Sponsoring a Partner From Namibia

To sponsor partner from Namibia, the Australian partner must be an eligible sponsor and the couple must prove that their relationship is genuine and continuing. Many Australians who sponsor partner from Namibia met their partner while living or working there, and lived together in Namibia before deciding to move to Australia. For those couples, the application usually turns on one question: can they prove a de facto relationship with Namibian evidence?

This guide answers that question for an Australian who wants to sponsor partner from Namibia. It explains the sponsor criteria, which visa suits a Namibian partner, the legal test for a de facto relationship, how to prove cohabitation in Namibia, how to deal with gaps and informal housing, the Namibian police clearance, partners who studied or worked in South Africa, and what happens if the application is refused. The firm's partner visa lawyers act for sponsors in this situation.

A useful starting point is the guide to the de facto partner visa in Australia, because most of the Namibian detail in this article builds on the de facto rules.

Can you sponsor partner from Namibia as a de facto partner?

Yes. An Australian sponsor can sponsor partner from Namibia as a de facto partner if the couple have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others, the relationship is genuine and continuing, and they live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.

The same partner visa can be used for married couples and for de facto couples who sponsor partner from Namibia. A couple who sponsor partner from Namibia do not need to be married. They must, however, meet the extra de facto requirement in regulation 2.03A: generally 12 months of de facto relationship immediately before the application is made. That requirement does not apply where the relationship is registered under an Australian state or territory law, or where compelling and compassionate circumstances exist.

Same-sex couples who sponsor partner from Namibia are assessed in exactly the same way. The page on the LGBTI partner visa explains how same-sex de facto and married couples apply.

The firm's partner visa requirements guide sets out the full criteria, and the answer on de facto visa requirements summarises them.

Who can sponsor partner from Namibia?

An Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen who is at least 18 years old can sponsor partner from Namibia, subject to the sponsorship limitation and the sponsor police check rules.

The answer on who can sponsor a partner visa gives the short version. The detail is in the guide to partner visa sponsor eligibility. Points that commonly arise when Australians sponsor partner from Namibia are:

• Sponsoring from Namibia. Many sponsors live in Namibia when the application is lodged. That is allowed, but the sponsor must intend to live with the partner in Australia. The guide on a partner visa sponsor living overseas explains how to show that intention.
• Previous partner sponsorships. Regulation 1.20KB generally limits a sponsor to two partner sponsorships in total and prevents a new sponsorship within 5 years of the last one, or within 5 years of the sponsor's own partner visa grant, unless there are compelling circumstances. The page on partner visa sponsorship limitations explains the rule.
• Police checks. Under regulation 1.20KC, the Department may ask the sponsor for Australian and foreign police checks. A sponsor who has lived in Namibia for 12 months or more may be asked for a Namibian check. The guide on the partner visa sponsor police check explains what can be requested.

The sponsor also gives an undertaking to provide accommodation and financial assistance for the partner's first 2 years in Australia, as the guide on the partner visa sponsor undertaking explains.

Which visa should you use to sponsor partner from Namibia?

Most couples who sponsor partner from Namibia use the offshore Subclass 309, lodged while the Namibian partner is outside Australia. The onshore Subclass 820 is only available if the partner is in Australia on a visa that allows a further application.

• Subclass 309 partner visa. The temporary offshore visa, followed by the permanent Subclass 100. This suits a de facto couple living together in Namibia, including where the sponsor is also living there.
• Subclass 820 partner visa. The temporary onshore visa, followed by the permanent Subclass 801. This suits a partner who is already in Australia, for example as a student or skilled worker, on a visa that does not prevent a further application.
• Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa. For couples who are engaged and intend to marry. It is rarely the best choice for a de facto couple who already meet the 12-month requirement, but it can suit a couple who are engaged and have not lived together for 12 months.

The guide on onshore versus offshore partner visas compares the routes, and the answer on the Subclass 820 or Subclass 309 choice gives a short summary. A Namibian partner who is in Australia on a student visa should read the guide on a partner visa on a student visa.

What are the steps to sponsor partner from Namibia?

The process to sponsor partner from Namibia has five main steps: confirm the sponsor's eligibility, confirm the relationship basis, gather evidence and police certificates, lodge the visa application, and then lodge the sponsorship.

