Partner Visa Australia Processing Time (2026): How Long Does It Really Take?
Last Updated: 15 June 2026
The Department of Home Affairs published a median processing time of 17 months for Partner (Provisional/Temporary) visas as of February 2026. That's the midpoint — half of applications are decided faster, half take longer.
The realistic range for the temporary stage is 12 to 24 months. The permanent stage is assessed approximately two years after your lodgement date. Most couples are looking at 3 to 4 years from first application to permanent residency.
Processing times change monthly. Always check the latest figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.
The Two-Stage Structure — Why Most People Misread Their Timeline
Before looking at any numbers, you need to understand something most applicants get wrong: a partner visa Australia is not one decision. It is two separate assessments, lodged together, but decided months or years apart.
Stage 1 — Temporary visa is assessed first. This is the Subclass 820 if you're applying onshore, or Subclass 309 if you're applying offshore. The temporary stage is what the "17 months" figure refers to.
Stage 2 — Permanent visa is assessed separately, approximately two years after your original lodgement date. This is the Subclass 801 (onshore) or Subclass 100 (offshore).
The two-year clock starts from the day you lodged — not from when the temporary visa was granted. If your temporary visa took 18 months, the permanent stage eligibility window could already be opening by the time you receive the temporary grant.
This matters practically: if you're five months into the wait and panicking that nothing has happened, that's completely normal. The Department is working through cases in order, and the temporary visa alone takes over a year for most applicants.
Processing Time by Subclass
Subclass 820 — Onshore Temporary
For applicants in Australia at the time of lodgement. Based on Department of Home Affairs published data:
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Median: 17 months (February 2026, Home Affairs processing times page)
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50% of applications decided within 16 months
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90% of applications decided within 24 months
From the day you lodge, you hold a Bridging Visa A automatically, full work rights, lawful stay in Australia. Your life continues while you wait.
If you need to travel internationally before the 820 is granted, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B first, leaving without one causes your bridging visa to cease and you cannot return on it.
Subclass 309 — Offshore Temporary
For applicants outside Australia at the time of lodgement. Based on published Home Affairs data:
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50% of applications decided within 14 months
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90% of applications decided within 24 to 26 months
Offshore processing varies more than onshore, partly because it depends on which country you're applying from and how complex obtaining police clearances from multiple countries is.
Unlike onshore applicants, you do not receive a bridging visa — you wait outside Australia until the Subclass 309 is granted.
Subclass 801 — Onshore Permanent
Assessed approximately two years after your lodgement date. Based on published Home Affairs data:
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50% of applications decided within 8 months of becoming eligible
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90% of applications decided within 26 months of becoming eligible
This is not a rubber stamp. The Department reassesses your relationship at this stage, they want to see that the relationship is still genuine and continuing, not just that it was genuine two years ago. Update your evidence file through ImmiAccount periodically while you wait, recent bank statements, new photos together, any significant joint milestones.
Applicants who submit nothing after lodgement risk a static evidence file that doesn't reflect the current state of their relationship.
Subclass 100 — Offshore Permanent
Also assessed approximately two years after lodgement. Based on published Home Affairs data:
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50% of applications decided within 10 months of becoming eligible
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90% of applications decided within 21 months of becoming eligible
One Exception Worth Knowing
Most couples wait through the full two-stage process. But there is one situation where the permanent visa can be granted at the same time as the temporary visa, compressing the timeline significantly.
If you were already in a relationship for more than three years at the time of your original application, or if you have a dependent child together, the Department may grant both the temporary and permanent visa simultaneously.
This is not automatic — it depends on your individual circumstances and the strength of your evidence.
If this might apply to you, it's worth discussing with a registered migration agent before you lodge. RACC's team can assess whether your situation qualifies. Book a free consultation.
What Makes Applications Faster
No one can fast-track the Department's decision queue. But these factors consistently correlate with smoother processing:
A complete, decision-ready application at lodgement.
Since the April 2026 processing changes, the Department has made clear that applications should be fully complete when lodged. You may only get one opportunity to provide missing documents — incomplete files go to the back of the queue.
