Family violence and immigration

When do the family violence rules apply?

You may still be granted a visa if you or a family member have experienced family violence, and your relationship has ended, and one of the following apply:

• you have married your partner while on a Prospective Marriage visa and you have applied for a Partner visa, or
• you are awaiting the outcome of your application for a temporary Partner visa, or 
• you have been granted a temporary Partner visa, or
• you have entered Australia on a temporary Partner visa.

You will need to provide the Department of Home Affairs with evidence that there has been family violence.

More information about when the family violence rules apply is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.

What is ‘family violence’ under the family violence rules?

Family violence is any behaviour that makes you reasonably fear for your safety and wellbeing. This includes both actual or threatened behaviour towards:

• you or your property
• a member of your family or their property, or
• a member of your former partner’s family or their property.

Family violence is not just physical abuse or harm. It can also include psychological abuse or harm, forced sexual relations, forced isolation, controlling money and dowry-related abuse. 

What evidence of family violence do I need to provide?

You can provide the Department of Home Affairs with one of the following from a court: 

• a Family Violence Restraining Order made against your former partner protecting you or a member of your family, or
• a Family Court injunction against your former partner made in relation to family violence, or
• a document which shows the court has convicted your former partner of assaulting you or your dependent, or
• a document which shows the court has recorded a finding of guilt against your former partner for assaulting your or your dependent.

If you do not have any of the above documents from a court, you will need to provide a statutory declaration with details of the family violence, and naming the person who was responsible for the violence. You will also need to provide with the statutory declaration at least two documents from professional people. For example, a medical report or a witness statement made to the police. 

You can find a complete list of the different types of documents and the details which must be provided in each of the documents from the Department of Home Affairs website. 

Will I be interviewed for my application?

If you have not provided evidence from a court of the family violence, the Department of Home Affairs may ask for an independent expert to assess your case. The expert has special experience in situations of family violence and is not part of the Department of Home Affairs. The expert may need to meet with you. They will make a recommendation about whether your evidence of family violence should be accepted. The Department of Home Affairs must follow that recommendation.

Where can I get help?

Many community legal centres offer services for people experiencing or at risk of family violence. For immigration advice and assistance, including help lodging a visa application, you must use a migration agent who is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, who has an online database of registered migration agents. 

Circle Green Community Legal (formerly the Humanitarian Group) offers legal assistance with immigration matters, including citizenship, visa cancellations, amendment of government records and bridging visas.

More information

You can find more information about the family violence rules and visas on the Department of Home Affairs website, including:

• information about what to do if your relationship has changed
• a fact sheet Family Violence and Partner Visas

Reviewed: 6 May 2020