,
  • Most Highly Rated
    500+ google reviews
  • Top Rated Reviews

Substantive Visa

Obtain work, travel, and study opportunities in Australia by securing a substantive visa. Seek professional advice from experienced migration experts at Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers for a stress-free substantive visa application!

  • High Success
    Rate
  • Excellent Service
    Guaranteed

    Request a Call back for a Consultation


    or

    Call us at (02) 9286 8700

    What is a Substantive Visa in Australia?

    What is the meaning of substantive visa? Substantive visas are any type of visa granted by the Australian government to applicants who intend to visit and/or stay in the country indefinitely for a particular purpose. It could be for studying, work, or travel. It is not the same as a bridging visa.

    Bridging visas, on the other hand, are temporary visas granted to individuals whilst they wait for the processing of their substantive visa. All temporary visas and permanent visas, except bridging visas, criminal justice, and enforcement visas, are considered substantive visas.

    The following is a quick list of substantive visa Australia.

    • Student Visas
    • Visitor Visas
    • Skilled Visas
    • Protection Visas
    • Partner Visas

    If you are applying for any of these temporary and permanent visas, Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers are experienced migration consultants who can help you with anything related to visa applications or filing an appeal to reverse an unfavourable decision regarding your visa.

    Need Visa Assistance?

    Talk to one of our Visa Experts Now.

    Schedule 3 Criteria for Expiring and Expired Substantive Visas

    If you have an existing substantive visa and wish to stay lawfully in Australia before your visa’s validity expires, you are eligible to apply for another visa and be given a bridging visa while you wait for the processing of your new substantive visa.

    However, under Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 3 states that if you are not a substantive visa holder when you lodged your partner visa application, your visa will be refused.

    You must at least have held a valid substantive visa no less than 28 days after it elapsed. Otherwise, you will be required to leave the country and apply offshore.

    Schedule 3 Waiver

    The Schedule 3 requirements may be waived if there are compelling and/or compassionate reasons to ignore the rule.

    Not needless to say, it is fairly difficult to convince a case officer to waive the Schedule 3 requirement. And while there are no specific guidelines as to what exactly constitutes a valid and compelling reason, the following are scenarios that demonstrate the ‘moral necessity’ of waiving the Schedule 3 requirement (in relation to partner visas).

    • The non-Australian partner giving birth to an Australian child
    • Physical and emotional dependence of the sponsoring partner to the partner visa applicant as a result of a serious physical and/or mental health issue
    • Either the sponsor or the visa applicant cannot go to the latter’s home country due to fear of persecution, conflicts, and other dangerous situations
    • The sponsoring partner cannot go to the visa applicant’s home country due to difficulty gaining a visa, speaking their native language, and lack of employment opportunities.

    It’s important to say that, while these may be considered “compelling” grounds to waive the Schedule 3 criteria, the case to be presented must be really “exceptional” in magnitude. Other factors such as the length of relationship, as it is already a requirement in a partner visa application, cannot be used as a compelling ground to waive the Schedule 3 requirement.

    If you’ve been in Australia as an unlawful citizen for a number of years, and have seemingly done little efforts to prevent your current situation, chances are your request to have the Schedule 3 requirement waived will not be granted. For expert legal advice, speak to one of our senior consultants.

    Requesting a Schedule 3 Waiver in Writing

    Once you receive a Schedule 3 Request, you have about 28 days to respond to the request in writing. You must also make sure to submit supporting documentation and evidence that will show compelling grounds to have the Schedule 3 criteria waived.

    For example, if your sponsoring partner is suffering from a severe mental health issue, you must include documents confirming that the sponsor is indeed mentally ill, and that your visa refusal will make the sponsor’s situation worse.

    Statutory Declarations, which bear more legal weight than a simple written document, are also helpful in your case, as providing dishonest information in a statutory declaration is illegal and could result in imprisonment.

    We Can Also Help You With

    Success Stories of 410 Highly Rated Reviews


    Our customers are always happy to share their thoughts with us.
    Here is what some of them had said!

    Haroon Parvez

    The team at parish Patience Immigration Lawyers were incredibly helpful throughout the application process. Their assistance made our lives so much less stressful and their expertise cleared up any confusion we had. They remained engaged with us the whole time and quickly responded to any questions with thoughtful, detailed answers. Special thanks to Usman Ali and Shan . We highly recommend the team at Parish patience immigration lawyer for anyone considering help regarding any kind of visa .

