When you may not be eligibleYou may not be able to sponsor your partner if any one of the following applies:
you are not an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
you have previously sponsored two other partners for migration to Australia (including sponsorships you may have withdrawn where your former partner obtained permanent residence on family violence grounds)
you have sponsored another partner within the last five years
you were sponsored for a partner visa as a partner yourself within the last five years
you are the holder of a Woman at Risk visa (Subclass 204)
you have a conviction or an outstanding charge for an offence against a child.
If you have previously sponsored or been sponsored, you may still be permitted to sponsor your partner in compelling circumstances, such as:
if your previous partner has died or abandoned the relationship leaving young children
if your relationship with your current partner is long standing (that is, five years or more)
if you and your current partner have dependent children of your relationship.