has spent years in Greece may need a Greek criminal record certificate as well as an Australian Federal Police check. The firm's article on the partner visa sponsor police check explains when the Department asks sponsors for police evidence.

The Greek partner's eVisitor and the onshore option

Greek citizens are listed as eligible for the eVisitor (Subclass 651), which means a Greek partner can usually travel to Australia as a visitor and, if the visa conditions allow it, lodge a Subclass 820 partner visa while in Australia.

The legislative instrument that specifies eVisitor eligible passports lists Greece, and the eVisitor permits stays of up to three months on each visit within its validity period. This matters because the Subclass 820 must be lodged while the applicant is in Australia. Couples who want to sponsor partner from Greece and live together during processing often choose this path.

The key risk is condition 8503, the No Further Stay condition. If a visitor visa carries condition 8503, the holder cannot be granted most other visas while in Australia unless the condition is waived, and waivers are only available in narrow circumstances. The grant notice must be checked before anyone books a flight with the plan of lodging onshore. The firm's guides on Subclass 820 and condition 8503 and the 8503 waiver for partner visas explain the problem.

There is a second issue that catches couples out. A visitor must be a genuine visitor at the time the visitor visa is granted and on arrival. The firm's FAQ on whether to mention a partner on a visitor visa application explains why honesty about the relationship matters. A Greek partner who misstates the purpose of travel can create a public interest criterion 4020 problem that damages the later partner visa. The FAQ on PIC 4020 for partner visas explains the consequence.

If the Subclass 820 is lodged while the eVisitor is still in effect, the Greek partner is normally granted a bridging visa that keeps them lawful while the application is processed. The firm's guides on a partner visa on a tourist visa, visitor visas during partner visa processing and partner visa bridging visas cover the details. If the eVisitor has expired before lodgement, the application can face the additional Schedule 3 criteria, which are explained on the Schedule 3 waivers page.

When the offshore Subclass 309 is the better path to sponsor partner from Greece

The Subclass 309 is often the better path to sponsor partner from Greece when the Greek partner needs to keep working in Greece during processing, when the eVisitor carries condition 8503, or when the couple is not yet ready to live in Australia.

The Subclass 309 is lodged online while the Greek partner is outside Australia. The partner must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted. During processing, the partner can visit Australia on a visitor visa, but must leave before the grant. The firm's FAQs on visiting Australia while a Subclass 309 is processing and on being outside Australia when the Subclass 309 is granted explain how this works in practice.

Some Greek-Australian couples live in Greece for several years before deciding to move to Australia. That history is valuable evidence. A couple who has shared a home in Athens, Thessaloniki or a Greek island can show a joint lease, utility accounts and a shared social life in Greece. The Subclass 309 suits that couple well because the evidence is already overseas and the move to Australia can be timed after the grant.

The choice is not permanent in every case. The FAQ on changing a Subclass 309 to a Subclass 820 explains when a couple can switch, and the guide to an offshore partner visa covers the full process. Couples who want a structured answer for their own facts can read the firm's article on which partner visa to apply for.

Moving between Greece and Australia during processing

Travel is allowed during processing, but the rules differ between the onshore and offshore pathways, and couples who sponsor partner from Greece often travel back and forth for family events, work and summer holidays.

A Subclass 820 applicant who leaves Australia while holding only a Bridging visa A loses the bridging visa unless a Bridging visa B is granted first. Leaving without one can leave the applicant unable to return lawfully while the application is processed. The firm's guides on the Bridging visa B for partner visa applicants and on leaving Australia without a Bridging visa B explain the steps. The Subclass 820 must also be granted while the applicant is in Australia.

A Subclass 309 applicant has the opposite rule. The partner can visit Australia, but must be outside Australia when the visa is granted. A Greek partner who happens to be in Melbourne for a cousin's wedding when the Department is ready to decide the application may be asked to leave Australia before the grant can be made.

Long periods apart also need explaining. A Greek partner who returns to Greece for months to care for a parent, or an Australian sponsor who works in Greece for a season, can raise questions about whether the couple is living together or not living separately and apart on a permanent basis. The firm's article on partner visa overseas travel and the FAQ on travel while a partner visa is processing explain how to document the reason for time apart.

Married in Greece: civil and Orthodox ceremonies

A marriage in Greece can be performed as a civil ceremony or as a religious ceremony, and in both cases the marriage is recorded in the Greek civil registry. For couples who sponsor partner from Greece on the basis of a Greek marriage, the Department needs to be satisfied that the marriage is valid and that the couple has a genuine and continuing relationship.

