Where Is the Official Document Checklist for Partner Visas 820/801/309/100/300 in 2026?

Updated 2026-10-11 · General information, not migration advice · Run by the Arrivau team

There are two places where the Australian Government publishes partner visa document requirements, and neither is a PDF being shared in forums or chat groups: the checklist built into ImmiAccount while you complete the online form, and the step-by-step tab on each subclass page on the Department of Home Affairs website. According to the Department of Home Affairs Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page, as of October 2026, applicants should use the checklist provided in ImmiAccount to make sure they include all required information, and should visit the web page of the visa they are applying for and select the step-by-step tab for further information.

That guidance covers every visa in this family: Partner (subclass 820 and 801) for onshore applicants, Partner (subclass 309 and 100) for offshore applicants, and Prospective Marriage (subclass 300).

Why isn't there a single downloadable checklist?

The Department treats the document set as something that changes with the subclass and with the answers you give in the online form, rather than as one fixed list. The step-by-step tab carries the subclass-level explanation, while ImmiAccount produces a checklist tied to the application you are actually filling in.

This is also why copies of "the" checklist found on other websites are risky. A list written for one applicant's circumstances, or captured from an older version of a page, can omit items that apply to you or add ones that do not.

The two entries answer different questions, so use both:

  • The step-by-step tab explains what a subclass generally asks for and how to satisfy it.
  • The ImmiAccount checklist reflects your own answers and tells you what to attach to your application.

How do I reach the checklist for my subclass?

  1. Open the Department of Home Affairs visa page for the subclass you are applying for.
  2. Select the step-by-step tab.
  3. Read the sections in the order they appear.
  4. Start your application in ImmiAccount.
  5. Read the checklist ImmiAccount generates as you complete the form.
  6. Attach each listed document before you submit.

Applications must be lodged online via ImmiAccount. Paper applications are possible only by invitation, and a paper application lodged without an invitation is invalid and will not be processed. That is why the ImmiAccount checklist, not a printed document, is the operative one for most applicants.

Which page do I open for each subclass?

Each subclass has its own page with its own step-by-step tab:

  • Subclass 820 Partner (Temporary) — the temporary stage of the onshore application
  • Subclass 801 Partner (Permanent) — the permanent stage of the onshore application
  • Subclass 309 Partner (Provisional) — the provisional stage of the offshore application
  • Subclass 100 Partner (Migrant) — the migrant (permanent) stage of the offshore application
  • Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage — for people who intend to marry their prospective spouse

A single Partner visa application covers both stages of a stream: subclass 820 and 801 together, or subclass 309 and 100 together. The Department's guidance on withdrawal reflects this — if you withdraw, you must withdraw both visa subclasses in the pair.

Where does the sponsor find their own document requirements?

Sponsors are not covered by the applicant's checklist alone. For police certificates, the Department's FAQ page directs sponsors to the subclass 820, 309 and 300 pages: change the toggle to 'For Sponsors', select the step-by-step tab, then go to 'Character documents'. Police certificates are needed when the sponsor submits the 'Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia', or as soon as possible after the application is made.

The same step-by-step tab is the place to check any other sponsor-side items, so it is worth reading the sponsor view of the page before the applicant finalises the lodgement.

Can I add documents after I lodge?

Yes. Documents are attached through ImmiAccount after lodgement, and you can check the status of your application and whether you have provided all supporting documents through ImmiAccount as well. Health examinations can also be completed after you apply; results are valid for 12 months from the time you complete the examinations, and a health undertaking, if you are asked to sign one, is valid for 6 months. If results expire before a decision is made, you may be asked to provide them again.

Timing still matters. The Department states it will only consider a request for priority processing if all supporting documents and information are submitted with the application, and that most requests for priority processing cannot be approved. If you cannot provide documents within the specified timeframe, a request for additional time can be made using the Partner processing enquiry form, including evidence of the steps taken such as a payment receipt or booking confirmation; it must be made before the original timeframe expires, and additional time is not guaranteed.

How do I know the list I am using is still current?

Only the subclass pages and ImmiAccount are maintained by the Department, so they are the versions that count on the day you lodge. Requirements are set out there and can be revised, and any list reproduced elsewhere is at least one step behind.

Consider this article general information rather than advice about your own case: because the required documents turn on your circumstances, confirm every item against the subclass page and your ImmiAccount checklist at the time you apply, and if you need help interpreting them, the Department notes that only certain people can help with an application and keeps a page explaining who those people are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there one downloadable checklist that covers all five subclasses?

No single combined document is the reference point in the Department's guidance. As of October 2026, the Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions page points applicants to the checklist in ImmiAccount and to the step-by-step tab on each subclass page. Fifth-hand copies of a checklist may not match either source.

Do I apply for subclass 820 and 801 separately?

A Partner visa application covers both subclasses in its stream: 820 and 801 onshore, or 309 and 100 offshore. The Department's withdrawal guidance confirms this by requiring applicants to withdraw both visa subclasses in the pair. Each subclass still has its own page and its own step-by-step tab.

Where does the sponsor find their own document requirements?

The sponsor view is reached from the page itself, not from the applicant's checklist. For subclass 820, 309 and 300, the Department directs sponsors to change the toggle to 'For Sponsors', select the step-by-step tab, and go to 'Character documents' for police certificate requirements.

Can I attach documents after I have lodged?

Yes, documents are attached to your application in ImmiAccount, and you can check whether all supporting documents have been provided there. Health examinations can also be completed after you apply, with results valid for 12 months and any health undertaking valid for 6 months.

Can I lodge on paper using a printed checklist?

No, unless you have been invited to. Applications must be made online via ImmiAccount, paper applications are available only by invitation, and a paper application lodged without an invitation is invalid and will not be processed.

What changes for the permanent stage, subclass 801 or 100?

Two years must have passed since you applied for the temporary visa (subclass 309 or 820) before you are eligible for assessment of the permanent visa. Eligibility is shown under 'Visa Requirements' on the subclass 100 or 801 page. To submit, log in to ImmiAccount, select 'New application' and 'Family', then 'Stage 2 - Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801)', and complete the form using your application ID.

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