The Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa is for partners (married or de facto) of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It is an onshore visa — meaning you must be in Australia when you apply and when certain decisions are made. The visa is processed in two stages: a temporary stage (820) and a permanent stage (801).
Who Can Apply?
- You must be the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- You must be in Australia at the time of application.
- De facto relationships must have existed for at least 12 months before applying (some exemptions apply, such as registration of the relationship in an Australian state or territory).
- Both applicants must be at least 18 years of age (for de facto relationships).
Two-Stage Process
Stage 1 — Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820): When you lodge your application, you are first assessed for the temporary visa. If granted, this allows you to live, work, and study in Australia while waiting for the permanent visa decision. You also receive Medicare access.
Stage 2 — Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801): Approximately 2 years after the date of your initial application, you become eligible for the permanent visa. This waiting period is designed to demonstrate the genuineness and ongoing nature of your relationship. Couples who have been together for 3+ years or have children together may be eligible for immediate permanent visa processing.
Evidence of Relationship
The Department of Home Affairs requires substantial evidence that your relationship is genuine and continuing. This typically includes:
- Financial evidence — joint bank accounts, shared bills, joint ownership of assets
- Household evidence — shared living arrangements, joint lease or mortgage
- Social evidence — photos together, joint social activities, travel records
- Commitment evidence — correspondence, future plans, knowledge of each other's circumstances
- Statutory declarations from two people who know your relationship
Costs & Processing
The Partner Visa is one of the more expensive Australian visa categories, with a base application charge of approximately AUD $9,095. Processing times vary significantly — the temporary stage typically takes 12 to 24 months, though some applications may take longer. Professional preparation of your evidence portfolio is strongly recommended.
Rights While Waiting
While your application is being processed, you are typically granted a Bridging Visa A which allows you to remain in Australia with full work rights and Medicare access. You can travel in and out of Australia if you also hold a Bridging Visa B.