Partner Visa Document Checklist

Preparing documents is one of the most critical parts of a partner visa application. The Department of Home Affairs assesses your application based on the quality and consistency of your evidence.

You must prepare identity documents, relationship evidence, sponsor documents, and health and character checks before lodging your application.

For a complete breakdown of all required documents and examples of evidence, see the partner visa document checklist.​

​

Partner Visa Australia Requirements

To be eligible, both you and your Australian sponsor must meet separate requirements. A problem on either side can affect the outcome of the whole application.

​

You (the applicant) must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Be in a genuine relationship — married, de facto, or registered

• Have lived together as a de facto couple for at least 12 months before you apply. This rule does not apply if your relationship is registered under state or territory law

• Pass a health examination — this is mandatory for all applicants

• Provide police clearances from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years

​

Your sponsor must:

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen

• Be 18 years or older

• Not be subject to a sponsorship bar or have a disqualifying criminal history

​

How the Department Assesses Your Relationship

The Department of Home Affairs does not take your word for it. They assess your relationship across four areas, and you need to show evidence in all four, not just one or two.

​

• Financial — Do you share a bank account, split household bills, or own something together? Joint financial commitments carry significant weight.

• Household — Do you live together? Who handles cooking, cleaning, and groceries? A shared lease or mortgage in both names is strong evidence here.

• Social — Do your friends and family know you as a couple? Statutory declarations from people who have seen you together over time are one of the most important documents in any partner visa application.

• Commitment — How long have you been together? What are your plans as a couple? Knowledge of each other's daily lives, families, and futures matters.

​

Thin evidence in any one area weakens your application even if the other three are strong.

For a complete breakdown of eligibility requirements, supporting documents, and how your situation is assessed, see our partner visa Australia requirements guide

​

Partner Visa Application Process

While the process differs slightly between onshore and offshore applications, it generally involves:

1. Lodging a combined application for temporary and permanent stages

2. Assessment of sponsorship eligibility

3. Assessment of relationship evidence

4. Grant of a temporary partner visa (if approved)

5. Subsequent assessment for permanent residence

​

Onshore applicants may be granted a bridging visa to remain in Australia lawfully while the application is processed.

​

Partner Visa Australia Cost

The government application fee for a partner visa is AUD $9,365 for the main applicant. This single fee covers both the temporary and permanent stages — you pay once, not twice.

​

If you include family members in your application, additional charges apply. Each additional adult costs AUD $4,680. Each additional child under 18 costs AUD $2,345.

​

If you are applying through the Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) pathway, the initial 300 visa fee is AUD $1,540. After you marry in Australia, you then apply for the onshore partner visa at the standard rate.

​

On top of the government fee, budget for:

• Health examinations — roughly AUD $300 to $600 per person

• Police clearances — roughly AUD $40 to $200 per country, required for every country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years

• Document translation — roughly AUD $50 to $150 per page for certified translations

• Migration agent fees if you use professional help — this varies by agent and complexity

​

Realistic total budget for most applicants: AUD $10,000 to $12,500, depending on how many additional applicants are included and how many countries require police clearances.

​

Government visa application charges are set by the Department of Home Affairs. Applicants should review the official fees and charges page and use the Visa Pricing Estimator to confirm current costs prior to lodgement.

​

For a full breakdown of government fees, additional costs, and total expected expenses, see our detailed guide on partner visa Australia cost.

​

Partner Visa Processing Time

Processing times vary depending on the visa subclass and individual circumstances.
Typical ranges:

• Subclass 820 (temporary): 8 to 18 months

• Subclass 801 (permanent): assessed around 2 years after 820

• Subclass 309 (temporary): 12 to 20 months

• Subclass 100 (permanent): 6 to 12 months after eligibility

​

What slows applications down:

• Incomplete or inconsistent relationship evidence at the time of lodgement

• Health or character issues that require additional assessment

• Missing police clearances or health examinations

​

April 2026 update: The Department now expects applications to be decision-ready at the time of lodgement. You may only get one opportunity to provide missing documents, follow-up requests are not routinely issued. Submit everything upfront.

​

For a full breakdown of timelines, read our partner visa processing timeline guide.

​

Partner Visa Recent Update – April 2026

Recent updates highlight stricter processing expectations for Partner visa applications.

• Applications should be decision-ready at lodgement

• You may only receive one opportunity to provide additional documents

• Follow-up requests are not routinely issued

• All documents must be submitted via ImmiAccount

​

Read more: Major Partner Visa Update (2026) 

​​​

Onshore vs Offshore – Key Differences​

Which pathway you use depends on where you are when you apply.

​

If you are in Australia at the time of lodgement, you apply for the onshore pathway — Subclass 820 leading to Subclass 801. You are automatically granted a Bridging Visa A while you wait, which gives you the right to stay and work. You must be in Australia when the temporary visa is granted.

​

If you are outside Australia at the time of lodgement, you apply for the offshore pathway — Subclass 309 leading to Subclass 100. You are generally required to be outside Australia when the initial visa decision is made.

​

If you are engaged but not yet married and have not lived together for 12 months, the Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) is the starting point. This visa gives you up to 9 months to marry your partner in Australia, after which you apply for the onshore 820/801 pathway.