For many couples, staying together in Australia is only part of the challenge. The next step is finding the right visa pathway that allows them to remain in the country legally while building a long-term future together. This is where the Partner Visa Subclass 820 comes in.
The Partner Visa 820 is a temporary onshore visa for the spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens. It allows applicants to stay in Australia while their permanent partner visa application is being processed and gives them the ability to work and study during that time.
Although the visa offers a pathway to the permanent Subclass 801 Partner Visa, approval is far from automatic. Applicants must provide evidence that their relationship is genuine and ongoing, with supporting documents covering areas such as shared finances, living arrangements, social recognition, and long-term commitment. Even genuine couples can experience delays if their application lacks sufficient evidence or contains inconsistencies.
Understanding how the partner visa 820 process works before lodging an application can help couples avoid common mistakes and prepare stronger documentation. This article covers eligibility requirements, supporting documents, costs, work rights, processing considerations, and the pathway from an 820 visa to permanent residency in Australia.
If you're already in Australia and in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, the Partner Visa Subclass 820 may allow you to stay with your partner while working towards permanent residency.
The visa is the first stage of Australia's onshore partner visa pathway. Once approved, you can continue living in Australia with your partner and generally gain access to full work and study rights while your permanent visa is being assessed.
To be eligible, your sponsoring partner must be:
An Australian citizen
An Australian permanent resident
An eligible New Zealand citizen
Another key requirement is that you must be physically present in Australia when lodging the application.
The 820 temporary partner visa is not a permanent visa. Instead, it serves as the first step towards the permanent Partner Visa Subclass 801. For most couples, the Department of Home Affairs will later assess whether the relationship remains genuine and ongoing before granting permanent residency.
Many couples assume that Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 are two separate partner visas. In reality, there are two stages of the same visa pathway for people who want to live in Australia with their spouse or de facto partner.
The journey usually begins with the Partner Visa Subclass 820, which is a temporary visa. Once granted, it allows you to remain in Australia with your partner while the Department of Home Affairs continues assessing your eligibility for permanent residency. During this time, you can generally live, work, and study in Australia.
The second stage is the Subclass 801 Partner Visa, which grants permanent residency. For most applicants, eligibility for the permanent stage is assessed around two years after the combined partner visa application is lodged, provided the relationship remains genuine and ongoing.
In simple terms, couples apply for both visas at the same time. If the initial application is successful, the temporary visa is granted first. Later, applicants are asked to provide updated evidence showing that the relationship is continuing before a decision is made on the permanent visa.
This two-step process helps the Australian Government assess the strength and continuity of the relationship before granting permanent residency.
The Australian Partner Visa 820 is intended for people who are already in Australia and want to continue living with their partner while building a future together. To be eligible, your partner must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
Many couples assume that being married automatically makes them eligible for a partner visa. In reality, the Department of Home Affairs looks at the overall relationship, not just the relationship status. Applicants are expected to show that they share a genuine life together and that the relationship is ongoing. Health and character requirements also apply, and the Australian partner must be eligible to sponsor the application.
The Partner Visa Subclass 820 is available to both married and de facto couples.
If you are legally married, the marriage must be recognised under Australian law. However, the visa assessment does not stop at the marriage certificate. The Department may also look at factors such as shared finances, living arrangements, social connections, and future plans to understand how the relationship operates in day-to-day life.
Couples who are not married can still apply under the de facto partner category. In most cases, you will need to demonstrate that the relationship has existed for at least 12 months before the application is lodged.
There are some exceptions to this requirement. For example, if the relationship has been officially registered in an Australian state or territory, or there are compelling circumstances, the Department may consider the application without requiring the full 12-month de facto period.
Before lodging a Partner Visa Subclass 820 application, it is worth understanding what the Department of Home Affairs is actually looking for. Many applicants assume that being married or living together is enough to qualify for the visa. In reality, the Department wants evidence that the relationship is genuine, ongoing, and involves a shared life together.
When assessing an application, case officers do not rely on a single document or piece of evidence. Instead, they look at the overall picture of the relationship, including how the couple manages finances, shares a home, interacts socially, and plans for the future.
The first step is proving the identity of both the applicant and the sponsoring partner. These documents help confirm personal details and establish who is involved in the application.
Typical identity documents include:
A valid passport
Birth certificate
National identity card (where applicable)
Recent passport-sized photographs
If any documents are issued in a language other than English, certified translations will usually be required.
Relationship evidence is often the most closely examined part of a Partner Visa 820 application. The Department assesses several areas to determine whether the relationship is genuine and continuing.
One of the clearest indicators of a genuine relationship is how a couple manages their finances. While not every couple combines all their finances, the Department generally expects to see some level of financial interdependence.
Evidence can include:
Joint bank account statements
Shared utility bills
Joint loans or mortgage documents
Shared insurance policies
Records of financial support between partners
A common mistake is relying heavily on photos and chat records while providing very little financial evidence. In many cases, documents that show shared financial responsibilities carry more weight because they demonstrate a practical commitment to building a life together.
