When your relationship crosses borders, the future can start to feel like paperwork.
You may be planning a home, a marriage, a family, or simply the right to stay together in Australia. But for many couples, the partner visa process can feel overwhelming: long forms, detailed evidence, changing costs, uncertain processing times, and the pressure of proving a relationship that already feels deeply real to you.
If your partner is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, you may be able to apply for a partner visa in Australia. However, it is important to understand that being married to, engaged to, or in a de facto relationship with an Australian does not automatically give you the right to live here permanently.
A partner visa application is not just a formality. It is an evidence-based process that asks couples to show the nature of their relationship, their shared life, and their future intentions. For some couples, this is straightforward. For others, especially where there has been time apart, family pressure, previous relationships, children, family violence, or complex visa history, the process can become legally and emotionally difficult.
That is where careful advice can make the path clearer. While our family lawyers on the Gold Coast does not provide immigration advice or prepare visa applications, we can assist with the many family law issues that families may have to navigate alongside partner visa matters.
What Is a Partner Visa in Australia?
A partner visa allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live, work, and study in Australia. It covers both married and de facto couples, including same-sex partners.
The most common onshore pathway is the combined subclass 820 and 801 application. You lodge both at the same time, but they are typically assessed in two stages: first the temporary visa (subclass 820), then the permanent visa (subclass 801) approximately two years later when further evidence of the ongoing relationship is submitted.
While many applicants move through the process in two stages, the permanent partner visa (801) is not always granted only after a long waiting period. In some cases, where the applicant already meets the permanent partner visa requirements and provides strong evidence with the initial application, the 801 visa may be granted at the same time as the 820 visa.
There is also an offshore pathway for applicants who are outside Australia at the time of applying, which involves the subclass 309 (temporary) and subclass 100 (migrant) visas. This guide focuses primarily on the onshore 820/801 pathway.
Partner Visa Australia 820: The Temporary Partner Visa
The Partner Visa Australia 820 is an onshore temporary partner visa. This means the applicant usually applies while they are in Australia.
If granted, the Subclass 820 visa can allow the applicant to live, work and study in Australia while the permanent stage is being assessed. It may also provide access to Medicare, subject to eligibility.
To qualify, applicants must generally be in a genuine relationship with their spouse or de facto partner, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Applicants must also meet relevant health and character requirements.
Partner Visa Australia 801: The Permanent Partner Visa
The Partner Visa Australia 801 is the permanent stage of the onshore partner visa pathway.
In many cases, the Subclass 801 stage is assessed around two years after the original temporary partner visa application was made. At this stage, the applicant may need to provide updated evidence showing that the relationship is still genuine and continuing.
However, this is not the only possible pathway. If an applicant can satisfy the permanent visa requirements at the time of the initial application and provides substantial supporting evidence, the 820 and 801 visas may be granted together.
This is one reason the initial application can be so important. A complete, well-evidenced application may reduce delays, avoid unnecessary requests for further information, and, in some cases, support both the temporary and permanent stages being decided at the same time.
In some circumstances, permanent residency may also still be possible if the relationship has ended, including where family violence provisions apply. These situations can be sensitive and complex, so it is important to seek advice before withdrawing an application or making decisions that may affect your visa status.
It is worth understanding that getting a partner visa does not automatically mean you become an Australian citizen. Citizenship requires meeting separate residency and eligibility requirements. For more on that process, you can read our article on whether marrying an Australian makes you a citizen.
Partner Visa Australia Requirements
Every application is different, but partner visa requirements generally focus on whether the relationship is genuine, continuing and legally recognised.
Applicants may need to provide evidence about:
- the nature of the couple’s household
- financial commitments and shared responsibilities
- social recognition of the relationship
- the history and development of the relationship
- communication while apart
- joint travel, plans or commitments
- marriage or de facto relationship status
- health and character checks
- identity documents
- sponsor eligibility
Evidence can include photographs, communication records, travel history, shared lease or mortgage documents, statutory declarations from friends and family (known as Form 888s), and more. The quality and consistency of your relationship evidence is one of the most important factors in the outcome of your application.
Having said that, a strong application is not simply about providing a large volume of documents. It is about presenting clear, consistent evidence that shows the relationship is genuine.
Partner Visa Australia Cost
The partner visa cost is one of the most significant upfront expenses in the application. The base application charge for the combined subclass 820/801 is approximately AUD $9,365 for the primary applicant as of the 2025–26 migration program, though fees are subject to change each year and you should check the Department of Home Affairs website visa estimate for the current figure.
