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Subclass 820 / 801

Australian Partner Visa Onshore (Subclass 820 → 801)

If you are in Australia and the partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen, the subclass 820 lets you stay and work while your permanent residence application (subclass 801) is decided. Evidence quality is everything — we focus on case strategy, not paperwork volume.

Reviewed by MARA agent — MARN: 1808157
Last updated: April 2026

Partner visa onshore — at a glance

The onshore partner visa is granted in two stages on a single application:

  1. Subclass 820 (temporary) — granted first, gives you the right to stay, work and study in Australia.
  2. Subclass 801 (permanent) — assessed approximately 2 years after the 820 application date, granting permanent residence if the relationship continues to be genuine.

You pay a single (large) application fee that covers both stages. Some applicants — especially those who can show a long-term relationship at the time of application — may be granted the 801 directly.

Eligibility — who can sponsor and apply

The applicant must:

  • Be in Australia (and be the holder of a substantive visa or have a valid bridging visa not subject to a Section 48 bar);
  • Be the spouse or de facto partner of an eligible sponsor;
  • Pass health and character checks;
  • Not be in a relationship that is prohibited under Australian law.

The sponsor must:

  • Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen;
  • Be at least 18 years old;
  • Not have sponsored more than two partners previously, and not have been sponsored as a partner in the last 5 years (with limited exceptions);
  • Provide police clearances and disclose any history of family violence convictions.

The four pillars of evidence

The Department of Home Affairs assesses your relationship under four pillars. Strong applications evidence each pillar with multiple documents.

1. Financial aspects

Joint bank accounts, shared bills, joint loans, evidence of pooling of finances or sharing of major expenses, joint property, joint tax records.

2. Nature of the household

Evidence of living arrangements, shared housework, joint responsibility for children, joint utilities and address records over time.

3. Social aspects

Photographs together over time and at multiple events, statements from friends and family, shared travel, social media presence as a couple, joint event attendance.

4. Nature of commitment

The applicant's and sponsor's own statements describing the history and future of the relationship, evidence of long-term commitment (insurance beneficiaries, wills, joint plans), and any cultural or religious commitments.

Two-stage process: 820 then 801

  1. Lodge the combined 820/801 application with full evidence (we recommend a structured 50-100 page evidence pack indexed against the four pillars).
  2. Receive a Bridging Visa A (or stay on your existing substantive visa).
  3. Department assesses the 820. Decision typically within 12-24 months.
  4. Once 820 is granted, you remain on the 820 until the Department considers you for the 801, generally around 2 years after the 820 application date.
  5. If your relationship has continued, the 801 is granted and you become a permanent resident.

Fees and processing times

The Partner visa is one of the most expensive in the migration program. Always confirm the current charge on the Home Affairs website. Other costs include health examinations, police clearances, document translations and (where used) professional migration agent fees.

Common reasons partner visas are refused

  • Insufficient or generic relationship evidence — especially around the financial and household pillars.
  • Sponsor character issues not properly addressed.
  • Inconsistencies between the applicant's and sponsor's statements about how the relationship developed.
  • Health condition issues that don't have a sufficient health waiver argument.
  • Section 48 bar — applicant lodges onshore after a previous refusal that triggered the bar.

Partner visas are highly evidence-driven and reversal of a refusal at the Administrative Review Tribunal can take a further 18-24 months. Getting the application right the first time is the highest-value decision.

Partner Visa — Common Questions

Processing times vary widely by case complexity, country of citizenship and Department workload. Recent published 50% / 90% percentile times have been 1-2 years for the temporary 820 and around 2 years from 820 grant to 801 (permanent). Always verify the current figures on the Home Affairs processing times page.
Yes. The 820 grants full work rights, full study rights and Medicare access while you wait for the 801 permanent decision. There is no work-hour cap.
The Department assesses four pillars: financial aspects, nature of the household, social aspects, and nature of commitment. We typically build a 50-100 page evidence pack covering joint finances, shared accommodation, family acknowledgement and statements of mutual commitment.
Possibly — but it depends on why the previous application was refused. If a Section 48 bar applies, you may be unable to lodge another visa onshore until you depart Australia. Get specific advice before lodging.
The combined application charge for the 820/801 is one of the most expensive in the migration program. From 1 July 2024 the base fee for the primary applicant is around AUD 9,365 (paid once for both stages). Confirm the current fee on the Home Affairs website.
Yes. Australian migration law treats married, de facto and same-sex relationships equally. The same evidence pillars apply.