• Check the sponsor. Confirm the sponsor's status, any previous sponsorships, and any police checks the sponsor may need.
• Confirm the basis. Decide whether the couple apply as de facto partners or as spouses, and confirm the 12-month de facto period if applicable.
• Gather the evidence. Collect Namibian household, financial, social and commitment evidence, the Namibian Certificate of Conduct, and any South African police certificate.
• Lodge the application. The Namibian partner lodges the visa application online and pays the application charge.
• Lodge the sponsorship. The sponsor lodges the online sponsorship using the application's Transaction Reference Number.

The guide on how to apply for a partner visa explains the steps in general, and the guide on partner visa sponsorship lodgement explains the sponsor's part. A sponsor who intends to sponsor partner from Namibia should also read the guide on Form 40SP, which explains the sponsorship form.

What counts as a de facto relationship for an Australian partner visa?

A de facto relationship under section 5CB of the Migration Act 1958 exists where two people have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others, the relationship is genuine and continuing, they live together or do not live separately and apart permanently, and they are not related by family.

This is the legal test the Department applies when couples sponsor partner from Namibia without being married, and every de facto application to sponsor partner from Namibia must address each element. Each element needs evidence:

• Mutual commitment to a shared life. Shared plans, joint decisions, and how the couple present themselves to others.
• Exclusion of all others. The relationship is exclusive, and neither partner is in another relationship.
• Genuine and continuing. The relationship is real and ongoing at the time of application and at the time of decision.
• Living together. The couple live together, or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.

The answer on the legal definition of a de facto relationship explains the test in plain terms. The answer on mutual commitment and exclusion of all others explains the first two elements, and the answer on what makes a genuine and continuing relationship explains the third.

The 12-month requirement is separate, and it is the requirement most often failed when couples sponsor partner from Namibia. It is measured back from the date of application, and the de facto relationship must have existed for the whole of that period. The answer on when the 12-month de facto period starts explains how the start date is identified. A couple who apply too early risk refusal, as the answer on a de facto visa refused under the 12-month rule explains.

How do you prove you lived together in Namibia?

You prove cohabitation in Namibia with documents that show both partners at the same address over a continuous period: a lease or title deed, municipal and utility accounts, bank statements, employer housing records, mail addressed to both partners, and dated photographs of the shared home.

The nature of the household is one of the four aspects the Department assesses. When couples sponsor partner from Namibia as de facto partners, the household evidence usually carries more weight than any other single category, because it shows the couple actually shared a home. The guide on partner visa household evidence and the guide on the nature of the household explain the category in detail.

Useful Namibian household evidence usually includes:

• Lease or ownership documents. A lease in both names is the strongest single document. A lease in one name, with a letter from the landlord confirming that both partners lived there, also helps.
• Municipal and utility accounts. Water, electricity and rates accounts, ideally in both names or with one in each name.
• Bank statements. Statements sent to the shared address, and statements showing rent, groceries and household costs paid by either partner.
• Employer housing. Where the sponsor lived in employer-provided housing, for example at a mine or project site, a letter from the employer confirming that the partner lived there too.
• Mail and official correspondence. Letters from government agencies, insurers, medical providers or banks addressed to each partner at the same address.
• Photographs and household items. Dated photographs of the couple at home, and evidence of shared furniture, vehicles or pets.

Joint documents are helpful but not essential to sponsor partner from Namibia. The guide on a partner visa without a joint lease and the guide on a partner visa without a joint bank account explain how to build a case without them. The answer on joint bills and the answer on a lease in both names explain how those documents are weighed.

The Tribunal has considered de facto cases in which household and financial evidence was central. In HOANG (Migration) [2020] AATA 2156, decided on 23 January 2020, a Subclass 309 matter, the reported issues were a de facto partner, the financial, household and social aspects of the relationship, and the sponsor's extensive visits to the applicant. The decision under review was remitted. In 2306750 (Migration) [2026] ARTA 1754, decided on 11 May 2026, a Subclass 820 matter, the reported issues were a de facto relationship at application, a valid marriage, that the couple resided together, and joint bank accounts. The decision under review was remitted. Both decisions show why evidence of a shared home and shared finances matters when couples sponsor partner from Namibia as de facto partners.