Many Greek-Australian couples marry in a Greek Orthodox church. The Greek Ministry of Interior explains that a religious marriage performed in Greece is registered using the religious marriage certificate issued by the officiating priest, together with identification. A civil marriage performed in Greece is recorded by the registrar. In either case, the registry record is the document the Department will expect to see, not just the church certificate or the wedding photographs.

Australian law generally recognises a marriage validly performed overseas, subject to exceptions such as a marriage where one party was already married or below the minimum age. The firm's guides on whether an overseas marriage is recognised in Australia and on overseas marriage recognition for partner visas explain the test. The FAQ on religious and cultural marriages explains what happens if a religious ceremony was never registered.

A marriage certificate alone does not prove a genuine relationship. Couples who sponsor partner from Greece after a short engagement, or after meeting during a single summer, still need evidence across the four aspects of the relationship. The FAQ on whether a marriage certificate is enough for a spouse visa answers this directly.

Registering a marriage with the Greek civil registry

A marriage involving a Greek citizen should be registered in the Greek civil registry, and couples who sponsor partner from Greece should make sure the registration is complete before relying on Greek records as evidence.

For a marriage performed in Greece, the registration is made at the civil registry office. For a marriage performed abroad, including in Australia, the Greek Ministry of Interior explains that registration is made at the Special Civil Registry, using either a certificate issued by a Greek consulate or the legally certified foreign marriage certificate with an official translation and, depending on the country, an apostille. A religious marriage performed abroad needs the church certificate to be certified by the relevant church authority in Greece, together with an order for registration.

The Greek government portal gov.gr allows citizens with TAXISnet credentials to obtain an online extract of their most recent marriage record, provided the record was drawn up on or after 8 May 2013. Older records can be requested from the registry office. These official records carry more weight than informal copies.

Two practical points arise for couples who sponsor partner from Greece. First, a Greek Orthodox wedding that was never registered can create questions about whether the marriage is valid. Second, a couple married in Australia who later registers the marriage in Greece will have consistent records in both countries, which helps when the Department checks identity and marital status. The firm's guide to the partner visa marriage certificate and the FAQ on an unregistered marriage explain how the Department approaches these issues.

The Greek family status certificate

The Greek family status certificate, known in Greek as the pistopoiitiko oikogeneiakis katastasis, is an extract from the municipal civil registry that shows a person's family record, and it is often useful evidence when couples sponsor partner from Greece.

According to the Greek government's procedures portal, the certificate is issued by the municipality where the person is registered, through a Citizen Service Centre (KEP), or online through gov.gr using TAXISnet credentials. There is no fee, and it is valid for six months. Since 10 October 2025, Greek public authorities retrieve the certificate themselves for domestic public sector procedures, but it can still be issued for private purposes, court proceedings and use abroad.

When couples sponsor partner from Greece, the certificate can help in three ways:

• It confirms the Greek partner's marital status, which matters when the Department checks that neither party is married to someone else.
• It shows the marriage once the marriage is registered, which supports the marriage certificate.
• It records children, which matters if children are included in the application or are non-migrating dependants.

The certificate is not a substitute for the marriage record in an application to sponsor partner from Greece. It is supporting evidence. It must be translated into English, and the translation must match the names used in the passport. The firm's guide to the partner visa document checklist and the FAQ on partner visa documents set out where the certificate fits among the other identity and relationship documents.

Greek cohabitation agreements and same-sex marriage

Greece recognises both a registered cohabitation agreement, known as the symfono symviosis, and, since 2024, civil marriage for same-sex couples, and both can be relevant evidence for a couple who wants to sponsor partner from Greece.

The cohabitation agreement was introduced by Law 4356/2015 and is recorded in the Greek civil registry. Greek consular guidance confirms that an agreement between a Greek citizen and a foreign national can be declared and registered. However, a Greek cohabitation agreement is not a relationship registered under the law of an Australian State or Territory. It does not, by itself, satisfy the de facto definition or remove the 12 month requirement. It is evidence of commitment and of the couple's shared life, and it should be presented as such. The firm's FAQ on an overseas registered relationship explains this distinction.

Greece opened civil marriage to same-sex couples through Law 5089/2024, which matters for same-sex couples who sponsor partner from Greece. Australia recognises same-sex marriages validly performed overseas. A same-sex couple married in Greece can therefore apply as spouses. The firm's LGBTI partner visa page and the FAQ on same-sex marriage and the spouse visa explain how these applications are prepared.