    W. A.

    Highly recommended lawyers! Extremely professional and reliable service, with outstanding outcomes. A special thanks to Mr Thong and Marlene, for helping us with our difficult case. Not only did they ensure that everything was ready to go, but their professionalism came in favor when we were granted our visa within just under 6 months!

    J P

    Thong and Marlene helped my partner gain permanent residency in Australia. We did the application ourselves but it turned out lots of information we needed to provide was missing. Thong and Marlene picked our case up and helped amend it. I really appreciate their help and guidance and look forward to contacting them again in the future. I am pleased by their efforts and professionalism.

    Alaa Omer

    Successfully handled my case. He had been prompt, caring and very professional in dealing with my case. I am glad to have received very strong support, guidance and service from them. I would highly recommend Parish patience immigration lawyers. I wish the best for their future prospects.

    Jabir Ibna Mohammad

    I’m really thankful for the guidance and assistance I’ve received regarding my Partner visa from Shan and his assistance Asha at Parish Patience. They handled my matter professionally and there were clear instructions from the beginning till end. I got my partner visa 820 granted in less than 7 months, thanks to their knowledge and expertise. I wish them all the best and highly recommend Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers for any sort of immigration matters.

    Parish Patience: Your Trusted Legal Partner for Substantive Visa Matters


    There is no simple or too complex a client case for us. Whether you need sound professional advice on your current situation or need legal representation for an appeal you plan to file as soon as possible, expect Parish Patience to give you the best migration agent or immigration lawyer to expertly handle your case and win together.

    Book your appointment today by calling or emailing us. You can also send a detailed enquiry regarding your case using our website. Get in touch today and speak to a lawyer!

    Our Accreditations

      Solve your Visa Problems


      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


      Need more information about substantive visas in Australia?
      Here’s what other people also ask about substantive visas.

      Is a tourist visa a substantive visa?

      Yes, a tourist visa is an example of a substantive visa.

      Is bridging visa a substantive visa?

      No, a bridging visa is a temporary visa that allows individuals to stay in Australia while they are waiting for the processing of their substantive visa.

      Is visitor visa a substantive visa?

      Yes indeed, a visitor visa is considered a substantive visa. 

      Is 482 a substantive visa?

      Yes, the Temporary Skill Shortage visa or subclass 482 is a type of substantive visa that allows Australians to nominate, sponsor, and source skilled workers overseas if there are currently no available skilled Australian workers to fill urgent job vacancies.  

      Is subclass 600 a substantive visa?

      Yes, a visitor visa under subclass 600 is a type of substantive visa in Australia.

      Is an ETA a substantive visa?

      The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or Subclass 601 is a temporary visa. And yes, it is an example of a substantive visa as all temporary visas, excluding bridging visas, criminal justice, or enforcement visas, are substantive visas.

      Is student visa a substantive visa?

      Yes, student visas are considered substantive visas.

      Is 417 a substantive visa?

      Yes, the Working Holiday visa or Subclass 417 is a temporary visa that lets young people who wish to spend a holiday or even work in Australia for up to 12 months.

      Is a working holiday visa a substantive visa?

      Yes, a Working Holiday visa is a type of substantive visa.

      Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers Sydney
      Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers Sydney
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5.0.7
      4.7500 Google reviews
      Posted on Google Google
      Kumar Venkatasubramanian profile picture
      Kumar Venkatasubramanian
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      Our process was a little complicated. But we got the right advice from Shan through the 2 years the process was on before we successfully completed it recently.
      Posted on Google Google
      Abdullah warsi profile picture
      Abdullah warsi
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      I received my PR after 2 years and a few months, and I am very thankful to the whole team. The process required a lot of patience, but they supported me throughout every step. Shan Sir is an excellent lawyer, and Usman helped me a lot during my case. They always provided professional service, answered my questions, and guided me whenever I needed help. Thank you to everyone at Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers for your hard work and support. I truly appreciate everything you have done for me and would highly recommend your services.
      Posted on Google Google
      Md Mojnu profile picture
      Md Mojnu
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      Always happy
      Posted on Google Google
      shahid khan profile picture
      shahid khan
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      I trusted Parish Patience with my migration and skills assessment process and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. Initially, I was advised by Mr Golam and Upasana to proceed with my Subclass 485 pathway. Based on their advice, I paid for skills assessment and also completed a PTE exam. However, I later found out that an important requirement for my VETASSESS application — having at least one year of relevant post-qualification work experience — had not been clearly explained to me before lodging the application. My application was submitted using work experience from before my studies and the outcome was negative. After that, I was advised that applying through Engineers Australia using the CDR pathway would be easier and would give me a better chance of receiving a positive skills assessment outcome. I followed their advice again, paid additional fees, but unfortunately received another negative outcome. During this process, two separate Subclass 485 visa applications were lodged and later withdrawn. I experienced significant financial loss through application fees, assessments, and English testing costs. I was fortunate that I still held a valid student visa, which made it possible to withdraw the applications without further complications. From my personal experience, I felt the communication, assessment of eligibility, and overall service quality were poor. I also did not receive any compensation or satisfactory resolution for the losses I experienced. I hope future clients receive clearer advice about eligibility requirements and possible risks before committing financially.
      Posted on Google Google
      hamza maan profile picture
      hamza maan
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      Yes, if Gabriel Mackenzie, Diana Tong, and Connie Lai all worked on your case, it’s a nice touch to mention them by name: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I would like to sincerely thank Gabriel Mackenzie, Diana Tong, Connie Lai, and the entire team at Parish Patience Legal & Migration Services for their outstanding support throughout my visa journey. Their professionalism, knowledge, and dedication were exceptional from start to finish. They kept me informed throughout the process, answered my questions promptly, and provided clear guidance every step of the way. Thanks to their hard work and expertise, I successfully obtained my Subclass Permanent Residency visa. The team genuinely cared about achieving the best outcome for my case and made what could have been a stressful process much easier to manage. I highly recommend Parish Patience Legal & Migration Services to anyone seeking trustworthy and professional migration assistance. Thank you again for helping me achieve such an important milestone in my life.
      Posted on Google Google
      Shankar Barua profile picture
      Shankar Barua
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      Parish patience immigration Lawyer service and everything just excellent . Before i had another lawyer exprience too. so i could compared . Moreover ,Honerable Mr. shan is great lawyer i had ever seen . Thanks a lot whole team.
      Posted on Google Google
      Abbas Khan profile picture
      Abbas Khan
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      I cannot thank Shan and his entire team Devika Veluchamy, usman ali,enough for the incredible work they did on my protection visa case. After a long and stressful journey, my protection visa has finally been approved, and I truly believe this would not have been possible without their hard work, professionalism, dedication, and support throughout the entire process. Shan handled my case with great care, honesty, and deep knowledge of immigration law. He was always professional, patient, and genuinely supportive during one of the most difficult times of my life. His assistants and the whole team were also extremely kind, responsive, and helpful whenever I had questions or needed assistance. I highly recommend Shan and his entire team to anyone dealing with immigration or protection visa matters. Thank you again for everything you have done for me and my future. I will always be grateful. — Abbas Khan
      Posted on Google Google
      Shariar Mustafa profile picture
      Shariar Mustafa
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      I had a very positive experience with Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers. Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the entire immigration process. They explained every step clearly, answered my questions patiently, and always kept me updated on my case progress. Specially Shaan he is the best !!!! Very professional and always willing to listen and guide us through What stood out the most was their attention to detail and genuine care for their clients. Immigration matters can be stressful, but they made the process much smoother and gave me confidence from start to finish. I truly appreciate their hard work, honesty, and dedication. I would highly recommend Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers to anyone looking for reliable and experienced immigration assistance.
      Posted on Google Google
      Rakibull Ahasan profile picture
      Rakibull Ahasan
      Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
      SC191 Experience with Parish Patience: I recent processed my sc191 application through parish patience and the experience was great. My lawer, Usman Ali, assisted me in each step of the application and kept me informed throughout the process and always responded promtly to my enquires. I would highly recommend Parish Patience to those, who are seeking a reliable agency for their visa or PR application. SC491 Experience with Parish Patience: Parish Patience has been tremendous help for me and my partner's visa application. The lawer and the agent that I have worked with are extremely profession and provides genuine advice. They understand client's inquiry and response promptly. They provide clear step by step instruction, and maintain transparent communication throughout the process.