What Is the Australian Partner Visa (820/801)?

The Australian partner visa is one of the most common pathways for people in relationships with Australian citizens or permanent residents to move to and live in Australia. The partner visa comes in two main forms: the temporary visa (subclass 820) and the permanent visa (subclass 801). If you are in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident, understanding how these visas work is essential to your migration planning.

The subclass 820 is a temporary partner visa that allows you to live, work, and study in Australia while your permanent partner visa application is being processed. The subclass 801 is the permanent partner visa, which grants you permanent residency status. Most people apply for both visas at the same time, and if approved for the 820, they wait for the 801 decision while already living in Australia.

The partner visa process is detailed and requires careful preparation. You will need to prove your relationship is genuine and ongoing, provide extensive documentation, and meet health and character requirements. The cost is significant, and processing times can take 12 to 24 months or longer depending on your circumstances.

Eligibility Requirements for Partner Visa Australia

Before you apply for a partner visa, you must meet specific eligibility criteria. The Australian Department of Home Affairs sets these requirements, and they apply equally to all applicants regardless of your nationality or background.

Your Relationship Status

You must be in a genuine and continuing relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The relationship can be:

  • A married couple (same-sex or opposite-sex marriage)
  • A de facto couple (living together in a genuine domestic relationship for at least 12 months)
  • An interdependent relationship (two people who are not in a romantic relationship but are interdependent on each other for support)

If you are married or in a de facto relationship, you must have been together for at least 12 months before you apply. The Department of Home Affairs will examine your relationship carefully, so you need to provide evidence that your relationship is real and not entered into primarily to obtain a visa.

Your Sponsor's Status

Your sponsor (the person in Australia) must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. They must be at least 18 years old and must not be sponsoring anyone else for a partner visa at the same time. Your sponsor will need to lodge a sponsorship application and meet their own eligibility requirements.

Health and Character Requirements

You must pass health and character checks. This means you will need to undergo a medical examination by an approved panel doctor and provide police certificates from every country you have lived in for more than 12 months in the past 10 years. If you have a criminal record, you may be refused the visa.

Step-by-Step Application Process for Partner Visa 820/801

The partner visa application process involves several stages. Understanding each step will help you prepare properly and avoid delays.

Step 1: Prepare Your Documentation

Before you apply, gather all the documents you will need. The Department of Home Affairs requires extensive evidence of your relationship and your identity. You should collect:

  • Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate)
  • Evidence of your relationship (marriage certificate, photos together, joint bank statements, emails, messages, letters from friends and family)
  • Evidence of living together (utility bills, lease agreements, bank statements showing shared expenses)
  • Police certificates from every country you have lived in for more than 12 months in the past 10 years
  • Medical examination results from an approved panel doctor
  • Your sponsor's documents (proof of citizenship or permanent residency, police certificate, medical examination)
  • Statutory declarations from people who know your relationship

The more evidence you provide, the stronger your application. Many applicants include photos, travel documents, joint financial records, and letters from family members who can speak to the genuineness of the relationship.

Step 2: Lodge Your Sponsorship Application

Your sponsor must lodge a sponsorship application before you can apply for the visa. Your sponsor can do this online through the Department of Home Affairs website. The sponsorship application costs AUD 100 and must be approved before your visa application can be processed. Your sponsor will receive a sponsorship approval notice once their application is approved.

Step 3: Lodge Your Visa Application

Once your sponsor's sponsorship application is approved, you can lodge your partner visa application. You can apply online through the ImmiAccount system on the Department of Home Affairs website. You will need to create an account, upload all your documents, and pay the visa application fee. As of 2026, the visa application fee for the partner visa is AUD 3,710 for the main applicant. If you have dependent children, there are additional fees for each child.

When you lodge your application, you can request to be considered for both the temporary (820) and permanent (801) visas at the same time. This is the standard approach and means you may be granted the temporary visa while your permanent visa application is being assessed.

Step 4: Attend Your Health and Character Checks

After you lodge your application, the Department of Home Affairs will request that you undergo a medical examination and provide police certificates. You must use an approved panel doctor for your medical examination. You can find a list of approved panel doctors on the Department of Home Affairs website. The medical examination costs between AUD 300 and AUD 500 depending on the doctor.

Police certificates must be obtained from the police authority in each country where you have lived for more than 12 months in the past 10 years. Some countries issue these quickly, while others may take several months. You should apply for these as soon as possible.

Step 5: Wait for a Decision

Processing times for partner visas vary. As of 2026, the Department of Home Affairs aims to process 75% of partner visa applications within 12 months and 90% within 24 months. However, some applications take longer, particularly if additional information is requested or if there are complications with health or character checks.