De facto couples and the 12 month requirement

A de facto couple who wants to sponsor partner from Greece generally must have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before the application is lodged, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian State or Territory or compelling and compassionate circumstances apply.

The 12 months is measured as a de facto relationship, not simply as time since the couple met. The couple must have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others, must be in a genuine and continuing relationship, and must live together or not live separately and apart on a permanent basis. Time living together in Greece counts for couples who sponsor partner from Greece. So does time living together in Australia. The firm's FAQs on when the 12 month de facto period starts, living together overseas for 12 months and time apart during the 12 months explain the test.

Registration in an Australian State or Territory is the usual way around the 12 month rule. The Greek partner may need to be in Australia to register, and some registries have their own residence requirements. The firm's FAQs on whether a couple can register a relationship with a partner overseas and on registering a relationship while on a tourist visa cover the practical limits.

Couples who are close to 12 months but not there yet should not lodge early without advice, because an early application to sponsor partner from Greece can fail on that ground alone. The guide to de facto partner visas in Australia and the FAQ on applying before 12 months explain the risk in more detail.

Previous marriages and Greek divorce records

Any previous marriage of the sponsor or the Greek partner must be shown to have ended before the couple married, and the evidence must be a final decision, not a pending case.

Whether a Greek divorce was granted by a court or completed through another procedure recognised under Greek law, the Department will want to see the final document that ended the earlier marriage and, ideally, the updated civil registry record. A family status certificate issued after the divorce can confirm that the registry reflects the change.

Divorce problems often arise when Australians sponsor partner from Greece. Typical examples are cases where a sponsor married in a church in Greece but divorced only in Australia, or where a Greek partner's first marriage was religious and the dissolution was handled differently. The firm's guides on a partner visa after divorce and a partner visa while still married explain how the Department treats overlapping relationships. The FAQ on a spouse visa while still divorcing addresses the timing directly.

Greek documents, apostille and English translation

Every Greek document that is not in English must be translated into English before it is uploaded, and couples who sponsor partner from Greece should plan for translation early because Greek civil records are almost always issued only in Greek.

Greece and Australia are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. An apostille is not normally required for a partner visa document, because the Department generally accepts clear colour scans of original documents uploaded through ImmiAccount. However, an apostille can be needed when a Greek document is used for another Australian purpose, and a Greek apostille is needed when an Australian document is registered in Greece, such as an Australian marriage certificate registered with the Greek Special Civil Registry.

Translations for an application to sponsor partner from Greece should be accurate and complete. A translation prepared in Australia should be done by a translator accredited by NAATI. Each translation should include the translator's details and should match the spellings used in the passport. The firm's guides on partner visa evidence translation, translating a marriage certificate and translating messages explain what needs translating and what does not.

Not every Greek message needs a full translation when you sponsor partner from Greece. Couples who communicate partly in Greek can provide a representative selection with translations, rather than translating thousands of messages. The FAQ on couples who speak different languages explains how to present a bilingual relationship.

Names in Greek and Latin characters

Names written in Greek characters can be spelled in more than one way in Latin characters, and inconsistent spellings across documents are a common cause of delay when couples sponsor partner from Greece.

A Greek partner may appear as Dimitrios on a passport, Dimitris on a bank statement and Jim in Australian messages. A sponsor's grandmother may have a different Latin spelling of the family surname on an Australian certificate from the one on a Greek registry extract. A Greek registry extract may also record a person under a different surname from the one used in Australia. None of these differences is unusual, but each should be explained, not left for the Department to discover.

For anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Greece, the best approach is a short explanation in the application identifying every version of each name, with the document that uses it. The firm's FAQs on different names and dates in documents and on a name change after marriage explain how to present this. Form 80, which records personal particulars, must list all other names used. The firm's Form 80 guide explains the form.

Police certificate when you sponsor partner from Greece

The Greek partner will normally need a Greek criminal record certificate, and the Department requires police certificates from every country where the applicant has spent 12 months or more in total in the last 10 years since turning 16.

Official guidance from the Government of Canada's immigration department describes the Greek document as a criminal record certificate for general use. It explains that a Greek resident can apply online through the National Criminal Records Portal or gov.gr, in person at the Office of the Public Prosecutor of the Court of First Instance, or at a local Citizen Service Centre. A person outside Greece can apply through the nearest Greek embassy or consulate, and if the consul does not accept the application, a representative in Greece can apply instead. The same guidance states that Greek criminal records are free.

