Key Takeaways
- An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen can sponsor partner from Slovenia through the Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 visa, the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 visa or the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa, if the sponsor is eligible and the relationship is genuine and continuing.
- Couples who have lived together in Slovenia or elsewhere in Europe for years usually already hold strong evidence, but it sits in official records, leases, bills, bank statements and tax documents that must be collected, selected and translated before they prove anything.
- Slovenian residence records are kept in a central register, and certificates of current and past residence can be obtained from an administrative unit, a Slovenian consulate or the e-uprava portal, which makes a registered shared address a powerful piece of household evidence.
- Every document in Slovenian needs an English translation, so the couple should choose representative documents that cover the whole relationship rather than translating everything.
- The timing of the move to Australia matters: a Subclass 309 applicant must be outside Australia when the application is made, and an onshore Subclass 820 application depends on the visa the partner holds when it is lodged.
- The government charge starts from AUD 11,710, and a refused applicant generally has 28 days to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal, where the application fee is AUD 3,727.
If you want to sponsor partner from Slovenia, you can do so as an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, provided you are an eligible sponsor and the relationship is genuine and continuing. To sponsor partner from Slovenia, couples normally use the offshore Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 partner visa, the onshore Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 partner visa if the partner is lawfully in Australia and able to apply there, or the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa if the couple are engaged and plan to marry in Australia.
This guide is for a particular kind of couple: those who have already built a life together in Europe. Perhaps the Australian partner moved to Ljubljana for work. Perhaps the couple met in another European city and lived there for years before deciding to move to Australia. These couples rarely have a weak relationship. Their difficulty is different. Their evidence is spread across Slovenian registers, European leases, utility accounts, bank statements and tax records, mostly in Slovenian and other languages, and none of it was created with an Australian visa in mind. This guide explains how to turn that history into evidence the Department of Home Affairs can assess, and how to time the move to Australia so the application is made in the right place, on the right visa, at the right time. For the general law, read the complete guide to Australian partner visas.
Can you sponsor partner from Slovenia to Australia?
Yes. You can sponsor partner from Slovenia if you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over, your partner is your spouse, de facto partner or fiancé, and the Department is satisfied that the relationship is genuine and continuing.
The law is the same for every country. Slovenian citizens apply under the same partner visa criteria as applicants from every other country. There is no separate stream for European Union citizens, so anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Slovenia uses the ordinary partner visa provisions. The relationship may be a marriage under section 5F of the Migration Act 1958, a de facto relationship under section 5CB, or an engagement for the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa. The answers on who can sponsor a partner visa and on the difference between a spouse visa and a de facto visa explain the categories.
A marriage celebrated in Slovenia or in another European country is recognised in Australia if it was valid where it took place and none of the exceptions in section 88D of the Marriage Act 1961 applies. The guide on overseas marriages recognised in Australia explains the test.
Who can sponsor partner from Slovenia?
To sponsor partner from Slovenia, the sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, aged 18 or over, in a genuine relationship with the applicant, and not prevented by the sponsorship limitations in regulation 1.20J or the sponsor police check rules in regulation 1.20KC.
The guides for an Australian citizen sponsor, a permanent resident sponsor and a New Zealand citizen sponsor set out the evidence each must give. The guide on partner visa sponsor eligibility brings the rules together.
A sponsor who has been living in Europe
Many Australians who sponsor partner from Slovenia have themselves lived in Europe for years. An Australian citizen can sponsor partner from Slovenia while living overseas. The sponsor's absence from Australia does not, by itself, stop the sponsorship. The guide on a partner visa sponsor living overseas and the answer on an Australian living overseas sponsoring a partner explain the position.
A permanent resident sponsor who has been living in Europe faces an extra question: whether their own permanent visa still allows them to return to Australia. A permanent visa's travel facility usually lasts five years. A permanent resident whose travel facility has expired may need a Resident Return visa before they can come back. The guides on a sponsor with an expired travel facility and on the Resident Return visa for sponsors explain this.
