Australia Partner (Onshore)

Summary

The Partner visa (Subclasses 820 and 801) is Australia's onshore partner-sponsored residency visa. It operates in two stages:

• Subclass 820 — a temporary visa granted first, letting you live and work in Australia while your permanent application is assessed.
• Subclass 801 — the permanent visa, granted roughly 2 years after you first applied (though this is often combined or accelerated for long-term relationships).

You must be in Australia at the time of application. Applications from outside Australia go through the offshore Subclass 309/100 partner visa instead.

Australia recognizes married, de facto, and registered relationships for these visas. Same-sex and opposite-sex partnerships are treated the same.

Eligibility

Relationship

You must be in one of the following with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen:

• Married under a legally recognised marriage (Australia recognises most foreign marriages).
• De facto — genuine and continuing relationship with shared life, usually including at least 12 months together before application. The 12-month evidence period may be shorter if your relationship is registered under an accepted Australian state or territory law, or if there are compelling circumstances such as a shared child.
• Registered relationship under an Australian state or territory law that Home Affairs accepts for partner visa purposes.

Genuine and continuing relationship

Case officers require evidence across four pillars:

1. Financial — joint bank accounts, shared bills, joint lease/mortgage, superannuation nominations, shared debt or credit.
2. Household — shared residence, both names on utilities, household items purchased together.
3. Social — photos over time, joint attendance at events, statutory declarations from friends and family, joint social media, mutual inclusion in family occasions.
4. Commitment — detailed relationship narrative, evidence of how you met, of any separations and contact during them, of future plans (trips booked, leases signed, baby plans).

Sponsor requirements

• Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen.
• Subject to sponsorship limits — in most cases, no more than 2 partner sponsorships in a lifetime, with a 5-year gap between sponsorships.
• No serious criminal offences involving violence — case officers will review character before approving sponsorship.

Applicant

• Health examination (includes HIV testing, TB screen, chest X-ray).
• Police certificates from every country you've lived in for 12+ months since turning 16.
• Valid substantive visa at time of application (any visa — tourist, student, 482, working holiday equivalent — qualifies) OR specific exemptions for "last substantive visa" holders or Bridging A holders.

Process and Costs

• Combined application. You lodge the 820 (temporary) and 801 (permanent) together as a single package.
• Visa Application Charge. High primary-applicant fee, plus additional fees per dependant. Use the Home Affairs fee tool for the current amount before relying on a figure.
• Bridging Visa A granted on lodgement — lets you stay legally while your 820 is processed.
• 820 grant timing varies widely by case officer load and evidence completeness.
• 801 consideration begins roughly 2 years after the original lodgement. In many long-term relationship cases, 820 and 801 are granted together.
• Family violence provisions. If the relationship ends due to family violence, you can still be granted the 801.

Duration, Renewal, and Long-Term Path

• Duration: Subclass 820 is temporary; Subclass 801 is the permanent stage.
• Renewal: Permanent-stage review normally follows after the relationship evidence period.

What This Route Allows

This route can allow you to live in Australia based on a qualifying family relationship. The relationship usually must be documented, genuine where relevant, and supported by the required civil records.

What This Route Is Not

This is not based only on wanting to live near family. The family relationship must fit the legal category and usually must be supported by records and sponsor documents.

Next Steps

1. Confirm your partnership qualifies under one of the accepted categories. If you have been together for less than 12 months with no registration and no shared child, check whether relationship registration is available and accepted for your situation.
2. Start documenting. Every shared lease, bill, bank statement, photo, and trip matters.
3. Gather character documents — police certificates are the long-lead item (often 6–12 weeks for countries with decentralised records).
4. Complete medicals when Home Affairs asks you to, using its health-examination process.
5. Lodge the combined 820/801 application online.
6. Receive Bridging Visa A — lets you remain lawfully while the 820 is assessed.
7. Respond to any Home Affairs requests — case officers sometimes ask for additional evidence mid-review.
8. 820 grant — you can now live and work in Australia with no conditions.
9. 801 assessment proceeds roughly 2 years after lodgement. Additional relationship evidence from the intervening period is required.

The lodgement → 820 → 801 sequence takes time, though most of that time you're already legally in Australia.

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs — Partner visa (820 and 801) — official page.
• Subclass 820 temporary partner visa
• Subclass 801 permanent partner visa
• Partner visa FAQs — official partner visa guidance.
• Health requirement — official medical-exam guidance.
• Form 47SP and 40SP — partner visa and sponsorship forms.