Partner Visa
If you are married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, you may be eligible to apply for a Partner Visa.
There are two main pathways:
- 820 / 801 Partner Visa — For applicants who are already in Australia (onshore)
- 309 / 100 Partner Visa — For applicants who are outside Australia (offshore)
How the Partner Visa Works
The Partner Visa is a two-stage process:
Stage 1 – Temporary Partner Visa
- Subclass 820 (if applying onshore)
- Subclass 309 (if applying offshore)
This visa allows you to live in Australia (or enter Australia) while your permanent visa is being processed.
Stage 2 – Permanent Partner Visa
You become eligible to continue with the application for the permanent visa 2 years after the date you lodged your initial application.
- Subclass 801 (onshore)
- Subclass 100 (offshore)
You do not need to lodge a new application and you also don't need to have your stage 1 visa granted by this point — the Department will usually invite you to provide updated evidence around the 2-year mark.
Important Notes
- If you apply onshore (820/801), you will usually be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA) once your application is lodged. This allows you to stay in Australia lawfully while waiting for a decision.
- If you apply offshore (309/100), you must wait until the temporary 309 visa is granted before you can travel to Australia.
- Current processing times for the temporary Partner visa are typically 18 – 24 months, although some applications take longer.
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