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January 15, 2026

Partner Visa Australia: Complete Guide 2025

A practical, step-by-step guide to the Australian Partner Visa in 2025/26: subclasses 820/801, 309/100, and 300, plus evidence, costs, and timelines.

Jane Doe
Jane Doe
CEO & Cofounder

Partner Visa Australia: Complete Guide 2025

This article is general information only and does not constitute migration or legal advice; requirements can change and individual circumstances vary, so consider seeking advice from a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.

Last updated: January 15, 2026

This guide explains the Australian Partner visa process in plain English: which visa to choose (820/801, 309/100, or 300), what evidence is expected, how to lodge in ImmiAccount, what happens after you apply, and how to avoid common delays.

Disclaimer: This is general information only (not legal advice). Requirements, fees, and processing times can change. Always confirm details on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Table of contents

TL;DR

  • If you are in Australia and your partner is an Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen, you usually look at Partner (820/801).
  • If you are outside Australia, you usually look at Partner (309/100).
  • If you are engaged (not married yet), you may start with Prospective Marriage (300), then move to Partner later.
  • Strong applications usually tell a clear relationship story and back it with evidence across the financial, household, social, and commitment categories.

Which partner visa do I need?

Use this as a quick decision guide (it is not a substitute for advice).

Your situationTypical pathway
You are in Australia and in a spouse/de facto relationshipPartner visa 820 (temporary) -> 801 (permanent)
You are outside Australia and in a spouse/de facto relationshipPartner visa 309 (provisional) -> 100 (permanent)
You are engaged and need to come to Australia to marryProspective Marriage 300, then Partner 820/801 after marriage

Tip: Australia uses a global processing model, so your application may be processed by an office inside or outside Australia.

Partner visa subclasses explained (820/801, 309/100, 300)

Australia's partner migration program is commonly a two-stage process: a temporary/provisional stage first, then permanent stage later.

Onshore Partner visa (Subclass 820 -> 801)

  • 820 (Temporary): lets you live in Australia temporarily as the spouse/de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
  • 801 (Permanent): the permanent stage.

From Home Affairs: you must be in Australia when you apply for the 820.

Offshore Partner visa (Subclass 309 -> 100)

  • 309 (Provisional): lets you move to Australia temporarily as the spouse/de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
  • 100 (Permanent): the permanent stage.

From Home Affairs: you must be outside Australia when you apply for the 309.

Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300)

This visa is designed for couples who are engaged and intend to marry in Australia. From Home Affairs: you must be outside Australia when you apply for the 300. After marrying, you can then apply for a Partner visa.

Eligibility requirements (applicant + sponsor)

Partner visas are evidence-heavy. The core idea is simple: you must be in a genuine spouse or de facto relationship with an eligible sponsor and meet health/character requirements.

Applicant: what you usually need to show

  • You are in a genuine and continuing relationship with your sponsor (spouse or de facto).
  • You meet health requirements.
  • You meet character requirements (police checks may be required).
  • Your information and documents are accurate and consistent.

Sponsor: what you usually need to show

  • Sponsor is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
  • Sponsor meets relevant character requirements (including police checks if requested).
  • Sponsor provides supporting evidence and completes required sponsorship steps when asked.

Important: The Department can request further documents from either the applicant or sponsor, and timeframes can apply.

Relationship evidence (the 4 pillars)

Home Affairs commonly looks for evidence across four broad categories:

  1. Financial aspects of your relationship
  2. Household and domestic arrangements
  3. Social aspects of your relationship
  4. Commitment to each other

This site has dedicated deep-dives for each area:

Examples of evidence (high-level)

Below are common examples Home Affairs may ask for (your best evidence depends on your circumstances):

  • Financial: joint bank statements, joint loans, bills in both names, shared lease/mortgage paperwork
  • Household: proof of living arrangements, shared responsibility for children, mail to same address, statement about shared housework
  • Social: joint invitations, travel together, shared activities, evidence you've told government/commercial bodies about the relationship
  • Commitment: day-to-day communications (when apart), wills, knowledge of each other's personal details, plans, and evidence of staying in touch

Aim for: quality + consistency + coverage over time, not just volume.

Step-by-step application process

Always follow the official "Step by step" instructions for your exact subclass. At a high level, most applicants do something like this:

1) Create and use ImmiAccount

Most visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, and you can use it to track status, receive requests, and attach additional documents.

2) Build your application like a case file

  • Write a clear relationship timeline (how you met, milestones, living arrangements, key dates).
  • Gather identity documents and relationship evidence across the 4 pillars.
  • Make sure names, dates, and addresses are consistent across documents.

3) Translate non-English documents correctly

Home Affairs guidance (decision-ready tip):

  • If you are in Australia, translations should include the translator's NAATI practitioner number.
  • If you are outside Australia, translations should include the translator's name, address, phone number, and qualifications.

