Sponsoring a Partner From Nigeria

To sponsor partner from Nigeria, the Australian partner must be an eligible sponsor and the couple must prove a genuine and continuing relationship with documents the Department of Home Affairs can rely on. A plan to sponsor partner from Nigeria succeeds or fails on two things above all others: the integrity of the Nigerian documents and the depth of the relationship evidence.

This guide is written for the Australian sponsor. It explains who can sponsor, which partner visa fits, how the sponsorship is lodged, why Nigerian documents receive close attention under public interest criterion 4020, how Nigerian statutory, customary and Islamic marriages are treated, how to obtain the Nigerian police certificate, and how couples whose relationship began online can meet the Department's scrutiny with honest, well organised evidence. The commercial page for partner visa lawyers explains how My Migration Lawyers acts in these matters, and the complete guide to partner visas sets out every subclass and stage.

The point to understand early is that the sponsor partner from Nigeria process is document heavy. A Nigerian applicant is not refused because of nationality. An application is refused when the Department is not satisfied about identity, about a document, or about the relationship. Each of those risks can be managed before lodgement.

Can an Australian sponsor partner from Nigeria?

Yes. An Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen can sponsor partner from Nigeria for an Australian partner visa, provided the sponsor is at least 18, the relationship is genuine and continuing, and the sponsor is not blocked by the sponsorship limitation.

The partner can be a spouse, a de facto partner, or a fiancé or fiancée who intends to marry the sponsor. Same-sex couples are treated in the same way as opposite-sex couples. The page on LGBTI partner visas explains how the law applies to same-sex relationships, and the answer on who can sponsor a partner visa sets out the basic test.

A sponsor partner from Nigeria application has no special nationality rule. The Migration Regulations 1994 apply the same criteria to a Nigerian applicant as to any other applicant. What differs is how the evidence is gathered and how closely it is tested. The guide to partner visa requirements explains the criteria in full.

Who can be the sponsor?

The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, and must be at least 18 years old. Each of those categories has its own evidence requirements, and the sponsor's status is checked at the time of decision as well as at lodgement.

An Australian citizen proves status with an Australian passport or citizenship certificate. The guide to proving the sponsor is an Australian citizen explains what is accepted, and the article on the Australian citizen partner visa sponsor covers the role in detail. A permanent resident must hold a permanent visa, and the article on the permanent resident partner visa sponsor explains the issues that arise, including where the permanent visa was itself a partner visa. A New Zealand citizen must be an eligible New Zealand citizen, and the guide for a New Zealand citizen partner visa sponsor explains that test.

Many sponsors who sponsor partner from Nigeria are themselves Nigerian-born Australians. That is common and lawful. However, a sponsor who came to Australia on a partner visa, or who has sponsored a partner before, must check the limitation in regulation 1.20KB of the Migration Regulations 1994 before doing anything else.

The sponsorship limitation

Regulation 1.20KB generally prevents a sponsor from sponsoring more than two partners in total, and from sponsoring a partner within five years of a previous partner sponsorship or of the sponsor's own grant of a partner visa, unless there are compelling circumstances. The commercial page on partner visa sponsorship limitations explains the rule and how compelling circumstances are argued, and the article on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner visa works through the common scenarios.

This matters in the Nigerian context because many Nigerian-born sponsors first came to Australia as a partner of an earlier sponsor. If the sponsor's own partner visa was granted less than five years ago, the sponsor partner from Nigeria plan must either wait or rely on compelling circumstances. The question on a sponsor who has sponsored before explains when advice is needed.

Sponsor police checks

Under regulation 1.20KC, the Department may ask the sponsor for Australian and foreign police checks and may refuse to approve the sponsorship where the sponsor has a conviction for a relevant offence, unless it is reasonable to approve it. A sponsor who lived in Nigeria as an adult may be asked for a Nigerian police certificate as well as an Australian one. The article on the partner visa sponsor police check explains the request, and the article on what happens when the sponsor police check is not provided explains the refusal risk. That request is easy to miss, and it can stop a sponsor partner from Nigeria application even where the applicant's own file is strong.

Which partner visa fits a plan to sponsor partner from Nigeria?

Most couples who sponsor partner from Nigeria use the offshore Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 pathway, because the partner is in Nigeria when the application is made. Two other pathways exist: the onshore Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 visa, for a partner who is already in Australia, and the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa, for an engaged couple who will marry in Australia.