The sponsor's legal role
The applicant lodges first. When you sponsor partner from Slovenia, you then lodge the online sponsorship using the applicant's transaction reference number. Approval of the sponsorship is a time of decision criterion for the Subclass 309, Subclass 820 and Subclass 300 visas, decided inside the visa decision, with no separate notice to the sponsor. The sponsor undertakes to provide accommodation and financial assistance, as reasonably necessary, for the first two years. The guides on being a partner visa sponsor and on the partner visa sponsor undertaking explain the role.
Do sponsorship limitations and sponsor police checks apply?
Yes. Every sponsor who wants to sponsor partner from Slovenia is subject to the sponsorship limitations in regulation 1.20J and the sponsor police check rules in regulation 1.20KC, and either can stop the sponsorship being approved.
Under regulation 1.20J, a sponsor generally cannot sponsor more than two partners in a lifetime, or a new partner within five years of the last sponsorship, unless there are compelling circumstances. A sponsor who was granted a partner visa as a sponsored partner within the last five years is also limited. The firm's page on partner visa sponsorship limitations explains these rules.
Under regulation 1.20KC, the Department may ask the sponsor for police checks. For a sponsor who has lived in Europe and now wants to sponsor partner from Slovenia, that can include police certificates from the European countries where they lived, not just an Australian check. A sponsor convicted of a relevant offence with a significant criminal record may be refused unless it is reasonable to approve the sponsorship. The guides on the partner visa sponsor police check and on a sponsor's criminal record explain the detail.
Which visa should you use to sponsor partner from Slovenia?
The visa depends mainly on where the Slovenian partner will be when the application is made. When couples sponsor partner from Slovenia while both are still living in Europe, the usual pathway is the Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 visa; when the couple have already moved and the partner is lawfully in Australia and able to apply onshore, it may be the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 visa; and when the couple are engaged, it is the Subclass 300 visa.
Offshore: Subclass 309 and Subclass 100
The Subclass 309 partner visa is the temporary offshore visa. One online application covers the Subclass 309 and the permanent Subclass 100. The applicant must be outside Australia when the application is made. It is often the first visa considered by couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia while living in Europe. The guide to the offshore partner visa explains the pathway.
Onshore: Subclass 820 and Subclass 801
The Subclass 820 partner visa is the temporary onshore visa. The applicant must be in Australia when the application is made. Whether the Slovenian partner can apply onshore depends on the visa they hold at that time, including any condition 8503. The guide to the onshore partner visa and the comparison of onshore and offshore partner visas explain the choice. This choice is closely tied to the timing of the move, discussed later in this guide.
The cost
The government charge for a partner visa starts from AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, for both the onshore and offshore combined applications, as published by the Department and checked on 13 October 2026. The guide to partner visa costs explains the additional charges for dependants.
Why is a long European relationship strong evidence when you sponsor partner from Slovenia?
A long relationship lived together in Europe is strong evidence when you sponsor partner from Slovenia because it usually generates years of independent records, such as registered addresses, leases, shared bills and bank accounts, that show the four aspects of the relationship far more convincingly than statements alone.
The Department assesses the relationship under four aspects: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. For a married couple the factors are in regulation 1.15A(3). For a de facto couple they are in regulation 1.09A(3). The guide on the four aspects of a partner visa relationship explains each one.
A couple who have lived together in Maribor for six years did not create their lease to impress a case officer. They signed it because they needed somewhere to live. That is what makes it persuasive when you sponsor partner from Slovenia. Records created in the ordinary course of life, by landlords, banks, utilities and governments, carry more weight than documents created for the application. The guide on a long-term relationship and a partner visa explains why history matters.
Long relationships are still examined
A long relationship is not an exemption. The Department still needs evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing at the time of the application and at the time of decision. A couple who sponsor partner from Slovenia after eight years together must still show the relationship is current, not just that it once existed. The guide on a refusal despite a long relationship explains how this can go wrong.
