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Home | Migrants | Partner/Parent | 820/801 Partner Visa (Apply In Australia)
The 820/801 Australian Partner Visa (Subclasses 820 and 801) is an onshore partner migration pathway that allows the spouse or partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to migrate to Australia. The application is lodged while the applicant is in Australia.
When applying for the Subclass 820 Temporary Partner Visa, the applicant must be physically located in Australia. However, when a decision is made on the 820 visa application, the applicant may be either in Australia or overseas.
If the applicant is currently outside Australia, they may consider the 309/100 Offshore Partner Visa（309/100境外配偶移民签证）. If the couple is not yet married but plans to travel to Australia to get married first, they may consider the 300 Prospective Marriage Visa（300未婚夫/妻签证）.
820/801 Partner Visa Application Stages
The onshore partner visa application consists of two stages:
Applicants can submit the temporary and permanent partner visa applications together at the time of application.
In most cases, applicants will first be granted the 820 Temporary Partner Visa. After two years from the date of the original visa application, if the couple continues to maintain a genuine and ongoing relationship and provides the required updated relationship evidence, the applicant may be eligible for the 801 Permanent Partner Visa. This period is commonly referred to as the two-year waiting period.
The 820 visa remains valid until the 801 Permanent Partner Visa is granted.
In certain circumstances, applicants may be eligible to receive permanent residence directly. For example:
You can include an eligible dependent child in your application, subject to the relevant requirements and application stage.
To apply for an onshore Partner Visa Subclass 820/801, you generally need to:
For de facto partners, the couple must generally have lived together in a genuine relationship for the 12 months before lodging the visa application and provide credible supporting documents as evidence.
If the sponsor obtained Australian permanent residence through a partner visa, they may also need to wait more than five years before sponsoring another partner for migration.
What Situations Require Special Attention When Applying for the 820/801 Partner Visa?
In addition to relationship requirements and sponsor eligibility, applicants should also check their current Australian visa status and visa conditions before applying for the 820/801 Partner Visa.
For example, some visas may include a No Further Stay condition, including common conditions such as 8503. In these circumstances, applicants generally cannot directly apply for most new visas while in Australia. They must first determine whether they meet the exemption requirements and obtain a waiver before lodging a new visa application.
If the applicant no longer holds a valid substantive visa when lodging the 820 application, such as holding certain bridging visas or having become unlawful, additional onshore application requirements may apply. The applicant may also need to explain why there are compelling reasons allowing them to apply for a partner visa while remaining in Australia.
De facto partners generally need to meet the 12-month relationship requirement. However, not all applications are assessed solely based on the 12-month requirement. For example, eligible Registered Relationships or certain specific circumstances may be subject to different rules.
If the sponsor has previously sponsored another partner, or has obtained Australian permanent residence through a partner visa, it is also recommended to confirm whether any sponsorship limitations or waiting period requirements apply before lodging the application.
Therefore, if the applicant has circumstances such as:
these circumstances should be assessed individually before submitting the 820/801 Partner Visa application.
Some applicants may face additional restrictions depending on their current visa and immigration history.
This can include applicants who:
These circumstances do not necessarily mean you cannot apply for a Partner Visa, but they may affect whether you can lodge a valid application in Australia and may require further assessment before applying.
Retain and continue collecting relationship evidence while waiting to become eligible for the permanent Partner Visa stage
For most applicants, once two years have passed since the original 820/801 application was lodged, updated documents and relationship evidence can be submitted for the Subclass 801 assessment
Subclass 801 permanent Partner Visa assessment and decision
When applying for the 820/801 Australian Partner Visa, applicants need to prepare identity documents for both the applicant and sponsor, evidence of marriage or de facto relationship, relationship evidence, health and character documents, as well as relevant documents for any included children.
Relationship evidence is one of the most important parts of a partner visa application. Documents should ideally cover the complete timeline of the relationship and demonstrate the relationship from different aspects, including financial aspects, nature of the household, social aspects, and long-term commitment.
Applicants generally need to provide:
The Australian Department of Home Affairs requires Partner Visa applicants to provide a complete record of their residential and travel history for the past 10 years, including any dependent family members included in the application.