Subclass 309 and Subclass 100: the offshore pathway

The Subclass 309 is the temporary offshore partner visa, and the Subclass 100 is the permanent stage. Both are applied for together. The applicant must be outside Australia when the application is lodged. The page on the Subclass 309 visa explains the commercial service, and the guide to the offshore partner visa explains the pathway step by step. The question on the Subclass 309 versus the Subclass 100 explains how the two stages relate. This is the pathway used in most sponsor partner from Nigeria cases.

The rules about where the applicant must be at the time of grant changed in November 2023. A Nigerian partner who plans to visit Australia during processing should obtain advice about the current rule before travelling, rather than relying on what friends or family say about older cases.

Subclass 820 and Subclass 801: the onshore pathway

The Subclass 820 is the temporary onshore partner visa and the Subclass 801 is the permanent stage. The applicant must be in Australia when the application is lodged. The page on the Subclass 820 visa explains the commercial service, and the guide to the onshore partner visa covers the process.

A Nigerian partner who is in Australia on a student, graduate or work visa can often apply onshore. A Nigerian partner who is in Australia as a visitor needs care, because for an onshore sponsor partner from Nigeria application the partner's current visa conditions decide whether lodgement is possible. Nigerian citizens usually visit Australia on a Visitor visa (Subclass 600), and a visitor visa may carry condition 8503 (No Further Stay). Condition 8503 prevents an onshore partner visa application unless it is waived. The article on condition 8503 waivers and the guide to moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa explain the position. A partner who no longer holds a substantive visa faces the Schedule 3 criteria, which the page on Schedule 3 waivers explains.

Subclass 300: the Prospective Marriage visa

The Subclass 300 allows a fiancé or fiancée outside Australia to travel to Australia, marry the sponsor within the visa period, and then apply for the Subclass 820. The page on the Subclass 300 visa explains the service. For a sponsor partner from Nigeria plan built around a wedding in Australia, the Subclass 300 is the usual route. Some Nigerian couples prefer to marry in Nigeria first and apply for the Subclass 309, because a registered marriage removes the need to prove an intention to marry. The question on whether to marry first or use a fiancé visa compares the two, and the guide on onshore versus offshore partner visas explains the wider choice.

How is the sponsorship lodged?

The visa applicant lodges the partner visa application online first, and the sponsor then lodges the sponsorship online using the Transaction Reference Number (TRN) of the visa application. The sponsorship is not a validity requirement for most applications, but it must be approved before the visa can be granted.

Sponsorship approval is a time of decision criterion. It is decided inside the visa decision, and the sponsor does not receive a separate approval notice. The sponsorship form is Form 40SP, now completed online. The article on Form 40SP explains each part, and the article on partner visa sponsorship lodgement explains the sequence. The article on what happens if the sponsorship is not lodged explains the consequence of delay.

By signing the sponsorship, the sponsor gives an undertaking to provide adequate accommodation and financial assistance to the partner for the first two years in Australia. The article on the partner visa sponsor undertaking and the article on partner visa sponsor obligations explain what that undertaking means in practice. There is no minimum income test, as the answer on sponsor minimum income explains.

A sponsor partner from Nigeria application should be lodged with the sponsor's documents ready on the same day. The article on partner visa sponsor documents lists them.

What does it cost and how long does it take?

The visa application charge for a partner visa is from AUD 11,710 as at October 2026, paid when the application is lodged. The guide to partner visa cost explains what that charge covers and what other costs arise, such as translations, police certificates and health examinations. Couples who sponsor partner from Nigeria should also budget for courier costs and for certified copies of registry records.

As at October 2026, the Department reports that 50% of Subclass 309 applications are processed in 21 months and 90% in 32 months. For the Subclass 820, the figures are 22 months and 30 months. For the Subclass 300, they are 14 months and 26 months. The guide to partner visa processing times explains these figures and what affects them.

Applications that need further checking take longer. A sponsor partner from Nigeria file that contains unclear documents, inconsistent dates or unexplained gaps is more likely to receive requests for further information, and each request adds time. The guide to partner visa processing delays explains why delays happen, and the article on decision ready partner visa applications explains how to reduce them.

Why does the Department look closely at Nigerian documents?

The Department looks closely at Nigerian documents because the Australian Government's own country information reports high rates of document fraud in Nigeria, and every partner visa applicant must satisfy public interest criterion 4020, the integrity criterion. A genuine applicant is not refused for that reason, but a genuine applicant must expect verification.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Country Information Report on Nigeria states that Nigeria experiences high rates of document fraud and that fraudulent documents are not difficult to obtain. Decision makers read these reports. Anyone who plans to sponsor partner from Nigeria should assume that each Nigerian document may be checked at its source. In practice, a sponsor partner from Nigeria application is more likely than many others to involve document verification, requests for originals, interviews, or questions about how and when a document was issued.