Timing matters when you sponsor partner from Greece. Police certificates have a limited validity period for Department purposes, and an expired certificate can trigger a request for a new one. Couples who want to sponsor partner from Greece should obtain the certificate close to lodgement or when the Department requests it, not months beforehand. The firm's guides on partner visa overseas police certificates, expired police checks and police certificate and health check validity explain the timing rules.

A Greek partner who has also lived in another country, such as Germany or the United Kingdom, for 12 months or more needs that country's certificate too. A partner who cannot obtain a certificate from a country should read the FAQ on what to do when you cannot get a police certificate. Anyone with a conviction should read the guide on partner visa overseas convictions before lodging.

Relationship evidence when you sponsor partner from Greece

The Department assesses a partner visa relationship across four aspects: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. Couples who sponsor partner from Greece need evidence in each aspect, supported by one relationship statement that tells the story of the relationship.

For Greek-Australian couples who sponsor partner from Greece, the evidence often looks like this:

• Financial aspects. Joint accounts in Greece or Australia, money transfers between Greek and Australian banks, shared costs of travel and weddings, and joint ownership of property. The firm's guides on partner visa financial aspects and joint bank account evidence explain what is persuasive.
• Nature of the household. A shared address in Greece or Australia, a lease, utilities, and how the couple shares household responsibilities. The guide on the nature of the household explains this aspect.
• Social aspects. Recognition by both families, joint attendance at weddings, baptisms and name day celebrations, and travel together. The guide on partner visa social aspects explains how to present this.
• Nature of the commitment. Plans to live in Australia, knowledge of each other's background, the length of the relationship and how the couple has supported each other. The guide on the nature of commitment explains this aspect.

The relationship statement should be one coherent account. The firm's guide to the relationship statement for a partner visa explains how to write it. The guide on how much evidence for a partner visa explains why quality matters more than volume.

Family recognition, the koumbaros and Form 888 statements

Form 888 statements from people who know the couple are an important part of the social evidence, and couples who sponsor partner from Greece often have relatives and friends on both sides who can give strong, specific statements.

A Form 888 must be completed by an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Greek relatives who do not hold one of those statuses cannot complete a Form 888, but they can provide a signed supporting letter with identification. The koumbaros or koumbara from a Greek Orthodox wedding is often well placed to describe the couple's relationship, and if that person is an Australian citizen living in Australia, a Form 888 from them can be particularly useful.

Good statements describe what the witness has seen: when they met the couple, how often they see them, events they attended together, and why they believe the relationship is genuine. Generic statements carry little weight. The firm's guides on Form 888 witness statements, who can sign Form 888 and statements from overseas friends explain the rules. The FAQ on how many Form 888 statements answers the most common question.

Family recognition is also evidence in its own right when couples sponsor partner from Greece. Photographs of the couple at family events in Greece and Australia, invitations addressed to both of them, and messages from relatives can show that both families accept the relationship. The FAQ on whether families know about the relationship explains why the Department looks at this.

What recent Tribunal decisions show

Recent decisions of the Administrative Review Tribunal show that partner visa refusals are often reconsidered when the full evidence is properly presented, which is a lesson for any couple who wants to sponsor partner from Greece.

In Casey (Migration) [2024] ARTA 572, the reported issues were a marriage validly performed in the home country and the four aspects of the relationship in a Subclass 309 matter. The Tribunal remitted the matter to the Department for reconsideration. The point for Greek-Australian couples is that a valid marriage is only the starting point, and the evidence must address each aspect.

In Tang (Migration) [2026] ARTA 374, an onshore Subclass 820 matter, the reported issues included a marriage in the home country, a previous refused application, the sponsor's regular visits and the applicant's arrival on a visitor visa. The Tribunal remitted the matter. The point is that an earlier refusal and a visitor visa arrival do not, by themselves, decide a later application.

In TRAN (MIGRATION) [2026] ARTA 1912, also a Subclass 820 matter, the reported issues were a valid marriage, Form 888 and other supporting statements, and the four aspects. The Tribunal remitted the matter. The point is that well prepared supporting statements can make a difference.

These decisions do not mean that every refusal will be remitted, and they do not change the law that applies when you sponsor partner from Greece. They show that preparation and evidence matter. The firm's guides on the genuine and continuing relationship test and on preparing evidence of a genuine relationship explain how to build the evidence from the start.

Health examinations and the application process

The Greek partner must meet the health requirement, and the Department will usually ask for health examinations through a panel physician approved by the Department after the application is lodged.