What if the couple lived with family or in informal housing?

Living with family, or in housing without formal leases or accounts, does not prevent a de facto relationship, and it does not rule out a plan to sponsor partner from Namibia. It means the couple must prove cohabitation with other kinds of evidence.

Not every couple who plans to sponsor partner from Namibia lives in a formally leased property. Some live in a family home, on a family farm, in employer accommodation, or in housing where accounts are in a relative's name. A sponsor who wants to sponsor partner from Namibia in that situation should gather:

• Statements from the householder. A statement from the parent or relative who owns the home, confirming that the couple lived there together and from when.
• Address on personal documents. Bank statements, mobile phone accounts, medical records or employer records showing each partner at that address.
• Contributions to the household. Evidence that either partner paid for food, utilities, repairs or rent.
• Photographs over time. Dated photographs of the couple at that home, across the 12-month period.

The answer on living with family, the guide on a partner visa while living with parents and the guide on informal living arrangements explain how the Department approaches these cases. The answer on what counts as living together explains the legal threshold.

How are gaps in the 12 months treated?

A de facto relationship relied on to sponsor partner from Namibia can continue during periods apart, provided the couple do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis and the separation is temporary and explained.

Gaps are common for couples who sponsor partner from Namibia, and they do not by themselves defeat the application. A sponsor working on rotation at a mine or remote site, a partner studying in South Africa, or a trip home to Australia can each create a period when the couple are not physically together. The Department looks at the reason for the separation, its length, and whether the couple maintained contact and commitment during it.

For each period apart, a sponsor who wants to sponsor partner from Namibia should provide evidence showing:

• Why the couple were apart. For example, an employer roster, a study enrolment or a family emergency.
• How long the separation lasted. Travel records and dates.
• How the relationship continued. Messages, calls, money transfers and visits during the separation.
• That the shared home continued. Evidence that the couple kept the same home and intended to return to it.

The answer on time apart during the 12-month de facto period and the guide on a partner visa temporary separation explain the approach. For rotational workers, the guide on a partner visa when living apart for work is directly relevant, as is the guide on intermittent cohabitation.

A clear relationship timeline helps the case officer understand the 12-month period. It should list where each partner lived, month by month, with the evidence for each period. The answer on how to explain gaps in relationship evidence gives practical guidance.

Should you register the relationship or marry before you apply?

For a couple who sponsor partner from Namibia, it depends on whether they can already show 12 months of de facto relationship. A couple who can show 12 months can sponsor partner from Namibia and apply as de facto partners without registering or marrying. A couple who cannot may consider registration in an Australian state or territory, or marriage.

Registration of a relationship under an Australian state or territory law removes the 12-month requirement. However, each state and territory has its own eligibility rules, usually including a residence requirement, so registration is often not available while both partners live in Namibia. The answer on where to register a relationship in Australia and the answer on whether you can register a relationship while the partner is overseas explain the options. The answer on an overseas registered relationship explains how a foreign registration is treated.

Marriage is the other option. A married couple does not need to meet the 12-month de facto requirement, but they must still prove a genuine and continuing relationship. A marriage in Namibia is generally recognised in Australia if it was valid in Namibia and would be recognised as valid under Australian law. The guide on whether an overseas marriage is recognised in Australia explains the test, and the answer on the difference between a spouse and de facto visa explains the practical differences.

A couple who sponsor partner from Namibia should not marry or register only to avoid the 12-month rule if the relationship itself is not yet established. The Department still assesses whether the relationship is genuine. The answer on whether you can apply before 12 months of de facto relationship explains the risks.

Financial, social and commitment evidence for a Namibian de facto couple

Beyond the shared household, the Department assesses the financial aspects, the social aspects and the nature of the couple's commitment, and a de facto couple from Namibia should present evidence under each heading.

The guide on the four pillars of a partner visa explains how the headings work together. A couple who sponsor partner from Namibia as de facto partners should not rely on household evidence alone.