What public interest criterion 4020 requires

Public interest criterion 4020(1) requires that there is no evidence that the applicant has given, or caused to be given, a bogus document or information that is false or misleading in a material particular, in relation to the current application or a visa held in the 12 months before it was made. The article on PIC 4020 and partner visas explains the criterion, and the answer on PIC 4020 in a partner visa explains the main risks. For a couple who sponsor partner from Nigeria, PIC 4020 is the criterion that most often turns a strong relationship case into a refusal.

The consequences are serious. Department policy explains that a refusal under PIC 4020(1) triggers a three-year non-grant period under PIC 4020(2), and that a refusal on identity grounds under PIC 4020(2A) triggers a ten-year non-grant period under PIC 4020(2B). The three-year period and PIC 4020(1) can be waived in compelling circumstances, including circumstances affecting the interests of an Australian citizen or permanent resident, such as the sponsor. There is no waiver for the identity requirements. The article on partner visa false documents and the article on false information refusals explain how these refusals arise.

A bogus document can be genuine paper

A document does not need to be forged to be bogus. Department policy treats a document as bogus if it was obtained because of a false or misleading statement, even if it was issued by the correct office on real paper. A birth certificate issued after someone paid a fixer to change a date of birth is a real risk in a sponsor partner from Nigeria file, even where the couple did not know what the fixer did. The answer on an honest mistake versus PIC 4020 explains the line between error and falsity.

The safest rule is simple. Every document should be obtained directly from the issuing authority, by the applicant or a trusted family member, and never through an agent who offers to make the process faster. That rule protects both the applicant and the sponsor partner from Nigeria application as a whole.

Which Nigerian identity documents are needed?

The Nigerian applicant needs a valid passport, a birth certificate, and evidence of any change of name, together with national identity evidence where it is available. The documents must tell one consistent story about the applicant's name, date of birth and place of birth. Identity evidence is the foundation of every sponsor partner from Nigeria application.

Department policy describes three pillars of identity: biometrics, documents and the applicant's life story. A Nigerian partner's documents are compared with each other, with any earlier Australian visa applications, and with any application made to another country. A date of birth that differs between a school certificate and a passport, or a name spelt differently on a marriage certificate, will be noticed. The answer on different names and dates in documents explains how to deal with inconsistencies, and the answer on different identity details explains the risk.

Earlier visa applications to other countries

Many Nigerian applicants have applied for visas to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or other countries. Those applications may contain different dates, a different marital status, or a different account of employment. Australia shares some immigration information with partner countries, so in a sponsor partner from Nigeria case the Department may already hold the applicant's earlier answers. The applicant must disclose previous visa refusals honestly when the form asks. The answer on disclosing a visa refusal and the article on applying after a previous refusal explain how to deal with this.

Identity inconsistencies in Tribunal decisions

Identity issues are not always fatal. In Amoah (Migration) [2024] AATA 2511, decided on 14 May 2024 and concerning a Subclass 300 visa, the reported issues were identity and an educational certificate provided with a previous application that showed a different year of birth, described as a probable error by the issuer. The decision under review was remitted to the Department for reconsideration. In Chea (Migration) [2021] AATA 2824, decided on 28 June 2021 and concerning a Subclass 309 visa, the reported issues were that the applicant met PIC 4020(2A), identity documents and evidence were provided, and the Tribunal was satisfied as to identity. That decision was also remitted. These cases show that an inconsistency can be explained with evidence. They do not mean that every inconsistency will be accepted.

Names, spellings and translations

Nigerian names often appear in different orders on different documents, and some applicants use a church name, a family name or an anglicised spelling. That is not a problem if it is explained. The applicant should list every name used in the forms and attach evidence linking them. A short schedule of names used is a simple step that helps any sponsor partner from Nigeria file. Where any document is not in English, it must be translated. The article on partner visa evidence translation explains the requirements, and the answer on name changes after marriage explains the evidence needed when a spouse takes the sponsor's surname.

Registry or customary marriage: how are Nigerian marriages treated when you sponsor partner from Nigeria?

A marriage celebrated in Nigeria is generally recognised in Australia if it was valid under Nigerian law, but the type of marriage changes the evidence the couple needs. A statutory marriage under the Nigerian Marriage Act produces a registry certificate. A customary or Islamic marriage may produce no government record at all.

