Partner Visas (Onshore) | Subclasses 820 and 801
Partner (Onshore) Visas
The Partner visas (subclasses 820 and 801) are the primary onshore pathway for partners or spouses of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia. This combined application allows you to stay in Australia with your partner while transitioning from a temporary permit to full permanent residency.
Subclasses 820 and 801 Partner Visas – At a Glance
| FEATURE | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Visa Type | Temporary (820) / Permanent (801) |
| Stay | 820 Temporary: Until PR decision / 801 Permanent: Indefinite |
| Cost | From $11,710 AUD1 |
| Processing Time | Subclass 820 Approx. 18 – 32 months / Subclass 801 Approx. 8 – 17 months2 |
| Key Requirement | Married or De Facto Relationship (Onshore) |
Fees are subject to change by the Department and other concession fees may apply.
To view our professional services fees click here.
Key Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 820 and 801 visas, you must meet several key criteria set by the Department of Home Affairs to prove the integrity of your commitment.
1. Marriage or De Facto Relationship
You must be legally married to your partner or in a de facto relationship. For de facto couples, you must generally demonstrate that you have lived together for at least 12 months prior to application, unless you have registered your relationship with an Australian state or territory.
2. The Four Pillars of Genuineness
The Department assesses whether your relationship is “genuine and continuing” based on four categories: financial aspects, the nature of the household, social recognition, and your mutual commitment. Strengthening these pillars with objective evidence is critical for a successful grant.
3. Eligible Sponsor
Your sponsor (your partner) must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. They must be approved as a sponsor by the Department and must not have a history of significant criminal offences or have sponsored too many partners in the past. We do all the eligibility checks beforehand.
4. Health, Character, and Onshore Status
You must be physically present in Australia at the time of application. Furthermore, you and any migrating dependents must meet Australia’s strict health and character standards, including medical exams and police clearances from all countries you have lived in for 12+ months.
How to Apply for the Subclasses 820 and 801 Partner Visas
A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility and Sponsor Status
Before lodging, we perform an audit of your relationship history and sponsor’s background. We also check for any “No Further Stay” conditions on your current visa that might require a legal submission demonstrating your eligibility for a waiver.
Step 2: Prepare and Lodge a Combined Application
You lodge the temporary subclass 820 and permanent subclass 801 applications simultaneously. Upon lodgement, you are typically granted a Bridging Visa, allowing you to remain in Australia lawfully while processing occurs.
Step 3: Grant of the Temporary 820 Visa
The Department assesses your initial evidence. Once granted, the subclass 820 allows you to live, work, and study in Australia and provides access to Medicare while you wait for the permanent stage.
Step 4: The Two-Year Transition Period
Generally, two years after your initial application lodgement, the Department will request updated evidence to confirm the relationship is still genuine and continuing. With Visa Advisory Australia, we ensure you know what you need to evidence years before this request is received.
Step 5: Grant of the Permanent 801 Visa
Upon successful review of your updated evidence, the subclass 801 is granted, conferring full Australian permanent residency.
Being on a Subclass 801 Partner Visa means…
What You Can Do on the Subclasses 820 and 801 Visas
Once the permanent 801 stage is granted, you have the full rights of an Australian permanent resident:
- Live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system.
- Sponsor eligible relatives for their own Australian visas.
- Travel freely to and from Australia for 5 years.
Your Visa Obligations
While on the temporary 820 visa, you must notify the Department if your relationship ends or your contact details change. As a permanent resident, you must comply with all Australian laws.
Please know: there are specific legislative provisions in instances where there is domestic violence in a relationship. If you and/or others in the family are experiencing domestic violence and require immigration advice, please contact us and we will arrange an appropriate professional services fees plan according to your circumstances. We will certainly waive the initial 45-minute consultation on this basis. For further support please click here.
The Pathway to Australian Citizenship
After living in Australia for a total of 4 years on a valid visa (with at least the last 12 months as a permanent resident), you may be eligible to apply for citizenship. See our Citizenship page here for further details about attaininig Australian citizenship.
Your Best Chance of Success with Visa Advisory Australia
The Partner visa process is deeply personal but legally complex. A single inconsistency in your relationship statement or a missing document can trigger a refusal. Our expert team navigates this for you.
Our Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 Partner Visa Services include:
Comprehensive Eligibility Audit: Identifying potential risks like 8503 “No Further Stay” conditions or sponsor character issues early.
Evidence Strategy: Guiding you to build a robust portfolio across the four mandatory pillars of a genuine relationship.
Decision-Ready Application: Lodgement by Registered Migration Agents (RMAs) to ensure your file is complete, minimising Departmental delays.
Bridging Visa Management: Ensuring your current status in Australia is protected throughout the years of processing.
Permanent Stage Transition: We manage the second-stage evidence collection two years later to finalise your residency.
And much, much more.
Don’t risk your future together. Talk to an expert today.
Related Visas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the
Subclasses 820/801 Partner Visas
Q: Can I apply if my current visa is about to expire?
A: Yes, as long as you are currently onshore and do not have a condition preventing a further stay. Lodging the 820/801 application typically triggers a Bridging Visa A (BVA).
Q: What is the difference between the 820 and 801 visa?
A: The 820 is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia while the 801 (permanent) stage is processed, which usually occurs two years after the initial lodgement.
Q: Can I work on an 820 visa?
A: Yes. The subclass 820 visa grants full work and study rights in Australia.
Q: What happens if my relationship ends before the 801 is granted?
A: Generally, if the relationship ends, the visa may be refused. However, there are critical exceptions for cases involving domestic violence or children of the relationship. Our firm is highly experienced and dedicated to providing immigration assistance to persons experiencing domestic violence. If you and/or others in the family are experiencing domestic violence and require immigration advice, please contact us and we will arrange an appropriate professional services fees plan according to your circumstances. We will certainly waive the initial 45-minute consultation on this basis. For further support please click here.
Q: What happens if my visa is refused?
A: If your visa is refused, you may have rights to appeal the decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Our firm is highly experienced in representing clients at the ART for partner visa matters. Our firm specialises in ART appeals for family visas – click here for further details.
- Base application charge only. Prices are subject to change. Source for Subclass 820: Department of Home Affairs Subclass 820. Source for Subclass 801: Department of Home Affairs Subclass 801. ↩︎
- Visa processing time current as of 16 April 2026. For the latest processing time click here. ↩︎