If the applicant has previously been married, divorced, widowed, or had another long-term relationship, they must declare this information and provide relevant documents where applicable, including:
Even if previous relationships ended many years ago, applicants are still required to declare their past relationship history as required.
Sponsors generally need to provide:
Home Affairs requires partner visa sponsors to provide the relevant Police Certificate when submitting the Sponsorship Application or as soon as possible afterwards.
Married applicants generally need to provide:
De facto applicants need to demonstrate the genuineness and duration of their relationship through evidence such as:
Both applicants also need to prepare a Relationship Statement describing the development of their relationship, including:
Financial aspects may include:
Not having a joint bank account does not necessarily prevent an application. The key consideration is whether the available evidence genuinely demonstrates that both partners share financial responsibilities.
Nature of the household evidence may include:
If a rental agreement or bill is only under one partner’s name, other supporting documents can be provided to demonstrate that both partners genuinely live together.
Social aspects may include:
Nature of commitment evidence may include:
Relationship evidence is not about providing the largest possible number of documents. More importantly, different types of evidence should collectively demonstrate the genuine development and timeline of the relationship.
For further information about recent changes and key review areas for relationship evidence, you can read: 2026 Latest Update: Australian Partner Visa Assessments Are Becoming Stricter — Key Changes You Need to Know.
Depending on the applicant’s age, residential history, and individual circumstances, the following documents may be required:
Home Affairs determines required character documents based on the applicant’s residential history. Applicants should prepare documents according to actual requirements and timing, and should avoid obtaining documents too early where validity periods may apply.
If eligible dependent children are included in the 820/801 application, applicants may need to provide documents such as:
If a parent already holds a 820 or 309 temporary partner visa and wishes to include eligible children in a future permanent partner visa application, they may consider the 445 Dependent Child Temporary Visa（445未独立子女临时签证）.
The 820/801 Australian Partner Visa consists of two stages: a temporary visa stage and a permanent visa stage. Therefore, the overall application timeline needs to be considered separately based on the processing time for the 820 Temporary Partner Visa and the assessment period for the subsequent 801 Permanent Partner Visa.
The actual processing time may vary depending on factors such as the completeness of the application documents, the circumstances of the relationship, health and character checks, whether further information is requested, and the Department of Home Affairs’ processing capacity at the time.
According to data released by the Australian Department of Home Affairs in July 2026, the median processing time for the Partner Provisional/Temporary category is approximately 23 months, which can be used as a reference for the current overall processing timeframe of the 820 Temporary Partner Visa.
Individual applications may be processed faster or take longer. If the relationship evidence is complete and the application materials are consistent, additional delays caused by requests for further information may be reduced.
However, processing times may be extended if the application involves complex visa history, a long-distance relationship, missing documents, or requires further health, character, or background checks.
The 820 and 801 visas are usually lodged together in the initial application. However, most applicants will first receive the 820 Temporary Partner Visa.
In general, applicants become eligible to enter the 801 Permanent Partner Visa assessment stage two years after the date the original 820/801 Partner Visa application was lodged.
For example, if an applicant lodges the 820/801 application in January 2026 and receives the 820 Temporary Partner Visa in 2027, the two-year period does not restart from 2027. Around January 2028, once two years have passed since the original application date, the applicant may provide updated relationship evidence required for the 801 stage.
It is important to note that reaching the two-year mark only means the application can enter the 801 assessment stage. It does not mean the 801 visa will automatically be granted on that date. The Department of Home Affairs will still assess the couple’s ongoing relationship circumstances and updated supporting documents. The actual grant timeframe will depend on the individual case and processing conditions at the time.
During the period between the 820 and 801 stages, applicants and sponsors should continue maintaining evidence of their ongoing relationship, such as:
This will help prepare updated relationship evidence for the 801 Permanent Partner Visa assessment stage.
As of 2026, the Australian Department of Home Affairs has published that the government visa application charge for the main applicant of the 820/801 Partner Visa is from AUD 11,710 for most applicants.
This fee covers both stages of the partner visa process:
Therefore, in most cases, applicants do not need to pay a separate full visa application charge again when they proceed to the 801 Permanent Partner Visa stage.
If the applicant holds or has previously held a 300 Prospective Marriage Visa, different fee arrangements may apply when applying for the 820/801 Partner Visa.
