Family · Partner visas 820/801 · 309/100 · 300
Partner Visa Australia 2026: Complete Guide
The partner visa allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia. It is one of the most common — and most complex — visa pathways, with an application charge of A$11,710 from 1 July 2026, processing times stretching well beyond a year, and evidence requirements that many applicants underestimate.
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Application charge (2026)
- A$11,710
- Covers
- Both stages (820/801 or 309/100)
- Temporary stage processing
- 12–24 months
- Permanent stage
- After 2-year qualifying period
- Work rights (820)
- Full, unrestricted
- De facto minimum
- 12 months (unless registered)
Looking for parent visas? See our Parent Visa Australia 2026 guide (subclasses 103, 143, 173, 864, 884, 870).
Free downloadThe partner visa subclasses (820, 801, 309, 100 & 300)
"Partner visa" is an umbrella term for five visa subclasses across three pathways — onshore, offshore, and prospective marriage. Which one you use depends on where you are when you apply and whether you're married or engaged. Here's how they compare, followed by a plain-English explanation of each.
| Subclass | Pathway | Stage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 820 | Onshore | Temporary | Married/de facto, in Australia |
| 801 | Onshore | Permanent | Second stage of the 820 |
| 309 | Offshore | Provisional | Married/de facto, outside Australia |
| 100 | Offshore | Permanent | Second stage of the 309 |
| 300 | Prospective Marriage | Temporary (9 mths) | Engaged, not yet married |
Subclass 820 — onshore temporary partner visa
The Subclass 820 is the temporary partner visa you apply for from inside Australia. It's the first visa granted in the onshore pathway and gives full, unrestricted work and study rights, access to Medicare, and the right to remain in Australia while the permanent Subclass 801 is decided. You generally need to be onshore both when you lodge and when the 820 is granted. Processing commonly runs 12–24 months, so most applicants live and work on the 820 for a long time before the permanent stage. See the full cost breakdown — you pay the single A$11,710 charge at this stage.
Subclass 801 — onshore permanent partner visa
The Subclass 801 is the permanent stage of the onshore pathway. It is not a separate application — you lodge the 820 and 801 together and pay the charge once. The 801 is assessed roughly two years after you lodged the 820, provided the relationship is still genuine and continuing. When granted, the 801 gives permanent residence, with a pathway to citizenship. There is no further application charge to move from the 820 to the 801.
Subclass 309 — offshore provisional partner visa
The Subclass 309 is the offshore equivalent of the 820. You apply from outside Australia and must be offshore when it is granted. Once granted, the 309 lets you travel to and live in Australia — with work and study rights and Medicare — while the permanent Subclass 100 is decided. It's the right pathway if you and your partner are married or in a de facto relationship but the applicant is currently overseas.
Subclass 100 — offshore permanent partner visa
The Subclass 100 is the permanent stage of the offshore pathway, lodged together with the 309. It is assessed after the two-year qualifying period from the 309 lodgement and, when granted, gives permanent residence. As with the onshore 801, there is no separate application charge for the 100 — the combined 309/100 charge is paid once at lodgement.
Subclass 300 — Prospective Marriage (fiancé) visa
The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa is for couples who are engaged but not yet married, where the applicant is offshore. It grants a temporary stay during which you must enter Australia and marry your sponsor — the marriage must take place within 9 months of grant. You then lodge an onshore partner (820/801) application, usually at a heavily reduced charge because you already held a 300. It is the only partner-category visa designed for engaged, unmarried couples, and it does not itself lead to permanent residence — the partner visa that follows does.
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Partner visa Australia cost 2026
The Department of Home Affairs application charge for the primary applicant is A$11,710 from 1 July 2026 (up from A$9,365) — and applies to the combined 820/801 (onshore) or 309/100 (offshore) application. The fee covers both stages of the partner visa pathway, not each stage separately. Verify the current rate at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging, and see how it compares across visas on our 2026 visa fees guide. Additional costs include health examinations (typically $400–$700 per adult), police clearances (varies by country), translation of documents, and professional fees if engaging a migration agent. For the full line-by-line breakdown and a realistic all-in total, see our dedicated Partner Visa Australia cost 2026 guide.
How long does the Partner Visa take in 2026?
Partner visa processing times vary significantly and change frequently. As of 2026, indicative timelines published by the Department are:
- Onshore 820 (temporary): typically 12–24 months for many applications, with significant variation
- Onshore 801 (permanent): assessed after the two-year qualifying period from 820 lodgement, with the permanent decision usually 6–12 months after eligibility
- Offshore 309 (temporary): typically 12–24 months from lodgement, varying by post and applicant nationality
- Offshore 100 (permanent): assessed similarly to the 801 after the qualifying period
The actual time on a specific file depends on the quality of the lodged evidence, the volume at the Department, and whether the case officer requests further information. Published processing times move month-to-month — check current bands on the Department of Home Affairs website before relying on a timeline.
Eligibility requirements
- Be in a genuine and continuing relationship with an eligible Australian sponsor (married or de facto for at least 12 months, unless registered)
- Meet health and character requirements
- The sponsor must be approved by the Department
- For de facto partners: provide evidence the relationship has existed for at least 12 months (exceptions apply in some circumstances)
Free resource: Partner Visa Evidence Checklist — organised by the four assessment areas with concrete examples, plus a 5-email educational series. General information only.