Additional costs can include the medical examination, police clearance certificates from each relevant country, certified translations of documents not in English, professional fees if you engage a migration lawyer or registered migration agent, and any biometric collection fees.
Where dependent children are included in the application, additional charges apply per child. The total cost for a family application can therefore be considerably higher than the base fee alone.
There is no paid priority processing option for partner visas in Australia. The best way to avoid unnecessary delays and costs is to lodge a complete, well-organised application from the start.
Partner Visa Australia Processing Time
The partner visa Australia processing time can vary significantly.
Processing times for the partner visa are among the most commonly asked questions — and unfortunately, one of the least predictable aspects of the process.
Processing time may be affected by factors such as:
- whether the application is complete
- the quality and consistency of relationship evidence
- whether the applicant meets the permanent visa criteria at the time of application
- health and character checks
- whether further information is requested
- changes in the relationship
- the Department’s caseload
- complex issues such as previous visa refusals, family violence, or overseas documents
For the temporary subclass 820, current processing times typically range from around 13 to 24 months for most applicants, with the Department of Home Affairs reporting that 75% of applications are finalised within 13 to 15 months and 90% within 21 to 24 months. Applications that are complete and well-prepared at lodgement tend to move more quickly.
The permanent subclass 801 is then assessed approximately two years after your original application date. Once invited, the 801 stage can take a further 6 to 16 months.
However, for those who may be eligible for the 801 visa to be granted at the same time as the 820 visa, the processing time is significantly shorter.
It is important to be realistic about timeframes. Couples should avoid making major financial, travel or family decisions based on an assumed visa outcome or a fixed processing date.
You can use the Home Affairs website’s Visa Processing Time Guide Tool for an indication of time.
Because the timing and evidence requirements can vary, applicants should speak with an immigration lawyer before lodging their application.
How to Apply for a Partner Visa in Australia
Partner visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs’ online portal. Both the temporary and permanent stages are submitted together as a combined application.
Before applying, you will need to gather a comprehensive set of documents covering identity, relationship evidence, sponsor eligibility, health examinations and police certificates. A well-prepared application that tells a clear and consistent story of your relationship is far more likely to progress smoothly.
Given the complexity of the process, the significant cost involved, and the emotional stakes for couples waiting to be together, many applicants choose to engage a registered migration lawyer or agent to guide them through the application. Professional support can help ensure nothing is missed, reduce the risk of delays, and give you confidence that your application reflects your relationship clearly and accurately.
Family Law Considerations for Partner Visa Applicants
A partner visa issue does not always sit neatly on its own. For many couples, it can overlap with broader family law matters, including parenting arrangements, property settlements, financial agreements, family violence, or decisions about where children will live.
This can be especially important where one partner’s visa status affects their housing, income, support network or ability to remain in Australia. In cross-border relationships, separation can also raise questions about relocation, international parenting arrangements and practical next steps.
If your visa circumstances are connected to a separation, parenting dispute or safety concern, it is important to get legal advice that considers the full picture, not just the application itself.
What Happens if the Relationship Changes During the Visa Process?
Relationships can change while a partner visa application is being assessed. Separation, family violence, reconciliation, pregnancy, illness, or changes in living arrangements can all affect an application.
Applicants are generally required to update the Department of Home Affairs if their circumstances change. There may also be specific pathways or protections available in some situations, including where family violence has occurred.
If your relationship has ended, or you are experiencing family or domestic violence, it is important to seek advice before withdrawing an application or taking steps that may affect your visa status.
When Your Partner Visa Journey Becomes a Family Law Matter
Applying for a partner visa in Australia is more than an administrative process. It is often part of a much larger life transition, involving love, family, uncertainty and the hope of building a secure future together.
Pullos Lawyers does not provide immigration advice or prepare partner visa applications. If you are considering a Partner Visa Australia 820, preparing for the Partner Visa Australia 801, concerned about the partner visa Australia cost, or unsure about the partner visa Australia requirements and processing time, it is important you speak with an immigration lawyer.
Where Pullos Lawyers can assist is with the many family law and international family law matters that sit alongside partner visas. These may include advice about separation, parenting arrangements, property settlement, family violence, international relocation, or how a relationship breakdown may affect broader family law decisions. For advice tailored to your circumstances, contact Pullos Lawyers on 5526 3646 for the Gold Coast, 3144 1641 for Brisbane, or reach out via our contact form.
Read more: What Happens to a Partner Visa After a Relationship Breakdown and Does Getting Married to an Australian Automatically Mean You’re an Australian Citizen.
