Partner Visa 820 Australia

If you are in Australia and want to continue living with your Australian partner, the Partner Visa Subclass 820 may be an option to explore. This visa is designed for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. It allows eligible applicants to remain in Australia temporarily while their pathway to permanent residence is considered.

The partner visa process involves more than submitting a marriage certificate. Applicants need to meet the visa criteria, provide evidence that their relationship is genuine and continuing, and supply the required identity, health and character information. The strength and consistency of the application can be important when the Department of Home Affairs assesses the relationship.

This guide explains the 820 visa requirements, application process, costs, processing times, work and travel rights, and the next stage of the Subclass 801 partner visa. Always check the latest official requirements before lodging an application because immigration rules, fees and processing times can change.

What Is the Partner Visa Subclass 820?

The Australian Partner Visa Subclass 820 is a temporary visa for eligible spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens. Applicants must generally be in Australia when they apply.

Subclass 820 is the first stage of the onshore Partner Visa pathway. Applicants generally submit applications for the temporary Subclass 820 and permanent Subclass 801 together. The Department assesses the temporary stage first. The permanent stage is considered later when the applicant becomes eligible and continues to meet the relevant criteria.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, a Subclass 820 visa holder can generally live, work and study in Australia while the permanent partner visa application is being processed. Eligible holders can also apply to access Medicare and may be able to travel to and from Australia. Individual visa conditions and circumstances should always be checked. Official Home Affairs information.

Who Can Apply for an 820 Visa in Australia?

To apply for a partner visa 820, you generally need to meet the following conditions:

• You are in Australia when you lodge the application.
• You are married to, or in a qualifying de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Your relationship meets the genuine and continuing relationship requirements.
• Your partner agrees to sponsor you and meets the applicable sponsorship criteria.
• You meet the relevant health, character and other visa requirements.
• You satisfy any requirements linked to your current or previous visa status.

Eligibility depends on the applicant’s personal circumstances. For example, a person who does not hold a substantive visa may need to meet additional criteria. Certain visa conditions, including a no-further-stay condition, can also affect whether an application can be lodged.

Before applying, check your current visa conditions through VEVO and confirm whether you can make a valid onshore application. Do not assume that being married to an Australian automatically makes you eligible for an 820 visa.

Marriage and De Facto Relationship Requirements

The Department assesses whether the applicant and sponsor have a genuine relationship that meets the legal definition for the visa.

If you are married

You will generally need to provide a valid marriage certificate and evidence of your relationship. A marriage certificate is important, but it may not be enough on its own to demonstrate that your relationship is genuine and continuing.

If you are in a de facto relationship

You will generally need to demonstrate that you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before applying. Exceptions may apply, including where the relationship has been registered under relevant Australian state or territory law or compelling and compassionate circumstances exist.

The evidence needed depends on your situation. The Department may consider shared finances, household arrangements, social recognition of the relationship and your commitment to each other. You should provide a truthful account of how your relationship developed and how you manage your life together.

Documents Required for a Partner Visa 820

A complete application should include clear and consistent supporting documents. The exact checklist will depend on your circumstances, including whether you are married, have children, have previous relationships or have held other visas.

Common documents may include:

• Valid passport and identity documents.
• Birth certificate and evidence of any name changes, where applicable.
• Marriage certificate or evidence of a qualifying de facto relationship.
• Evidence of the sponsor’s Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand citizenship.
• Relationship statements explaining how you met, how the relationship developed and your future plans.
• Joint bank account statements, shared bills, lease agreements or mortgage documents.
• Evidence of shared household responsibilities and correspondence addressed to both partners.
• Photographs, travel records, invitations and evidence of social activities together.
• Statements from friends or family who know about the relationship.
• Information about previous marriages or relationships, if applicable.
• Police certificates, health examinations and other documents requested by the Department.
• Documents for dependent children included in the application, if applicable.

Documents should tell a consistent story. If there are periods when you lived apart, had separate finances or could not provide a particular type of evidence, explain the circumstances honestly and provide alternative evidence where available.

Avoid submitting irrelevant documents simply to increase the size of the application. Focus on genuine, well-organised evidence that addresses the relevant criteria.

The Four Main Areas of Relationship Evidence

Applicants often hear about the “four pillars” of an Australian partner visa. This is a practical way to organise evidence, rather than a guarantee that a particular number of documents will secure approval.

