AustraliaFamily

Partner visa in Australia

The partner visa allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia lawfully. The application is lodged in stages: first a temporary visa, while the application for the permanent visa of the same type is assessed.

Source: Department of Home Affairs — Partner visa (subclass 820/801)

Who can apply: on what relationship

The visa is open to those married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen eligible for a subclass 444 visa.

On a legal marriage

The applicant is legally married to the sponsor
The applicant is aged 18 or over at lodgement
The relationship has to remain valid both at lodgement and when the visa is decided

On a de facto relationship

You normally have to evidence a de facto relationship of at least 12 months immediately before lodgement
The 12-month threshold does not apply where there are compelling and compassionate circumstances, or where the couple has registered the relationship with a state or territory body
An applicant in a de facto relationship also has to be no younger than 18 at lodgement

Special cases

Holders or former holders of a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) can claim a partner visa even if the marriage has not yet taken place
On the death of the partner or on evidenced family and domestic violence, the applicant can keep the right to the visa under separate Family Violence Provisions
The applicant has to be in Australia at the time of lodgement together with the family members lodging with them

What it costs

Partner visa (temporary 820), main applicant — most cases	11 710 AUD
Partner visa, main applicant — holders of a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)	+1 955 AUD
Partner visa, main applicant — former holders of a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) without a current visa	+2 475 AUD

A separate charge is levied for each family member who lodges together with the applicant; the total including family is worked out by the official Visa Pricing Estimator. Payments for a medical examination, police certificates and biometrics may also be required.

Documents to gather

What the official website calls mandatory for the applicant, the partner and children:

Identity documents: a birth certificate naming both parents (or an alternative document), passport pages, a national identity card, evidence of any change of name
A written history of the relationship: how and when you met, how the relationship developed, when you moved in together, married or became engaged, time spent apart, plans for the future
A marriage certificate (for married couples) or evidence of a de facto relationship of at least 12 months (for de facto partners)
Evidence of joint finances: a joint mortgage or tenancy, joint loans for major purchases, a joint bank account, bills in both names
Evidence of a shared household: the division of household duties, bills in both names, post in both names, documents on shared responsibility for children
Evidence that the relationship is socially recognised — statements from at least two witnesses aged 18 and over on form 888, joint invitations, mutual friends, joint trips
Documents on previous relationships — divorce or death certificates, if the applicant has been married before
Form 80 — personal particulars for the character check
National police certificates — from Australia (if the applicant has spent 12 months or more in the country over the last 10 years) and from every country where they have spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years; certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue
Results of a medical examination — valid for 12 months from the date it was completed
For children under 18 lodging with the applicant: identity documents, evidence of the relationship, a medical examination, character documents (for those aged 16–17) and the written consent of the other parent on form 1229
Translations of documents that are not in English — from a NAATI-accredited translator (if the translation is done in Australia), or stating the translator's name, contact details and qualifications (if the translation is done abroad)

How the process runs

The official process for lodging a temporary Partner visa (subclass 820) and moving to the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801):

1
Preparing to lodge
The applicant studies the requirements and, if help is needed, appoints a representative — a registered migration agent, a lawyer or an authorised recipient for correspondence (forms 956 and 956A).
2
Gathering and translating the documents
The applicant gathers identity documents and evidence of the relationship and has them translated into English; a translator in Australia has to be NAATI-accredited, while outside Australia the translator states their name, contact details and qualifications on the translation.
3
Lodging the application and paying the charge
The application is lodged online through ImmiAccount while in Australia: you select “New application” → “Family” → “Stage 1 – Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa”, attach the documents (up to 100 files per person) and pay the visa charge — an unpaid application is not assessed.
4
Waiting for the decision on the temporary visa
After receipt of the application is acknowledged, the applicant updates documents as needed, undergoes a medical examination and obtains police certificates — both types of document are valid for 12 months from the date they are obtained.
5
The decision on the temporary visa (subclass 820)
The department notifies the decision in writing: on approval — the visa number, the date it comes into effect and the conditions; on refusal — the reason and the right of appeal. The visa charge paid is not refunded on a refusal.
6
Moving to the permanent visa (subclass 801)
2 years after the first application was lodged
The applicant becomes eligible for the permanent partner visa to be assessed, provides further documents and, on approval, becomes a permanent resident of Australia from the day the subclass 801 visa is granted.

Who you can bring with you

Who can be included in the application for the temporary and permanent partner visa:

A dependent child under 18

Can be included in the application at lodgement or added later, before the visa is decided; the child has to meet the health and character requirements and to be in Australia if lodging with the applicant.

A dependent child over 18

Included only if they are not engaged, married or in a de facto relationship and are wholly or substantially financially dependent on the applicant, or unable to work because of a disability.

A newborn child

The department has to be notified of the birth — separately at the temporary visa stage and separately once you hold the permanent visa.

Holders of a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)

They can include in the partner visa application the members of the family unit they held on the 300 visa.

Renewal and the grace period

The permanent partner visa (subclass 801) is granted with no end date: the holder becomes a permanent resident of Australia on the day the visa is granted. The right to enter and leave the country an unlimited number of times lasts 5 years from the date of grant; to keep entering Australia as a permanent resident after that period you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155). A holder of the 801 visa who meets the criteria can apply for Australian citizenship.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Two years after lodging the application for the 820 you move to the permanent 801 visa. It is granted earlier if your partner has died and you have developed strong business, cultural or personal ties in Australia; if the relationship has broken down but there is a child in common for whom you are responsible; if the relationship broke down because of family violence.

Route to citizenship

Once you hold the 801 you apply for citizenship: 4 years of lawful residence, the last 12 months on a permanent visa.

Frequently asked questions about Partner visa

Who can apply for a subclass 820/801 partner visa?

The spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen eligible for a subclass 444 visa. The sponsor — normally the partner themselves — has to be approved by the department, and the applicant has to be in Australia at the time of lodgement together with the family members lodging with them.

What does a partner visa cost?

The charge for the main applicant for the temporary visa is AUD 11,710 in most cases, AUD 1,955 for holders of a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) and AUD 2,475 for former holders of such a visa without a current visa. A separate charge is levied for each family member who lodges together with the applicant, and the exact total including family is worked out by the official Visa Pricing Estimator.

How long does the move to the permanent visa take?

The official website does not publish an exact assessment time — it varies, and the department recommends using its separate processing times tool. Eligibility for the permanent visa (subclass 801) to be assessed arises 2 years after the first application for the temporary and permanent visas was lodged.

Can children be included in the application?

Yes. A dependent child under 18 can be included in the application at lodgement or added later; they have to meet the health and character requirements. A child over 18 is included only if they are not married or in a de facto relationship and are financially dependent on the applicant, or unable to work because of a disability.

What happens to the application if the relationship ends or the partner dies?

The applicant can keep the right to the temporary and permanent visa if the partner has died, and also where family and domestic violence is evidenced — separate Family Violence Provisions on the website cover these cases.

How does the temporary subclass 820 visa differ from the permanent subclass 801?

Subclass 820 is a temporary visa: the holder lives, works and studies in Australia while the application for the permanent visa is assessed, and can leave and re-enter the country an unlimited number of times. Subclass 801 is a permanent visa: the holder becomes a permanent resident on the day of grant, can leave and return for 5 years from the date of grant, is entitled to sponsor other family members and, if they meet the criteria, can apply for Australian citizenship.

Other ways to move to Australia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Australia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.