Overview
The Partner visa lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia permanently. It is a two-stage visa: onshore applicants lodge the temporary 820 and permanent 801 together, offshore applicants the 309 then 100. The permanent stage is normally assessed about two years after lodgement, or straight away for long-term relationships (three years, or two years with a dependent child). An Australian can sponsor at most two partners in their lifetime, at least five years apart. The 2026-27 Migration Program sets aside 41,500 Partner visa places.
Partner visas turn on one thing above all: evidence of a genuine, continuing relationship. Which subclass you use depends on where you are, and the process runs in two stages — a temporary visa, then a permanent decision about two years after lodgement (or at the same time for long-term relationships). The 2026-27 Migration Program allocates 41,500 Partner places, the largest component of the Family stream.
Which partner subclass do you use?
If you’re in Australia you apply for the 820 (temporary) then 801 (permanent). If you’re outside Australia, it’s the 309 then 100. If you’re engaged and intend to marry, the Prospective Marriage visa (300) lets you come to Australia and marry within 9 to 15 months of grant, then apply onshore for the 820/801. You must be onshore to lodge an 820 and offshore to lodge a 309 — getting this wrong means an invalid application.
How does the two-stage process work?
You lodge the temporary and permanent stages together, for one application charge (the current fee is shown above). The temporary visa is granted first, and the permanent stage is assessed about two years after the date you lodged — you submit a Stage 2 form and updated evidence in ImmiAccount. If your relationship was already long-term when you applied — three years together, or two years with a dependent child of the relationship — the Department can grant the permanent 801 or 100 at the same time as the temporary visa.
What counts as a genuine relationship?
Case officers look at four pillars of evidence: the financial aspects (shared finances, joint commitments), the nature of the household (living arrangements, shared responsibilities), the social aspects (recognised as a couple by friends and family, joint activities), and the nature of the commitment (knowledge of each other, plans, time apart). Breadth and consistency across all four matter more than volume in any one. De facto couples generally need 12 months together before applying unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory.
Who can sponsor — and how many times?
Your sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over, and must consent to police checks being disclosed to you. Sponsorship is limited: a person can sponsor no more than two partners in their lifetime, and at least five years must have passed since the first sponsored partner application was lodged. Someone who arrived on a partner visa themselves is normally barred from sponsoring a new partner for five years. Waivers exist only for compelling circumstances (for example the death of the former partner).
Can you work and use Medicare while you wait?
On the bridging visa after you lodge onshore, your work rights match the visa you held when applying. Once the temporary 820 or 309 is granted you have full work rights and Medicare access, and you keep them while the permanent stage is decided. Check your bridging visa’s travel facility before leaving Australia — a Bridging Visa A does not allow travel, so you would need a Bridging Visa B first.
Fees and processing times shown above are sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and displayed with the date verified.
Who is eligible for the Subclass 820 visa?
- Be the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Have a genuine and continuing relationship — de facto couples generally need 12 months together unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory or compelling circumstances apply
- Be sponsored by your partner, who must be 18 or over, pass sponsor character checks and be within the sponsorship limits (two partner sponsorships in a lifetime, at least five years apart)
- Be in Australia when you apply for the 820, or outside Australia when you apply for the 309
- Meet health and character requirements
How much does the Subclass 820 visa cost?
The base application charge is A$11,710. An additional A$5,860 applies per applicant aged 18 or over. Covers the combined onshore Partner visa (820/801); the offshore Partner visa (309/100) is the same charge. A reduced A$1,955 applies if you hold a Prospective Marriage (300) visa. Checked against the official Home Affairs pricing table on 11 October 2026. See every Subclass 820 stream's charge and processing time, or compare every visa on our Australian visa fees table. Fees are indexed each year — see the official Visa Pricing Estimator for the current figure.
How long does the Subclass 820 visa take to process?
Around 75% of applications are finalised within 26 months, and 90% within 30 months.
Official figures as at 29 September 2026. Source: Department of Home Affairs — Global visa processing times. Compare all visas on our processing times tracker. Times are a guide only — complete, decision-ready applications are generally faster.
How do you apply for the Subclass 820 visa?
- Confirm the relationship basis and subclass. Married or de facto, in Australia (820/801) or outside (309/100). Engaged couples use the Prospective Marriage visa (300) first and must marry within 9 to 15 months of its grant.
- Prepare relationship evidence. Financial, household, social and commitment evidence across the whole relationship — this is where partner applications are won or lost.
- Lodge the combined application. The temporary and permanent stages are lodged together in ImmiAccount for one application charge. Onshore applicants receive a bridging visa.
- Second-stage assessment. About two years after lodgement you submit the Stage 2 form and updated relationship evidence, and the permanent 801 or 100 is decided. Long-term relationships can be granted the permanent visa at the same time as the temporary one.
How it compares
| Your situation | Temporary visa | Permanent visa | When permanent is assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| In Australia (onshore) | 820 | 801 | About 2 years after lodgement |
| Outside Australia (offshore) | 309 | 100 | About 2 years after lodgement |
| Together 3+ years, or 2+ years with a dependent child | 820 or 309 | 801 or 100 | Can be granted at the same time |
| Engaged, marrying soon | 300 (Prospective Marriage, 9–15 months) | then 820 → 801 | After marriage and the 820/801 application |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 820/801 and 309/100?
820/801 are for applicants in Australia (onshore); 309/100 are for applicants outside Australia (offshore). Both are two-stage: a temporary visa first, then a permanent visa about two years after the date you lodged. You lodge both stages together and pay one application charge.
Do de facto couples need to have lived together for 12 months?
Generally yes — a de facto relationship of at least 12 months immediately before you apply is expected. The 12-month rule is waived if your relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory that allows it, or if compelling and compassionate circumstances apply (for example, you have a child together).
How many partners can an Australian sponsor?
A sponsor is limited to two approved partner sponsorships in their lifetime (including Prospective Marriage visas), and at least five years must have passed since the first sponsored application was lodged. Someone who themselves arrived on a partner visa normally cannot sponsor a new partner within five years. The limit can be waived only in compelling circumstances, such as the death of the former partner or a long-standing relationship with children.
Can I work while my partner visa is being processed?
Your work rights depend on the stage you're at. When you lodge the 820 onshore you go on a bridging visa, and your work rights match those of the visa you held when you applied. Once the temporary 820 or 309 is granted you have full work rights and Medicare access, and you keep them while the permanent 801 or 100 is being decided.
How long until I get permanent residence?
The permanent stage (801/100) is normally assessed about two years after you lodged. If you were already in a long-term relationship at lodgement — three years together, or two years with a dependent child of the relationship — the Department can grant the permanent visa at the same time as the temporary one, without the two-year wait.
What happens if the relationship ends before the permanent visa is granted?
Usually the application cannot continue. There are exceptions where the sponsoring partner has died, where there is a child of the relationship with shared parental responsibility, or where the applicant or a family member has experienced family violence by the sponsor. Since 1 July 2024 the family-violence provisions apply equally to 309 and 820 applicants.
Related visas
- Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300)
- New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (Subclass 461)
- Parent visa (Contributory & non-contributory)
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870)
- Child visa (Subclasses 101, 802 & 445)
- Australian citizenship
Related guides
- Partner visa second stage (801/100): when it happens and what to send
- The medical examination for your Australian visa
- Complete guide to Australian immigration in 2026
- Visa Refused? Your Appeal Options and the ART Review