Living together and sharing day-to-day responsibilities is another important consideration. The Department wants to understand how the relationship operates in everyday life.
Useful documents may include:
Joint lease agreements
Utility bills showing the same residential address
Records of shared household expenses
Correspondence addressed to both partners
If there have been periods of separation due to work commitments, study, or family circumstances, it is important to explain the situation clearly and provide evidence showing how the relationship continued during that time.
A genuine relationship is usually known to family members, friends, and the wider community. For this reason, the Department often looks at evidence showing that the couple presents themselves publicly as partners.
This may include:
Photos from different stages of the relationship
Travel records and holiday bookings
Invitations addressed to both partners
Statutory declarations from friends or family members
Evidence of attending social events together
Quality is often more important than quantity. A small collection of meaningful evidence showing the progression of the relationship is generally more useful than hundreds of similar photographs.
The Department also considers whether both partners intend to maintain the relationship over the long term. This assessment focuses on future plans and the overall level of commitment between the couple.
Relevant evidence might include:
Personal relationship statements
Future travel or relocation plans
Communication records during periods apart
Joint property or financial plans
Evidence relating to children or future family arrangements
Strong applications typically include evidence across all relationship categories rather than focusing heavily on just one area.
Applicants aged 16 years and over may be required to provide police clearance certificates from Australia and any country where they have spent a significant period of time.
Because obtaining police certificates can sometimes take several weeks, many applicants begin this process early to avoid unnecessary delays later in the application.
Most Partner Visa 820 applicants must complete health examinations before a visa decision can be made. The tests required depend on factors such as age, medical history, and countries previously visited or lived in.
Health assessments commonly involve:
A general medical examination
Chest X-ray
Additional tests if requested by the Department
Completing medical examinations promptly can help keep the application moving and reduce the likelihood of processing delays.
The onshore partner visa 820 application process involves several stages.
Prepare:
Identity documents
Relationship evidence
Sponsorship documents
Police checks
Applications are typically submitted online through ImmiAccount.
The Australian partner must submit a sponsorship application.
Applicants may be requested to complete:
Medical examinations
Biometrics collection
The Department reviews the application and may request additional information.
If approved, the applicant receives the temporary partner visa.
The cost of applying for a Partner Visa Subclass 820 is something couples should consider early in the planning process. As of June 2026, the government application charge starts from approximately AUD 9,365 for the main applicant. If dependent children are included in the application, additional charges may apply.
While the visa fee is the largest expense, it is not the only cost involved. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to budget for health examinations, police clearance certificates from countries where you have lived, and certified translations for any documents that are not in English.
One thing many applicants do not realise is that the fee paid at the time of application generally covers both stages of the partner visa process—the temporary Subclass 820 visa and the permanent Subclass 801 visa. This means there is usually no second government visa application charge when the permanent visa stage is assessed later.
Because visa charges can change, it is always a good idea to check the latest fees on the Department of Home Affairs website before submitting your application.
There is no fixed processing time for the Partner Visa Subclass 820, as each application is assessed individually. Factors such as the quality of relationship evidence, completeness of documents, health and character checks, and overall application volumes can all affect processing times.
Delays are more common when information is missing or additional documents are requested after lodgement. To help avoid unnecessary delays, applicants should provide clear and comprehensive evidence of their relationship from the outset.
As processing times are updated regularly, it is best to check the latest estimates on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging your application.
One of the reasons many couples choose the Partner Visa Subclass 820 is the freedom it provides to live and work in Australia while waiting for a permanent visa outcome.
After your 820 temporary partner visa is granted, you can generally:
Work full-time or part-time
Change jobs without seeking visa approval
Take on casual or contract work
Run your own business or work as a freelancer
Unlike employer-sponsored visas, the partner visa 820 is not linked to a specific employer. This means you can explore different career opportunities, switch industries, or build your own business without affecting your visa status.
For couples settling into life in Australia, this flexibility can make it easier to manage household expenses and plan for the future while waiting for the permanent Subclass 801 Partner Visa assessment.
The Subclass 820 visa also allows holders to study in Australia. Whether you're looking to gain new qualifications, improve your professional skills, or pursue higher education, you can enroll in eligible courses during your stay.
However, holding an 820 visa does not automatically mean you'll be charged domestic student fees. Fee arrangements and access to government-supported study places can vary depending on the education provider and your individual circumstances.
Yes. Once your Partner Visa Subclass 820 is granted, you can generally travel in and out of Australia while the visa remains valid. This allows you to visit family overseas, take holidays, attend important events, or travel for work without needing a separate travel visa.
Some common reasons 820 visa holders travel overseas include:
Visiting family members in their home country
Attending weddings, family events, or emergencies
Taking personal holidays
Travelling for business or employment purposes
It's also worth noting that travel conditions can be different if your partner visa 820 application is still being processed and you are currently on a Bridging Visa. In that situation, leaving Australia without the correct travel permission may affect your ability to return.
Before making international travel plans, check your visa status through ImmiAccount and ensure you have the appropriate travel rights in place. A quick check beforehand can help avoid unexpected complications when re-entering Australia.
