If you and your Filipino partner are thinking about marriage, you may be weighing up a ceremony in Australia or the Philippines. The right choice is personal and involves more than immigration planning.
Discuss what matters to both of you
Consider where family and friends can attend, your preferred ceremony, travel arrangements and your budget. Check the requirements in the intended location with the relevant authorities or celebrant before making commitments.
Separate wedding arrangements from migration advice
Marriage and migration involve separate requirements. A wedding does not itself guarantee permission to live in Australia, and it should not be treated as a shortcut to a favourable decision or faster processing.
For partner migration advice, discuss your relationship history, current locations, immigration history and future plans with a Registered Migration Agent. Married and de facto couples need advice relevant to their own circumstances.
Ask about records and legal questions
Confirm which marriage records you will need and how to obtain them from the appropriate authority. If either partner has been married before, or you have questions about recognition, divorce or annulment, seek appropriate legal advice before deciding what is required.
Do not rely on general comparisons of cost, paperwork or timing between countries. Individual circumstances can affect the steps involved.
Plan without promises
OZVISA can help assess the migration questions relevant to your plans and explain the scope of optional professional support. Home Affairs makes immigration decisions. Neither being married nor using an agent guarantees an outcome or a processing time.
