Last Updated: 23 June 2026

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Partner visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, Australia's official immigration portal at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Paper applications are not accepted.

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Before you lodge, confirm which pathway applies to your situation. For a complete overview of the three pathways and eligibility requirements, see our partner visa Australia guide.

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Which Application Forms Do You Need?

There are two separate submissions that must be lodged at the same time:

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Your application (the visa applicant)

You lodge the combined partner visa application online through ImmiAccount. This single application covers both the temporary and permanent stages — Subclass 820 and 801 if applying onshore, or Subclass 309 and 100 if applying offshore.

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Your sponsor's application (Form 40SP)

Your Australian sponsor lodges a separate sponsorship application — Form 40SP, titled "Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia" — through their own ImmiAccount at the same time you lodge your visa application.

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Your sponsor does not need to be physically present with you when you lodge. They submit Form 40SP independently, linked to your application via your Transaction Reference Number (TRN).

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What Is a TRN and Why Does It Matter?

Your Transaction Reference Number (TRN) is the unique reference number assigned to your application the moment you start it in ImmiAccount — before you even submit.

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You will need to give your TRN to your sponsor so they can link their Form 40SP to your application. Without this link, the Department cannot process the sponsorship alongside your visa application.

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Where to find your TRN:

• On the application page in ImmiAccount as soon as you begin

• In the acknowledgement correspondence sent after you lodge

• Under "My applications" in your ImmiAccount at any time

Your TRN changes with each new visa application. If you have held previous visas or lodged previous applications, use the TRN specific to this partner visa application.

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Source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

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Before You Lodge — Pre-Lodgement Checklist

Lodging an incomplete application is one of the most common and costly mistakes. Since April 2026, the Department expects applications to be decision-ready at lodgement — you may only get one opportunity to provide missing documents.

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Check the following before you click submit:

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Pathway confirmed

• You know whether you are applying onshore (820/801) or offshore (309/100)

• Your current visa allows you to apply — check conditions via VEVO

• If your visa has condition 8503 (No Further Stay), a waiver must be approved before you lodge

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Documents ready

• Identity documents: passport bio page, birth certificate

• Relationship evidence across all four areas: financial, household, social, commitment

• Sponsor documents: proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency

• Previous relationship documents: divorce certificates, death certificates if applicable

• Dependent children documents: birth certificates, consent forms (Form 1229 if required)

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Health and character

• Do not book your health examination before lodging — wait for instructions via ImmiAccount after submission

• Police certificates: gather from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more since age 16. Note that police certificates from some countries can take 6 to 8 weeks — start early

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Sponsor ready

• Your sponsor has their identity documents ready

• Your sponsor has their AFP National Police Check (Code 33) — this is mandatory and must be the correct immigration-specific version

• Your sponsor is aware they need to lodge Form 40SP through their own ImmiAccount at the same time

For a full breakdown of every document required, see our partner visa document checklist.

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Step-by-Step: Lodging Through ImmiAccount

Step 1 — Create or log into ImmiAccount

Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and log into your ImmiAccount, or create one if you do not have one. Use an email address you check regularly — all Department communications go here.

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Step 2 — Start a new application

Select "New application" → "Family" → "Partner visa". Choose the correct subclass based on your location — onshore (820/801) or offshore (309/100).

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Step 3 — Note your TRN immediately

Your TRN appears as soon as you begin the application. Note it down and give it to your sponsor before you submit — they need it to link their Form 40SP to your application.

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Step 4 — Complete all sections

Work through every section of the application. Do not leave sections blank or mark them as "not applicable" unless they genuinely do not apply. Incomplete sections trigger requests for further information and delay your application.

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Step 5 — Upload your documents

Attach all supporting documents through ImmiAccount before submitting. You can upload up to 60 documents per applicant. Combine multi-page documents into single files where possible. Scan in colour and ensure all pages are legible.

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Step 6 — Pay the application fee

The government application fee is AUD $9,365 for the main applicant. This covers both the temporary and permanent stages. Payment is required at lodgement — the application will not submit without it. Government fees are non-refundable if the application is refused.

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Step 7 — Submit your application

Once submitted, you receive a confirmation and your TRN is confirmed. Onshore applicants receive a Bridging Visa A automatically, which allows you to remain in Australia and work while your application is processed.