• Financial aspects. Joint accounts, shared expenses, money transfers, shared assets such as a vehicle, and evidence of financial dependence. The guide on partner visa financial evidence and the guide on the partner visa financial aspects explain what helps.
• Social aspects. Friends and family in Namibia and Australia who know the couple as a couple, joint invitations, shared social activities and travel together. The guide on partner visa social aspects explains this heading, and the guide on Form 888 witness statements explains statements from Australian citizens and permanent residents.
• Commitment. Plans to live in Australia, decisions made together, wills or insurance naming each other, and contact during periods apart. The guide on the nature of commitment explains the evidence.

Both partners write a relationship statement. The guide on the partner visa relationship statement explains what to cover. When couples sponsor partner from Namibia, the statements should give the same dates for when the couple met, when they moved in together and where they lived.

The Namibian police clearance certificate

A Namibian partner usually needs a police certificate from Namibia, and from every other country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16.

Official government guidance for applicants needing a Namibian police certificate describes it as a Certificate of Conduct issued by the Namibian Police Force. It states that residents of Namibia apply to the Namibian Police Force, and that people living outside Namibia can contact the nearest Namibian embassy for assistance, or appoint someone in Namibia to submit the request for them. Fingerprints may be needed for the police certificate, and that process is separate from any biometrics the Department may request.

Police certificates are part of the character requirement in PIC 4001, and they are needed every time you sponsor partner from Namibia. The certificate should be obtained close to lodgement, so it is current when the case officer assesses the application. The answer on whether a police certificate and health check remain valid explains timing, and the guide on partner visa overseas police certificates explains the general process. If a certificate is delayed, the answer on what to do if you cannot get a police certificate sets out the options.

In Goh (Migration) [2022] AATA 4903, decided on 30 November 2022, a Subclass 820 matter, the reported issues were that a police certificate of good conduct issued by a foreign government was provided, and PIC 4001. The decision under review was remitted. The case is a reminder that the correct foreign police certificate, from the correct issuing authority, can resolve a character issue on review.

The sponsor may also be asked for a Namibian police check under regulation 1.20KC if the sponsor has lived in Namibia for 12 months or more. The guide on the partner visa sponsor police check applies here, and the guide on what happens when a partner visa sponsor police check is not provided explains the consequence of missing the request.

Partners with South African study or work history

A Namibian partner who studied or worked in South Africa usually needs a South African police clearance certificate, and South African documents may form part of the relationship and identity evidence.

Many Namibians study at South African universities or work in South Africa, so this issue arises often when Australians sponsor partner from Namibia. When couples sponsor partner from Namibia and the partner has spent 12 months or more in South Africa in the last 10 years since turning 16, the Department will usually expect a South African police certificate. Official government guidance states that the South African Police Service issues a Police Clearance Certificate, that residents apply at a local police station, and that non-residents apply through a South African embassy or by mail to the police office in Pretoria.

South African history affects the evidence in other ways:

• The 12-month period. If the partner was studying in South Africa during part of the 12 months, the couple must show that the relationship continued and that they did not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.
• Cohabitation in South Africa. If the couple lived together in South Africa, South African leases, accounts and residence documents prove that period.
• Identity. The partner's name and date of birth on South African study permits, enrolment records and police documents should match the Namibian passport.
• Previous visa history. If the partner has held any Australian visa or applied for one while in South Africa, the answers in those applications must be consistent with the partner visa.

The firm's answer on a partner visa lawyer for South Africa explains the firm's work with couples connected to South Africa. The answer on whether to disclose a visa refusal explains why any earlier refusal must be declared. The guide on partner visa character requirements explains how foreign records are assessed.

Documents, language and identity for a Namibian partner

Most Namibian official documents are issued in English, which is Namibia's official language, but any document in another language must be lodged with an English translation.

This is a practical advantage for couples who sponsor partner from Namibia, because translation costs and delays are usually lower. Birth certificates, identity documents and many official letters are usually in English. Some older records, church documents or family statements may be in Afrikaans, German or another language, and those need translation. The guide on partner visa evidence translation explains the requirements.

Identity documents used to sponsor partner from Namibia should be consistent across the passport, birth certificate, police certificates and any South African records. The answer on different names and dates on documents explains how to deal with variations, and the guide on PIC 4020 for partner visas explains the risk of inconsistent or incorrect information. The partner visa document checklist and the guide on partner visa sponsor documents list the documents needed from each partner.

