What are the requirements for a combined visa application?

In Plain English

Based on the documents you provided, a "combined application" generally refers to a situation where multiple people, usually family members, apply for a visa together, using the same application form and process. Here's what you need to know:

  • Family Unit: Often, these combined applications involve someone claiming to be part of the family unit of the main applicant.
  • One Application: The family members' applications are made at the same time and place as the main applicant's.
  • Form: The relevant form will usually have a section for including family members.
  • Additional charge: An additional applicant charge is paid by an applicant who claims to be a member of the family unit of another applicant and seeks to combine the application with that applicant’s application.

Detailed Explanation

Several chunks in the provided legislative context refer to "combined applications," particularly in the context of family members applying together. Here's a breakdown:

  • General Principle: Several visa subclasses allow for combined applications from family members. For example, chunks [305], [281] and [278] of the Migration Regulations 1994 mention that an applicant who claims to be a member of the family unit of another applicant can seek to combine their application.
  • Bridging Visas: Specifically, a person claiming to be a member of the family unit of a person applying for a Bridging C (Class WC) visa can make a combined application (Migration Regulations 1994, chunk [305]).
  • New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa: A similar provision exists for those applying for a New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) (Class UP) visa (Migration Regulations 1994, chunk [281]).
  • Partner Visas: A person claiming to be a member of the family unit of the holder (or former holder) of a prospective marriage (temporary) visa who is applying for a Partner (Temporary) visa can make a combined application. Also, a person claiming to be a dependent child of a person who is an applicant for a Partner (Temporary) (Class UK) visa may make a combined application (Migration Regulations 1994, chunk [281]).
  • Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa: An application by a person claiming to be a member of the family unit of a person who is an applicant for a Business Skills (Provisional) (Class EB) visa may be made at the same time as, and combined with, the application by that person (Migration Regulations 1994, chunk [278]).
  • Skills in Demand Visa: For the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa, Migration (IMMI 18/018: Visa Applications—Skills in Demand (Class GK)) Instrument 2018 specifies approved forms for applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria or lodging a combined application with another applicant who is seeking to satisfy the primary criteria.
  • Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa: Migration (Arrangements for Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visa applications) (LIN 22/009) Instrument 2022 outlines the form to use when making a combined application for a Foreign Government Agency, Government Agreement, MATES, Pacific Australia Labour Mobility or Privileges and Immunities stream visa.

To make a combined application, you must use the form specified by the Minister and follow the instructions for submitting the application.