How to Get a Partner Visa in Australia: The Complete 2026 Guide

A partner visa in Australia allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live, work, and eventually settle permanently in Australia. The process involves choosing the right visa subclass, gathering strong relationship evidence, lodging your application online, and waiting through a two-stage assessment that typically takes three to four years from start to finish.

This guide covers everything you need to know: the three visa pathways, eligibility requirements, costs, evidence categories, the step-by-step application process, processing times, and the most common reasons applications are refused.

What Is an Australian Partner Visa?

An Australian partner visa is a relationship-based visa administered by the Department of Home Affairs. It is designed for couples in a genuine, continuing, and committed relationship — not simply for people who are dating. The Department assesses whether the relationship is real by examining evidence across four defined pillars: financial, household, social, and commitment.

There are three main pathways, each suited to a different situation. Your physical location at the time of lodgement determines which pathway applies to you.

The Three Partner Visa Pathways

Subclass 820 / 801 — Onshore Partner Visa

If you are already living in Australia, the Subclass 820 is your entry point. After lodgement, you receive the temporary 820 visa first. Once approximately two years have passed from your original application date and your relationship is still genuine and continuing, you become eligible for the Subclass 801 permanent partner visa. Both stages are applied for together in a single combined application.

Subclass 309 / 100 — Offshore Partner Visa

If you are outside Australia when you apply, the Subclass 309 temporary visa is your first step. Like the onshore pathway, you lodge both the temporary and permanent stages together. After approximately two years, the Department assesses your eligibility for the Subclass 100 permanent partner visa.

Subclass 300 — Prospective Marriage Visa

If you are engaged but not yet married, the Subclass 300 allows you to travel to Australia, marry your prospective spouse, and then apply for a partner visa (820/801). This visa allows you to stay in Australia for 9 to 15 months from the grant date and permits work and study. The total government fee across both applications for this pathway is approximately AUD $10,925.

Who Is Eligible for an Australian Partner Visa?

The Applicant Must:

• Be the spouse or de facto partner of an eligible Australian sponsor.
• For de facto applicants: have been in the de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before applying, or have a registered relationship.
• Meet health requirements (medical examination through a Department-approved panel physician).
• Meet character requirements (police clearances from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more since age 16).
• Not provide false or misleading information.
• Be in the correct location (onshore or offshore) as required by the subclass.

The Sponsor Must:

• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have no significant criminal record, particularly no family violence or child-related offences.
• Not be subject to active sponsorship limitations (lifetime limit of two sponsorships, with a five-year waiting period between them).

Important: There is no English language proficiency requirement, no skills test, and no minimum income requirement for the partner visa applicant. However, the sponsor’s eligibility is assessed carefully.

How Much Does an Australian Partner Visa Cost?

As of 1 July 2025, the government application charge for the main partner visa (Subclass 820/801 or 309/100) is AUD $9,365. This single upfront fee covers both the temporary and permanent stages — there is no additional government charge when your permanent stage is assessed.

For applicants who already hold a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa and are applying for the subsequent partner visa, the charge can be lower (currently shown as from AUD $1,560 on the Department’s website).

Critical note: The fee is non-refundable even if your visa is refused. This makes it essential to lodge a complete, well-prepared application from the outset.

Additional costs to budget for include:

• Police clearance certificates
• Medical examinations
• Certified translations of non-English documents
• Registered migration agent or lawyer fees (if used)
• Payment surcharges

The Four Evidence Pillars: Proving Your Relationship Is Genuine

The Department of Home Affairs assesses every partner visa application against four evidence categories. Weak evidence in any area can slow processing or lead to refusal. You do not need to satisfy every single example below, but you should aim for strong, consistent, and dated evidence across all four pillars.

1. Financial Evidence

This is one of the most important categories. Strong financial evidence shows your lives are genuinely combined. Examples include:

• Joint bank account statements
• Joint lease or mortgage documents
• Shared bills (electricity, water, internet, phone)
• Money transfers between partners
• Joint car, loan, or insurance
• Superannuation or life insurance beneficiary nominations
• Shared grocery or household expenses

2. Household Evidence

This shows you share a home and domestic life. Examples include:

• Lease agreement with both names
• Same address on official documents (driver’s licence, bank, electoral roll)
• Utility bills showing shared address
• Shared furniture or household purchases
• Evidence of caring for pets or children together
• Statements explaining living arrangements, especially if you live apart

3. Social Evidence

This shows your relationship is known to others and you participate in each other’s social lives. Examples include:

• Photos with family and friends across different dates and events
• Joint travel bookings and hotel records
• Invitations addressed to both of you
• Evidence friends and family know you as a couple
• Social media posts or messages involving each other’s families
• Form 888 statutory declarations from people who know your relationship

Form 888 must be completed by someone who knows both partners, knows the history of the relationship, and is at least 18 years old. Aim for at least two to four strong Form 888 statements.

