Australian Partner Visa Guide
Your Partner Visa Journey,
Made Clear
Evidence-based guidance for Australian partner visas (820/801 · 309/100 · 300).
All policy details sourced from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Australian Partner Visa Guide
Evidence-based guidance for Australian partner visas (820/801 · 309/100 · 300).
All policy details sourced from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Australian partner visas follow a two-stage process: temporary then permanent. Understanding this structure is the first step.
Onshore (820/801) or offshore (309/100) — or Prospective Marriage (300). Each has different requirements and processing locations.
The four pillars: financial, household, social, and commitment evidence. Home Affairs lists example documents for each category.
Most applicants receive the temporary visa first. You become eligible to be assessed for the permanent visa 2 years after you lodged the combined application.
Five subclasses covering different relationship situations and application locations.
Temporary visa for partners already in Australia. Leads to permanent 801.
Temporary → Permanent
Permanent residency for 820 holders after the 2-year qualifying period.
Permanent
Temporary visa for partners applying from outside Australia. Leads to 100.
Temporary → Permanent
Permanent residency for 309 holders. May be granted directly in long relationships.
Permanent
For engaged couples: come to Australia, marry before the visa period ends (9 to 15 months from grant), then apply for 820/801.
Marriage → Partner
The Department of Home Affairs assesses partner visa applications across four dimensions. Each pillar must be supported with documentary evidence.
Joint bank accounts, shared bills, mortgage/lease, pooled resources — showing you manage finances as a couple.
Shared residence, housework distribution, correspondence to same address — proving you live together as a household.
Photos together, travel records, statutory declarations from friends/family — showing your relationship is recognised socially.
Knowledge of each other's background, future plans, length of relationship, communication records — proving genuine mutual commitment.
Common questions about Australian partner visas, answered with official source references.
Home Affairs does not publish a fixed timeframe. Its visa processing time guide shows how long recently decided applications took — a guide only, not specific to your application. Partner applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 117, and the permanent stage is assessed from your eligibility date, 2 years after you applied.
Onshore (820/801): you must be in Australia when you apply. Offshore (309/100): you must be outside Australia when you apply. For both the 820 and the 309, Home Affairs says you can be in or outside Australia when it decides the temporary visa. Both pathways lead to a permanent Partner visa.
No. You can apply as married partners or as de facto partners. De facto partners usually need to have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before applying. Home Affairs lists exceptions, including a relationship registered with an Australian state or territory authority and compelling and compassionate circumstances.
The base application charge for partner visas (820/801 or 309/100 combined) is AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026. Additional applicant charges apply for family members included in the application (AUD 5,860 aged 18 or over, AUD 2,935 under 18). There is no second instalment at the permanent stage. From 1 July 2026 a lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Always check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for current fees.
If the relationship ends before the permanent visa is granted, you must notify the Department. There are limited exceptions (family violence, death of sponsor, child custody). Get professional advice from a registered migration agent in these circumstances.
Use our comprehensive document checklist and evidence preparation guide to build a strong application. Or ask our assistant a question; if you want someone to look at your case, a registered migration agent we work with can follow up.
The AI assistant provides general information only. For case-specific advice, consult a registered migration agent.