Strong evidence across all four relationship areas. The Department assesses financial, household, social, and commitment evidence. Weak evidence in any one area triggers a Request for Further Information (RFI), which pauses your application entirely. See the full breakdown in our partner visa requirements guide.
Police clearances and health checks sorted early. Police clearances — required from every country you've lived in for 12 months or more since age 16 — can take weeks or months from some countries. Getting ahead of this before lodging removes a common bottleneck. For a full breakdown of what documents you need, see our partner visa document checklist.
Prompt responses to the Department. If the Department sends a Request for Further Information, respond thoroughly and quickly. Slow responses add months.
What Causes Delays
Incomplete or inconsistent relationship evidence is by far the most common cause.
The Department compares what you say against what your sponsor says, and against what your statutory declarants say. Inconsistencies — even minor ones — raise flags and invite follow-up.
Missing police clearances from multiple countries create practical bottlenecks. Some countries take 6 to 8 weeks to issue certificates. If you've lived in several countries since age 16, start gathering these early.
Health examination findings that require specialist review can add time. This is less common but can extend timelines in individual cases.
A Request for Further Information (RFI) pauses your application completely. The clock on your processing does not stop — your file simply sits in a holding pattern until you respond. Each RFI typically adds weeks to months to your total wait.
Inconsistencies between applicant and sponsor documents are more common than people expect. Make sure the information you and your sponsor provide in Form 40SP is consistent with the evidence you submit.
What Happens While You Wait
If you applied onshore (820): Your Bridging Visa A covers you from lodgement. You can work, study, and remain in Australia lawfully. When your current substantive visa expires, the Bridging Visa A automatically takes over — you do not need to do anything. The one thing to remember: if you want to travel internationally before the 820 is granted, apply for a Bridging Visa B before you leave.
If you applied offshore (309): You wait outside Australia. Once the Subclass 309 is granted, you can travel to Australia and begin your life here. You have no bridging visa and no Australian work rights in the meantime.
For the permanent stage (both pathways): Keep your evidence file active. Submit updated financial records, recent photos, and any new joint commitments through ImmiAccount periodically. The Department wants to see an ongoing, living relationship — not a snapshot from two years ago.
You can track your application status anytime through ImmiAccount. As of March 2026, the Department introduced live queue position tracking and a personalised target decision date that updates daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a partner visa take in Australia in 2026?
The Department of Home Affairs published a median of 17 months for Partner (Provisional/Temporary) visa cases as of February 2026. For the temporary stage, a realistic range is 12 to 24 months. The permanent stage is assessed approximately two years after your lodgement date. Most couples wait 3 to 4 years in total from lodgement to permanent residency.
Does the 2-year wait for permanent residency start from lodgement or from when the temporary visa is granted?
It starts from your original lodgement date, not from when the temporary visa is granted. If your temporary visa takes 18 months to be decided, you may have less than six months before the permanent stage becomes eligible for assessment.
Why is my partner visa taking so long?
The most common reasons are an incomplete application at lodgement, a Request for Further Information pausing the file, or outstanding health or police clearances. Since April 2026, the Department is stricter about decision-ready applications — incomplete files take significantly longer.
Can I work in Australia while waiting for my partner visa?
Onshore applicants (820) receive a Bridging Visa A on lodgement, which includes full work rights in most cases. Verify your specific conditions on VEVO. Offshore applicants (309) do not have work rights in Australia while waiting outside the country.
Can I travel overseas while my partner visa is processing?
Onshore applicants must apply for a Bridging Visa B before leaving Australia — leaving without one causes the Bridging Visa A to cease. Offshore applicants can travel freely while waiting outside Australia.
Is the 820 or 309 faster?
The median processing times are broadly similar — around 14 to 17 months — but onshore (820) data is more consistent. Offshore (309) timelines can vary more depending on which country you're applying from and the complexity of your documentation.
Can the permanent visa be granted at the same time as the temporary visa?
Yes, in specific circumstances — if the relationship was already over three years old at lodgement, or if you have a dependent child together. This is not automatic. Discuss your specific situation with a registered migration agent to assess whether you qualify.
Related Guides
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