Onshore Partner Visa Pathway
Subclass 820/801 Visa – Partner Visa (Apply in Australia)
Build Your Future Together in Australia — The Onshore Partner Visa Pathway
When you are in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, you should not have to choose between your partner and your right to live a normal life. The Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa is the onshore pathway that lets you stay in Australia temporarily while your permanent residency is assessed — and eventually, if your relationship continues to be genuine, receive permanent residency through the Subclass 801.
It is a two-stage visa, and that is intentional. The Australian Government wants to see that your relationship is real, ongoing, and committed — not just at the time you apply, but over the years that follow. If you are already in Australia and in a genuine relationship with an Australian partner, this is the visa pathway built for your situation.
At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents have guided many couples through both stages of the 820/801 process. We know how much is at stake, and we know what it takes to put together an application that stands up to scrutiny.
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Visa Overview
What Is the Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa?
The Partner Visa (Subclass 820 and 801) is a two-stage onshore visa pathway for people who are in Australia and are the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Subclass 820
Once granted, it allows you to live, work, and study in Australia lawfully while your permanent stage is being assessed. You do not need to re-apply for the 801 — both stages are lodged together as part of the one combined application.
Subclass 801
Approximately two years after your original application date, the Department of Home Affairs will assess the permanent stage. If your relationship is still genuine and ongoing, the Subclass 801 will be granted — making you an Australian permanent resident.
The two visas are applied for simultaneously, but assessed and granted at different times. This is why you will often see them referred to together as the "820/801 partner visa."
Key Features of the Subclass 820/801 Visa
- Must be in Australia when you apply and when the 820 is decided
- Both temporary (820) and permanent (801) stages applied for together
- Work and study rights in Australia from the time the 820 is granted
- Travel in and out of Australia on the 820 visa (Bridging Visa B required if travelling while on a Bridging Visa)
- Permanent residency granted at the 801 stage, approximately 2 years after lodgment
- Available to both married and de facto couples, including same-sex couples
- Combined application fee covers both stages — no separate fee for the 801
Eligibility Criteria
Who Can Apply for the Subclass 820/801 Visa?
To be eligible for the onshore partner visa, you need to meet several core criteria. The most important of these is that your relationship must be genuine — not just on paper, but demonstrably real in how you live your lives together.
You may be eligible to apply if you:
- Are the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Are in Australia at the time of application and at the time of visa decision
- Are legally married to your sponsor, or in a de facto relationship of at least 12 months (or registered under a state or territory law)
- Are over 18 years of age
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have no relevant visa cancellations or refusals in your history
Visa Advantages
Key Benefits of the Subclass 820/801 Visa
A Clear Pathway to Permanent Residency
Unlike many temporary visas, the 820/801 has a built-in pathway to permanent residence. If your relationship remains genuine and continuing, the 801 follows as a natural next step — you do not start from scratch.
Work and Study Rights From Day One
Once your Subclass 820 is granted, you have full work and study rights in Australia. There are no restrictions on the type of employment or the number of hours you can work. This is a significant practical advantage compared to many other visa types.
Stay in Australia While Your Application Is Processed
Applying onshore means you receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) automatically once your substantive visa expires. This allows you to remain in Australia lawfully and continue working while the Department processes your application — which can take over a year.
Covers Both Married and De Facto Relationships
Whether you are legally married or in a long-term de facto relationship, the pathway is the same. The Department assesses both equally, provided the evidence of genuine relationship is strong.
One Application Fee for Both Stages
You pay a single application fee that covers both the temporary (820) and permanent (801) stages. There is no additional payment required when the 801 comes up for assessment.
Family Members Can Be Included
Dependent children can be included in your application, allowing them to also live, study, and eventually receive permanent residency alongside you.
Relationship Assessment
Eligibility in Detail — What the Department Looks For
The Department of Home Affairs assesses partner visa applications across four key areas of your relationship. They want to see consistent, genuine evidence across all of them — not just one or two.
Financial Aspects
Joint bank accounts, shared property, joint loans, shared financial responsibilities, evidence that you support each other financially.
Nature of the Household
Evidence that you live together or have lived together, utility bills, lease agreements, statutory declarations from people who know you both.
Social Aspects
Photos together with friends and family, evidence of joint travel, invitations or event attendance as a couple, recognition of the relationship by others in your community.
Commitment to the Relationship
Marriage certificate or evidence of de facto registration, correspondence between you, evidence of knowledge of each other's lives, futures planned together.
The stronger and more comprehensive your evidence across all four areas, the better positioned your application will be.
Sponsor Eligibility
Sponsorship Requirements
Your Australian partner must apply to become an approved sponsor as part of the combined application. To be an approved sponsor, your partner must:
- Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Not have sponsored another partner for a Partner Visa or Prospective Marriage Visa in the last 5 years
- Not have been granted a Partner Visa or Prospective Marriage Visa themselves in the last 5 years
- Have no convictions for relevant offences or significant criminal history
- Meet character requirements set by the Department
There is a limit on how many times a person can sponsor partners for this visa type. The five-year restriction exists to prevent misuse of the visa program.