The examinations normally include a medical examination and, depending on age and circumstances, a chest x-ray. The partner should not book examinations before the Department requests them, unless advised otherwise, because the results have a limited validity period. The firm's guides on partner visa health requirements and the FAQ on the partner visa medical explain the process.

Biometrics may also be requested. The FAQ on biometrics for a partner visa explains what to expect. Partners in Greece should also be aware that the Australian Embassy in Athens does not process visas. Partner visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, and the Department may contact the applicant by email or arrange an interview by phone or video. The firm's guide on the partner visa telephone interview explains how to prepare.

What does it cost to sponsor partner from Greece?

At the time of writing, the Department's visa application charge for a Subclass 309/100 or Subclass 820/801 partner visa is AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, and this charge covers both the temporary and permanent stages.

Additional charges apply for dependants included in an application to sponsor partner from Greece. Other costs include translations, police certificates, health examinations and travel. Greek criminal record certificates are free, which removes one cost that applicants from many other countries face. The firm's guides on partner visa cost and partner visa fee increases, and the FAQ on who pays the partner visa fee, explain the government charges. Government charges change, so the current figure should be checked before lodgement.

What if the partner visa is refused?

A refusal is not always the end. If a Subclass 820 is refused, the visa applicant can usually apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal within 28 days of being notified of the decision. If a Subclass 309 is refused, the Greek partner applies for review in their own name, and the time limit is short and strictly applied, running from when the refusal is taken to have been received.

At the time of writing, the ART application fee for a partner visa review is AUD 3,727. The Tribunal reconsiders the matter afresh and can consider new evidence. The firm's partner visa refusals page explains how My Migration Lawyers handles reviews. The guides on the partner visa ART review process, who applies for review of an offshore refusal and partner visa ART fees explain the process.

The best protection against refusal when you sponsor partner from Greece is preparation. The guide on why partner visas get refused sets out the common reasons. A couple that receives a request for more information under section 56 or a natural justice letter under section 57 should respond carefully and on time. The firm's guides on a section 56 request and a section 57 natural justice letter explain what to do.

Mistakes to avoid when you sponsor partner from Greece

The most common mistakes when couples sponsor partner from Greece are avoidable with planning:

• Relying on a church certificate alone. The registry record of the marriage is the key document. A church certificate should be supported by the civil registry record.
• Ignoring condition 8503. A visitor visa with condition 8503 can block an onshore application. Check the grant notice first.
• Lodging a de facto application before 12 months. The 12 months is measured as a de facto relationship, not from the first meeting.
• Inconsistent name spellings. Explain every variation of every Greek name.
• Untranslated Greek documents. Every Greek document must be translated into English.
• Expired police certificates. Time the Greek criminal record certificate carefully.
• Leaving Australia on a Bridging visa A. Obtain a Bridging visa B before travel.
• Generic Form 888 statements. Ask witnesses to describe what they have actually seen.

The firm's guides on partner visa refused for insufficient evidence and weak partner visa evidence explain how to strengthen an application before it is lodged.

How My Migration Lawyers helps you sponsor partner from Greece

My Migration Lawyers acts for Australian sponsors in complex partner visa matters, including many matters where the partner is from Europe and the couple's life has been divided between two countries. The firm understands the practical realities that arise when Australians sponsor partner from Greece, and it is capable of handling both straightforward and difficult cases.

On a matter to sponsor partner from Greece, the firm:

• advises on the choice between the Subclass 820 and the Subclass 309, including checking the eVisitor or visitor visa conditions before the partner travels;
• reviews the Greek civil registry records, including the marriage record and family status certificate, and identifies any registration gaps;
• advises dual citizen sponsors on the evidence of Australian citizenship and on any Greek police evidence that may be required;
• organises the translation of Greek documents and the presentation of name variations;
• prepares the application, presenting the couple's own account and evidence in the form the law requires across the four aspects;
• responds to requests for further information and natural justice letters; and
• acts in Administrative Review Tribunal review if a refusal occurs.

The firm's Principal Lawyer, Weiwei Zhang, oversees the firm's partner visa practice. The firm's guide to complex partner visa lawyers and the offshore partner visa lawyer guide explain how the firm works with sponsors in Australia and partners overseas. Sponsors in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, where many Greek-Australian families live, can work with the firm by video consultation, as can sponsors anywhere in Australia.

If you want to sponsor partner from Greece and want advice on your own circumstances, book a consultation with My Migration Lawyers. You can also call 1300 040 300.