Australia Partner Visa (820/801, 309/100): Complete Guide (2026)
What is the Partner Visa?
Australia’s Partner Visa system accepts married, de facto (12+ months living together), and engaged couples. Same-sex partnerships are fully recognized. The two-stage structure (temporary → permanent) gives Home Affairs time to verify the relationship is genuine and ongoing.
Applications are either onshore (820/801 — you’re in Australia) or offshore (309/100 — you’re outside Australia). Both lead to the same end result: permanent residence after 2 years on the temporary visa, assuming the relationship continues.
Who qualifies
✅ Eligibility checklist
- Australian sponsor: Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Must be 18+.
- Genuine and continuing relationship: Marriage, de facto (12+ months), or engagement (Prospective Marriage Visa 300).
- Same-sex or opposite-sex: Fully recognized on equal terms.
- Meeting in person: Sponsor and applicant must have met in person.
- Age 18+: Both parties at time of application.
- Sponsor limits: Sponsors can’t have sponsored multiple partners in previous 5 years (except in limited cases).
- Admissibility: Applicant meets health and character requirements.
Required documents
📄 Document checklist
- Valid passport
- Marriage certificate OR evidence of de facto relationship (12+ months)
- Australian sponsor’s citizenship/PR proof
- Joint financial evidence: bank accounts, property, shared bills
- Household evidence: joint lease, mortgage, utility bills
- Social recognition: photos, travel together, family acknowledgment
- Written relationship history with timeline
- Travel evidence together: boarding passes, hotel bookings
- Correspondence history: emails, texts, letters
- Statutory declarations from friends and family
- Sponsor’s police check
- Applicant’s police checks from each country lived in 12+ months past 10 years
- Medical examination
- Photos across different settings/dates
Step-by-step application process
- Confirm relationship eligibility. Legal marriage, 12+ months de facto, or genuine engagement.
- Gather substantial relationship evidence. Quality over quantity, but plan for 100+ pages of evidence.
- Choose onshore (820/801) or offshore (309/100). Depends on applicant location at time of application.
- Sponsor completes sponsorship application. Form 40SP, supporting docs.
- Applicant completes partner visa application. Via ImmiAccount. Pay application fee upfront.
- Provide biometrics. At VFS Global or Australian Visa Application Center.
- Complete medical and police checks. Standard.
- Temporary visa granted (820 or 309). Can stay in Australia while waiting for permanent.
- 2 years after application, permanent visa decision. Must demonstrate relationship continues.
- Permanent residence granted (801 or 100). Full PR rights.
- Eligible for citizenship after 4 years total residence. Standard naturalization rules.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Partner Visa application fee | AUD 9,095 | Covers both stages |
| Additional adult dependent | AUD 4,550 | E.g., adult child |
| Additional child | AUD 2,280 | Under 18 |
| Second instalment (fiancé 300 only) | AUD 4,550 | At 820 application |
| Police certificates | AUD 20–200 each | Per country |
| Medical exam | AUD 300–500 | Per adult |
| Translations | AUD 200–500 | Certified if required |
| Migration agent (optional) | AUD 3,000–8,000 | Common for partner cases |
| Biometrics | AUD 0–100 | Varies by location |
| Total (single applicant) | AUD 9,500–10,000 | Government fees |
Timeline from start to arrival
- Month 0: Marry or reach 12 months de facto
- Month 0–2: Gather relationship evidence
- Month 2–3: Submit application + fee
- Month 3: Temporary visa application received
- Month 3–6: Biometrics, medical, police checks
- Month 6–18: Temporary visa granted
- Month 24: Permanent visa assessment begins
- Month 24–36: Permanent visa decision
- Year 4: Eligible for citizenship
Total to PR: 24–36 months. Temporary visa typically within 12–18 months of application.
Do I need a lawyer?
Partner visas benefit from legal review — documentation is extensive and subjective. Strongly consider for: short relationships (under 6 months), arranged marriages with limited traditional evidence, large age gap or cultural differences, prior refusals or visa issues, complex blended family situations, sponsor with prior sponsorship or criminal history, applicant with prior Australian visa refusals.
Budget AUD 3,000–8,000 for a migration agent (MARA) with partner visa experience.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum relationship length?
Marriage: no minimum (can be applied immediately after). De facto: 12+ months continuous cohabitation (or registration in some states). Engagement: demonstrate commitment and genuine intent to marry.
Can my Australian partner sponsor me?
Yes — Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens aged 18+.
What is “de facto”?
A genuine relationship with ongoing commitment for mutual exclusion of others, usually with 12+ months cohabitation. Same-sex and opposite-sex equally recognized.
Can I work on the temporary Partner Visa?
Yes. Full work rights from day one of 820/309.
What happens if we separate during the process?
If before permanent decision: visa may be cancelled unless you can show compelling circumstances (domestic violence, death, severe reasons). Permanent visa (801/100): separation doesn’t affect your PR.
Can I bring children?
Yes, included in application. Children under 18 automatically eligible. Over 18 only if financially dependent due to disability.
Offshore vs onshore — which is faster?
Historically, offshore (309/100) has been faster but the gap has narrowed. Onshore (820/801) allows you to stay in Australia during processing.
What is the Prospective Marriage Visa (300)?
For engaged couples who cannot legally marry outside Australia for specific reasons. Allows 9-month entry to marry in Australia.
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