Can I Sponsor More Than One Partner?

How many partners can one person sponsor in Australia?

One person can generally sponsor no more than two partners in Australia over their lifetime under regulation 1.20J. A sponsor who has already sponsored two partners is prevented from sponsoring a third unless the limit is waived. The count looks at earlier sponsorships, not at whether the earlier relationships lasted. Our page on partner visa sponsorship limitations explains how the rule works.

How long must a sponsor wait between partner sponsorships?

A sponsor must generally wait 5 years after a previous partner sponsorship before sponsoring a new partner. The waiting period is a common surprise for sponsors whose earlier relationship ended quickly, and the date of the earlier sponsorship should be confirmed from the records before the couple plan their application. Our article on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner explains how the period is measured.

Can a sponsor who arrived on a partner visa sponsor a new partner?

A sponsor who arrived on a partner visa generally cannot sponsor a new partner within 5 years of lodging their own partner visa application. This rule stops a person who was sponsored as a partner from quickly sponsoring someone else. It applies whether or not the earlier relationship is still continuing, and it can be waived only for compelling circumstances affecting the sponsor.

Can the partner sponsorship limits be waived?

The partner sponsorship limits can be waived where the Department is satisfied that there are compelling circumstances affecting the sponsor. Whether circumstances are compelling depends on the facts, and the waiver submission must explain those circumstances with evidence rather than simply describing a genuine new relationship. Our article on compelling reasons in partner visas explains how compelling circumstances are argued.

Can a person sponsor two partners at the same time?

A person cannot sponsor two partners at the same time, because each partner visa requires a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others. A second relationship running at the same time would undermine both applications. Our article on partner visa previous relationships explains how the Department looks at earlier and overlapping relationships, which it examines closely.

What happens if a partner visa is refused because of the sponsorship limits?

A partner visa refused because of the sponsorship limits can generally be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal within a strict time limit, and the Tribunal can consider whether compelling circumstances exist on the evidence before it. Review is often the best moment to present a full waiver case that was missing from the original application. Our page on partner visa refusals explains the review process.

How does My Migration Lawyers advise sponsors on multiple sponsorships?

My Migration Lawyers advises sponsors on multiple sponsorships by confirming the dates and outcomes of every earlier sponsorship and the sponsor's own visa history, then telling the couple plainly whether a limit applies. Where it does, the firm assesses whether the facts support a waiver and builds the evidence before lodgement. Sponsors can speak with our partner visa lawyers before a new application is prepared.