The federal government has broadened the category of applicants for partner visa to include same-sex couples just days after same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia.
The Immigration Department has updated its application process to allow same-sex partners to apply for Partner visas (subclasses 100, 309, 801 and 820) and a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300).
Under the changes, a person in a same-sex marriage you can apply for a visa as their partner's 'spouse' rather than as their 'de facto partner'.
Those in a same-sex relationship with a genuine intention to marry their partner in Australia can apply for the Prospective Marriage visa.
Previously same-sex partners had to resort to applying for a permanent interdependency visa and fulfil stricter criteria to prove the existence of an 'interdependent relationship'.
Marriage equality advocate and Just Equal spokesman Rodney Croome said the more stringent requirements for same-sex partners had caused distress and kept couples apart.
