Family · Partner visa costs 2026
Partner Visa Australia Cost 2026
The partner visa lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia. It is one of the most expensive visas in the system — and the cost is widely misunderstood, because the headline charge is paid once but covers a two-stage process that can run well beyond a year. This page breaks down every cost so you can budget accurately.
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Application charge (2026)
- A$11,710
- Charged
- Once — covers both stages
- Health examination
- $400–$700 per adult
- Police clearances
- From ~$50 (AFP)
- Translation (NAATI)
- $30–$100 per page
- Realistic all-in (single)
- ~A$12,500–13,000
Visa application charge (2026)
The Department of Home Affairs charges a single, non-refundable application charge paid at lodgement through ImmiAccount. It covers the combined temporary + permanent partner visa application.
| Applicant | Application charge (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant (820/801 or 309/100) | $11,710 |
| Additional applicant aged 18+ | Additional charge — confirm on estimator |
| Additional applicant under 18 (dependent child) | Lower additional charge — confirm on estimator |
| If you hold / held a Prospective Marriage visa (300) | Significantly reduced |
The charge rose to A$11,710 on 1 July 2026 (up from A$9,365) — about a 25% increase. Applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026 pay the new rate; earlier lodgements are assessed under the old schedule.
The fee is paid once, not twice. The partner visa is a single combined application assessed in two stages, so there is no separate application charge for the permanent stage (subclass 801 or 100). If you already hold or held a Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa, the onshore 820 charge is heavily reduced instead of the full amount.
Source: Department of Home Affairs. Charges are indexed (typically 1 July). Confirm the exact charge for your family on the current visa pricing estimator before lodging. See how the partner visa compares across visas on our 2026 visa fees guide.
Onshore (820/801) vs offshore (309/100) — same cost
The application charge is identical whether you apply onshore on the subclass 820 → 801 pathway or offshore on the subclass 309 → 100 pathway. What differs is where you must be when you lodge and when the visa is decided — not the price. See the full guide on both pathways in our Partner Visa Australia complete guide.
Health examinations
Every applicant must complete a health examination with a Department-approved panel physician. The cost varies by country and provider but is typically A$400–$700 per adult, paid directly to the clinic — not to the Department. If you include children, budget for each of them too.
Police clearances
You will need police (character) clearances from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years. The Australian AFP check is around A$50–$60; overseas clearances vary widely by country (some are free, others over $100). Budget realistically if you or your partner have lived in several countries.
Biometrics
Some applicants are required to provide biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph). Where required, the collection fee is around A$45. Not everyone is required to provide biometrics — check the Department's guidance for your situation.
Document translation (NAATI)
Any document not in English — marriage certificates, birth certificates, relationship evidence, police clearances — must be translated by a NAATI-accredited translator. Translations typically run A$30–$100 per page, so a partner application with several foreign-language documents can add a few hundred dollars.
Migration agent or lawyer fees (optional)
Engaging a registered migration agent is optional but common for partner visas, because the relationship-evidence and refusal risk are high. Professional fees are separate from the government charge and vary with complexity. At WIDEN, advice is provided by a MARA-registered agent under a written service agreement after a paid initial consultation — see the free partner visa checklist to prepare either way.
Total cost estimate — single applicant
A realistic budget for one applicant, onshore, with no dependants and excluding professional fees:
| Cost | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Visa application charge | $11,710 |
| Health examination | $500 |
| Police clearances (AFP + one overseas) | $150 |
| Biometrics (if required) | $45 |
| Document translation (indicative) | $300 |
| Approximate total (excl. agent fees) | ~$12,700 |
Estimate only. Your total rises with each dependant included, additional health checks and translations, and any professional fees. Verify every figure with the Department before making financial commitments.
How long does the partner visa take?
Cost is only half the planning picture — processing time is the other. Partner visa timeframes routinely stretch beyond a year, and vary by pathway and evidence quality. See the current benchmarks in the Partner Visa Australia complete guide.
Protecting your A$11,710 — get the evidence right
The application charge is non-refundable, so a refusal is an expensive mistake. Partner visas are most often refused where the relationship evidence is thin or inconsistent. Before you lodge, work through our partner visa evidence checklist and the free partner visa checklist. If you have already been refused, see what works on a partner visa refusal at the ART.
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Get My Quote →You can also read the full Partner Visa Australia guide or more about Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536).
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This page contains general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Fees and requirements are subject to change and depend on your circumstances. Verify all figures with the Department of Home Affairs before making financial commitments. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid consultation under section 43 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
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). That single charge covers the whole combined pathway — 820 then 801 (onshore), or 309 then 100 (offshore) — not each stage separately. Once you add health examinations (about $400–$700 per adult), police clearances, biometrics and document translation, a realistic all-in figure for a single applicant is roughly A$12,500–A$13,000, before any professional fees.
Is there a separate fee for the second stage (subclass 801 or 100)?
No. The partner visa is a single combined application with a two-stage assessment. You pay the A$11,710 charge once when you lodge the temporary stage (820 or 309); progressing to the permanent stage (801 or 100) does not attract a further application charge. This is the most common misunderstanding about partner visa costs.
Does the partner visa cost less if I already hold a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)?
Yes. If you hold or have held a Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa, the subsequent onshore partner visa (820) application charge is significantly reduced rather than the full A$11,710. Confirm the current concessional amount on the Department's pricing estimator before lodging.
How much extra does it cost to include children?
Each dependant added to your application attracts an additional charge on top of the primary applicant's fee, with a lower charge for a child under 18 than for an applicant aged 18 or over. Because the amounts change with each annual indexation, confirm the exact additional-applicant charge for your family on the Department's current pricing estimator.
Is the partner visa application fee refundable if my application is refused?
No. The Department of Home Affairs application charge is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Because the charge is over A$11,700 and refusals are common where the relationship evidence is weak, it is worth getting the application right the first time — a refusal means losing the fee and reapplying (or appealing to the ART).
Is an onshore (820) partner visa cheaper than an offshore (309) one?
No — the application charge is the same A$11,710 whether you apply onshore (820/801) or offshore (309/100). The difference between the two is where you must be when you lodge and when the visa is decided, not the cost.
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