Evidence requirements
The Department assesses the genuineness of the relationship against four categories:
- Financial aspects — joint bank accounts, shared expenses, joint assets or liabilities
- Nature of the household — shared living arrangements, division of household responsibilities
- Social aspects — joint social activities, recognition by friends and family, statutory declarations from people who know the couple
- Commitment to each other — length of relationship, future plans, knowledge of each other's circumstances
Evidence should cover all four categories. The more comprehensive and consistent the evidence, the stronger the application.
Common reasons partner visas are refused
- Insufficient evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing
- Inconsistencies between the applicant's and sponsor's statements
- Failure to meet health or character requirements
- The relationship has ended before a decision is made
- Previous visa fraud or misrepresentation
Can you work on a partner visa?
Yes. The Subclass 820 (onshore temporary) visa grants full work rights in Australia. The holder can work for any employer without restrictions while the permanent visa (801) is being processed.
Partner visa vs prospective marriage visa
The prospective marriage visa (Subclass 300) is for couples who intend to marry but haven't yet done so. The applicant enters Australia, marries the sponsor within 9 months, and then applies for the onshore partner visa (820/801). This adds an extra step and cost but is appropriate when the couple is engaged and the applicant is overseas.
This page is general information about the partner visa, not migration advice for any specific person, and is not a guarantee of any outcome (s 15, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). If you'd like to discuss your partner visa situation, please contact us or call 02 8188 1887. MARN 1576536.
Questions we get asked first
How much does a partner visa cost in Australia in 2026?
The Department of Home Affairs application charge for the primary applicant is A$11,710 from 1 July 2026 (up from A$9,365), and it covers the combined 820/801 (onshore) or 309/100 (offshore) pathway — not each stage separately. On top of that, budget for health examinations (typically $400–$700 per adult), police clearances (varies by country), document translation, and professional fees if you engage a migration agent. Verify the current charge at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.
How long does a partner visa take in 2026?
Indicative timelines are typically 12–24 months for the temporary stage (820 onshore or 309 offshore), with significant variation by post, nationality, and the completeness of the evidence lodged. The permanent stage (801 or 100) is assessed after the two-year qualifying period. Published processing times move month-to-month — check current bands on the Department's website before relying on a timeline.
Do I have to be married to apply for a partner visa?
No. You can apply as a married spouse OR as a de facto partner. De facto partners generally need to show the relationship has existed for at least 12 months before applying, unless the relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory, or other limited exceptions apply. Engaged couples who are not yet married and where the applicant is overseas may instead use the Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300).
Can I work on a partner visa?
Yes. The Subclass 820 (onshore temporary) grants full, unrestricted work rights in Australia — you can work for any employer while the permanent (801) stage is processed. Offshore applicants gain work rights once the 309 is granted and they enter Australia.
What evidence do I need for a partner visa?
The Department assesses the genuineness of the relationship across four areas: financial aspects (joint accounts, shared expenses, joint assets), nature of the household (shared living, division of responsibilities), social aspects (joint activities, recognition by friends/family, statutory declarations), and commitment (length of relationship, future plans, knowledge of each other). Strong applications cover all four areas with consistent, well-organised evidence.
Can a partner visa be refused, and why?
Yes. The most common refusal grounds are insufficient evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing, inconsistencies between the applicant's and sponsor's statements, failure to meet health or character requirements, the relationship ending before a decision, and previous visa fraud or misrepresentation. Thorough, consistent evidence across all four relationship categories is the best protection.
What is the difference between the 820 and the 801?
They are two stages of the same onshore pathway. The 820 is the temporary partner visa granted first; it gives full work rights and lets you stay in Australia. The 801 is the permanent partner visa, usually assessed about two years after the 820 was lodged, once the qualifying period is met and the relationship is shown to be continuing. The offshore equivalents are the 309 (temporary) and 100 (permanent).
What is a Subclass 309 visa?
The Subclass 309 is the offshore provisional (temporary) partner visa. You apply from outside Australia and must be outside Australia when it is granted. Once granted, it lets you travel to and live in Australia with work rights and Medicare while the permanent Subclass 100 partner visa is assessed. It is the offshore equivalent of the onshore Subclass 820.
What is the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa and how is it different from a partner visa?
The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage (fiancé) visa is for couples who are engaged but not yet married, where the applicant is overseas. It lets the applicant enter Australia and marry the sponsor — the marriage must happen within 9 months of grant. After marrying, the applicant lodges an onshore partner visa (820/801), usually at a heavily reduced application charge. Unlike the partner visa subclasses, the 300 does not itself lead to permanent residence; it is a bridge to the onshore partner visa for engaged couples.
What happens to my partner visa if the relationship ends?
If the relationship ends before a decision, the visa can be refused or the existing visa affected. However, there are limited exceptions — for example, family violence provisions, or where there is a child of the relationship — that may allow the application to continue in certain circumstances. This is a complex, fact-specific area; get advice from a registered migration agent before taking any step if your relationship has ended.
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