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Interior states that statutory marriage in Nigeria is governed by the Marriage Act (CAP M6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004), and describes it as a voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. Statutory marriages are conducted through marriage registries, including the Federal Marriage Registry in Ikoyi, Lagos. The Ministry also states that customary law marriage and Islamic marriage (Nikah) are polygamous in nature and that there is no government record of customary and Islamic marriages.

Statutory registry marriages

A registry marriage is usually the most straightforward evidence of a marriage in a sponsor partner from Nigeria case, because it produces a government-issued certificate that can be verified. The Ministry of Interior describes a verification facility for third parties checking the authenticity of documents, and a process for obtaining a certified true copy from the registry where the marriage took place. The article on the partner visa marriage certificate explains what the Department expects, and the article on overseas marriages recognised in Australia explains the recognition rules.

Customary and Islamic marriages

A customary marriage, often involving the payment of a bride price and ceremonies between families, can be a valid marriage. So can an Islamic marriage. However, because the Nigerian Government holds no record of these marriages, the couple must prove the marriage with other evidence. This is one of the most common evidence gaps when couples sponsor partner from Nigeria. Useful evidence includes documents from the families or religious authority, photographs and video of the ceremony, Form 888 statements from people who attended, and any formal declaration of the marriage the couple has obtained. The answer on religious and cultural marriages and the answer on unregistered marriages explain how these are assessed.

The polygamous nature of these marriage forms raises a separate issue. Australian law does not recognise a marriage where either party was already married to someone else at the time. A sponsor or applicant who has a living spouse from an earlier customary or Islamic marriage that was never formally dissolved must deal with that before relying on a later marriage. The answer on polygamous marriages and spouse visas explains the rule, and the article on a partner visa while still married explains the options.

When the marriage is not recognised

If there is doubt about whether a marriage is valid, the couple may still qualify as de facto partners. A de facto relationship is assessed on the couple's shared life, not on a certificate. The article on overseas marriages not recognised explains how to proceed, and the answer on spouse versus de facto visas explains the difference. A sponsor partner from Nigeria application can be framed on both bases where the evidence supports it.

How does a Nigerian partner obtain a police certificate?

The Nigerian applicant usually needs a Police Character Certificate from the Nigeria Police Force, which is handled by the Force Criminal Investigation Department. The Nigeria High Commission in Canberra states that applications can be made online through the POSSAP portal or delivered to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Public interest criterion 4001 requires the applicant to meet the character requirements. Under Department practice, the applicant provides police certificates from each country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. A Nigerian partner who has also lived in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ghana or a Gulf state will need certificates from those countries too. The article on overseas police certificates for partner visas explains the general rule.

The Nigeria High Commission in Canberra also states that applicants need a certified set of fingerprints from a local police office, copies of passport pages and a list of exact addresses in Nigeria with dates, and that the certificate is valid for six months from its date of issue. That six-month statement matters, and police certificate timing is a practical issue in almost every sponsor partner from Nigeria application. A certificate obtained too early may be treated as stale by the time the case officer looks at the file. The answer on police certificate and health check validity explains timing, and the article on expired police checks explains what happens if one expires during processing.

If a certificate cannot be obtained after genuine effort, the applicant should keep evidence of every attempt and explain the position to the Department. The answer on what to do when a police certificate cannot be obtained explains the approach. The certificate should never be obtained through an intermediary who promises a quick result. A sponsor partner from Nigeria file with a certificate of doubtful origin is exposed to PIC 4020.

What health and character checks apply?

The applicant must meet the health criteria in public interest criteria 4005 and 4007 and the character criterion in public interest criterion 4001. The health examination is booked through the Department's approved panel arrangements after the application is lodged, or when the Department asks. Health and character checks are standard in every sponsor partner from Nigeria application.

The guide to the partner visa medical examination explains the examination, and the article on partner visa health requirements explains the criteria. Where a health condition is found, a health waiver may be available for the Subclass 309 and Subclass 820, as the commercial guide on partner visa health waivers explains.

The applicant must also complete character questions honestly, and may be asked for Form 80. The guide to Form 80 for partner visas explains the form. Any arrest, charge or conviction in Nigeria or elsewhere must be disclosed. The article on partner visa character requirements explains the test.

Can you sponsor partner from Nigeria if the relationship began online?

Yes. A relationship that began online can support a partner visa, and many genuine couples now meet that way. The Department does not refuse a sponsor partner from Nigeria application because the couple met on a dating site or social media, but it does look closely at how the relationship developed after the first contact.

