Eligibility quiz
Are you married to, or the partner of, an Australian citizen?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Australia
Permanent residents can live in Australia indefinitely.
Temporary holders can live in Australia while their permanent application is processed.
Study in Australia
Permanent residents can study in Australia.
Temporary holders can generally study, but their permission and its conditions control what they can do; check your conditions.
Work in Australia
Permanent residents can work in any lawful job.
Temporary holders can generally work, but their permission and its conditions control what they can do; check your conditions.
Travel and return
Permanent residents can return to Australia from overseas while their travel permission is valid.
Sponsor eligible relatives
Permanent residents can sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence, but sponsorship does not guarantee they can move to Australia.
Get crisis help abroad
Permanent residents can generally get Australian consular help during an overseas crisis.
Seek property loans
Permanent residents can generally apply for bank loans to buy property.
Use public healthcare
Permanent residents can enrol in Medicare, Australia’s national health scheme.
Not every treatment is free.
Get government support
Permanent residents may qualify for government payments, depending on the payment, income, assets and residence.
Newly arrived residents may face waits of one to four years, with different rules or exemptions for some payments.
How to apply
Applying from inside AustraliaApplying from inside Australia
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your Partner visa application.
See required documentsFill in your application
Create or sign in to your ImmiAccount and fill in the Partner visa application for subclass 820. Identify your sponsor and any family members you can include, and upload the documents requested in your checklist.
Fill in the applicationSubmit your application
Pay the visa application charge in ImmiAccount and submit your application. A paper application is possible only if the Department of Home Affairs invites you to lodge one.
Submit your applicationComplete health examinations
Complete the health examinations when Home Affairs instructs you, or arrange them through its health-examination process. You may need to repeat them if the results expire before the decision.
Arrange health examinationsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange health examinations for an Australian Partner visa?”
Provide your biometrics
If Home Affairs asks for your biometrics, follow its instructions to use the Australian Immi App or attend a collection centre. If your visa lodgement number does not start with AUI, attend a collection centre.
Provide your biometricsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I provide biometrics for an Australian Partner visa?”
Attend an appointment
If Home Affairs invites you to an appointment, attend as instructed. Do not visit an Australian office without an invitation.
Find appointment instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I attend a Home Affairs appointment for an Australian Partner visa?”
Wait for the decision
Monitor ImmiAccount, respond to requests and update your contact details while Home Affairs considers your application. Follow the conditions of your current visa and any bridging visa.
Check your applicationFill in permanent assessment
Once you have your subclass 820 visa and are eligible for assessment, sign in to ImmiAccount and complete “Stage 2 - Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801)” using your original application ID. This is the next step towards a permanent Partner visa.
Start permanent assessmentSubmit permanent assessment
Submit your permanent-stage assessment in ImmiAccount for the subclass 801 visa.
Submit permanent assessmentDocuments needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Provide your birth certificate or equivalent evidence of your identity and age. For family members included in your application, provide certified birth certificates or adoption papers as appropriate. If a name has changed, include evidence of the change.
Relationship evidence
Provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and continuing, such as joint financial records, a shared lease, correspondence and evidence of your social life and commitment to each other. Include evidence of your living arrangements and any previous relationships or separations.
Partner's citizenship records
Provide evidence that your partner is an Australian citizen.
Custody and consent documents *
Provide the custody or consent documents requested in your application checklist for the child.
* Only if you include a child and the checklist asks for custody or consent documents.
May need translationMarriage certificates *
Provide your marriage certificate if you are married. Include records of any previous marriages and how they ended, such as divorce or death records.
* Only if you are married or you or your partner were previously married.
May need translationFamily dependency evidence *
Provide the dependency documents requested in your application checklist for the family member included in your application.
* Only if you include a family member who needs to show they depend on you.
May need translationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Travel permission expiry
Permanent residents have no automatic right to return from overseas after their travel permission expires, even though permanent residence itself is indefinite.
Status can end
Temporary permission lasts while the permanent application is processed, so holders must avoid overstaying.
Breaking conditions, providing false information or documents, serious crimes, character problems or other legal grounds can lead to cancellation.
Cancellation can also lead to a ban on returning for up to three years or, in some cases, permanently.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Australia Visa and Migration Hub
English Facebook group for people living in Australia interested in Australian visas
Request to joinPartner Visa Australia
English Facebook group for people living in Australia interested in Australian visas
Join on FacebookPartner visa australia - 300, 309,100, 820, 801
English Facebook group for people living in Australia interested in Australian visas
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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