Who Is Eligible for a Partner Visa?

To be eligible for a partner visa in Australia, both you (the applicant) and your Australian sponsor must independently meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements. A problem on either side can result in the entire application being refused.

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Applicant requirements

You must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Be the spouse or de facto partner of an eligible Australian sponsor in a genuine and continuing relationship

• If de facto: have lived together for at least 12 continuous months immediately before applying — this requirement is waived if your relationship is registered under Australian state or territory law

• Pass a health examination conducted by a Department of Home Affairs-approved panel physician — do not book this before lodging your application

• Provide police clearances from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more since the age of 16

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Sponsor requirements

Your Australian sponsor must:

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

• Be 18 years or older

• Not have a significant criminal record for relevant offences — "relevant offences" includes violence, harassment, stalking, breach of apprehended violence orders (AVOs), firearms offences, people smuggling, human trafficking, and kidnapping. A "significant criminal record" means a sentence or sentences totalling 12 months or more imprisonment

• Not be subject to a current sponsorship bar

• Not exceed the lifetime sponsorship limit: sponsors are generally limited to sponsoring two partners over their lifetime and must wait at least five years before sponsoring again after a previous sponsorship

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Sponsors must submit an AFP National Police Check (Code 33) as part of their sponsorship application (Form 40SP), lodged through ImmiAccount at the same time as the main application.

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For a full breakdown of what disqualifies a sponsor and how to navigate complex sponsorship situations, see our partner visa sponsor character requirements guide.

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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 provide evidence in all four — not just the strongest ones. Thin evidence in any single area weakens your application even if the other three are strong.

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Financial — Do you share a bank account, split household bills, or hold joint assets? Joint financial commitments carry significant weight. Examples: joint bank account statements, shared utility bills, joint lease or mortgage, shared ownership of a vehicle or property.

Household — Do you live together? A shared lease or mortgage in both names is strong evidence. The Department also considers who handles day-to-day household responsibilities. Examples: lease agreement in both names, shared address on official correspondence.

Social — Do your friends and family know you as a couple? Statutory declarations (Form 888) from people who have witnessed your relationship over time are among the most important documents in any partner visa application. Examples: Form 888 from family members or close friends, photos together at social events.

Commitment — How long have you been together? What are your plans as a couple? The Department assesses your knowledge of each other's daily lives, families, personal history, and future plans.

 

Examples: travel records showing time spent together, correspondence and communication records, future plans such as shared property or relocation.

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For a complete breakdown of eligibility, what counts as strong evidence in each category, and how specific situations are assessed, see our partner visa Australia requirements guide.

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What Documents Do You Need for a Partner Visa?

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 — not just whether documents are present, but whether they tell a coherent story of a genuine relationship.

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You will need to prepare documents across four categories: identity documents, relationship evidence, sponsor documents, and health and character checks.

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As of April 2026, the Department 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. This makes upfront preparation essential.

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For a complete breakdown of all required documents with examples of what to include in each category, see our partner visa document checklist guide.

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How to Apply for a Partner Visa in Australia

Partner visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Paper applications are not accepted.

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The application covers both the temporary and permanent stages together. Your Australian sponsor lodges their sponsorship application (Form 40SP) through their own ImmiAccount at the same time.

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Application steps

1. Confirm which pathway applies to you — onshore (820/801), offshore (309/100), or fiancé (300)

2. Gather all required documents across the four evidence categories before lodging

3. Create or log into ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

4. Lodge the combined application and pay the government fee — AUD $9,365 for the main applicant

5. Your sponsor lodges Form 40SP through their own ImmiAccount at the same time

6. After lodgement: onshore applicants receive a Bridging Visa A automatically, which allows you to stay and work in Australia while you wait

7. Complete your health examination through a DHA-approved panel physician after receiving instructions through ImmiAccount — do not book before lodging

8. Obtain police clearances from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more since age 16

9. Monitor ImmiAccount for any requests for further information and respond promptly — the Department operates on strict timeframes in 2026

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For a full step-by-step walkthrough including common mistakes and how to avoid refusal, see our how to apply for a partner visa Australia guide.

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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

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

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How Much Does a Partner Visa Cost in Australia?

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

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Additional applicant fees (2026)

• Each additional adult: AUD $4,680

• Each additional child under 18: AUD $2,345

• Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) initial fee: AUD $1,540 — then the standard 820/801 fee applies after marriage

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Additional costs to budget for

• Health examinations: approximately AUD $300–$600 per person

• Police clearances: approximately AUD $40–$200 per country required

• Document translation: approximately AUD $50–$150 per page for certified translations

• Migration agent fees: varies by agent and complexity of the case

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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.

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Government fees are set by the Department of Home Affairs and are non-refundable if the application is refused. Always verify the current fee at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.

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For a full breakdown of government fees, additional costs, and a total cost breakdown by situation, see our partner visa Australia cost guide.

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How Long Does a Partner Visa Take to Process?

Partner visa processing times vary depending on the subclass, where you applied, and the complexity of your case.

As of 2026, indicative processing times published by the Department of Home Affairs are:

• Subclass 820 (onshore temporary): 17–24 months for most applications (as of May 2026)

• Subclass 801 (onshore permanent): assessed approximately 2 years after lodgement, with the permanent decision typically 6–12 months after eligibility

• Subclass 309 (offshore temporary): 12–20 months

• Subclass 100 (offshore permanent): 6–12 months after becoming eligible

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What slows applications down

• Incomplete or inconsistent relationship evidence at lodgement

• Health or character checks requiring additional assessment

• Missing police clearances or medical examinations

• Requests for further information that are not responded to promptly

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

For the full processing timeline by subclass and how to track your application through ImmiAccount, see our partner visa processing time guide.

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Recent Partner Visa Changes — April 2026

The Department of Home Affairs updated its processing approach for partner visas in April 2026. These changes affect all applications lodged from this date.

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• Decision-ready lodgement: Applications must include all required documents at the time of lodgement — the Department will not routinely wait for documents to be added later

• Limited follow-up: You may only receive one opportunity to provide additional information. Follow-up requests are not issued as standard practice

• Stricter initial assessment: Weak or incomplete applications at lodgement may face faster refusal under the new approach

• ImmiAccount only: All documents must be submitted through ImmiAccount — physical or emailed documents are not accepted

Read the full breakdown: Major Partner Visa Update April 2026

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Onshore vs Offshore – Key Differences​

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The government fee is the same across all pathways, AUD $9,365 for the main applicant. Processing times differ: the onshore temporary stage (820) typically takes 8 to 18 months, while the offshore temporary stage (309) typically takes 12 to 20 months.

 

Both pathways lead to permanent residency at the second stage, assessed around two years after your initial lodgement date.

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If you hold an onshore temporary visa (820) and want to travel internationally before the permanent stage is granted, you need a Bridging Visa B before you leave. Without it, your bridging visa ceases and you cannot return to Australia on it. Offshore applicants do not face this restriction.

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For a full breakdown of each pathway, see our onshore partner visa guide and offshore partner visa guide.