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Step 8 — Notify your sponsor

Your sponsor now lodges Form 40SP through their own ImmiAccount using your TRN to link the applications. They should do this immediately after you submit — the Department expects both submissions at the same time.

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Step 9 — Wait for ImmiAccount instructions

After lodgement, the Department will contact you through ImmiAccount with instructions for your health examination. Do not book your health examination before receiving these instructions — booking early can result in results that expire before a decision is made.

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After You Lodge — What Happens Next

Bridging visa (onshore applicants only)

If you applied onshore, your Bridging Visa A is granted automatically from the day you lodge. It becomes active when your current substantive visa expires. You do not need to apply for it separately.

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If you need to travel internationally before your Subclass 820 is granted, apply for a Bridging Visa B before you leave. Leaving Australia without a Bridging Visa B causes your Bridging Visa A to cease — you will not be able to return on it.

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Offshore applicants

You do not receive a bridging visa. You wait outside Australia until your Subclass 309 is granted. Since 25 November 2023, you are no longer required to be outside Australia when the Subclass 309 decision is made — but you must still be outside Australia when you lodge.

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Monitoring your application

Check ImmiAccount regularly for messages from the Department. If you receive a Request for Further Information (RFI), respond thoroughly and before the deadline — typically 28 days. A slow response pauses your application completely and adds months to your wait.

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Update your contact details in ImmiAccount immediately if your email address, phone number, or residential address changes.

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Partner Visa Forms — Quick Reference

• Online partner visa application — lodged through ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

• Form 40SP — "Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia" — lodged by your sponsor through their own ImmiAccount

• Form 888 — "Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application" — statutory declarations from people who know your relationship (friends, family)

• Form 1229 — Consent form required when including certain dependent children

Note: Form 888 is not a statutory declaration and does not replace the requirement for statutory declarations in some circumstances. Check the requirements for your specific situation.

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Common Mistakes When Lodging

Submitting before documents are ready

Since April 2026, the Department operates on a decision-ready lodgement policy. Lodging with gaps and planning to add documents later is risky — you may only receive one opportunity to provide missing documents.

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Sponsor lodging Form 40SP late

The Department expects the sponsorship application and the visa application to be lodged at the same time. If your sponsor delays, your application may be held up waiting for the sponsorship to be linked.

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Booking a health examination before lodging

Health examinations must be booked after lodgement, once the Department issues your Health Assessment Portal (HAP) ID through ImmiAccount. Booking early risks your results expiring before a decision is made.

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Using the wrong police check

Your sponsor must provide an AFP National Police Check — specifically Code 33 for immigration purposes. A standard employment or name check is not acceptable. The visa application will be refused if the correct check is not provided.

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Not sharing your TRN with your sponsor

Your sponsor cannot link their Form 40SP to your application without your TRN. If this link is missing, the sponsorship cannot be assessed alongside your visa application.

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Uploading unreadable or incomplete documents

Blurry scans, missing pages, or documents in the wrong format cause delays. Scan in colour at sufficient resolution and combine multi-page documents into single PDF files.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lodge a paper application for a partner visa?

No. Partner visa applications must be lodged online through ImmiAccount. Paper applications are not accepted.

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Does my sponsor need their own ImmiAccount?

Yes. Your sponsor lodges Form 40SP through their own ImmiAccount account, linked to your application via your TRN. They cannot lodge through your account.

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What if I cannot attach documents in ImmiAccount?

If you are unable to attach documents through ImmiAccount, the Department provides a separate form to submit additional documents. Contact the Department through ImmiAccount for guidance.

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Can I save my application and return to it later?

Yes. ImmiAccount saves your progress. You can start your application, note your TRN, and return to complete it before submitting. Do not submit until all documents are ready.

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What happens if I make a mistake after submitting?

Contact the Department through ImmiAccount as soon as possible. You can update your contact details directly through the "Update Details" section. For errors in the application content, respond through ImmiAccount when the Department contacts you, or use the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.

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How do I know if my application has been received?

You receive a confirmation notification in ImmiAccount after submitting, and correspondence is sent to your registered email address. Your application will appear under "My applications" in ImmiAccount with your TRN.

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