Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801)

You apply for both the temporary (820) and permanent (801) partner visas together in a single online application. The application must be submitted while you are in Australia. You and your sponsor will work together to gather evidence and submit documents through the Department of Home Affairs' online portal.

Online Application via ImmiAccount

Log in to ImmiAccount (create an account if you don't have one) and follow these steps:

1. Select New application
2. Select Family
3. Select Stage 1 – Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa
4. Complete the application form with your personal details, your sponsor's details, and information about your relationship
5. Pay the visa application charge (see Fees section)
6. Submit the application
7. Note your Transaction Reference Number (TRN) — you will need this for the next step
8. Provide the TRN to your sponsor so they can lodge their sponsorship form

Sponsor's Sponsorship Application

Your sponsor must apply for sponsorship using your TRN or application ID. The sponsor completes the Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia form online. The sponsor must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Have no outstanding sponsorship obligations
• Not have previously sponsored two other partners (unless compelling and compassionate circumstances apply)
• Provide evidence of their status (passport or birth certificate; driver's licence or Medicare card are not sufficient)
• Provide minimum two statutory declarations (made within the last six weeks) from an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen confirming your married or de facto relationship
• Provide evidence that the declarants are Australian citizens or permanent residents (passport or birth certificate)

Important: If you do not hold a substantive visa at the time of application, your sponsor's sponsorship application is required before your application can proceed. If you hold a valid substantive visa (such as a student visa or work visa), the sponsorship can be processed after your application is lodged.

Uploading Documents to ImmiAccount

After lodging your application:

1. Attach all supporting documents to ImmiAccount (you can attach up to 100 documents per person)
2. Organize documents clearly and use descriptive file names
3. Ensure all scans are in colour and legible
4. Multi-page documents should be saved as a single file
5. All documents not in English must be translated (see Document Preparation section below)

Health Examinations

Arrange health examinations with approved panel doctors. You and any dependent family members must complete these examinations. Health examination results are valid for 12 months from completion, so time these strategically based on expected processing times.

Police Certificates

Obtain police certificates from:

• The Australian Federal Police (if you spent 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since turning 16)
• The relevant overseas authorities (for every country where you spent 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16)

Police certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date. Ensure you obtain complete disclosure certificates, not standard disclosure certificates.

Character Documents

Provide:

• Form 80 (Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment) — completed accurately and fully
• Police certificates (as above)
• Military service records or discharge papers (if applicable)

Relationship Evidence

Gather evidence across four key pillars:

1. Financial Evidence

• Joint mortgage or lease documents
• Joint loan documents for major assets (homes, cars, appliances)
• Joint bank account statements
• Household bills in both names
• Joint superannuation nominations

2. Household Evidence

• Statement about how housework is shared
• Household bills in both names
• Mail or emails addressed to both parties
• Documents showing joint responsibility for children
• Documents proving living arrangements

3. Social Evidence

• Minimum two statutory declarations or Form 888 statements from witnesses who are 18 years or older, know both you and your sponsor, and know about your relationship
• Joint invitations or evidence of going out together
• Proof of shared friends
• Proof of telling government, public, or commercial bodies about the relationship
• Proof of joint sporting, cultural, or social activities
• Proof of travel together

4. Commitment Evidence

• Knowledge of each other's background, family situation, or personal details
• Combined personal matters
• Staying in touch when apart
• Proof of not being related by family
• Terms of wills

Relationship History Statement

Write a detailed account covering:

• How, when, and where you first met
• How the relationship developed
• When you moved in together, got engaged, or married
• What you do together
• Time spent apart
• Significant events in the relationship
• Plans for the future

Identity Documents

Provide:

• Birth certificate showing the names of both parents
• Current passport (pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates)
• National identity card (if applicable)
• Proof of change of name (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or change of name documents from a registry of births, deaths and marriages)

If a birth certificate cannot be provided, alternatives include a family book, government-issued identification document, court-issued identity document, or family census register.

Marriage or De Facto Documentation

• Marriage certificate (if married)
• Evidence of de facto relationship (if applicable)
• Evidence of 12+ months cohabitation (if de facto) — this can include lease agreements, utility bills, or statutory declarations

Former Relationships

Provide:

• Divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents, or statutory declarations for any previous marriages, widowhoods, divorces, or permanent separations

Dependent Children

For each dependent child under 18 applying with you:

• Identity documents
• Evidence of relationship (birth or marriage certificate)
• Health examinations
• Character documents (if 16 or 17 years old)
• Adoption papers or parental court orders (if applicable)
• School, college, or university enrolment evidence (if applicable)
• Sole custody evidence (if applicable)
• Form 1229 (Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18) from anyone with legal right to decide where the child lives who is not coming to Australia

For dependent children over 18:

• Identity documents
• Documents about other relationships (if applicable)
• Health examinations
• Character documents
• Evidence of financial dependence (bank statements, money transfers, rent receipts)
• Form 47a (Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over)

Document Preparation

Translation

All documents not in English must be translated. Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Translators outside Australia do not need to be accredited but must include their full name, address, telephone number, and qualifications/experience in English on each translation.

