The Partner visa (Subclass 820/801) is a two-stage visa that allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live and work in Australia. The Subclass 820 (temporary) is granted first, followed by the Subclass 801 (permanent) after a waiting period.
This visa is lodged as a combined application. The temporary Subclass 820 visa is typically granted first, allowing the applicant to remain in Australia with full work and study rights while the permanent stage is assessed. The permanent Subclass 801 is generally considered two years after the date of application, provided the relationship remains genuine and ongoing.
The Partner visa is one of the most common family visa pathways. It requires substantial evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship, including shared financial responsibilities, the nature of the household, social recognition and mutual commitment.
Who is this permit for?
This visa is for people in a genuine relationship, married or de facto, with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, who want to live together in Australia long-term.
You are the spouse (legally married) or de facto partner of an eligible Australian sponsor
Your relationship is genuine and continuing, with evidence across multiple categories
If in a de facto relationship, you have been together for at least 12 months (unless registered or there are compelling circumstances)
Your sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
Your sponsor has not previously sponsored more than one partner visa applicant (limited exceptions apply)
You meet health and character requirements
You are in Australia at the time of application (for onshore Subclass 820/801)
Common reasons for rejection
Relationship not deemed genuine: The Department assesses genuineness across four categories, financial, household, social and commitment. A weak or thin evidence portfolio that does not span all four categories is the most common reason for refusal. This is particularly true for newly established relationships or couples who have spent significant time living apart.
De facto relationship less than 12 months: De facto partners must demonstrate at least 12 months of cohabitation unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory, or there are compelling and compassionate circumstances. Failing to meet this threshold without a registered relationship results in ineligibility.
Sponsor exceeded sponsorship limits: A sponsor may generally only sponsor two partner visa applicants in their lifetime and only one within any five-year period. Applying with a sponsor who has already exceeded these limits will result in refusal unless a compelling exemption applies.
Schedule 3 criteria not satisfied: If the applicant did not hold a substantive visa at the time of application, Schedule 3 criteria apply. These require demonstrating compelling reasons why the application should be considered onshore despite the applicant being unlawfully present or holding only a bridging visa.
Relationship breakdown before permanent stage: If the relationship ends before the Subclass 801 permanent stage is assessed, the permanent application will generally be refused. Limited provisions exist where the breakdown was caused by family violence, or where children of the relationship would suffer significant hardship.
Health or character requirements not met: All applicants and included family members must satisfy Australia's health and character requirements. Incomplete police clearances, significant criminal history or health conditions above the threshold are direct grounds for refusal.
Application process
1. Relationship Assessment
We conduct a thorough review of your relationship history, duration and the evidence available across the four key relationship categories: financial aspects, nature of the household, social context and commitment.
2. Evidence Gathering
We guide you through compiling a comprehensive evidence package including joint financial documents, cohabitation evidence, statutory declarations from friends and family, photographs and communication records.
3. Sponsor Approval
Your Australian partner must be approved as a sponsor by the Department of Home Affairs. This involves a separate assessment of their eligibility and character.
4. Temporary Visa Application (Subclass 820)
The combined 820/801 application is lodged. Once the temporary visa is granted, you receive full work and study rights in Australia while the permanent stage is pending.
5. Waiting Period
A two-year waiting period applies from the date of application. During this time, the Department may request updated evidence to confirm the relationship remains genuine.
6. Permanent Visa Assessment (Subclass 801)
After the waiting period, the Department assesses whether the relationship is still genuine and continuing. Updated evidence and statutory declarations are typically required.
7. Permanent Visa Grant
Once the Department is satisfied that all requirements are met, the permanent Subclass 801 visa is granted, providing indefinite residence rights in Australia.
Key considerations
The relationship must be genuine and continuing. The Department assesses evidence across four categories: financial aspects, nature of the household, social context and mutual commitment.
De facto partners must generally demonstrate a relationship of at least 12 months before applying, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory or there are compelling and compassionate circumstances.
The two-year waiting period may be waived in certain circumstances, such as if the relationship has existed for three or more years at the time of application or if there are children of the relationship.
A sponsor is generally limited to sponsoring two partner visa applicants in their lifetime, and only one within a five-year period. Exceptions may apply in limited circumstances.
Applicants must undergo health examinations and provide police clearances from every country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
If the relationship breaks down before the permanent visa is granted, the application may be refused. However, provisions exist for applicants who have experienced family violence.
Schedule 3 criteria may apply if the applicant did not hold a substantive visa at the time of application. This requires demonstrating compelling reasons for the late application.
The Subclass 820/801 is for applicants who are in Australia. If you are offshore, the equivalent pathway is the Subclass 309/100 Partner visa.
Costs
The Partner visa involves significant government fees, which are payable in two instalments corresponding to the temporary and permanent stages of the visa.
Government Visa Fee (Primary): AUD 11,710
Second Instalment (if applicable): AUD 0 - 4,890
Health Examinations: AUD 300 - 600 per person
Police Clearances: AUD 50 - 200 per country
Relationship Evidence Preparation: Varies
Professional Service Fees: Contact for quote
The second instalment of the visa application charge applies if the primary applicant did not hold a substantive visa at the time of application or did not meet the English language requirement. Government fees are subject to change.
Processing timeframes
Partner visa processing times are among the longest of all Australian visa categories. Timeframes vary depending on the completeness of the application, the quality of relationship evidence and the Department's processing priorities.
