Partner Visa Australia (820/801): Timeline, Cost and Process

Partner Visa Australia (820/801): Timeline, Cost and Process

The onshore Partner visa — Subclass 820/801 — allows the partner (spouse or de facto) of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live and work in Australia while their permanent visa is processed. It is a two-stage visa: you first receive the temporary 820, and after a waiting period, you become eligible for the permanent 801.

Who Can Apply?

You can apply if:

  • You are in a genuine spousal or de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • Your sponsor is 18 years or older
  • You are in Australia at the time of application (for the onshore 820)
  • You meet health and character requirements

A de facto relationship must have existed for at least 12 months before the application (unless you are registered under a state/territory law, or there are compelling reasons for the shorter period). A same-sex relationship is treated the same as an opposite-sex relationship.

The Two-Stage Process

Stage 1: Temporary Visa (Subclass 820)

When you lodge your application, you are immediately placed on a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while your application is processed. Once the initial assessment is complete and the Department is satisfied the relationship is genuine, the 820 temporary visa is granted.

The 820 allows you to:

  • Live and work full-time in Australia
  • Access Medicare
  • Travel to and from Australia (though you should check travel restrictions before leaving and returning)
  • Study

Stage 2: Permanent Visa (Subclass 801)

After the mandatory 2-year waiting period (or immediately if you have been in the relationship for 3 or more years before the application, or have a child together), you become eligible to apply for the permanent 801 grant.

The Department reviews the application again to confirm:

  • The relationship is still genuine and ongoing
  • You still meet health and character requirements
  • Your sponsor has not sponsored another person for a partner visa in the past 5 years

You do not need to lodge a separate application for the 801 — it is included in your original application fee. You simply wait and respond to any requests for updated evidence.

Relationship Evidence

The Department looks for evidence across four categories. Strong applications have evidence in all four:

Financial Aspects of the Relationship

  • Joint bank accounts or shared financial commitments
  • Joint lease or mortgage
  • Joint utility bills or shared household expenses
  • Evidence of financial support between partners

Nature of the Household

  • Evidence of living together (shared address on bills, lease agreements)
  • Statutory declarations from people who have visited your shared home

Social Aspects of the Relationship

  • Photos of you together at social events, with friends and family
  • Recognition of the relationship by family and friends
  • Evidence of joint social activities, holidays, and shared friends

Commitment to Each Other

  • Future plans (travel bookings, shared property purchase, engagement)
  • Knowledge of each other's personal history, family, and circumstances
  • Length of the relationship
  • A statement from each of you about the relationship

A statutory declaration from a person who knows you both well (family member, close friend) is also valuable.

Costs

The application fee for the 820/801 combined application is approximately $8,850 (2025–26 — confirmed on the DIBP/Home Affairs website at time of application). Additional applicants (children) incur extra fees. There is no refund if the application is refused.

Processing Times

Current processing times (as published by the Department of Home Affairs) are typically 24–36 months or more for the 820 stage. The permanent 801 grant follows after the waiting period and another review. Total time from application to permanent residence is commonly 3–5 years.

Sponsor Obligations

The sponsoring partner takes on obligations including:

  • Informing Home Affairs if the relationship breaks down
  • The sponsor cannot sponsor another partner for a partner visa within 5 years (unless exceptional circumstances apply)
  • Providing financial support in certain circumstances

If the Relationship Breaks Down

If your relationship ends before the 801 is granted, your visa may be cancelled. However, there are protections for victims of family and domestic violence — if you or a dependent child experienced family violence committed by the sponsor, you may still be granted the permanent 801 via the family violence provisions.

See the PR Pathway guide for an overview of all permanent residence pathways, including how the partner visa compares to skills-based routes.

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