Partner Visa
Under the Partner Visa stream, a candidate can be supported by their Australian partner, who must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand resident, and at least 18 years old.
Types of Partner Visas
Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) :
- Subclass 820 is the temporary visa stage, allowing the applicant to live in Australia while the permanent visa is processed.
- Subclass 801 is the permanent visa, granted after proving the relationship is genuine and ongoing, usually two years after the initial application.
Offshore Partner Visa (Subclass 309/100) :
- Subclass 309 is the temporary visa stage.
- Subclass 100 is the permanent visa stage, granted after the relationship is confirmed as genuine and continuing.
Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300):
Application Process
- Applications are usually lodged online through the Department of Home Affairs Immi Account portal.
- Both temporary and permanent visa stages are applied together as a combined application.
- Applicants must provide extensive evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship, including shared financial responsibilities, joint living arrangements, social aspects of the relationship, and mutual commitment.
- Sponsors must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens and provide support via a sponsorship form.
- Health checks and police clearances are required for applicant eligibility.
Processing Times
- Temporary partner visas processing takes about 12 to 26 months.
- Permanent partner visa processing takes about 11 to 30 months after the temporary visa is granted.
- Timeframes may vary based on the completeness of the application and individual circumstances.
Four Aspects of Relationship Assessment
- Financial Aspect: Sharing of financial responsibilities, joint assets, or financial interdependence.
- Nature of Household: Whether the couple lives together and shares household duties.
- Social Aspect: Public recognition of the relationship, including social activities and community involvement as a couple.
- Commitment to Each Other: The extent of mutual emotional support and long-term commitment.
Spouse Definition
A person is considered a spouse if they:
- Are legally married to each other under a valid marriage recognized by Australian law.
- Have a mutual commitment to a shared life as a married couple to the exclusion of all others.
- Maintain a genuine and ongoing relationship.
- Live together, or if living apart, are not permanently separated
De facto Relationship Definition
- Are not married to each other but are in a genuine and continuing relationship.
- Have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others.
- Live together, or if living apart, are not permanently separated.
- Are not related by family; that is, they are not a child, descendant, or sibling by birth or adoption.
Criteria for De facto Relationship
- Both parties must be at least 18 years old.
- The couple must have lived together continuously for at least 12 months prior to application, unless exempted.
- Exemptions or waivers to the 12-month rule may apply in compelling and compassionate circumstances, or the relationship is registered under state or territory laws.
Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 (Onshore Partner Visa)
The Subclass 820 and 801 Partner Visas provide a pathway for partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia. These visas are sequential that is Subclass 820 is temporary and Subclass 801 is permanent.
Application Process and Forms
- Combined Application: Applicants apply for both Subclass 820 (temporary) and Subclass 801 (permanent) visas simultaneously with a single application.
- Approved Forms: Form 47SP is the primary visa application form submitted online.
- Physical Location: The applicant must be physically present in Australia at the time of application, except certain exemptions apply (e.g., holders of specific provisional visas who may apply from outside Australia under Ministerial discretion).
- Application Fees: The Subclass 820 visa itself carries no direct application fee; fees are incorporated in the combined fee for both 820 and 801 visas.
Eligibility Criteria
- Relationship Status : The applicant must be the spouse or de facto partner of the sponsoring Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. This includes those who intend to marry their Australian partner.
- Genuine Relationship : The relationship must be genuine, ongoing, and exclusive. This is assessed through evidence covering financial arrangements, social aspects, household living, and mutual commitment.
- Sponsorship:
- The sponsor must be eligible and not prohibited from sponsoring.
- Sponsors must declare any relevant criminal convictions for assessment.
- Previous Visa Conditions :
- Applicants holding substantive visas such as Subclass 475, 487, 489 must have held these visas for at least two years and complied with visa conditions before applying.
- Subclass 491 or 494 visa holders must have held the visa for at least three years.
- No Recent Visa Refusals : The applicant should not have had certain partner visa refusals (Subclass 100, 309, 801, or 820) within 21 days immediately before the application.
