L4.5 Partners and dependent children of holders of limited visas

1. To be eligible for a limited visa such partners must satisfy a visa or immigration officer that:
   1. they are living together in a genuine and stable partnership with the principal applicant partner relied on for that purpose, and
   2. the partnership meets the minimum requirements for the recognition of partnerships set out at E4.5.15 and F2.15.
2. For the purposes of these instructions a partnership meets the minimum requirements for recognition of partnerships if an immigration officer is satisfied:
   1. the couple were both aged 18 years or older at the time the application for a limited visa was made, or if aged between 16 years or 18 years old have their parent(s), guardian(s), support for the application being lodged, and
   2. the couple have met prior to the application being made, and
   3. they are not close relatives (see F2.15(d)).
3. Dependent children of holders of limited visas granted for the purpose of study may be granted limited visas, the express purpose being to accompany the visa holder, for the currency of the parent's visa. However, any dependent child whose eligibility for a limited visa is reliant solely on being the dependent child of a non-principal applicant partner included in an application (i.e. they are not a dependent child of the principal applicant), may only be granted a limited visa if their parent’s partner is granted a limited visa.
4. Despite (c) above, partners and dependent children of holders of Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) limited visas must not be granted limited visas for the purpose of accompanying the holder of the RSE limited visa.

Effective 17/11/2014