Department officers are trained to look for the patterns of relationship fraud and romance scams, and couples who met online and have spent little time together in person are assessed with care. The honest answer to that scrutiny is evidence. The article on partner visas where the couple met online explains the approach, and the answer on met online partner visa advice explains when to obtain help.

What the Department wants to see

In an online relationship, the decision maker wants to see that the couple have met in person, that contact has been regular and continuous, that each knows the other's life in detail, that the families know about the relationship, and that money has moved in a way consistent with a couple rather than a one-way flow of funds. A sponsor partner from Nigeria case built on chat messages alone is weak. A case built on chat messages, in-person visits, travel records, photographs over time, family involvement and a consistent shared plan is far stronger.

The guide to partner visa chat evidence explains how to present messages, and the answer on messages, emails and call records explains what to include. The article on partner visa social media evidence explains how public posts are used.

Rapid relationships and cultural context

Some Nigerian couples marry soon after meeting, sometimes with strong family involvement. That is not a reason for refusal, but it must be explained. In Danquah (Migration) [2023] AATA 1378, decided on 11 May 2023 and concerning a Subclass 309 visa, the reported issues were the rapid inception of the relationship, that this was consistent with cultural beliefs, and money transfers. The decision under review was remitted. The answer on marrying soon after meeting and the article on short relationships explain how to evidence a relationship that moved quickly.

The sponsor's own protection

A sponsor who is unsure about a relationship that began online should take that concern seriously before lodging. Signs such as repeated requests for money for emergencies, refusal to video call, or reluctance to meet in person are matters a sponsor should think about honestly. The decision to sponsor partner from Nigeria is a serious legal commitment. The sponsorship undertaking and the limitation on the number of partners a sponsor can sponsor are real consequences. A genuine Nigerian partner will understand why the sponsor wants the relationship to be well evidenced.

What evidence proves a long-distance relationship when you sponsor partner from Nigeria?

The strongest evidence of a long-distance relationship is proof of time spent together in person, supported by continuous communication, financial ties and family involvement. The Department assesses the four aspects set out in the Migration Regulations: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment.

The guide to the four pillars of a partner visa explains each aspect, and the article on long distance partner visa relationships explains how couples who live apart meet them.

Visits and travel

Every visit should be documented with flight bookings, boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel or accommodation records and dated photographs. The article on partner visa travel evidence explains what to keep. Travel records are often the strongest single category of evidence in a sponsor partner from Nigeria application. In Raymont (Migration) [2020] AATA 5584, decided on 6 November 2020 and concerning a Subclass 309 visa, the reported issues were visits to each other's countries, the applicant's inaccurate knowledge of the sponsor, and methods of communication. The decision under review was remitted. That case is a reminder that the couple's knowledge of each other is tested, often at interview.

Money transfers

Money sent by the sponsor to a Nigerian partner is evidence of financial interdependence, but it must be presented in context. Regular, modest transfers for living costs, a wedding, rent or study read differently from large, irregular sums. In a sponsor partner from Nigeria case, a short explanation of each regular transfer is useful. The answer on money transfers as relationship evidence explains how to present them, and the guide to partner visa financial evidence explains the wider category.

Statements and witnesses

Both partners write a relationship statement, and supporting witnesses give Form 888 statements. The statements must be consistent with each other and with every date in the forms. Consistency between statements is tested closely in every sponsor partner from Nigeria file. The guide to the partner visa relationship statement and the article on Form 888 witness statements explain how these are prepared. The answer on statements from overseas friends explains how Nigerian family and friends can contribute. The article on the partner visa relationship timeline explains how to set out the history in one place.

Where can the couple meet if the sponsor cannot easily travel to Nigeria?

The sponsor can visit Nigeria, the partner can visit Australia on a visitor visa, or the couple can meet in a third country. Each option produces travel evidence, and each has its own practical considerations. Time spent together in person is evidence that matters for anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Nigeria.

Smartraveller advises Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Nigeria overall because of the volatile security situation, and higher advice levels apply in some areas. A sponsor who does travel should check the current advice for the specific state before booking. The Australian High Commission is in Abuja. Some couples choose to meet in a neighbouring country or another third country, which is lawful and produces the same kind of evidence as a visit to Nigeria.