The 12-month rule is usually met in Europe
For de facto couples, the 12-month de facto requirement in regulation 2.03A applies to the Subclass 820 and Subclass 309. It does not have to be met in Australia. Time living together in Slovenia or anywhere else counts. Couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia after years together in Europe usually meet the requirement many times over, but must still prove it with dated records. The answers on whether living together overseas counts towards the 12 months and on when the 12-month period starts explain how the period is measured.
How do you turn European records into partner visa evidence?
You turn European records into partner visa evidence by collecting the official and commercial documents that show where you lived, how you shared money and how you presented yourselves to others, choosing representative examples across the whole relationship, translating them into English, and organising them under the four aspects with a short explanation of what each document shows.
Registered address and the nature of the household
Slovenia keeps residence records in a central register, which is a real advantage when you sponsor partner from Slovenia. Government guidance states that a citizen must register their permanent residence at the address where they actually live, generally within eight days of moving in, and that certificates of residence are issued by administrative units and by Slovenian diplomatic missions and consulates abroad. Certificates can cover current residence, past permanent residence and temporary residence, and can also be requested through the e-uprava portal with a qualified electronic signature.
For couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia, a certificate showing that both partners were registered at the same address over a period of years is among the strongest household documents available. It is issued by a government, it is dated, and it covers the whole period. If the Australian partner was also registered at that address, for example as a foreign resident, both certificates together show a shared household. Government guidance also states that the older household record (gospodinjska evidenca) is available only up to 31 December 2020, when that record was discontinued, so couples whose relationship began before then should ask what can still be certified. The answers on household evidence for a partner visa and on what counts as living together explain how the Department uses this kind of evidence.
Joint lease or property
For couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia, a lease in both names, or a property owned jointly, shows the nature of the household and the financial aspects at once. A lease in one name only is still useful if it is combined with the registered address, bills and correspondence. The answer on a lease in both names and the guide on a partner visa without a joint lease explain the options. The guide on the nature of the household explains what the Department looks for.
Shared bills and the running of the home
When you sponsor partner from Slovenia, electricity, gas, internet, mobile and other utility accounts show that the couple ran a household together. Accounts in both names are best. Where accounts are in one name, bank records showing the other partner contributing to them help. The answer on joint bills for a partner visa explains what helps.
Bank accounts and pooled money
Joint accounts, transfers between the partners, shared savings, joint loans and shared major purchases show the financial aspects. Couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia often hold accounts in more than one country and more than one currency. That is normal. The evidence should show how money moved between the partners, not every transaction. The guides on partner visa financial evidence and on joint bank account evidence, and the answer on opening a joint account just before applying, explain how this is weighed.
Tax records
Tax records can show the address each partner declared to the tax authority and, in some systems, a partner or dependant declared for tax purposes. In Slovenia, personal income tax is administered by the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, and records can be accessed through its eDavki service. Couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia should use tax documents selectively, to show addresses and declarations about the relationship, not to disclose more financial detail than the case needs. If the sponsor was taxed in Australia while living overseas, the sponsor's Australian tax records may also show a declared spouse. The answer on a tax file number for a partner visa covers a related question.
Government declarations of the relationship
When you sponsor partner from Slovenia, some of the most useful records are those where the couple declared their relationship to a government. If the Australian partner held a residence permit in Slovenia as the family member of the Slovenian partner, the permit and the application for it show that the relationship was declared to, and accepted by, a government authority. Insurance policies that name the partner, pension or superannuation nominations, and wills also show commitment. The guide on partner visa commitment evidence explains how these support the nature of the commitment.
Social evidence from European friends and family
Photographs at family events, invitations addressed to both partners, travel together and statements from friends in Slovenia and Australia show the social aspects. Statements from people overseas are not Form 888 statements, which must be made by Australian citizens or permanent residents, but they still carry weight. The answer on statements from overseas friends and the guide on Form 888 witness statements explain the difference.