4) Prepare health and character steps

Home Affairs guidance includes:

  • Police certificates can be obtained before applying; Home Affairs states they accept police certificates issued in the 12 months before you apply.
  • Health checks are often required; in some cases you may be able to do them before applying through relevant services.

5) Lodge the application

  • Lodge in ImmiAccount and pay the Visa Application Charge (VAC).
  • Upload documents as requested (you will see a document list inside ImmiAccount).
  • Monitor your ImmiAccount inbox and respond promptly to requests.

6) After you apply: Stage 2 (permanent) assessment

Home Affairs explains that if you hold a temporary Subclass 309 or 820 and two years have passed since you first applied, you may be eligible for permanent consideration. You will generally:

  1. Log in to ImmiAccount, select New application and Family
  2. Select Stage 2 - Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801)
  3. Complete the form using your application ID (from Department correspondence)

Costs (VAC + other costs)

Partner visas are expensive and costs can change over time. Instead of relying on fixed numbers, use the official tools:

  • Visa pricing estimator / fees and charges pages (Home Affairs)

Payment surcharges (when paying online)

Home Affairs publishes current surcharge rates when paying by card/PayPal. At the time of writing, common rates include:

  • Visa / MasterCard: 1.40%
  • American Express: 1.40%
  • PayPal: 1.01%
  • Union Pay: 1.90%

Other costs to budget for

Even when you DIY the application, you will usually have additional costs such as:

  • Health exams
  • Police certificates (Australia and/or overseas)
  • Translations (and possible certifications)
  • Biometrics (if requested)

Refunds

Home Affairs states they do not usually refund the visa application charge (even if the application is refused or withdrawn).

Processing times (what to expect)

Processing times vary and change regularly. Home Affairs recommends using the official Global visa processing times guide, which is based on recently decided applications and is a guide only (not a guarantee).

Big factors that affect timeframes include:

  • Whether you lodge a complete, "decision ready" application
  • How quickly you respond to requests for more information
  • External checks (health, character, national security)
  • Overall volumes and program priorities

Travel while waiting (bridging visas)

If you are in Australia while your substantive/permanent visa is being processed, travel needs extra care.

Home Affairs guidance: Only a Bridging visa B (BVB) lets you leave and re-enter Australia while waiting for a decision on a substantive visa. If you depart Australia on another type of bridging visa, it can cease.

If you need to travel, read the Home Affairs "Travel while your visa is being processed" guidance and apply for the correct permission before you book flights.

If your situation changes

Real life happens. If your relationship ends, your sponsor withdraws support, or you experience domestic and family violence, do not assume everything is automatically over.

Home Affairs provides information about:

  • Relationship cessation and circumstances where the partner visa process may continue
  • Family violence provisions for eligible partner visa applicants/holders
  • Where to get help, including confidential counselling services and helplines

If you are in immediate danger in Australia, call 000.

Partner visa FAQs

1) Can I get a progress update?

Home Affairs states they are unable to report on the progress of individual applications. If you applied online, you can check your application status in ImmiAccount.

2) My case is urgent. Can it be prioritised?

Home Affairs states they may prioritise some cases with compelling and compassionate circumstances, but there is no guarantee. Priority requests are only considered once all required information has been submitted.

3) Should I lodge online or on paper?

Most applicants lodge online through ImmiAccount. If you lodged online, you can also attach documents, respond to requests, and track status in ImmiAccount.

4) When do I do Stage 2 (801/100)?

Home Affairs explains that when two years have passed since you first applied, eligible Subclass 309/820 holders can lodge the Stage 2 permanent partner assessment in ImmiAccount using their application ID.

5) Can I travel overseas while waiting?

If you are a partner visa applicant in Australia, you generally need the right bridging visa conditions/permission to travel. Home Affairs explains only a BVB lets you leave and re-enter Australia while waiting for a decision on a substantive visa.

6) Can I get a VAC refund if I withdraw?

Home Affairs states they do not usually refund the visa application charge, even if the application is refused or withdrawn.

7) What is the "global processing model"?

Home Affairs states partner visa applications can be processed at any of their offices, inside or outside Australia; it is not determined by the applicant's nationality or location.

8) What evidence do we need?

There is no single perfect list for every couple, but Home Affairs describes four broad categories of relationship evidence: financial, household/domestic, social, and commitment.

9) What if I cannot provide a requested document in time?

Home Affairs may prescribe timeframes. If you need extra time, you generally must request it before the original response timeframe expires and include evidence of steps taken.

10) Can I submit extra documents later?

Yes, you can usually attach documents in ImmiAccount. But submitting complete information early helps reduce delays.

Official resources (start here)

Jane Doe
Jane Doe
CEO & Cofounder

An avid storyteller with a passion for crafting compelling narratives, love to explore the human experience through vivid characters and thought-provoking themes.