Stay in Australia with Your Partner on the 820 Visa

What Is the 820 Visa?

Quick answer: The 820 visa is Australia’s onshore temporary partner visa. It lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live, work and study in Australia while the permanent partner visa (subclass 801) is assessed. You apply for the 820 and 801 together from inside Australia, pay one fee of AUD 11,710, and the 801 is usually assessed about two years after you applied.

The 820 is part of the wider partner visa Australia programme. If you are outside Australia, the offshore equivalent is the 309 partner visa, followed by the subclass 100.

What Does “UK/820” or “UK 820 Visa” Mean?

Australian visas have a class (two letters) and a subclass (three numbers). On grant notices and in VEVO, the temporary partner visa appears as “UK/820” – Class UK, Partner (Temporary), subclass 820. The permanent stage appears as “BS/801”.

So if you see “Visa class/subclass: UK/820” on your grant letter, it confirms you hold the Australian temporary partner visa. It is not a United Kingdom visa, and it has no link to the UK Standard Visitor visa. That said, UK citizens can and often do apply for the 820 – for example, after meeting an Australian partner while on a Working Holiday visa (417).

Is the 820 Visa Permanent Residency?

No. The subclass 820 is a temporary visa. It stays valid until a decision is made on your permanent partner visa (subclass 801). Permanent residence comes with the 801 grant.

820 Visa Requirements

Applicant requirements

• Location: be in Australia when you apply. If your current visa has a “No Further Stay” condition (such as 8503), you need a waiver first. If you do not hold a substantive visa, extra “Schedule 3” criteria apply.
• Relationship: be married to, or in a de facto relationship with, your sponsor.
• De facto partners: usually need 12 months of living together before applying. This can be waived if your relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory, or in compelling circumstances such as having a child together.
• Genuine relationship: show a mutual commitment to a shared life, to the exclusion of all others.
• Health and character: pass health checks and provide police certificates.

Sponsor requirements

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, usually aged 18 or over.
• Meet character requirements, including police checks.
• A person can generally sponsor only two partners in their lifetime, at least five years apart.
• If your sponsor came to Australia on a partner visa themselves, they generally must wait five years from that grant before sponsoring a new partner.

Partner Visa 820 Checklist: Relationship Evidence

Home Affairs looks at your relationship across four areas. A strong 820 visa document checklist covers all of them:

• Financial: joint bank accounts, shared bills, joint loans or assets, money transfers.
• Household: shared lease or mortgage, utility bills at the same address, how you share chores.
• Social: photos together over time, joint invitations, travel together, Form 888 declarations from friends or family.
• Commitment: personal statements, communication history, wills or insurance naming each other, future plans.

820 Visa Processing Time (2026)

The 820 visa processing time depends on how complete your application is and how quickly you respond to requests. According to the Home Affairs processing-time tool as at October 2026:

The 801 is normally assessed once two years have passed since you lodged the combined application. If you have already been in a relationship for three years or more – or two years with a child together – you may be eligible for the 801 at the same time as the 820.

820 Visa Fee (2026–27)

The fee rose from AUD 9,365 on 1 July 2026. It is not refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn, so getting it right first time matters. Confirm current charges with the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging.

820 Bridging Visa, Work Rights and Medicare

• Bridging Visa A: when you lodge a valid 820 application, a Bridging Visa A usually comes into effect when your current visa ends, keeping you lawful in Australia.
• Travel before the 820 is granted: apply for a Bridging Visa B before leaving Australia, otherwise your bridging visa may end when you depart.
• 820 bridging visa work rights: in most cases the bridging visa granted with a partner application has no work limits, but always check your grant notice in VEVO.
• Partner visa 820 Medicare: Services Australia says applicants for the combined 820/801 can usually enrol in Medicare once they have applied and are in Australia to live.
• If you are unlawful: you may be on a Bridging Visa E – get advice before lodging.

What Happens After the 820 Visa Is Granted?

• You can live, work and study in Australia with no restrictions.
• You can travel in and out of Australia as often as you like until the 801 is decided.
• You must tell Home Affairs about changes, such as a new address or the end of your relationship (Form 1022).
• About two years after you applied, Home Affairs invites you to provide updated evidence for the 801 – your relationship must still be genuine and continuing.
• When the 801 is granted, you become a permanent resident and can later apply for Australian citizenship.

If the relationship ends

In some cases you may still be granted the permanent visa if the relationship ends – for example, if you have a child with your sponsor, if your sponsor dies, or if you experienced family violence by your sponsor. These provisions are complex, so seek advice early.

820 vs 309 vs 300: Which Partner Visa Fits?

How GIEC Global’s Partner Visa Consultants Help

Partner visas are among Australia’s most expensive and evidence-heavy applications. As an Australia immigration consultant supporting couples in the UK and Australia, GIEC Global’s immigration consultants:

• check your onshore eligibility, visa conditions and relationship type before you pay;
• build a clear, decision-ready 820 visa checklist and evidence pack;
• review personal statements and Form 888 declarations;
• plan bridging visas and travel while you wait; and
• prepare your updated evidence for the 801 permanent stage.

Explore all options on our Migrate to Australia page or read our Australia immigration FAQs.

Reviewed by the GIEC Global Australia immigration team. Fees reflect 2026–27 visa charges; processing times reflect the Home Affairs processing-time tool as at October 2026; Medicare information reflects Services Australia guidance. Last reviewed October 2026. Visa rules and charges change regularly – always confirm details on official government websites before applying.