820 Partner Visa in Australia to Become a Permanent Resident

One combined 820/801 application is lodged, with one charge. The temporary 820 is decided first. It lets you stay in Australia with your partner, with full work and study rights, while the second stage is pending. 

There is never a second application for the 801. Two years after your application date, you become eligible for the second stage. The Department then asks for updated evidence showing your relationship is still genuine and continuing, and assesses the 801, which is a permanent visa. 

Long-term couples can skip the wait entirely. If you have been on a spousal or de-facto relationship for at least three years when you apply, or at least two years with a dependent child of the relationship, the 801 can be granted immediately after the 820. 

To apply for a Partner visa, you must generally be married to your partner or be in a de facto relationship.

If you are in a de facto relationship, you will usually need to show that you have been in the relationship for at least 12 months before you apply. Time spent dating or talking online before you started your life together may not count towards this period.

There can be exceptions. For example, you may not need to meet the 12-month requirement if your relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory.

Relationship registration is available to eligible same-sex and different-sex couples in most states and territories. However, it is not available in Western Australia or the Northern Territory.

Whether you are married or in a de facto relationship, you will also need to show that your relationship is genuine and ongoing.

The Department may look at evidence across four main areas:

• Finances: Joint bank accounts, shared bills or other financial responsibilities.

• Household: A joint lease, shared address or evidence of how you manage your home together.

• Social life: Evidence that friends and family know you as a couple.

• Commitment: Your relationship history, future plans and other evidence of your commitment to each other.

The evidence you need will depend on your circumstances. Getting advice can help you understand what documents may support your application.

What else do you need to apply?

If you are applying for a Partner visa in Australia, you will generally need to:

• Be in Australia when you apply for the relevant onshore Partner visa.

• Meet health and character requirements. This may include health examinations and police certificates.

• Check whether your children can be included. Dependent children may be eligible to join your application, including some children aged 18 or over who meet the dependency requirements.

• Check your current visa status and conditions. Applying can be more complex if your visa has expired or has certain conditions attached.

If you are currently on a Student visa, check your visa conditions before applying. Some Student visas may include a No Further Stay condition, such as condition 8503 or 8534. This can prevent you from applying for certain visas while you are in Australia unless the condition is waived.

Your options can also become more complex if your current visa has already expired. If either situation applies to you, consider getting professional migration advice before taking your next step.

Your partner will also need to meet certain requirements.

They must generally:

• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

• Be aged 18 or over.

• Meet character requirements, which may include providing police checks.

• Apply to sponsor you as part of the Partner visa process.

There are also limits on Partner visa sponsorships. A person can generally sponsor up to two partners in their lifetime. There must usually be at least five years between sponsorships.

Some exceptions may apply depending on your circumstances.

How much does a Partner visa cost?

As of 1 July 2026, the Partner visa application charge starts from AUD 11,710.

For an onshore Partner visa application, this charge covers both stages of the process: the Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 820) and the Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 801).

Keep in mind that the application charge is generally not refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn. You will also pay an additional charge for each family member included in your application, such as a dependent child.

Other costs may include:

• Health examinations

• Police certificates

• Document translations

Visa fees can change, often from 1 July each year. Check the latest fees before you apply.

If you apply for an onshore Partner visa while you hold a valid visa, you will generally be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA).

Your BVA does not usually start straight away. Your current visa remains active until it expires, so you must continue following its conditions. For example, if your Student visa has work restrictions, those restrictions will continue to apply while your Student visa is still in effect.

Once your BVA comes into effect, different work and study conditions may apply. Check the conditions attached to your individual bridging visa so you know what you can and cannot do.

You may also be eligible to enrol in Medicare after lodging your Partner visa application.

Planning to travel overseas while your BVA is in effect? You will generally need to apply for and be granted a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you leave Australia. A BVA does not allow you to return to Australia if you leave.

Processing times for the Partner visa (subclass 820) can change and will depend on your individual application.

Some applications may take longer if the Department of Home Affairs needs more information or additional checks. Providing complete documents and clear relationship evidence from the start can help you avoid unnecessary delays.

Because processing times change regularly, check the latest Department of Home Affairs processing times before you apply.

If you apply in Australia, you may be able to remain in Australia on an appropriate visa while your Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801) application is being processed.

A Partner visa is a major financial and personal commitment. The application charge is generally non-refundable, even if your application is refused or withdrawn.

A refusal can also affect your visa options, particularly if you are already in Australia. That is why it is important to understand your eligibility and visa conditions before you apply.

A Registered Migration Agent can review important parts of your situation, including:

• Whether you meet the married or de facto relationship requirements

• Whether you have enough evidence across the four areas of your relationship

• Your current visa status and conditions

• Whether a No Further Stay condition applies

• Whether your partner meets the sponsorship requirements

• Any issues that may make your application more complex

Getting advice before you lodge can help you understand whether you are ready to apply and what you may need to address first.

IDP works with Bravo Migration to support international students and graduates exploring their migration options. You can speak with a Registered Migration Agent about your circumstances and understand the next steps for your Partner visa application.