4. Commitment Evidence

This shows you are committed to a shared future. Examples include:

• Personal relationship statements from each partner (written separately)
• Future plans (marriage, children, property, travel, career)
• Wills or estate planning documents
• Daily communication records (call logs, message screenshots)
• Evidence of support during difficult times
• Explanation of any periods spent living apart

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Partner Visa in Australia

Step 1 — Confirm Your Eligibility and Choose the Right Pathway

Determine whether you are onshore (820/801) or offshore (309/100). If you are engaged but not yet married, consider the Subclass 300 pathway. Confirm your sponsor meets all eligibility requirements before proceeding.

Step 2 — Gather Your Documents and Evidence

Collect all required documents across both applicant and sponsor categories. Organise evidence by the four pillars (financial, household, social, commitment). Ensure all non-English documents are translated by a certified translator.

Key documents typically include:

• Passports and birth certificates
• Marriage certificate (if married) or proof of de facto relationship
• Divorce or separation certificates (if either partner was previously married)
• Sponsor’s proof of Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible NZ status
• Police clearance certificates
• Health examination results (can be completed after lodgement)
• Relationship evidence across all four pillars
• Form 888 statutory declarations
• Personal relationship statements from both partners

Step 3 — Complete Police Clearances

You must provide a police certificate for every country where you have spent 12 months or more in total during the past 10 years. If you have spent 12 months or more in Australia, you need an Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Certificate. Health results are generally valid for 12 months, or 6 months if a health undertaking is required.

Step 4 — Create an ImmiAccount and Lodge Online

All partner visa applications must be lodged online through ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Paper applications are not accepted except in very limited circumstances by invitation from the Department — submitting a paper application without an invitation can render it invalid.

The applicant and the sponsor each need their own ImmiAccount. The sponsor lodges the sponsorship application (Form 40SP) through their own account at the same time as the main application is lodged.

Step 5 — Pay the Application Fee

Pay the non-refundable government application charge of AUD $9,365 at the time of lodgement. Note that payment surcharges may apply depending on your payment method.

Step 6 — Receive Your Bridging Visa (Onshore Applicants)

If you are applying onshore (820/801), you will automatically receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) after lodgement. This allows you to remain in Australia and work while your application is processed. If you need to travel outside Australia while waiting, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before departing — otherwise you may not be able to return on the bridging visa. Always check VEVO to confirm your current visa conditions before travelling or working.

Step 7 — Complete Your Health Examination

Book and complete your medical examination through a Department of Home Affairs-approved panel physician. Health examinations can usually be completed after lodgement. Results are generally valid for 12 months.

Step 8 — Respond Promptly to Any Requests

As of April 2026, the Department now issues only one Request for Further Information per application. If you do not respond adequately to this single request, your application may be refused. This makes it critical to lodge a complete, decision-ready application from the start and to respond quickly and thoroughly if the Department contacts you.

Step 9 — Temporary Visa Granted (Stage 1)

Once the Department is satisfied with your initial application, they grant the temporary partner visa — either Subclass 820 (onshore) or Subclass 309 (offshore). This allows you to live and work in Australia while the permanent stage is assessed.

Step 10 — Permanent Visa Granted (Stage 2)

After approximately two years from your original lodgement date, you become eligible for the permanent partner visa stage — either Subclass 801 or Subclass 100. The Department will reassess your relationship at this point. If you are still in a genuine and continuing relationship, the permanent visa is granted. In some cases where the relationship is already long-established, the temporary and permanent stages may be assessed close together.

Partner Visa Processing Times in 2026

Partner visa processing times are among the longest of any visa category in Australia. The following indicative times are based on the Department’s published data:

Most applicants receive permanent residency 3 to 4 years after their original application lodgement. Processing times are only a guide and are not guaranteed for individual cases. A complete, well-organised application with strong evidence can reduce unnecessary delays.

What Happens If the Relationship Ends Before the Permanent Visa?

If the relationship ends before the permanent partner visa is granted, this can seriously affect the application. However, there are exceptions where the application may continue:

• The sponsor has died.
• Family violence occurred during the relationship.
• The couple has a child together and shares parental responsibility or access.