1. Financial aspects

Evidence may include joint bank accounts, shared bills, joint loans, mortgage documents, rent payments and other records showing how you manage expenses.

2. Nature of the household

You can explain where you live, how household tasks are shared, how you organise daily life and whether you have joint responsibilities for children or other family members.

3. Social aspects

Evidence may include photographs, invitations, travel records, shared events and statements from people who know you as a couple. The aim is to demonstrate that your relationship is recognised socially.

4. Nature of your commitment

Your relationship statements can explain your history, emotional commitment, future plans and how you support each other. Include relevant details about periods apart and significant events.

The evidence should reflect your actual relationship. Not every couple will have identical financial arrangements or living circumstances, so explain your situation rather than copying another applicant’s evidence checklist.

How to Apply for the 820 Visa

The partner visa application process requires preparation and attention to detail.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Confirm that your relationship and immigration circumstances meet the requirements for an onshore partner visa. Review your current visa conditions and any restrictions that may affect your application.

Step 2: Prepare your relationship evidence

Collect documents across financial, household, social and commitment aspects of your relationship. Prepare clear statements from both partners where appropriate, ensuring that dates and details are consistent.

Step 3: Prepare the sponsor application

Your partner must meet the sponsorship requirements and provide the information requested by the Department. Sponsorship information and supporting documents should be submitted in accordance with the current instructions.

Step 4: Lodge through ImmiAccount

The application is generally made online through the Department of Home Affairs. Applicants usually apply for the temporary Subclass 820 and permanent Subclass 801 stages together. Confirm the current form requirements, application fee and document instructions before submission.

Step 5: Complete requested checks

You may need to complete health examinations, provide police certificates or respond to requests for further information. Monitor your ImmiAccount and keep your contact details up to date.

Step 6: Maintain your immigration status

If your existing visa expires while your application is being processed, a bridging visa may be relevant. The visa that applies, its commencement date and its conditions depend on your circumstances. Check your grant notification and VEVO rather than assuming you can work or travel.

Step 7: Prepare for the permanent stage

If Subclass 820 is granted, keep evidence of your continuing relationship and update the Department when required. The permanent Subclass 801 stage is generally considered when you become eligible, usually two years after the combined application was lodged, although exceptions and individual circumstances can affect the process.

Partner Visa 820 Processing Time

The 820 visa processing time varies from case to case. It can be affected by the number of applications awaiting a decision, the complexity of the relationship evidence, whether health and character checks are complete, and whether the Department needs further information.

The Department publishes a processing-time guide based on recently decided applications. These figures are an indication, not a promise about how long a particular application will take. The relevant category and current date should be checked directly before relying on a published estimate. Official processing-time guide.

To help avoid preventable delays:

• Submit the required evidence with the application wherever possible.
• Check that names, dates and relationship details are consistent.
• Respond to requests within the specified time.
• Complete health and character requirements when requested.
• Keep copies of the application and all correspondence.

Searches such as “820 visa processing time 2017” refer to historical information and should not be used as a reliable estimate for a current application. Always consult the latest Department guidance.

820 Visa Cost in Australia

The Department’s partner visa page currently lists the application charge as from AUD 11,710 for most applicants, with a different starting charge for eligible Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) holders. Limited concessions may apply to eligible applicants under specific rules. The exact amount should be confirmed using the official Visa Pricing Estimator before applying. Official Subclass 820 and 801 page.

Your overall budget may also need to account for other expenses, such as:

• Health examinations.
• Police certificates.
• Certified translations.
• Document certification, if required.
• Professional assistance, if you choose to use it.

These additional expenses vary. Ask for a written breakdown of professional fees and the work included before engaging a service provider. Do not assume that the visa application charge covers every expense associated with the process.

Is the 820 Visa Permanent Residency?

No. The Subclass 820 visa is temporary, not permanent residency. It is the first stage of the onshore Partner Visa pathway and can lead to consideration for the permanent Subclass 801 visa.

The applicant generally becomes eligible for assessment of the permanent stage two years after the combined partner visa application was made. The Department may require updated evidence and must be satisfied that the relevant criteria are met. Some cases have different assessment circumstances, so applicants should check their own eligibility date and instructions.

