Partner Visa Australia

The Department of Home Affairs charges from AUD 11,710 for most partner visa applications (subclass 820/801 or 309/100), plus extra charges for each family member you include. If you hold a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300), the onshore partner visa charge is from AUD 1,955. You will also pay for health checks, police certificates and any translations. Our professional fee is $2,500 including GST and covers both stages.

There is no fixed processing time. Home Affairs publishes a processing time guide based on recently decided applications, and the times change during the year. Since 25 July 2026, Ministerial Direction 117 gives the highest priority to family visa applications made in Australia for a visa that can be granted in Australia, such as the subclass 820. A complete, well-evidenced application helps avoid extra delays from requests for more information.

Both lead to permanent residency. You apply for the 820/801 while you are in Australia, and for the 309/100 while you are outside Australia. The government charge is the same, from AUD 11,710.

No. You can apply as a spouse or as a de facto partner. De facto couples usually need to have been in the relationship for at least 12 months before applying. This does not apply if you have registered your relationship with an Australian state or territory, or in some other limited circumstances.

Your spouse or de facto partner, if they are an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Home Affairs must approve them as your sponsor, and you cannot change sponsors later. Limits apply if your partner has sponsored, or been sponsored by, a partner before.

Often yes, if you meet the requirements and are in Australia when you apply. Some visa conditions, such as a No Further Stay condition, and some past visa refusals or cancellations can stop you applying in Australia. We check this before you lodge.

Once the temporary Partner visa (subclass 820 or 309) is granted, you can live, work and study in Australia and apply for Medicare. If you apply in Australia while holding a substantive visa, you will usually be granted a bridging visa while you wait. Its conditions depend on your situation, so we check them with you.

You apply for the temporary and permanent stages together. Home Affairs assesses the permanent stage (subclass 801 or 100) two years after you applied, and you provide updated evidence that your relationship is continuing. In some long-term relationships, both stages may be granted together.

You need to tell Home Affairs. You may still be eligible for the visa in some situations, for example if your partner dies, if you have experienced family violence, or if you have a child from the relationship. Information you share is confidential, and we can talk you through your options.

One professional fee of $2,500 including GST covers both stages of your partner visa: an eligibility check, an evidence plan and document checklist, review of your documents and relationship statements, preparing and lodging the visa and sponsorship applications, dealing with Home Affairs, and the permanent stage. Government charges and third-party costs are separate. We confirm everything in a written agreement before we start.