Short answer: from 1 July 2026 the Department of Home Affairs charges AUD 11,710 for most partner visa applications. That single charge covers both stages, the temporary and the permanent visa, whether you apply in Australia (subclass 820/801) or from overseas (subclass 309/100). The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) costs the same. Each child or other family member in the application adds a further charge, and you will also pay for health checks, police certificates and any translations.
This page sets out every government charge, the costs that sit outside it, a worked example, when you pay and what happens to the money if the application is refused. Charges change most years on 1 July, so check the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator on the day you lodge.
Partner visa fees from 1 July 2026
| Visa | Main applicant | Each additional applicant 18 and over | Each additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner visa, apply in Australia (subclass 820/801) | AUD 11,710 | AUD 5,860 | AUD 2,935 |
| Partner visa, apply overseas (subclass 309/100) | AUD 11,710 | AUD 5,860 | AUD 2,935 |
| Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) | AUD 11,710 | AUD 5,860 | AUD 2,935 |
| Partner visa (820/801) lodged by a Prospective Marriage visa holder after the wedding | AUD 1,955 | AUD 980 | AUD 485 |
| Partner visa (820/801) lodged by a former Prospective Marriage visa holder whose visa has ceased | AUD 2,475 | AUD 1,235 | AUD 625 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs current visa pricing, checked 3 October 2026. These are the charges for applications lodged from 1 July 2026. The 820/801 and 309/100 charges each cover the temporary and the permanent stage, because you apply for both visas at the same time.
Two concessions are worth knowing about. From 1 July 2026 a lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, which ImmiAccount applies automatically based on the passport you apply with. And a person who holds a Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) pays a nil charge for a partner visa.
How the Prospective Marriage visa fee works
The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) is for couples who are engaged and plan to marry in Australia. You pay the full AUD 11,710 when you lodge it. Once you are married, you apply for the onshore partner visa (subclass 820/801). If you still hold the 300 visa when you lodge, that second application costs AUD 1,955 instead of the full charge, so the government charges for the whole route come to AUD 13,665 for the main applicant.
If your Prospective Marriage visa has already ended, a different reduced charge of AUD 2,475 generally applies, as long as you entered Australia on the 300 visa and do not hold another substantive visa. Do not let the 300 visa run out by accident: apart from the cost, it can leave you without a visa.
Other costs on top of the visa application charge
The Department's estimator does not include health checks, police certificates or biometrics, and those are the costs people forget to budget for.
- Health examinations. Most applicants, including children, need a medical examination and usually a chest x-ray at an approved clinic. The clinic sets the fee, not the Department, and it varies between countries and with the tests you are asked to do.
- Police certificates. An Australian National Police Check from the Australian Federal Police costs $57, or $114 if you need to supply fingerprints (AFP, checked 3 October 2026). Overseas police certificates are needed for other countries you have lived in, and each country sets its own fee.
- Biometrics. Many applicants outside Australia are asked to give fingerprints and a photo at a service centre, which charges its own fee.
- Translations. Every document not in English needs an English translation. Translators in Australia must be accredited by NAATI. Translators overseas do not have to be accredited, but each translation must show their full name, address, phone number, and their qualifications and experience in the language. Translators charge per document.
- Card surcharge. Paying the charge by card or PayPal attracts a surcharge: 1.40% for Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB, 1.01% for PayPal and 1.90% for UnionPay. On AUD 11,710 paid by Visa that is about AUD 164.
- Sponsorship. The Department lists no charge for the sponsor's application.
- Professional fees, if you engage a registered migration agent. See below.
Worked example: an onshore application with one child
A partner applying in Brisbane for the subclass 820/801 visa, including their 10 year old child, and paying by Visa card. Only the applicant needs an Australian police check in this example.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base application charge (main applicant) | AUD 11,710 |
| Additional applicant under 18 | AUD 2,935 |
| Government charges | AUD 14,645 |
| Card surcharge at 1.40% | about AUD 205 |
| AFP National Police Check | AUD 57 |
| Known total before the items below | about AUD 14,907 |
| Health examinations for two applicants | Set by the clinic |
| Translations, overseas police certificates | Only if needed; quoted by the provider |
| Migration agent's professional fee | Only if you use one; quoted in writing |
For an offshore 309/100 application by a couple with no children, the government charge is simply AUD 11,710, plus the surcharge if you pay by card and the health, police and biometrics costs in the country you apply from.