During this time, if you have been granted the temporary 820 visa, you can live and work in Australia. You should not travel outside Australia without an appropriate travel authority, as you may not be able to return.

Costs and Processing Times for Partner Visa Australia

Understanding the financial and time commitment involved in a partner visa application is important for your planning.

Visa Application Costs

The main visa application fee is AUD 3,710 for the primary applicant as of 2026. If you have dependent children under 18 years old, you must include them in your application, and each child costs an additional AUD 1,855. Your sponsor's sponsorship application costs AUD 100. You may also need to pay for medical examinations (AUD 300 to AUD 500), police certificates (varies by country), and translation of documents if they are not in English (AUD 50 to AUD 200 per document).

Many applicants also choose to hire a migration agent to help with their application. A migration agent typically charges between AUD 2,000 and AUD 5,000 for a partner visa application, depending on the complexity of your case.

Processing Timeframes

Partner visa applications are not processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The Department of Home Affairs prioritises applications based on various factors, including the completeness of your application and whether additional information is needed. As of 2026, most partner visa applications are decided within 12 to 24 months, but some take longer.

If you are granted the temporary 820 visa, you can start living in Australia while you wait for your permanent 801 visa decision. The 820 visa is typically valid for two years.

What Happens After Your Partner Visa Is Approved

Once you are granted your partner visa, your obligations and rights change depending on whether you have the temporary (820) or permanent (801) visa.

Temporary Partner Visa (820)

If you are granted the 820 visa, you can live, work, and study in Australia. You can access Medicare (Australia's public health system) and most government services. However, you cannot sponsor other family members for visas, and you cannot apply for Australian citizenship until you have held a permanent visa for at least four years.

The 820 visa is typically valid for two years. Before your 820 visa expires, you should receive a decision on your 801 permanent visa application. If your 801 application is refused, your 820 visa will also be cancelled, and you will need to leave Australia.

Permanent Partner Visa (801)

If you are granted the 801 visa, you have permanent residency in Australia. You can live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. You can access Medicare and most government services. You can sponsor other family members for visas. After holding the 801 visa for four years, you can apply for Australian citizenship.

The 801 visa does not expire, but you must not be outside Australia for more than five years at a time, or your permanent residency may be at risk.

Common Reasons Partner Visa Applications Are Refused

Understanding why applications are refused can help you avoid these pitfalls. The most common reasons include:

  • Insufficient evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing
  • Failure to meet health requirements
  • Failure to meet character requirements
  • Incomplete or incorrect documentation
  • Failure to pay the visa application fee
  • The sponsor is not eligible to sponsor a partner

If your application is refused, you have the right to request a review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). You must lodge your request within 28 days of receiving the refusal decision.

Useful Official Sources

For the most current information about partner visas in Australia, visit these official government sources:

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a partner visa in Australia?

As of 2026, the Department of Home Affairs aims to process 75% of partner visa applications within 12 months and 90% within 24 months. However, some applications take longer depending on the completeness of your documentation and whether additional information is requested.

Can I work in Australia while my partner visa is being processed?

Yes, if you are granted the temporary 820 partner visa, you can work and study in Australia while you wait for your permanent 801 visa decision. The 820 visa is typically valid for two years.

How much does a partner visa cost in Australia?

The main visa application fee is AUD 3,710 as of 2026, plus AUD 100 for your sponsor's sponsorship application. You may also need to pay for medical examinations, police certificates, and document translation.

What documents do I need for a partner visa application?

You need proof of identity, evidence of your relationship (marriage certificate, photos, joint bank statements), evidence of living together, police certificates, medical examination results, and statutory declarations from people who know your relationship.

Can I apply for a partner visa if we have been together for less than 12 months?

No, you must have been in a genuine relationship for at least 12 months before you apply for a partner visa. This applies to married couples and de facto couples.

What happens if my partner visa application is refused?

If your application is refused, you have the right to request a review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within 28 days of receiving the refusal decision.

Can I sponsor my children on a partner visa?

Yes, if you have dependent children under 18 years old, you can include them in your partner visa application. Each child costs an additional AUD 1,855 as of 2026.

Do I need a migration agent to apply for a partner visa?

No, you can apply yourself, but many applicants hire a migration agent to help with their application. A migration agent typically charges between AUD 2,000 and AUD 5,000 depending on the complexity of your case.

This is general information only. It is not legal, migration, financial, tax, medical, or professional advice. Always check official sources before acting.