Living on an 820 visa while the 801 is processed: work, study, Medicare and travel
Once your temporary Partner visa (subclass 820) is granted, the subclass 820 page says you can live, work and study in Australia, travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program if you are eligible, and apply for access to Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare. You can stay until your permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) application is finalised or you withdraw your application.
The sections below follow what that page says about each of those, and about the conditions attached to holding the visa.
What the visa lets you do
The subclass 820 page lists the same four points in two places. Under "With this visa you can" and under "What you can do on this visa", it says you can:
- live, work and study in Australia
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
- attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program, if you are eligible
- apply for access to Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
How long you can stay
The "How long you can stay" section says you can stay in Australia until your permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) application is finalised or you withdraw your application. For information on processing times for the permanent stage, that section refers you to Partner visa (Permanent) (subclass 801).
Working
The Working section says that with this visa you will have full work rights and are protected by Australian workplace law.
Studying
The Studying section says you will be able to study in Australia. It goes on to say that you will not receive any government support and that any study costs will be at your own expense.
Medicare and health insurance
The page says you can apply for access to Medicare. Its Adequate health insurance section adds that, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to access Australia's public health care system, Medicare, while you await a decision on your visa application.
That same section says that if you are not eligible for Medicare, it recommends you take out health insurance to cover any unforeseen medical treatment you might need in Australia. Otherwise, you will be personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. It adds that insurance can help limit your financial liability.
Under "Reciprocal healthcare agreements", the page says some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, and points to Services Australia for more about reciprocal health care agreements.
Under "Private health insurance", the page says you can get Australian residents' private health insurance if you have:
- an interim (blue) Medicare card
- a full (green) Medicare card
Travel
The Travel section says you can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while you hold this visa. The "Travel on your visa" section says you can travel outside and return to Australia as many times as you want.
Conditions you must meet
The "What you must do on this visa" section says you and your family members must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws. It says to use VEVO to check visa details and conditions.
Proving you hold the visa
The Visa label section says the visa will be digitally linked to your passport, and that you will not get a label in your passport.
The "Prove you have a visa" section says Australian visas are digital: "We do not put a visa label in your passport. Instead, we link your digital visa record to your passport." To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, it says to use VEVO. It says your digital visa record is also used by:
- airlines to check your visa before you board your flight
- Australian government agencies to check your identity and visa conditions
- employers, banks or other registered organisations to check your visa conditions
Australian Government benefits
The "Access Australian Government benefits" section says you might have to wait to access certain Australian Government payments and benefits. It points to Services Australia for newly arrived residents' waiting periods.
New Zealand passport holders
The New Zealand passport holders section says that if an immigration officer processes your clearance at the border, tell them:
- you have a temporary Partner visa
- you do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444)
It says that if you do not tell them, you might be granted a 444 visa. Grant of a subclass 444 visa will override your temporary Partner visa. This means you will not be eligible for the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801).
Do not get another visa
The "Do not get another visa" section says that to get the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801), you must hold this subclass 820 visa or the Dependent child visa (subclass 445). It says that if you are granted any other visa, you will no longer be eligible for the grant of the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801).
Questions people ask
Does the 820 visa give full work rights?
The Working section of the subclass 820 page says that with this visa you will have full work rights and are protected by Australian workplace law.
Will the government pay for my study?
The Studying section says you will be able to study in Australia, but that you will not receive any government support and any study costs will be at your own expense.
How do I show my visa if there is no label in my passport?
The "Prove you have a visa" section says to use VEVO to prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone. It says Australian visas are digital and that the digital visa record is linked to your passport rather than shown as a label.
Depending on your circumstances, can I get Medicare while I await a decision on my visa application?
The Adequate health insurance section says that, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to access Australia's public health care system, Medicare, while you await a decision on your visa application.
What happens if I am granted a different visa while I hold the 820?
The "Do not get another visa" section says that if you are granted any other visa, you will no longer be eligible for the grant of the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801).
Sources
- Partner visa (temporary) (subclass 820) Department of Home Affairs
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary published by PartnerVisa.help, not by the Department of Home Affairs, and the department's current pages prevail if they differ.