Discover the Australian partner visa requirements for Nigerian citizens: eligibility criteria, relationship evidence, sponsorship rules, application steps, costs, and common pitfalls in 2025.
If you’re a Nigerian citizen whose partner is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, you’re looking at one of the most promising pathways for settling in Australia. But it’s not just about love—it’s about meeting the precise requirements of the Australian immigration system. This guide sets out the full picture of the Australian partner visa requirements for Nigerian citizens, how to prepare, and how to maximise your chance of success.
What is a Partner Visa (Australia)?
In Australia, a “partner visa” broadly refers to visas for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. One of the most common pathways is applying onshore for the Subclass 820 (temporary) and then Subclass 801 (permanent) partner visa combination. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
As a Nigerian citizen, you must satisfy the same substantive requirements as any other national—there is no separate category just for Nigerians. What matters is your relationship with the sponsor and all supporting criteria.
Key Eligibility Requirements You Must Meet
Here’s a breakdown of the core requirements you (the applicant) and your sponsor must satisfy:
A. Your Sponsor Must Be Eligible
- Sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
- Sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
- Sponsor must sign a sponsorship undertaking—they commit to support you and any dependants.
- Sponsor must not have breached prior sponsorship obligations or have had certain visa refusals that block them from sponsoring. (IARC)
B. Your Relationship Must Be Genuine, Ongoing & Comply With Relation Type
You must either be:
- Married to your partner (national or foreign marriage accepted if valid under Australian law) OR
- In a de facto relationship with your partner. For de facto: you must show you have lived together for at least 12 months unless you are exempt (for example relationship registered under a state law). (IARC)
C. You Must Be in Australia (for Subclass 820/801 On-shore)
For the onshore pathway (820/801), you must be in Australia when you apply. (Questra Migration)
D. You Must Meet Health & Character Requirements
As a Nigerian applicant:
- Undertake required health examinations by approved panel doctors.
- Obtain police certificates for every country you’ve lived in for 12 months+ since age 16. (immigrationhotspot.com.au)
E. Your Application, and the Sponsorship, Must Be Lodged and Paid
- The partner visa is typically a two-stage process: you apply for Subclass 820 (temporary) and later for Subclass 801 (permanent). (Questra Migration)
- You can apply combined (820 + 801) when you lodge the partner visa application onshore. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
Evidence & Documentation Requirements (Especially Important for Nigerian Applicants)
Since you are applying from Nigeria or with a Nigerian background, documentation is critical and often scrutinised. Prepare strong evidence for:
Relationship Evidence
You and your partner must provide proof of a genuine and continuing relationship. This includes:
Financial aspects
- Joint bank accounts, shared bills, joint ownership of assets
- Statements showing financial interdependence
Household aspects
- Lease or mortgage in both names or co-residence proof
- Shared utility bills, mail addressed to both parties at same address
Social aspects
- Photos with family/friends, travel records together
- Social media evidence, correspondence between you
Commitment aspects
- Statutory declarations or affidavits from friends/family
- Written statements from both you and your partner detailing your relationship history, future plans
Expert commentary emphasises these four pillars. (Emigrate Lawyers)
Identity & Background Documents
- Certified copy of your Nigerian passport
- Sponsor’s Australian citizenship/proof of PR/NZ eligibility
- Marriage certificate (if married) or evidence of de facto relationship
- If previously married, divorce or death certificates must be provided
- Police certificate(s) from Nigeria and any other country you lived in
- Health examination certificate from authorised panel doctor
Translation Requirements
If any document is not in English (for example a local Nigerian document), you must supply an accredited translation. (nigeria.embassy.gov.au)
Process & Timeline for Nigerian Applicants
Here’s how the process works:
- Create an ImmiAccount and complete the partner visa application (Subclasses 820 and 801 onshore).
- Lodge the application while in Australia (for 820/801 pathway). If you’re outside Australia, you might apply offshore under subclasses 309/100 instead—but that path may differ.
- Sponsor lodges sponsorship form at the same time (or shortly after your application).
- Await processing: You’ll first get Subclass 820 (temporary) if successful, and then after around 2 years, Subclass 801 (permanent) if the relationship is still genuine. (IARC)
- Once you have the permanent visa, you can stay in Australia indefinitely, work, study and eventually apply for citizenship if eligible.
Processing times vary significantly by individual case, document completeness, health/character checks and backlog.
Special Considerations for Nigerian Applicants
- Nigerian citizenship does not hinder eligibility, but you must ensure that your character and health checks are clear.
- If your relationship was partially conducted long-distance (i.e., partner in Australia, you in Nigeria), you’ll need more robust evidence of commitment (travel records, communication logs).
- Nigerian applicants should be particularly careful to submit certified translations of documents and ensure Nigerian agency certifications are valid and verifiable.
- The Australian High Commission in Nigeria cautions about visa-scam risks. Ensure you deal only with official channels. (nigeria.highcommission.gov.au)
Common Pitfalls Nigerian Applicants Should Avoid
- Relying on minimal evidence: weak proof of relationship often triggers refusal.
- Applying while outside Australia for the onshore pathway (820/801); if you are outside, you may need offshore subclasses (309/100) and rules differ.
- Not disclosing previous visa refusals or outstanding debts to Australian government: these can cause refusal.
- Using incorrect translations/non-accredited translators.
- Sponsor having previously sponsored multiple partners or being ineligible: that can adversely affect your application. (IARC)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can a Nigerian citizen apply for the Partner Visa from outside Australia?
A1: Yes—but if you are outside Australia you would typically apply for the offshore Partner visa (Subclass 309/100) instead of the onshore Subclass 820/801. This guide focuses on the onshore pathway.
Q2: Is marriage required for a partner visa?
A2: No. You can apply either as married or de facto. For de facto you generally need to show you have lived together at least 12 months (unless relationship registered). (Emigrate Lawyers)
Q3: How long after granting of Subclass 820 do I get Subclass 801 (permanent)?
A3: Usually around 2 years from lodgement of the application, provided your relationship remains genuine and continuing. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
Q4: What documents do I need from Nigeria (police certificate, etc.)?
A4: You will need a police certificate from Nigeria for every period you lived there for 12 months or more since age 16. Also valid passport, birth certificate, marriage or relationship evidence and any prior marriage/divorce documents.
Q5: What if my sponsor is not an Australian citizen but only a NZ citizen?
A5: An eligible New Zealand citizen may act as sponsor if they hold a Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) and meet criteria. Confirm your eligibility via the Home Affairs site.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
The path to a partner visa for Nigerian citizens wanting to live in Australia is absolutely real—but it demands preparation, authenticity and full compliance. The Australian partner visa requirements for Nigerian citizens are not significantly different from those for other applicants. The key: genuine relationship + eligible sponsor + complete evidence + health/character checks.
Your next steps:
- Gather all relationship evidence now (photos, chats, shared finances).
- Ensure your partner (sponsor) meets eligibility and understands the sponsorship obligations.
- Review health and character check requirements for Nigeria.
- Create your ImmiAccount and prepare the online application.
- Lodge your application when you’re ready—accuracy and completeness matter more than speed.
If you like, I can generate a downloadable checklist specific for Nigerian applicants (with all documents listed, Nigerian-specific agency references, translation guidance) to support your application. Would you like that?