How much of your Slovenian evidence needs to be translated?
Every document you rely on that is not in English must be provided with an English translation, so couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia should select representative documents across the whole relationship and translate those, rather than translating every bill and bank statement for every year.
Slovenian is the official language of Slovenia, and most Slovenian records will be in Slovenian. A translation made in Australia should be by a NAATI-certified translator. A translation made overseas should identify the translator and their qualifications. The guide on partner visa evidence translation and the answer on certified copies for a partner visa explain the standards.
A sensible selection
A practical approach for a long European relationship is:
- Every key government document in full. Certificates of residence, marriage certificate, birth certificates, residence permits and police certificates.
- The lease or property documents in full. At least the pages identifying the parties, the address, the dates and the signatures.
- Representative bills and statements. For example, one utility bill and one bank statement from each year or half-year, chosen to show both names or both contributions.
- Selected messages. A sample of communications from periods apart, not years of daily chat. The answer on translating messages for a partner visa explains how to choose them.
The guide on how much evidence a partner visa needs explains why quality matters more than volume.
Organising the evidence
The Department reviews evidence in ImmiAccount. A couple who sponsor partner from Slovenia with years of records should organise them by aspect and by date, with a short index and a relationship timeline. A case officer should be able to see, in a few minutes, where the couple lived and when. The guides on partner visa evidence organisation, the partner visa relationship timeline and partner visa ImmiAccount uploads explain how.
When should you move to Australia if you sponsor partner from Slovenia?
The right time to move depends on which visa you want: if the couple want the offshore Subclass 309, the application must be made while the Slovenian partner is outside Australia, so it is usually lodged before the move; if they want to apply onshore for the Subclass 820, the partner must be in Australia on a visa that allows a valid onshore application, and the plan must account for condition 8503 and the Schedule 3 criteria.
Option one: lodge the Subclass 309 before moving
Many couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia lodge the Subclass 309 while both are still living in Europe. The application is made at the point where their shared European records are most complete and most current. The partner can then wait in Europe, or travel to Australia on a visitor visa if eligible, while the application is processed. The guide on visiting Australia while a partner visa is processed explains the practical issues. Rules about where a Subclass 309 can be granted changed from 25 November 2023, and couples should obtain current advice before relying on a grant while in Australia.
Option two: move first and apply onshore
Some couples move to Australia together and apply for the Subclass 820 once the partner arrives. That can work, but only if the partner holds a visa that allows a valid onshore application. A visa with condition 8503 prevents a valid onshore application unless the condition is waived. If the partner's visa expires before the application is made, Schedule 3 applies. The guides on a partner visa while on a tourist visa and on the condition 8503 waiver, and the page on Schedule 3 waivers, explain these risks.
Processing times and life in between
As published by the Department on 29 September 2026, 50 per cent of Subclass 309 applications were finalised within 21 months and 90 per cent within 32 months; for the Subclass 820, the figures were 22 months and 30 months. For a couple planning to sponsor partner from Slovenia and move countries at the same time, that wait is a real factor. It affects jobs, leases and where the couple will live while waiting. The guide to partner visa processing times explains what affects them.
Keep the evidence trail continuous
The move itself creates a risk. When a couple close a European lease, cancel utilities and close accounts, the evidence stream that proved their household suddenly stops. Before leaving, couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia should download statements, request certificates of residence and keep copies of the final bills, because some records are harder to obtain from abroad. Slovenian residence records can also include an address abroad. After the move, the couple should build new records in Australia quickly: a lease, joint accounts and bills in both names. The answer on moving house during a partner visa and the guide on updating a change of address explain the obligations once an application is lodged.