A Nigerian partner who visits Australia while a Subclass 309 application is pending needs a visitor visa and must meet the visitor visa criteria. The article on visitor visas during partner visa processing and the answer on visiting Australia while a Subclass 309 is processing explain the position. A previous visitor visa refusal does not prevent a partner visa, as the article on a partner visa after a visitor visa refusal explains. However, every answer given in the earlier visitor visa application must be consistent with the partner visa.

Does the sponsor need to attend an interview?

Sometimes. The Department may interview the applicant, the sponsor, or both, in person or by telephone, particularly where documents or the relationship history need clarification. The sponsor should prepare as carefully as the applicant.

The article on the partner visa sponsor interview explains what sponsors are asked, and the guide to partner visa interview questions lists common topics. The article on interview inconsistencies explains how a mismatch between the two partners' answers is treated. In a sponsor partner from Nigeria case, questions about how the couple met, the first in-person meeting, the wedding or engagement, money sent and family knowledge are common.

What happens if the Department sends a request or a section 57 letter?

The Department may send a section 56 request for more information or a section 57 letter inviting comment on adverse information. Each has a deadline, and each must be answered fully and on time.

A section 57 letter in a sponsor partner from Nigeria case often concerns a document verification result, an inconsistency with an earlier visa application, or doubts about the relationship. The article on section 57 natural justice letters and the answer on responding to a section 57 letter explain the response. The article on section 56 requests explains requests for more information.

What if the application to sponsor partner from Nigeria is refused?

If the visa is refused, the refusal can usually be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. The review application must be made within 28 days after notification of the refusal, or 7 days if the applicant is in immigration detention, and the period cannot be extended.

For a Subclass 309 refusal, the visa applicant applies for review. For a Subclass 820 refusal, the visa applicant applies. For a Subclass 300 refusal, the sponsor applies. The Tribunal application fee for Part 5 migration review is AUD 3,727 as at October 2026, with a 50% reduction available for financial hardship, and it must be paid before the deadline. The commercial page on partner visa refusals explains how the firm acts on review, and the article on the partner visa ART review process explains the steps. The answer on who applies for review of an offshore refusal explains the rule for the Subclass 309.

A refusal based on PIC 4020 needs particular care, because the non-grant period can affect future applications. The article on partner visa appeal versus reapplication explains the choice. A sponsor partner from Nigeria refusal should be reviewed quickly, because the deadline is short.

What mistakes cause problems when couples sponsor partner from Nigeria?

The most common problems are documents obtained through intermediaries, inconsistent dates and names, undisclosed earlier marriages or visa refusals, thin evidence of time spent together, and police certificates that are out of date. Each can be avoided with preparation.

Other common mistakes include relying on a customary marriage without supporting evidence, lodging before the sponsorship limitation has been checked, and allowing a family member or friend to complete forms without checking every answer. The article on partner visa application mistakes lists more, and the article on why partner visas get refused explains the main refusal grounds. A sponsor partner from Nigeria plan should be reviewed before lodgement, because a mistake in the first application is difficult to undo.

How My Migration Lawyers helps you sponsor partner from Nigeria

My Migration Lawyers acts for Australian sponsors and their Nigerian partners in offshore, onshore and Prospective Marriage applications, including matters that involve document verification, customary or Islamic marriages, earlier visa refusals in other countries, and relationships that began online. The firm deals with complex partner visa cases, acts in many sponsor matters of this type, and is capable of handling a plan to sponsor partner from Nigeria from the first assessment to a decision or Tribunal review.

For a sponsor partner from Nigeria matter, the firm's work typically includes:

• checking the sponsor's eligibility, the sponsorship limitation in regulation 1.20KB and any sponsor police check issue before lodgement;
• reviewing the Nigerian passport, birth certificate, identity evidence and any earlier visa applications to other countries for consistency of names and dates;
• advising whether a statutory, customary or Islamic marriage will be relied on, what evidence the marriage needs, and whether the case should also be put on a de facto basis;
• planning the timing of the Nigeria Police Force character certificate and certificates from any other country the partner has lived in;
• presenting the couple's own account of an online or long-distance relationship, with travel, communication, financial and family evidence organised against the four aspects in the Regulations;
• preparing the sponsor and the applicant for any interview, and responding to section 56 requests and section 57 letters; and
• acting on Tribunal review if a refusal is made.

The firm does not create a relationship history or a document. It presents the couple's own account and their own evidence in the form the law requires, and it tells the sponsor plainly where the evidence is not strong enough.

If you plan to sponsor partner from Nigeria, or a Nigerian partner's application has already met questions or a refusal, Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers. You can also call 1300 040 300.