Health checks, biometrics and the Australian High Commission

When you sponsor partner from Namibia, the Namibian partner must meet the health requirements in PIC 4005 or PIC 4007, and may be asked to provide biometrics, but the visa itself is lodged online with the Department.

The Australian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, is accredited to Namibia, as well as to South Africa and several other countries in Southern Africa. Visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount. If biometrics are requested, the Department tells the applicant where to provide them. Health examinations are done with a Department panel physician once the health instructions are issued. The guides on partner visa biometrics, the partner visa medical examination and partner visa health requirements explain each step. The answer on the ImmiAccount for a partner visa explains the online process.

Cost, processing time and review

The partner visa application charge is from AUD 11,710 as at October 2026, and Department processing times as at October 2026 for the Subclass 309 are 21 months for 50% of applications and 32 months for 90%.

For the other stages, the times as at October 2026 are: Subclass 100, 9 and 21 months; Subclass 820, 22 and 30 months; Subclass 801, 8 and 19 months; Subclass 300, 14 and 26 months. These figures change regularly and should be checked before you sponsor partner from Namibia. The guides on partner visa processing times and partner visa cost explain both.

If an application to sponsor partner from Namibia is refused, an application for review by the Administrative Review Tribunal must be made within 28 days after the refusal is notified, or 7 days in immigration detention, and that time cannot be extended. For a Subclass 309 or Subclass 820 refusal, the visa applicant applies. For a Subclass 300 refusal, the sponsor applies. The ART fee is AUD 3,727, with a 50% reduction for financial hardship, payable before the deadline. The page on partner visa refusals explains the review options, and the guide on a partner visa refused for insufficient evidence is relevant where cohabitation evidence was the problem. The guide on the partner visa ART review process explains what happens on review.

Why Namibian de facto applications are refused

Most refusals in this type of case come from evidence that does not cover the full 12 months, unexplained periods apart, or inconsistent dates between the statements and the documents.

A sponsor who wants to sponsor partner from Namibia should check for these problems before lodging:

• Lodging before 12 months. The application is lodged before the de facto relationship has existed for 12 months, with no registration or compelling circumstances.
• A late start date. The evidence of living together starts later than the date the couple claim.
• Unexplained separations. Rotational work or study away is not explained or evidenced.
• Household evidence in one name only. No other evidence connects the second partner to the address.
• Inconsistent statements. The partners give different dates or accounts of key events.
• Missing police certificates. A South African certificate is missing for a partner who lived there for 12 months or more.

The guide on why partner visas get refused and the answer on a de facto visa refused under the 12-month rule explain these risks, and a partner visa application review before lodgement can identify them early. Careful preparation is the most reliable way to sponsor partner from Namibia without a refusal.

How My Migration Lawyers helps when you sponsor partner from Namibia

My Migration Lawyers acts for Australian sponsors whose partners are from Namibia, including de facto couples who lived together in Namibia, couples whose household evidence is informal or held in a relative's name, and partners with study or work history in South Africa. The firm deals with complex partner visa cases, acts in many partner and sponsor matters of this type, and is capable of handling an application to sponsor partner from Namibia from the first review of the evidence to Tribunal review if required.

In a Namibian de facto matter, the firm's work typically includes:

• Assessing whether the couple meet the 12-month de facto requirement at the planned date of lodgement, and identifying the start date the evidence supports.
• Advising on whether to lodge as de facto partners, register the relationship where that is possible, or marry, based on the couple's circumstances.
• Organising Namibian household evidence, including employer housing letters and statements from family householders, into a month-by-month timeline.
• Explaining periods apart caused by rotational work, study in South Africa or travel, with supporting evidence.
• Advising on the Namibian Certificate of Conduct and any South African Police Clearance Certificate, and on the sponsor's own police checks.
• Presenting each partner's own account of the relationship in statements they review and correct, and arranging Form 888 statements from people who know the couple.
• Responding to Department requests and preparing Tribunal review applications where a refusal is made.

The firm acts for clients across Australia and overseas by video. The firm's answer on de facto visa lawyers in Australia and the guide to complex partner visa lawyer work explain the approach, and the Partner Visa Questions hub answers related questions.

If you are planning to sponsor partner from Namibia, or a Namibian partner visa application has been questioned or refused, Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers, or call 1300 040 300.