When one partner moves first
Sometimes, when couples sponsor partner from Slovenia, the Australian partner goes ahead to find work and housing while the Slovenian partner finishes a job or a lease. A short separation for a practical reason does not end a relationship, but it should be explained and supported with evidence of contact, visits and shared planning. The guides on a partner visa when living apart for work and on intermittent cohabitation explain how such periods are assessed.
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What documents does a Slovenian partner need?
A Slovenian partner usually needs a current passport, a birth certificate, a marriage certificate if married, evidence that any earlier marriage has ended, a Slovenian criminal records certificate and police certificates from other countries of residence, with English translations of anything not in English.
Slovenian police certificate
Slovenia issues a certificate from the criminal records (potrdilo iz kazenske evidence). Slovenian government guidance lists the Ministry of Justice as the competent authority. Guidance from Canada's immigration department adds that a person officially registered as living abroad can apply by email, and that a court of first instance can issue the certificate in some cases. A certificate is also needed from every other country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. A Slovenian partner who has lived in Austria, Italy, Croatia or elsewhere for a year or more will need those certificates too. The guide on partner visa overseas police certificates and the answer on how long police certificates are valid explain the process.
Health, character and other criteria
The applicant must also meet the health requirement, the character requirement, public interest criterion 4020 on bogus documents and false information, the debts to the Commonwealth criterion and the Australian values statement. Health examinations and biometrics are completed when the Department requests them. The guides on the partner visa medical examination and on partner visa character requirements explain these steps. The firm's partner visa document checklist gives the general list.
What statements do you need to sponsor partner from Slovenia?
You need one relationship statement from each partner, telling the story of the relationship in their own words, and Form 888 statements from Australian citizens or permanent residents who know the couple, supported where useful by statements from friends and family in Europe.
When you sponsor partner from Slovenia after a long European history, the relationship statements should do more than describe how they met. They should explain the shape of the life the documents show: where they lived, when they moved, how they shared money, and why they are now moving to Australia. The documents and the statements should tell the same story with the same dates. The guides on the relationship statement for a partner visa and on conflicting partner visa statements, and the answer on whether each partner needs a separate statement, explain the approach.
Form 888 statements must come from Australian citizens or permanent residents. A couple who have lived in Europe for years may know fewer such people, but family members of the Australian partner, Australian friends who visited, and Australian colleagues often qualify. The guide on who can sign Form 888 explains who is eligible.
What are the steps to sponsor partner from Slovenia?
The steps to sponsor partner from Slovenia are: check the sponsor, choose the visa and the timing of the move, gather and select the European records, obtain the Slovenian documents and police certificates, arrange translations, prepare the statements, lodge the visa application, lodge the sponsorship and answer the Department's requests.
- Check the sponsor. Confirm status, age, travel facility for a permanent resident, and the limits in regulation 1.20J and regulation 1.20KC.
- Plan the move. Decide whether to lodge the Subclass 309 before moving or to apply onshore for the Subclass 820 after arriving. The answer on the Subclass 820 versus the Subclass 309 helps.
- Gather the European records. Certificates of residence, leases, bills, bank statements, tax records and any residence permits, before accounts are closed.
- Obtain personal documents. Passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate if married, and police certificates.
- Translate a representative selection. Full translations of key documents, samples of the rest.
- Prepare statements. One relationship statement from each partner and Form 888 statements.
- Lodge the visa application. The applicant lodges online through ImmiAccount and pays the charge.
- Lodge the sponsorship. The sponsor lodges using the applicant's transaction reference number.
- Keep evidence current. Add new Australian records as they are created and respond to requests on time.
The guides on how to apply for a partner visa and on the two-stage partner visa process explain the mechanics, and the guide on adding evidence after lodgement explains how to keep the file current.
Why are partner visas refused for couples who lived together overseas?
Partner visas for couples who lived together overseas are usually refused because the evidence was not presented properly, not because the relationship was weak: untranslated documents, records that stop at the move, statements that do not match the documents, or a visa lodged in the wrong place or on the wrong visa.
Couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia should watch for these risks:
- Untranslated evidence. Strong Slovenian documents uploaded without English translations.
- A gap at the move. Records that stop when the couple left Europe, with nothing to show the relationship continued.
- Inconsistent dates. Statements that give different dates from the leases and residence certificates.
- Wrong place or wrong visa. A Subclass 309 lodged while the applicant was in Australia, or an onshore application blocked by condition 8503 or Schedule 3.
- Sponsor problems. A sponsorship limitation under regulation 1.20J, unresolved police checks under regulation 1.20KC, or a permanent resident sponsor without a valid travel facility.
The guides on why partner visas get refused and on a refusal for insufficient evidence, and the answer on an offshore application lodged in Australia, explain these grounds. The firm's partner visa refusals page explains how refused matters are handled.
Can a refused partner visa be reviewed at the ART?
Yes. A refusal of a Subclass 309, Subclass 820 or Subclass 300 visa can generally be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal, if the application for review is made within 28 days after the applicant is notified of the decision, or 7 working days if the applicant is in immigration detention.
The 28-day limit is set by section 347 of the Migration Act 1958, and the Tribunal cannot extend it. The ART application fee for review of a partner visa refusal is AUD 3,727. For a Subclass 309 refusal, the visa applicant applies in their own name and can do so from outside Australia. For a Subclass 820 refusal, the applicant applies and must be in Australia. The Tribunal decides on the evidence before it at the time of its own decision. For couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia, that means translated European records and an organised household history can be put before it. The guides on the partner visa appeal deadline, partner visa ART fees and evidence for a partner visa ART review explain the process.
What have Tribunal decisions said about leases, cohabitation and documentary evidence?
Tribunal decisions show that refusals can be sent back to the Department when the couple put before the Tribunal documentary evidence of a shared household, pooled finances and a long period of living together.
In LE (Migration) [2018] AATA 3675, a Subclass 820 matter, the recorded issues were a genuine spousal relationship, a joint household, tenancy agreements provided and the sharing of day to day expenses. The Tribunal remitted the matter, which means it sent the matter back to the Department for reconsideration.
In 1900090 (Migration) [2023] AATA 3386, a Subclass 820 matter, the recorded issues were pooled financial resources, social recognition of the relationship, marriage and cohabitation for over five years, and joint residential property. The Tribunal remitted the matter to the Department for reconsideration.
In Varhelyi (Migration) [2024] AATA 320, a Subclass 820 matter, the recorded issues were a relationship of 12 months before the application was made, international travel and work, considerable documentary evidence and supporting statements, and a member of the family unit child. The Tribunal remitted the matter to the Department for reconsideration.
None of these decisions is recorded as involving a Slovenian applicant, and none predicts the result of another case. They show that couples who sponsor partner from Slovenia with years of shared records should make sure that evidence is properly before the decision maker, because documents of this kind are what the Tribunal examined.
How My Migration Lawyers helps you sponsor partner from Slovenia
My Migration Lawyers acts for Australian sponsors and their partners in partner visa matters where the couple have lived together overseas for years and the evidence sits in foreign registers and foreign-language records, and the firm is capable of handling a matter to sponsor partner from Slovenia from the planning of the move through to the visa decision and, if needed, Tribunal review. The firm deals with complex cases and acts in many partner visa matters of this type.
On a matter to sponsor partner from Slovenia, the firm's work usually includes:
- Checking the sponsor. Confirming eligibility, testing regulation 1.20J and regulation 1.20KC, and checking a permanent resident sponsor's travel facility.
- Planning the timing. Advising whether to lodge the Subclass 309 before the move or apply onshore after arriving, and identifying any condition 8503 or Schedule 3 risk.
- Mapping the European evidence. Identifying which Slovenian certificates of residence, leases, bills, bank records, tax records and residence permits best show each of the four aspects.
- Selecting what to translate. Choosing a representative set of documents so translation is focused and the file is readable.