Criteria at Time of Decision
- Ongoing Relationship: At visa decision time, the relationship must be ongoing and genuine. The applicant must still be the partner of the sponsor.
- Family Violence Exception: If the relationship has ceased due to family violence experienced by the applicant or dependent children, visa grant may still be approved.
- Sponsor’s Death: If the sponsor has died, the applicant may still be granted the visa if they can demonstrate the relationship would have realistically continued.
Important Conditions and Requirements
- Compliance with Visa Conditions: Applicants must have substantially complied with visa conditions attached to any prior substantive visas before applying.
- Statements and Evidence:
- Applicants must provide statutory declarations (Form 888) from Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens supporting the genuineness of the relationship.
- A completed Form 40SP by the sponsor is mandatory.
- Bridging Visa: On applying, applicants who hold another valid visa are granted Bridging Visa.
Key Timelines
- The Subclass 820 visa grants temporary residence and allows the applicant to remain in Australia while the Subclass 801 visa is processed.
- The Subclass 801 visa is usually granted two years after the initial application at the discretion of the Department, subject to relationship continuation and eligibility.
- Exceptions to the two-year rule may apply for long-term relationships with dependent children or via Ministerial discretion.
Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 (Offshore Partner Visa)
Application Requirements and Process
- Forms: Applications must be lodged on the approved form 47SP online.
- Location: Applicants must be outside Australia at the time of lodging the Subclass 309 visa application.
- Joint Application: Subclass 309 and 100 visas are applied together.
Eligibility Criteria for Subclass 309
- Relationship Status : The applicant must be the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Genuine Relationship : The relationship must be genuine, ongoing, and exclusive. This is assessed through evidence covering financial arrangements, social aspects, household living, and mutual commitment.
- Sponsorship :
- Sponsorship must come from the Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen partner or intended partner.
- If the sponsor is under 18, their parent or guardian must sponsor.
- Sponsors must disclose any relevant criminal history before sponsorship approval.
Time of Decision Requirements
- The relationship must still be continuing at the time of decision for visa grant.
- For intended spouses, marriage must have taken place before visa grant unless special circumstances apply.
- Exceptions allow visas to be granted if the sponsoring partner has died or the relationship ceased due to family violence.
Validity and Visa Conditions
- The Subclass 309 visa is temporary and permits the applicant to live in Australia while awaiting the permanent Subclass 100 visa.
- The applicant may be inside or outside Australia at the time of visa grant (not in immigration clearance).
- Visa conditions may include restrictions such as condition 8502 (entry restriction before a specified date) and condition 8515 (restriction on relationships or marriage before entry).
- The Subclass 100 visa is typically granted two years after the Subclass 309 application date.
- The Minister may waive the two-year relationship requirement in cases such as long-term relationships with dependent children or compassionate grounds.
Important Conditions and Requirements
- The applicant must continue to be the spouse or de facto partner of the sponsor unless exceptions apply.
- Statements and Evidence:
- Applicants must provide statutory declarations (Form 888) from Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens supporting the genuineness of the relationship.
- A completed Form 40SP by the sponsor is mandatory.
Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
Application Requirements
- Form: The approved application form is Form 47SP which is submitted online.
- Location: Applicants must be outside Australia when applying.
Key Eligibility Criteria
- The visa applicant must intend to marry a prospective spouse who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Both parties must have met and know each other personally since turning 18.
- Genuine intention to marry and live together as spouses must be demonstrated.
- The marriage must take place within the visa validity period (at least 9 but no more than 15 months from grant).
- Sponsorship approval by the prospective spouse must be current and valid at the time of decision.
- The prospective spouse cannot be a prohibited sponsor.
Visa Validity and Conditions
- The visa is temporary and permits travel to, entry, and residence in Australia until a specified date set by the Minister (generally between 9 and 15 months from grant).
- First entry must be made before the date specified in the visa grant.