The Department of Home Affairs has stated clearly that people experiencing domestic and family violence do not have to remain in a relationship where they fear for their safety just to maintain their visa status in Australia.

Common Reasons Partner Visa Applications Are Refused

Refusal rates vary by subclass — approximately 22% for the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa and 8% for the offshore Subclass 309/100 (based on FOI data from January 2023 to February 2024). The most common reasons for refusal include:

• Relationship appears too new, casual, or not genuinely combined
• Insufficient 12-month de facto evidence
• Couple does not live together with no adequate explanation
• Weak or missing financial evidence
• Friends and family are unaware of the relationship
• Inconsistent dates or timelines between the applicant’s and sponsor’s statements
• Too many screenshots but insufficient official documents
• Fake, exaggerated, or fabricated evidence
• Previous visa refusals or cancellations not disclosed
• Applying while unlawful or after visa expiry
• No explanation for long periods spent apart
• Sponsor eligibility issues
• Failure to respond to the Department’s single Request for Further Information
• Expired police checks or health examinations at time of decision

A strong application tells a clear, consistent story: how you met, how the relationship developed, when it became serious, how you support each other, how your lives are combined, and what your future plans are together.

April 2026 Policy Update: Decision-Ready Applications Are Now Essential

In April 2026, the Department of Home Affairs issued a Partner Processing Newsletter that changed how applications are handled operationally. The most significant change is the one-request policy: the Department will now issue only one Request for Further Information per application. If the response is inadequate or documents are missing, the application can be refused without further opportunity to provide information.

This update does not change eligibility requirements, but it makes thorough preparation at the time of lodgement more important than ever. Incomplete or disorganised applications carry a significantly higher risk of refusal under this policy.

Partner Visa Evidence Checklist: What to Prepare Before You Apply

Applicant Documents

• Current passport (all pages)
• Birth certificate
• National ID (if applicable)
• Name change documents (if applicable)
• Divorce or separation certificate (if previously married)
• Police clearance certificates
• Health examination results
• Passport-style photos
• Evidence of current visa (if in Australia)
• Personal relationship statement

Sponsor Documents

• Australian passport, citizenship certificate, or evidence of permanent residency
• Proof of identity
• Sponsorship application (Form 40SP)
• Personal relationship statement
• Police checks (Australian and foreign where required)
• Evidence of previous relationships (if applicable)

Relationship Evidence

• Marriage certificate or proof of de facto relationship
• Joint financial documents (bank accounts, bills, lease)
• Joint household documents (lease, utility bills, shared address)
• Photos across different dates, locations, and events
• Travel records (bookings, itineraries, boarding passes)
• Communication records (call logs, message screenshots)
• Form 888 statutory declarations (at least 2–4 strong statements)
• Clear relationship timeline document
• Certified translations of all non-English documents

Partner Visa vs Other Australian Visa Pathways

If you are in Australia but do not have an eligible partner sponsor, a partner visa is not available to you. In that case, you may want to explore skills-based pathways. For a full overview of skills-based options, see our guide on how to get a skilled visa to Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work in Australia while my partner visa is being processed?

Yes. Onshore applicants automatically receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) after lodgement, which generally allows you to work in Australia while your application is processed. Check your specific visa conditions on VEVO to confirm your work rights.

Do I need to speak English to get a partner visa?

No. There is no English language proficiency requirement for partner visa applicants. English is not a condition of visa grant in the partner visa stream.

Can I travel outside Australia while waiting for my partner visa?

If you are on a Bridging Visa A, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before departing Australia. Leaving without a BVB may mean you cannot return on your bridging visa.

What is the 12-month de facto requirement?

For de facto applicants, you generally need to show that you have been in a genuine de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before lodging your application. Exceptions apply if you have a registered relationship or if compelling circumstances exist.

Can my sponsor withdraw their sponsorship?

Yes. A sponsor can withdraw their sponsorship at any time before the permanent partner visa decision is made. This can affect your application, though exceptions exist in cases of family violence or where children are involved.

Is the partner visa fee refundable if my application is refused?

No. The AUD $9,365 application charge is non-refundable regardless of the outcome, including in cases of refusal due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

Summary: Key Facts at a Glance

Getting a partner visa in Australia is one of the most document-intensive and emotionally demanding visa processes in the Australian immigration system. The key to success is starting early, gathering thorough and consistent evidence across all four relationship pillars, and lodging a complete, well-organised application. Given the non-refundable fee and the April 2026 one-request policy, there is no room for a half-prepared application.

If you are unsure about your eligibility or how to structure your evidence, consider consulting a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer before lodging.