- Presenting the relationship. Organising the evidence by aspect and by date, with a timeline. Each partner's relationship statement is their own evidence, reviewed and corrected by them, and the firm presents the couple's account in the form the law requires.
- Slovenian and other police certificates. Identifying every certificate needed for the applicant and, where requested, the sponsor.
- Answering the Department. Responding to requests and natural justice letters accurately and on time.
- Tribunal review. Preparing and presenting an Administrative Review Tribunal review if a visa is refused.
The firm's partner visa lawyers act for sponsors in every Australian State and Territory and for couples still living overseas. The guide to working with an offshore partner visa lawyer and the answer on a partner visa lawyer if you are living overseas explain how the firm works with couples abroad. Matters are supervised by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer. Consultations are by video for clients across Australia and overseas, including couples still living in Slovenia.
If you want to sponsor partner from Slovenia and you are planning the move, the best time to get the evidence and the timing right is before you leave Europe. Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers, or call 1300 040 300.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor partner from Slovenia if we have lived together in Europe for years?
Yes. Years of living together in Slovenia or elsewhere in Europe usually give a couple strong evidence for an Australian partner visa. The sponsor must still be an eligible Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and the relationship must be genuine and continuing when the application is made and decided. The couple should collect their European records, such as certificates of residence, leases, bills and bank statements, translate a representative selection and organise it under the four aspects.
Does time living together in Slovenia count towards the 12-month de facto requirement?
Yes. The 12-month de facto requirement in regulation 2.03A does not have to be met in Australia. Time living together in Slovenia or any other country counts, provided the couple were in a de facto relationship under section 5CB during that time. Dated records, such as a certificate of residence showing a shared address, a joint lease and bills in both names, are the best proof. Couples who have lived together for years usually meet the requirement many times over.
Can a Slovenian certificate of residence be used as partner visa evidence?
Yes. A Slovenian certificate of residence is issued from the government's residence records and can show where each partner was registered and for what period. Certificates are available from administrative units, from Slovenian consulates abroad and through the e-uprava portal. A certificate showing both partners registered at the same address over several years is strong evidence of the nature of the household. It must be translated into English, and it works best alongside a lease and shared bills.
Do all our Slovenian bills and bank statements need to be translated?
No, not every document needs to be submitted, but every document you do rely on must have an English translation. Couples with years of records should translate key government documents in full and choose representative samples of the rest, such as one bill and one bank statement for each year. The aim is to show the whole relationship clearly, not to upload everything. A focused, translated and well-organised file is easier for a case officer to assess than a large untranslated one.
Should we apply for the partner visa before or after moving to Australia?
It depends on which visa you want. A Subclass 309 applicant must be outside Australia when the application is made, so couples choosing the offshore pathway usually lodge before the move. An onshore Subclass 820 application requires the partner to be in Australia on a visa that allows a valid application, without a condition 8503 that has not been waived. Couples should decide before they book travel, because the wrong sequence can make an application invalid or create Schedule 3 problems.
Can an Australian living in Slovenia sponsor a partner?
Yes. An Australian citizen can sponsor partner from Slovenia while living overseas, and living abroad does not by itself prevent the sponsorship being approved. A permanent resident sponsor living overseas should also check that their own permanent visa still allows them to return to Australia, because a travel facility usually lasts five years and a Resident Return visa may be needed. The sponsor must meet the sponsorship limitations in regulation 1.20J and any police check request under regulation 1.20KC.
What police certificate does a Slovenian partner need?
A Slovenian partner generally needs a certificate from the Slovenian criminal records (potrdilo iz kazenske evidence), translated into English if needed, and a police certificate from every other country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. Slovenian government guidance lists the Ministry of Justice as the competent authority. A partner who has also lived in Austria, Italy, Croatia or elsewhere for a year or more will usually need those certificates as well.
How much does it cost to sponsor partner from Slovenia?
