Partner Visa (820/801)

The Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801) lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia. It is a two-stage visa: the 820 is the temporary stage granted first, and the 801 is the permanent stage granted later once your relationship and eligibility continue to be met. It is one of Australia's most common family visas and, like other partner pathways, focuses on proving that your relationship is genuine and continuing rather than on points or skills.

To be eligible you must be the married or de facto partner of your Australian sponsor, both be aged 18 or over, and have a genuine, exclusive and ongoing relationship. De facto partners generally need to show they have lived together, or have been in a genuine relationship, for at least 12 months before applying, unless an exception applies such as a registered relationship. Your partner sponsors the application and undertakes to support you.

The central test of a partner visa is whether your relationship is genuine and continuing. The Department assesses four broad areas: the financial aspects of your relationship, the nature of your household, the social recognition of your relationship, and your mutual commitment to a shared life. Strong applications provide consistent evidence across all four, because a single type of document is rarely enough on its own.

Useful evidence includes joint bank accounts and shared financial responsibilities, shared lease or property ownership, joint bills, photographs together over time, travel history, communication records, statements from friends and family, and evidence that others recognise you as a couple. For relationships that began online or long-distance, a clear relationship history explaining how you met, how it developed and your in-person visits helps establish authenticity. Thin or inconsistent evidence is the most common cause of delays and refusals, so building a thorough, well-organised relationship dossier is the most important step.

The 820 and 801 are applied for together in a single combined application, with the temporary 820 decided first. Your sponsor lodges their sponsorship as part of the process, and you provide identity documents, relationship evidence, health examinations and police certificates from every country where you have lived for significant periods. While the 820 is being processed, you can usually live in Australia with work and Medicare access if you applied onshore.

After you have held the 820 for the required period, generally about two years from when you applied, your eligibility for the permanent 801 is assessed, and you provide updated evidence that your relationship is still genuine and continuing. In some long-term relationship cases, the permanent visa may be granted sooner. Keeping your relationship evidence up to date throughout the temporary stage is essential, because the permanent grant depends on demonstrating that your relationship has continued.

The Partner visa is one of Australia's more expensive visas, with a combined application charge of around AUD 9,095 for the main applicant covering both the 820 and 801 stages, plus costs for health examinations, police certificates and document translations. There is usually a reduced charge for a second applicant in limited circumstances. Processing times vary considerably depending on caseloads and how complete and well-evidenced the application is.

Once granted the temporary 820, you can live, work and study in Australia and access Medicare, and the permanent 801 then gives you full permanent residence with the right to remain indefinitely, sponsor eligible relatives and, after meeting residence requirements, apply for citizenship. Because the outcome rests so heavily on relationship evidence, couples who document their life together carefully from the outset have the smoothest path through both stages of the Partner visa.

Planning around the real numbers makes the Partner Visa far less stressful. On cost, One combined fee of about AUD 9,095 covers both the 820 and 801 stages. On timing, Temporary stage commonly 1 to 2+ years; permanent assessed later. Budget a little extra for document translation, certified or notarised copies, any required medical examination, photos to specification, and travel to a consulate or biometrics appointment. These smaller costs add up and are easy to overlook. Start gathering your documents early. Sponsored by an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen partner. A genuine, ongoing relationship; the 820 (temporary) leads to the 801 (permanent). Beyond those specifics, almost every applicant needs a passport valid well beyond the intended stay, recent photographs, and proof of funds or income. Where papers are issued in another language, official translations and sometimes an apostille or legalisation are expected, so confirm the exact format before booking your appointment.

Family routes succeed on the strength of two things: genuine-relationship evidence and the sponsor's eligibility. Gather a broad, dated record of your relationship, communication, photos together, joint finances or tenancy, and travel history, rather than relying on a single document. Confirm the sponsor meets any minimum income or housing requirement and can prove it with payslips and statements. Keep certificates (marriage, birth) translated and, where needed, legalised. Inconsistent dates or thin relationship evidence are the most common grounds for delay, so present a clear, chronological story backed by paperwork.