When you pay
- The whole visa application charge is paid in ImmiAccount when you lodge. The Department will not process the application until it is paid, and the charge is the one in force on the day you lodge.
- There is no second instalment for a partner visa, and nothing further to pay to the Department when the permanent stage (801 or 100) is assessed.
- Once you pay you receive a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). Your sponsor needs it to lodge the sponsorship application, which has no charge.
- Health examinations, police certificates and biometrics are paid to the clinic, police service or service centre when you book them.
- Professional fees, if you use an agent, are paid on the schedule in your written costs agreement.
Refunds if the application is refused or withdrawn
The Department's position is plain: it does not usually refund the visa application charge, even if the application is refused or withdrawn (Home Affairs refunds). A refund is only possible in limited circumstances. Health, police and translation costs are paid to third parties and are not refunded either.
If an onshore partner visa is refused, there is usually a right of review at the Administrative Review Tribunal, which charges its own application fee and has a strict deadline. Our guide to the partner visa refusal appeal process explains the steps. With a charge this size, the cheapest partner visa is the one that is decided on the first application, so spend the time on the relationship evidence before you pay. Our posts on why partner visas are refused and writing a relationship statement are a good place to start.
Migration agent fees for a partner visa
You do not have to use a migration agent for a partner visa. Plenty of couples with a clear history and strong evidence lodge their own. Where a migration agent in Brisbane earns the fee is when something complicates the picture: a previous refusal, a gap without a visa, a section 48 bar, Schedule 3 criteria, a short or long-distance relationship that is hard to evidence, or a sponsor who has sponsored a partner before.
If you want a migration agent for your partner visa, our consultation fees are published: $80 for 30 minutes by phone or $110 in person with one of our registered migration agents, and from $150 for 30 minutes with our Principal Migration Agent, all GST inclusive. The professional fee for preparing and lodging the application is quoted separately, in a written costs agreement, once we know your circumstances. It is separate from the Home Affairs charge, which is paid to the Department and which we do not mark up. Full details are on our migration agent fees page.
Whoever you use, check their MARN on the Register of Migration Agents and ask for the fee in writing before you pay anything. For the visa requirements themselves, see our partner visa guide, the subclass 820 and 801 page and the subclass 309 and 100 page. Processing times are published in the Department's visa processing time guide.
Partner visa cost: frequently asked questions
How much is a partner visa in Australia in 2026?
From 1 July 2026 the visa application charge is AUD 11,710 for the main applicant. It is the same for the onshore subclass 820/801, the offshore subclass 309/100 and the Prospective Marriage subclass 300. Each family member included in the application adds a further charge.
Is the 309 visa fee the same as the 820 visa fee?
Yes. Both are AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026, and both include the permanent stage (subclass 100 or 801). The only difference in cost is the extras: offshore applicants are more likely to pay for overseas police certificates, biometrics and health examinations at a panel clinic abroad.
Do I pay again for the permanent 801 or 100 visa?
No. You apply for the temporary and permanent visas together and the single charge covers both. You will still need updated documents, and sometimes new police certificates, when the permanent stage is assessed.
How much does it cost to include a child?
From 1 July 2026, AUD 2,935 for each additional applicant under 18 and AUD 5,860 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over. Each child also needs their own health examination.
Does the Australian sponsor have to pay a fee?
The Department lists no cost for the sponsorship application itself. The sponsor may still have costs of their own, such as a police check if one is requested.
Can I get a refund if my partner visa is refused?
Usually not. The Department states that it does not usually refund the visa application charge, even if the application is refused or withdrawn. That is the main reason to get the application right the first time.
Can I pay the partner visa fee in instalments?
No. The whole charge is paid in ImmiAccount when you lodge, and the Department will not process the application until it is paid. Paying by card or PayPal adds a surcharge.
How much does a migration agent charge for a partner visa?
It depends on the agent and on your circumstances. Our consultations start at $80 for 30 minutes by phone, GST inclusive, and the fee for preparing and lodging your partner visa is set out in a written costs agreement before any work starts. See our migration agent fees page.
General information only, not advice about your circumstances. Fees checked against Department of Home Affairs and AFP sources on 3 October 2026. Check the current charge with the Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge.