The government charge for a partner visa starts from AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, for both the onshore Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 and the offshore Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 combined applications, as checked on 13 October 2026. Additional charges apply for dependants. There are also costs for translating Slovenian documents, police certificates and health examinations. If a refusal is reviewed, the Administrative Review Tribunal application fee is AUD 3,727. Relocation costs are separate and can be significant.
How long does it take to sponsor partner from Slovenia?
As published by the Department on 29 September 2026, 50 per cent of Subclass 309 applications were finalised within 21 months and 90 per cent within 32 months. For the onshore Subclass 820, the figures were 22 months and 30 months. These are global figures and change regularly. A couple planning a move should build this wait into decisions about jobs and housing, and should keep their evidence current while the application is processed.
What happens to our evidence when we close our European lease and move?
The evidence trail can stop, so plan for it. Before leaving, download bank statements, request certificates of residence, and keep final bills and the lease termination. After arriving, create new records in Australia quickly, such as a lease, joint bills and bank accounts in both names. If one partner moves first, keep evidence of contact, visits and shared plans. A gap in the records around the move is a common weakness that is easy to avoid with planning.
Can we use a Slovenian residence permit as evidence of our relationship?
Yes. If the Australian partner held a residence permit in Slovenia as the family member of the Slovenian partner, the permit and the application for it show that the relationship was declared to, and accepted by, a government authority. That is strong evidence of the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. The permit should be translated and placed alongside the household and financial evidence. Other declarations, such as insurance policies or pension nominations naming the partner, can also help.
Is a marriage in Slovenia recognised for an Australian spouse visa?
Yes, if it was valid under Slovenian law when it took place and none of the exceptions in section 88D of the Marriage Act 1961 applies, such as either party already being married to someone else. The marriage certificate must be translated into English. A valid marriage certificate does not prove the relationship on its own, so the couple still need evidence across the four aspects. Couples who are not married can apply as de facto partners instead.
Who can sign Form 888 if we have lived in Europe for years?
Form 888 statements must be made by Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents who know the couple. Couples who have lived abroad for a long time may know fewer such people, but the Australian partner's family, Australian friends who visited, and Australian colleagues often qualify. Statements from friends and family in Slovenia are not Form 888 statements, but they can still be provided as supporting evidence of the social aspects of the relationship.
Can my Slovenian partner visit Australia while the Subclass 309 is processed?
Yes, in many cases, if the partner holds a visa that allows the visit. A pending Subclass 309 application does not prevent a short visit, but the partner must meet the conditions of the visitor visa and leave when required. Rules about where a Subclass 309 can be granted changed from 25 November 2023, so current advice should be obtained before relying on a grant while in Australia. Any visit should be documented, because it is also relationship evidence.
Can a refused Subclass 309 applicant from Slovenia apply to the ART?
Yes. A Subclass 309 refusal can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. The visa applicant applies in their own name and can do so from outside Australia. The application must be made within 28 days after the applicant is notified of the decision, and the Tribunal cannot extend that time. The fee is AUD 3,727. The Tribunal decides on the evidence before it at the time of its decision, so translated European records can be put before it.
Why use a lawyer to sponsor partner from Slovenia?
A lawyer helps turn years of European records into a focused application and helps the couple time the move. My Migration Lawyers identifies the Slovenian certificates and records that best show each aspect of the relationship, selects what to translate, advises whether to lodge before or after moving, and presents the couple's own evidence in the form the law requires. Consultations are by video for clients across Australia and overseas, including couples in Slovenia. Book a consultation or call 1300 040 300.
Weiwei Zhang is the Principal Lawyer and Managing Director of My Migration Lawyers. My Migration Lawyers is one of Australia's leading immigration law firms, dedicated exclusively to Australian immigration law. The firm represents individuals, families and businesses across all areas of migration law, with particular expertise in complex immigration matters, Partner Visas, Protection Visas, corporate migration, visa refusals, Administrative Review Tribunal reviews, judicial reviews and visa cancellations.