Scanning and Certification

Documents must be scanned or photographed in colour and be clear enough to read. Multi-page documents should be saved as a single file. Certification of documents is not required.

Australian Values Statement

You and any family members 18 years or older must read or have explained the Life in Australia booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement confirming you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.

Responding to Requests for Further Information

If the Department requests further information, you must respond within 28 days. Use ImmiAccount to upload additional documents, or use the Partner Processing Enquiry Form if you cannot upload documents directly.

Visa Outcome

The Department will make a decision on your temporary visa (820). You will receive a written decision including:

• Your visa grant number
• The start date of your visa
• Any conditions attached to your visa
• Your rights and obligations

If your application is refused, you will be informed of the reason and any review rights.

Bridging Visa

If you held a valid substantive visa when applying for the partner visa, you are granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). If your current visa expires before a decision is made, the BVA automatically starts, allowing you to stay lawfully in Australia. The BVA typically includes full work rights.

Item	Cost
Main applicant (820/801 combined)	AUD $9,365
Dependent applicant over 18 years (each)	AUD $4,685
Dependent applicant under 18 years (each)	AUD $2,345
Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) holders	AUD $1,560
Former Prospective Marriage visa holders (expired, no substantive visa)	AUD $1,980
Sponsorship	Nil
801 (Second stage) visa application	Nil

Additional Costs (Not Included Above)

• Health examinations: AUD $350–$500 per person
• Police certificates: AUD $50–$200 per country
• Biometrics (if required): AUD $50–$100
• Document translation: AUD $50–$100 per page (approximate)
• Migration agent fees (optional): AUD $2,000–$5,000

Total Estimated Cost

For a straightforward two-person application (do-it-yourself):

• Government fees: AUD $9,365
• Health exams (2 people): AUD $700–$800
• Police checks (Australia + 1 overseas): AUD $100–$150
• Biometrics: AUD $55–$90
• Miscellaneous (translations, certified copies, postage): AUD $200–$400
• Total: AUD $10,400–$10,800

With migration agent assistance:

• Government fees: AUD $9,365
• Health exams: AUD $700–$800
• Police checks: AUD $100–$150
• Biometrics: AUD $55–$90
• Migration agent fees: AUD $2,500–$5,000
• Miscellaneous: AUD $200–$400
• Total: AUD $12,920–$15,805

Payment and Refunds

The visa application charge must be paid in full when the application is lodged. The fee is non-refundable even if the application is refused. Fees may increase on 1 July each year, so applicants are advised to apply early if possible.

Subclass 820 (Temporary Partner Visa — First Stage)

As of 6 March 2026, the Department of Home Affairs advises:

• 50% of applications processed within: 18 months
• 90% of applications processed within: 31 months

Subclass 801 (Permanent Partner Visa — Second Stage)

You become eligible for assessment for the permanent visa (801) 2 years after lodging the combined 820/801 application. The processing time for the 801 visa starts from the date of eligibility (2 years after lodgement), not from the date of 820 grant.

As of 6 March 2026, the Department advises:

• 50% of applications processed within: 8 months (from eligibility date)
• 90% of applications processed within: 16 months (from eligibility date)

Factors Affecting Processing Times

Processing times vary based on:

• Application completeness and quality — incomplete applications or weak evidence can add 3–6 months
• Volume of applications received by the Department
• Complexity of the relationship case — cases involving previous relationships, family violence, or other complications take longer
• Strength of relationship evidence — comprehensive evidence across all four pillars speeds processing
• Health examination results — delays in obtaining results can slow processing
• Police check results — delays in obtaining certificates from overseas authorities can slow processing
• Requests for further information (RFI) — you must respond within 28 days; delays in responding add time to processing

Early Grant Possibility

If your relationship is considered long-term (3 years or more, or 2 years with a dependent child together), the 801 visa may be granted at the same time as the 820 visa, rather than waiting 2 years.

Document Validity Periods

• Police certificates: Valid for 12 months from issue date
• Health examinations: Valid for 12 months from completion
• Statutory declarations (for sponsorship): Must be made within the last six weeks

Recent Operational Trends (2026)

As of 2026, the Department is implementing several operational changes:

• Increased reliance on digital evidence via ImmiAccount — files must be organized, legible, and properly categorized
• Scrutiny of consistency — case officers examine consistency of relationship evidence over time
• Front-loaded applications — higher expectations for applications where all police checks and health examinations are submitted upfront
• Fraud prevention focus — increased data checking against other government systems