After the Subclass 801 visa is granted, the holder can live in Australia permanently, subject to the visa’s terms and relevant Australian law.

What Happens After the 820 Visa Is Granted?

Once Subclass 820 is granted, carefully read the visa grant notification and understand the conditions that apply to you. The visa generally allows you to live, work and study in Australia while the permanent partner visa stage is being processed.

You should also:

• Keep your passport and contact details up to date.
• Continue maintaining evidence of your genuine relationship.
• Check Medicare eligibility and enrolment requirements.
• Review travel rights and any relevant visa conditions before leaving Australia.
• Monitor your ImmiAccount for requests and updates.
• Keep records that may be useful for the Subclass 801 assessment.

Do not assume the permanent visa is automatic. The permanent stage has its own eligibility requirements and assessment process.

Can You Work on an 820 Visa?

Subclass 820 holders can generally work in Australia. If your application is still being processed and you hold a bridging visa, your work rights may depend on the specific bridging visa and its conditions.

Read your visa grant notification and check VEVO before accepting work or changing your employment arrangements. A bridging visa does not necessarily provide the same conditions to every applicant.

Can You Travel Overseas on an 820 Visa?

The Department lists travel to and from Australia as a benefit of Subclass 820. However, if you are still waiting for a decision on your original application and hold a bridging visa, different travel rules may apply.

Before leaving Australia, check which visa you hold and whether it permits re-entry. If you rely on a Bridging Visa A, you generally need to consider a Bridging Visa B before departing if you want to return while the substantive application remains undecided. Do not travel until you have confirmed your specific arrangements.

What Happens if Your Relationship Breaks Down?

A relationship breakdown can affect a partner visa application, but it does not mean that every application must automatically end. The Department recognises certain circumstances in which an applicant may still be eligible to continue towards a partner visa.

These circumstances can include:

• The sponsoring partner has died.
• The applicant or an eligible family member has experienced family violence by the sponsoring partner.
• The applicant and sponsor have a child and meet the relevant parental responsibility and access requirements.

The rules are specific and depend on the facts and evidence. If your relationship has ended, seek advice about your circumstances before withdrawing an application or making changes to your immigration plans. If family violence is involved, prioritise your safety and consult the Department’s official information about relationship changes and family violence provisions.

Can You Apply for Subclass 801 After Subclass 820?

The Subclass 801 visa is the permanent stage of the onshore partner visa pathway. In most cases, applicants lodge the temporary 820 and permanent 801 applications together, then wait until they become eligible for the permanent-stage assessment.

The Department generally allows assessment of the permanent stage two years after the original combined application date. Applicants may need to submit updated relationship evidence and other documents requested for the second stage.

Keep evidence of your relationship throughout the waiting period, not just at the time of the first application. If your circumstances change, follow the Department’s instructions about notifying it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants can reduce avoidable problems by checking their application carefully before lodgement. Common mistakes include:

• Providing a marriage certificate without enough supporting relationship evidence.
• Using inconsistent dates or different explanations in the applicant’s and sponsor’s statements.
• Assuming a de facto relationship automatically meets the 12-month requirement.
• Overlooking visa conditions that may restrict a further application.
• Failing to respond to a request for further information.
• Relying on outdated processing-time estimates or old visa fee figures.
• Travelling overseas without checking the conditions of the visa currently held.
• Assuming Subclass 820 is permanent residence or that Subclass 801 is guaranteed.

The best approach is to understand the requirements that apply to your own circumstances and provide truthful, relevant and well-organised information.

How GIEC Global Can Help

Preparing a partner visa application can involve detailed document collection, relationship statements and careful attention to immigration requirements. GIEC Global can help you understand the general application process, organise information and identify questions that may need further review.

Every case is different. No service provider can guarantee a visa outcome or a specific processing time. If you need immigration assistance, check whether the person providing it is authorised to do so under Australian rules and confirm the scope of their services before engaging them.

To discuss your circumstances and the next steps, contact GIEC Global through the contact page.

Official Sources

• Department of Home Affairs — Partner Visa Subclass 820 and 801
• Department of Home Affairs — Partner Visa FAQs
• Department of Home Affairs — Visa Processing Times

Review note: Visa requirements, application charges and processing times can change. Verify official Home Affairs information before publishing or making an application.