In addition to the government Visa Application Charge, other costs may arise throughout the application process, including:
If the application includes children or other family members, an Additional Applicant Charge may also apply depending on the number of applicants and their ages.
Visa fees may change from time to time. Applicants should confirm the latest fees published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs before submitting their application.
Not necessarily. An Australian Partner Visa can be based on either a marriage relationship or a de facto relationship. According to the Home Affairs definition of Partner Visa, eligible relationships include both spouse and de facto partner relationships.
In simple terms, a marriage certificate is not the only factor that matters. The key consideration is whether the relationship is genuine, ongoing, and stable.
Applicants who are not married generally need to provide stronger evidence of their relationship, such as evidence of living together, shared finances, daily life arrangements, and the development timeline of the relationship.
For more details, please refer to the official Partner Visa 820/801 information.
Relationship evidence is generally assessed across four key areas:
Examples of supporting evidence may include joint bank accounts, transfer records, shared residential address documents, rental agreements, bills, statements from family and friends, travel records, communication history, and future living or family plans.
The purpose of the evidence is not to provide as many documents as possible, but to demonstrate a clear and consistent timeline of the relationship. If documents are scattered, applicants should first organise the development of the relationship and then determine which evidence best supports their circumstances.
Not necessarily. A marriage certificate is only one type of relationship evidence and does not automatically lead to visa approval.
The Department of Home Affairs focuses more on factors such as relationship genuineness and continuing relationship, including:
Even if the couple is legally married, inconsistent information or insufficient evidence may result in requests for further information or affect the outcome of the application.
Similar to other Australian migration（澳洲移民） pathways, meeting the basic eligibility criteria is only one part of the process. The evidence must also properly support the individual circumstances.
The 820 visa is the Temporary Partner Visa for applicants applying in Australia, while the 801 visa is the Permanent Partner Visa.
Applicants usually lodge the 820 and 801 applications together. In most cases, the 820 visa is assessed first. After two years from the date the original Partner Visa application was lodged, applicants may generally enter the assessment stage for the 801 permanent visa.
According to the Home Affairs Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions, holders of temporary partner visas such as the 820 or 309 visa may be considered for the permanent partner visa stage after meeting the relevant waiting period.
The actual visa grant timeframe depends on individual circumstances, including the complexity of the case and the quality of supporting documents.
Yes, it can still be assessed. Not having a joint account（联名账户） or a lease agreement（租约） under both names does not automatically prevent an application.
Applicants may provide alternative evidence, such as:
The Services Australia relationship status guidance also recognises relationships through different forms, including married relationships, registered relationships, and de facto relationships. The key consideration is the actual relationship and living arrangements between the partners.
Yes, it may affect the application and should be checked before lodging.
A Partner Visa application considers not only the applicant but also the sponsor’s eligibility. Factors such as:
may affect the application.
Unlike 186 visa（186签证） employer sponsored pathways, Partner Visas place particular focus on relationship requirements and sponsor eligibility.
If you have a similar situation, please contact Australia Visa Link. Our team can assess your sponsor eligibility before you decide whether to proceed with the application.
This can be assessed, but it depends on your current visa type, expiry date, and whether you meet the requirements for an onshore application.
Many applicants are not only concerned about whether they can apply, but also whether lodging an application will allow them to remain lawfully in Australia while their application is processed.
If your relationship is genuine and you have a clear understanding of the required evidence, it is generally better to assess your situation early to avoid issues caused by limited preparation time.
If you are unsure whether the 820/801 Partner Visa or another Australian migration（澳洲移民） pathway is more suitable, you can also read:
How to Choose an Australian Migration Pathway? 2026 Comparison of Common Migration Options
This depends on whether you are applying as a married couple or a de facto couple.
For married applicants, the key consideration is generally whether the relationship is genuine, ongoing, and stable, rather than whether the couple has lived together for 12 months.
For de facto partners, the Department of Home Affairs generally places greater focus on evidence of shared living arrangements and the development of the relationship.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs Partner Visa information confirms that applicants may qualify as either a spouse or de facto partner, but different relationship types require different types of supporting evidence.
For further information about recent changes in Partner Visa assessment and the types of evidence that may receive greater attention, you can read:
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