Government & Professional Fees
Subclass 820/801 Visa Costs
As of July 2025, the cost for the Partner Visa 820 is AUD $9,365 for the main applicant. This single fee covers both the temporary 820 stage and the permanent 801 stage — there is no second payment when the 801 is assessed.
| Fee Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Main Applicant (820 + 801 combined) | $9,365 * |
| Additional Applicant 18+ | $4,685 * |
| Additional Applicant Under 18 | $2,345 * |
| Health Examination (approx, per person) | $350 – $500 |
| Police Clearances | Varies |
| Migration Republic Professional Fee | Contact Us |
Payment Note: A credit card surcharge of 1.4% applies for Visa, Mastercard, and Amex payments through ImmiAccount. Additional costs include health examinations from an approved panel physician (Bupa Medical Visa Services in Australia), police clearances from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years, and certified translations of any documents not in English.
Timeframes
Subclass 820/801 Visa Processing Times
Processing times for the partner visa are among the most asked-about topics — and for good reason. The wait can be significant.
820 Temporary Stage
75% of applications take 13–15 months to process, and 90% of applications take 21–24 months. These figures refer to the temporary 820 stage.
801 Permanent Stage
The 801 permanent stage is assessed approximately 2 years from the original application date. Current processing time for the 801 is around 8 to 26 months once it comes up for review.
In total, the entire 820 to 801 journey — from lodgment to permanent residency — can take up to 3 years or more depending on your individual circumstances.
How It Works
The 820 to 801 Transition — How It Works
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood parts of the partner visa process. Here is a straightforward explanation.
Combined Lodgement
When you lodge your combined 820/801 application, both stages are submitted at the same time.
820 Assessed First
The Department first assesses the temporary 820 stage. Once the 820 is granted, you can live and work in Australia legally while you wait.
801 Assessed at 2-Year Mark
In most cases, applicants become eligible for the permanent Partner Visa 801 around 2 years after lodging the combined application. The Department reviews your situation again — checking that your relationship is still genuine and ongoing.
Permanent Residency Granted
If everything is in order, the 801 is granted and you become an Australian permanent resident. Keep building relationship evidence throughout the entire period — photos, joint finances, correspondence, shared experiences.
Document Checklist
Documents Required for the Subclass 820/801 Visa
For the Applicant
- Valid passport and identity documents
- Evidence of your relationship — financial, household, social, and commitment categories
- Results of a health examination from an approved panel physician
- Police clearances from every country you have lived in for 12 or more cumulative months in the past 10 years
- Certified translations of any non-English documents
- Evidence you are in Australia at time of application
For the Sponsor
- Evidence of Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible New Zealand citizenship
- Identity documents
- Sponsorship declaration and supporting forms
Supporting Documents From Others
- Form 888 statutory declarations from two Australian citizens or permanent residents who know you both and can vouch for your relationship
Getting the evidence right — particularly the relationship evidence — is where applications are won or lost. The Department looks for consistency, depth, and authenticity across all four relationship categories. Thin or one-dimensional evidence is one of the leading causes of delays and refusals.
How We Help
Our Visa Process
Eligibility Assessment
We start by reviewing your relationship history, your current visa status, and your partner's sponsorship eligibility. This initial assessment gives us a clear picture of where you stand and what your application needs to look like.
Relationship Evidence Strategy
This is where we add the most value. We work with you to identify the strongest possible evidence across all four relationship categories and structure it in a way that tells a clear, convincing story to the Department. We do not just compile documents — we build a case.
Application Preparation and Lodgement
We prepare every form, organise every document, and review the entire package before lodgement. We coordinate the sponsorship application and the visa application together. When we lodge, the application is complete and decision-ready.
Ongoing Case Management
After lodgement, we stay involved. We keep you updated on the progress of your application, respond promptly to any requests for additional information from the Department, and advise you on what ongoing relationship evidence to gather for the 801 stage assessment.
801 Stage Support
When the two-year mark approaches and the Department begins assessing your permanent stage, we help you prepare the updated evidence package required. The 801 stage is a fresh assessment — it needs fresh, current evidence of your ongoing relationship.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
The Partner Visa 820/801 is one of the most evidence-intensive visa types in the Australian migration system. The Department is looking for proof that your relationship is real — and they assess that proof carefully, across multiple dimensions, over multiple years.
Getting the evidence strategy right from the beginning matters. So does knowing how to respond if the Department raises questions or requests additional information. And knowing what to prepare for the 801 stage, two years down the track, is just as important as the initial lodgement.
At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents bring that knowledge and experience directly to your case. We have helped many couples through both stages of this process. We know what works, we know what the Department looks for, and we know how to build applications that stand up.
Transparent Process
Regular updates at every stage of your application so you always know where things stand.
High Success Rate
Personalised service with a proven track record of successful partner visa outcomes.
End-to-End Support
Dedicated support from the 820 all the way through to your 801 permanent residency grant.
Ready to Apply for Your Partner Visa 820/801?
If you and your Australian partner are ready to build your future in Australia together, the Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa is the pathway that gets you there — from temporary stay to permanent residency, step by step. Our MARA-registered agents at Migration Republic are here to make that journey as smooth and straightforward as possible.
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