Evidence Preparation: 4 - 8 weeks
Temporary Visa (820) Decision: 12 - 24 months
Waiting Period: 2 years from application date
Permanent Visa (801) Decision: 12 - 18 months after eligibility
Total (Straightforward Case): 2 - 4 years
Job offer requirements
A job offer is not required for the Partner visa (Subclass 820/801). This visa is based entirely on the genuineness of the relationship with the sponsoring partner.
Once the temporary Subclass 820 visa is granted, the applicant has unrestricted work rights in Australia. There are no conditions requiring a specific employer or occupation.
While employment is not relevant to visa eligibility, New World Immigration can provide general guidance on settling in Australia, including information about the local job market through our recruitment division.
How to apply — step by step
1. Assess your relationship evidence
Before applying, honestly assess the strength of your relationship evidence across all four categories: financial aspects (joint accounts, shared bills), nature of the household (cohabitation, shared responsibilities), social context (recognition by friends, family and community) and commitment (knowledge of each other, future plans, duration).
2. Confirm your sponsor's eligibility
Your Australian partner must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Confirm they meet the sponsorship history requirements, they must not have previously sponsored two or more partners, or one partner within the past five years.
3. Sponsor applies for approval
Your Australian partner must lodge a sponsorship application with the Department of Home Affairs, demonstrating their residency status and character. Sponsorship approval can run concurrently with the visa application.
4. Compile relationship evidence
Gather comprehensive documentation, joint bank account statements, shared lease agreements, utility bills in both names, photographs together over time, communication records, statutory declarations from friends and family, and evidence of joint travel or financial commitments.
5. Complete health examinations and police clearances
Undergo health examinations with an approved panel physician. Obtain police clearances from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
6. Lodge the combined 820/801 application
Submit the application through ImmiAccount while you are in Australia. Pay the government visa fee and include all relationship evidence, sponsor documentation, identity records and health and character results.
7. Maintain updated evidence for the 801 stage
Two years after lodgement, the Department will assess whether the relationship remains genuine. Proactively update your evidence package, new joint financial records, updated photographs, additional statutory declarations, so the permanent stage is well-supported.
Quick tips
More evidence is almost always better. Compile documentation that spans the full history of the relationship, from when you first met through to the present day.
Statutory declarations from friends and family are an important part of the evidence package. Brief, generic letters carry little weight. Detailed, personal statements that describe specific shared experiences are far more persuasive.
A joint bank account with regular transactions is one of the most straightforward ways to demonstrate financial interdependence. If you do not already have one, open one well before applying.
The two-year waiting period for the 801 runs from the date the combined application is lodged, not from the date the 820 temporary visa is granted. Lodge as early as possible.
If your relationship has existed for three or more years at the time of application (or two or more years with children), the two-year waiting period may be waived for the permanent stage.
Family violence provisions exist. If the relationship ends due to violence, seek specialised legal advice immediately, the visa pathway may still be available.
The offshore equivalent of this visa is the Subclass 309/100. If you are outside Australia when applying, the 820/801 pathway is not available.
Documents needed
Valid passport for all applicants
Sponsor's proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency
Marriage certificate (if married) or evidence of de facto relationship
Joint bank account statements (at least 6 months)
Lease agreements or mortgage documents in both names
Utility bills in both names
Communication records (messages, call logs, emails) showing ongoing contact
Photographs together across different dates and locations
Statutory declarations from people who know the couple
Evidence of joint travel (booking confirmations, passport stamps)
Police clearances from every country of residence (12+ months in past 10 years)
Health examination results from an approved panel physician
Birth certificates for any children of the relationship
Frequently asked questions
What evidence is needed to prove a genuine relationship?
The Department assesses four categories of evidence: financial aspects (joint accounts, shared expenses), nature of the household (cohabitation, shared responsibilities), social context (recognition by friends, family and community) and commitment (knowledge of each other, future plans, length of relationship). A combination of documentary evidence and statutory declarations is expected.
Can I work in Australia while my Partner visa is being processed?
Yes. Once the temporary Subclass 820 visa is granted, you have full work and study rights in Australia with no restrictions on employer or occupation.
What happens if our relationship ends before the permanent visa is granted?
If the relationship breaks down, the application for the permanent Subclass 801 may be refused. However, if the relationship ended due to family violence or if there are children of the relationship who would suffer significant hardship, provisions may allow the permanent visa to still be granted.
Is there an age limit for the Partner visa?
There is no age limit for Partner visa applicants. However, sponsors must generally be 18 years or older.
Can same-sex couples apply for a Partner visa?
Yes. Same-sex married and de facto couples are treated equally under Australian immigration law and can apply for the Partner visa on the same basis as opposite-sex couples.
What is the difference between the 820/801 and the 309/100?
The Subclass 820/801 is for applicants who are in Australia at the time of application (onshore). The Subclass 309/100 is for applicants who are outside Australia (offshore). The eligibility criteria and evidence requirements are broadly similar.
Can I include children in the application?
Yes. Dependent children of the primary applicant can be included in the Partner visa application. Additional visa fees apply for each dependent.
How long do we need to have been together before we can apply?
Married couples can apply at any time after marriage. De facto couples must generally demonstrate a relationship of at least 12 months, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory or there are compelling and compassionate circumstances.
Get expert help
If you are in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident and wish to explore the Partner visa pathway, the first step is to understand your eligibility and what evidence will be needed.
Our team will review your relationship circumstances, advise on the strength of your evidence and guide you through the application process from start to finish.