- Certain visa conditions may be applied, including:
- Condition 8515, restricting the applicant from entering a de facto relationship or marrying anyone other than the prospective spouse before entering Australia.
- Condition 8502, which may prohibit entry before a specified date.
Three of our migration case studies are partner visas: Schedule 3 criteria, a grant after an earlier refusal, and a health waiver supported by an independent costing.
Onshore and offshore partner visas compared
| Subclass 820 then 801 (onshore) | Subclass 309 then 100 (offshore) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you are when you apply | In Australia | Outside Australia |
| Where you must be at grant of the first stage | In Australia | Outside Australia |
| Bridging visa while you wait | Yes, usually with work rights | No, you hold whatever visa you have |
| Work rights during processing | Generally yes | Not applicable until the 309 is granted |
| Schedule 3 criteria may apply | Yes, if you hold no substantive visa | No |
| Section 48 bar may apply | Yes, after an onshore refusal | No |
| Travel while the application is decided | Needs a bridging visa B | Unrestricted until grant |
| Second stage | Subclass 801, permanent | Subclass 100, permanent |
| Health waiver available | Yes | Yes |
| Review if refused | Administrative Review Tribunal | Administrative Review Tribunal, lodged by the sponsor |
Have Queries On Partner Visa ?
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Partner Visa
(subclass 820 and 801)
Partner Provisional Visa
(Subclass 309)
Partner Migrant Visa
(Subclass 100)
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Frequently asked questions about partner visas
What is the difference between subclass 820/801 and 309/100?
820/801 is the onshore pair: you apply and remain in Australia. 309/100 is the offshore pair: you apply from outside Australia and are granted the provisional visa before you travel. The relationship evidence is the same. Where you are at lodgement decides which pair applies.
How long does a partner visa take?
Processing times move constantly and differ between the onshore and offshore streams. Plan in years rather than months for the two-stage process, and check the current published times on the Department’s website before you rely on a figure.
What evidence do I need for a partner visa?
Evidence across four areas: financial, household, social, and the nature of your commitment. Joint accounts and bills, a shared lease or ownership, photographs and statements from people who know you, and evidence of long term plans. Volume is not the point; coverage of all four is.
Can I work while I wait for a partner visa?
If you applied onshore you generally hold a bridging visa while the application is decided, and it usually carries full work rights. Check the conditions on your bridging visa grant rather than assuming, because they vary with your circumstances at lodgement.
What happens at the second stage?
The permanent stage is usually assessed about two years after the temporary visa was applied for. You confirm the relationship is continuing and provide updated evidence. It is not automatic, and relationships that end before the second stage need advice quickly.
Can I apply for a partner visa if my visa has expired?
Possibly, but the application has to address the Schedule 3 criteria, and there may also be a section 48 bar if you have had a refusal. Both are difficult and both are worth advice before lodging.
Do we have to be married?
No. De facto partners can apply, generally after twelve months of living together in a genuine relationship, or where the relationship is registered in a state or territory that permits it. The evidence required is the same either way.
What if my partner visa is refused?
There is usually a review right at the Administrative Review Tribunal, and the deadline is short and generally cannot be extended. Read the refusal letter first, because it sets both the deadline and the reasons the review has to answer. See ART appeals.
Does a previous refusal ruin a new partner application?
No, but it has to be dealt with directly rather than ignored. A second application that repeats the first one usually fails the same way. What changes the outcome is evidence aimed at the specific findings in the earlier decision.
Does a health condition affect a partner visa?
It can, if the projected cost of care crosses the significant cost threshold. Partner visas do allow a health waiver, which many skilled visas do not, so a condition is not necessarily the end of the application.
Related guides
Short answers from our registered migration agents to the questions we are asked most.
- Your relationship broke down while your partner visa is being processed
- Domestic violence and your visa options in Australia
- Your sponsor withdrew from your partner visa application. What now?
- Accused of a fake relationship in your partner visa application
- Can you sponsor your partner after having your own visa refused?
- Condition 8531 and wanting to apply for a marriage or partner visa