For many couples applying for a Partner Visa Subclass 820, access to healthcare is an important consideration. The good news is that applicants who have lodged a combined Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa application may be able to enrol in Medicare while waiting for a visa decision, provided they meet the eligibility criteria set by Services Australia.
Having access to Medicare can help reduce healthcare costs and provide support when needed. Benefits may include:
Subsidised visits to doctors and specialists
Treatment as a public patient in public hospitals
Access to a range of Medicare-covered medical services
Lower costs on eligible prescription medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Because Medicare eligibility can vary depending on your visa status and personal circumstances, it is a good idea to check the latest enrolment requirements with Services Australia before submitting your application for coverage.
A Partner Visa 820 refusal does not always mean the relationship is not genuine. In many cases, applications are refused because the Department does not receive enough evidence to verify the relationship or because important requirements were overlooked during the application process.
A marriage certificate alone is rarely enough to support a Partner Visa application. The Department wants to see how a couple shares their life together on a day-to-day basis.
For example, if applicants provide wedding photos but no joint bank statements, shared bills, lease agreements, or evidence of living together, it may be difficult for the case officer to assess the relationship as genuine and ongoing.
Small inconsistencies can create unnecessary complications. Something as simple as different dates for when the relationship began, conflicting residential addresses, or mismatched information in personal statements can trigger additional scrutiny.
Before submitting the application, both partners should carefully review all forms and supporting documents to ensure the information is accurate and consistent.
Not every Australian citizen or permanent resident is automatically eligible to sponsor a partner. Sponsorship restrictions can apply in certain situations, particularly where a person has previously sponsored another partner or has unresolved sponsorship obligations.
Missing sponsorship documents can also delay the assessment process.
Applicants must satisfy Australia's health and character requirements before a visa can be granted. Delays often occur when health examinations are not completed on time or when required police clearances have not been provided.
Where character concerns exist, the Department may request further information before making a decision.
The Department assesses not only how the relationship started but also whether it continues to exist at the time of decision-making.
Couples who have been together for several years sometimes overlook this requirement and submit older evidence only. Recent documents, shared financial commitments, travel records, communication history, and future plans can help demonstrate that the relationship remains genuine and ongoing.
A strong Partner Visa Subclass 820 application is built on clear evidence that your relationship is genuine and ongoing. Rather than relying on a marriage certificate or photos alone, the Department of Home Affairs looks at how you live your life together as a couple.
Provide evidence such as joint bank accounts, shared bills, insurance policies, or major purchases that demonstrate financial commitment and responsibility.
Documents like lease agreements, mortgage papers, utility bills, and mail sent to the same address can help show that you share a household.
Photos, travel records, invitations, and statements from friends or family can help demonstrate that your relationship is recognised by others.
Personal statements, future plans, and shared financial or family goals can further support your application.
Many applicants focus heavily on photos but provide limited evidence of their financial and living arrangements. A balanced application with evidence across multiple areas is generally much stronger.
Ultimately, the goal is to provide clear and consistent evidence that shows you and your partner have built a genuine life together.
The Subclass 820 visa is the temporary stage of Australia's partner visa pathway. In most cases, applicants become eligible for assessment for the permanent Subclass 801 Partner Visa around two years after lodging their combined application.
Before assessing the permanent visa, the Department of Home Affairs usually requests updated relationship evidence, such as joint financial records, shared household documents, travel history, and photographs.
If the relationship remains genuine and all requirements are met, the applicant may be granted the Subclass 801 visa, providing permanent residency in Australia.
Permanent residents can live and work in Australia indefinitely, access eligible government services, sponsor certain family members, and may later qualify for Australian citizenship.
The partner visa 820 is a temporary visa that allows the spouse or de facto partner of an eligible Australian sponsor to live in Australia while waiting for permanent residency.
Yes. The 820 visa work rights generally allow holders to work full-time, part-time, or be self-employed in Australia.
No. The subclass 820 is a temporary visa and usually leads to the permanent Subclass 801 visa.
Yes. The onshore partner visa 820 must generally be lodged while the applicant is in Australia.
Yes. Married and eligible de facto partners can apply for the partner visa subclass 820.
The partner visa 820 fee changes periodically. Applicants should check the latest government charges before applying.
Yes. Eligible dependent children can usually be included in the application.
Processing times vary depending on individual circumstances, application quality, and Department workloads.
Yes. The 820 temporary partner visa generally allows multiple travel movements while valid.
Yes. The pathway from 820 visa to permanent residency typically occurs through assessment for the Subclass 801 Partner Visa.
The Partner Visa Subclass 820 allows eligible couples to stay together in Australia while working towards permanent residency. While the application process involves detailed documentation, providing strong evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship can help support a successful outcome.
As the first step towards the permanent Subclass 801 visa, it is important to keep your relationship records organised and stay prepared for any additional requests from the Department. If you are unsure about the requirements, seeking professional migration advice may help you avoid common mistakes and navigate the process with greater clarity.
