Processing times · Subclass 820
How long does the subclass 820 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Partner visa (Subclasses 820/801 & 309/100) applications were finalised within 26 months, and 90% within 30 months. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 820 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All applications | 26 months | 30 months | 26 months |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 820
How the application moves
- You lodge the temporary 820 and permanent 801 together while in Australia, with the sponsor's application; you receive a bridging visa that takes effect when your current visa ends.
- Home Affairs assesses the relationship against the four aspects (financial, household, social and commitment) and the sponsor's eligibility and character; the 820 is granted first, and the 801 is assessed about two years after lodgement, or straight away for long-term relationships.
What most often slows a 820 application
- Relationship evidence that is thin in one of the four aspects, prompting a request for information or an interview.
- Sponsor police checks and the sponsorship assessment, which are now assessed as part of the application.
- Changes after lodgement (address, employment, separation) that must be notified and re-assessed.
What to have ready before lodging
- Statutory declarations from both partners and from witnesses, joint financial records, lease or mortgage, photos and travel together across the whole relationship, and police certificates for both applicant and sponsor.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 820 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Partner visa (subclass 820) applications were finalised within 26 months and 90% within 30 months, as at 2 November 2026.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 820 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 820. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300): processing times · fees
- New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (Subclass 461): processing times · fees
- Parent visa (Contributory & non-contributory): fees
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870): processing times · fees
- Child visa (Subclasses 101, 802 & 445): processing times · fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 820 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: Partner Visa Australia 2026: Cost, Time & Evidence. General information only, not migration advice.