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What Happens After You Apply?

After you lodge your application:

• You may receive a Bridging Visa

• You can remain in Australia while your application is processed

• Your legal status continues during the waiting period

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If your current visa expires, your bridging visa becomes active and allows you to stay lawfully in Australia.

If you applied while holding a valid visa, you are usually granted a Bridging Visa A, which becomes active when your current visa expires.

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What You Can Do on a Bridging Visa A or Subclass 820

While your application is processed, you generally have the right to work, study, and access Medicare — the same rights carried over once the Subclass 801 is granted, plus eligibility for domestic student fees, sponsoring eligible family members, and applying for Australian citizenship after you meet residency requirements.

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Can the 820 and 801 Be Granted at the Same Time?

Yes, in some cases. If your relationship has lasted at least 3 years — or 2 years if you have a child together — you may be eligible for a combined grant of both the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 at once, without waiting for the standard 2-year assessment period. Ask your migration agent to assess this at the time you lodge.

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Can You Stay and Work While Waiting?

In most cases:

• You can stay in Australia during processing

• You may have work rights depending on your visa status

Many applicants transition onto a bridging visa after lodging their application.

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When an Onshore Partner Visa Becomes Complex

Some situations require careful assessment before applying.

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Your case may become complex if:

• Your visa has condition 8503 (no further stay)

• You do not hold a substantive visa

• Your visa has expired

• You have previous refusals or cancellations

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In these cases, you may need to:

• Apply for a waiver

• Show compelling reasons

• Meet additional legal requirements

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Your visa status directly affects your eligibility.

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What If Your Visa Has Expired?

You may still apply in certain situations, but strict conditions apply.

If you do not hold a substantive visa:

• You must show compelling reasons for applying

• Additional criteria apply to your application

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Applying after your visa expires increases risk and complexity.

Applications in this situation are assessed under stricter criteria and may carry a higher risk of refusal.

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Processing Time for Onshore Partner Visa

Current Department of Home Affairs data shows:

• Subclass 820: 50% of applications are processed within 20 months. 90% are processed within 25 months.

• Subclass 801: Your eligibility date is 2 years after you lodge your combined 820/801 application. From that eligibility date, 50% of Subclass 801 applications are processed within 3 months, and 90% within 11 months.

 

Realistically, this means most applicants wait around 2 years before their permanent visa is even assessed, and can wait up to 3 years in total from lodgement to grant.

 

Processing time depends on: Completeness of your application Strength of relationship evidence Health and character checks Well-prepared applications move faster. For detailed timelines and factors affecting processing, see our partner visa processing time guide.

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Cost of Onshore Partner Visa

The cost starts from:

• AUD 11,710 for most applicants

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This includes:

• Subclass 820

• Subclass 801

You pay once at application. Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) holders transitioning to this pathway pay from AUD 1,955.

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Additional costs may include:

• Health checks

• Police certificates

• Document translation

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For a full cost breakdown, see our partner visa cost guide.

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Key Requirement You Must Meet

Applications are assessed under Australian migration law by the Department of Home Affairs.

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The most important requirement is:

You must prove your relationship is genuine and continuing

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The Department assesses your relationship across:

• Financial aspects

• Household arrangements

• Social recognition

• Long-term commitment

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​For a detailed breakdown of eligibility and supporting documents, see our partner visa requirements guide.

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Onshore vs Offshore Partner Visa

Compare this with the offshore partner visa pathway.

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The offshore Subclass 309 and onshore Subclass 820 lead to the same outcome — permanent residency through your partner's sponsorship. Where and how you apply sets them apart.

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Subclass 309 (offshore):

• You lodge and remain outside Australia until the visa is decided

• No bridging visa, since you're applying from outside the country

• Processing time: 12–20 months — see current processing time estimates

• Limited travel flexibility — you need to stay outside Australia for the application to remain valid

• You must be offshore at the time of lodgment

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Subclass 820 (onshore):

• You must be in Australia when you apply

• Comes with a bridging visa, so you stay in Australia lawfully while your application processes

• Processing time: 8–18 months — see current processing time estimates

• More flexibility to travel in and out of Australia while you wait

• You must be in Australia at the time of lodgment