Partner Visa Australia – Eligibility, Requirements & Application Process

Moving to Australia to be with your partner is a life-changing step. This process involves the Partner Visa Australia, a complex category of visas under Australian migration law. You must navigate a distinctive two-stage framework to achieve permanent residency. Most applicants start with a temporary visa before moving to a permanent one. This ensures every relationship is authentic and enduring.

The journey requires significant preparation and deep honesty. You will need to open your relationship to government scrutiny. Success depends on proving your partnership is genuine and continuing. Immigration officers look for evidence across four key pillars of your shared life. These include your financial ties, household arrangements, social recognition, and long-term commitment.

Whether you are married or in a de facto relationship, specific rules apply. De facto couples often face a strict 12-month cohabitation rule. However, options like relationship registration can streamline your path. This guide breaks down every requirement to help you avoid common pitfalls. We provide a step-by-step roadmap for your application. Start your journey today and build your future in Australia together.

What is a Partner Visa Australia?

A Partner Visa Australia is a category of family visas under Australian migration law that allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia. These visas serve the crucial purpose of enabling couples to remain together in Australia while one partner navigates the immigration process.

The Two-Stage Process

The migration law partner visa Australia follows a distinctive two-stage framework. Initially, applicants receive a temporary partner visa (subclass 820 for onshore applications or subclass 309 for offshore applications). This provisional visa allows partners to live, work, and study in Australia while their relationship is assessed over time. After approximately two years, applicants become eligible for the permanent partner visa (subclass 801 for onshore or subclass 100 for offshore), provided the relationship remains genuine and continuing.

This staged approach ensures that relationships are authentic and enduring, protecting the integrity of Australia’s migration program.

Married vs. De Facto Relationships

Australian migration law recognises both married and de facto partnerships for visa purposes. A married partner visa requires legal marriage documentation recognised under Australian law. Conversely, a de facto partner visa applies to couples in committed relationships who aren’t legally married but have lived together in a genuine domestic partnership.

For de facto relationships, couples must typically demonstrate they’ve lived together for at least 12 months before applying. However, this requirement may be waived in certain circumstances, such as when the couple has registered their relationship.

Relationship Registration in Australia

Relationship registration Australia provides an alternative pathway for de facto couples who haven’t met the 12-month cohabitation requirement. Several Australian states and territories offer relationship registration schemes that formally recognise de facto partnerships. Couples who register their relationship through these state-based programs may apply for a de facto partner visa without needing to prove 12 months of cohabitation, streamlining the application process and demonstrating their commitment to Australian authorities.

Types of Partner Visas

There are Two types of Partner visas designed for the Partners that are inside Australia and outside Australia, called Onshore partner visa and offshore partner visa.

Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801)

The onshore partner visa pathway is designed for applicants who are already physically present in Australia when they submit their application. This route consists of two linked visa subclasses that form a single application process.

Temporary Visa (Subclass 820)

The temporary partner visa (subclass 820) is the initial stage for onshore applicants. This provisional visa allows applicants to live, work, and study in Australia while the Department of Home Affairs assesses their relationship. Getting this visa represents the first step toward securing permanent residency and ensures couples can remain together during the processing period.

Cost:

• AUD $9,365.00 – for Primary applicants
• AUD $1,560.00 – for Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) holders
• Additional applicant charge 18 and over – applicable
• Additional applicant charge 18 and over – applicable

Stay:

This visa remains valid on a temporary basis until a decision is reached on your permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) or the application is withdrawn.

Permanent Visa (Subclass 801)

Following approximately two years on the temporary visa, applicants become eligible for the permanent partner visa (subclass 801). This visa grants full permanent residency rights in Australia and is typically only available to those who currently hold the temporary subclass 820 visa. Applicants must demonstrate that their relationship remains genuine and continuing.

Cost:

• You already paid for this visa when you made your applications for the temporary and permanent Partner visas.

Stay:

• Having this visa, you can permanently stay in Australia, but you must hold a temporary partner visa subclass 820.

Partner Visa Bridging Visa Rights

Importantly, applicants for the onshore partner visa receive bridging visa rights while awaiting a decision on their subclass 820 application. This bridging visa ensures applicants can legally remain in Australia, work, and access certain benefits during the processing period, preventing any gaps in their lawful status.

Offshore Partner Visa (Subclass 309/100)

The offshore partner visa pathway is available for applicants who are located outside Australia at the time they lodge their application. Like the onshore route, this pathway consists of two interconnected visa subclasses processed as part of a single application.

Temporary Visa (Subclass 309)

The Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) serves as the initial temporary stage for offshore applicants. This visa permits the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia temporarily. Obtaining this visa represents the first step toward achieving permanent residency status through the partner visa (subclass 100).

Stay:
This visa allows you to stay temporarily until a decision is made on your permanent Partner visa (subclass 100) application, or until you choose to withdraw it.
Cost:

• AUD 9,365.00 for Primary applicant 
• AUD 4,683.00 for additional applicant charge 18 and over
• AUD 2,345.00 for additional applicant charge 18 and over

You can check cost by using Official Australian Immigration website cost.

Permanent Visa (Subclass 100)

After approximately two years on the provisional visa, applicants become eligible for the Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100). This permanent visa allows applicants to remain in Australia indefinitely and is typically granted only to those who currently hold the temporary subclass 309 visa. Applicants must continue demonstrating that their relationship remains genuine and ongoing.

Stay:

Permanently

Cost:

The cost of this visa was included in your initial application fee for both the temporary and permanent Partner visas.

Onshore Vs Offshore partner visa side-by-side comparison

Below is the compression between onshore and offshore partner visa

The KEY DIFFERENCE is location:

Onshore (Subclass 820/801):

• Must be IN Australia when you apply
• Must be on Bridging Visa or Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)  to stay in Australia while processing
• Can work and study on the Bridging Visa

Offshore (Subclass 309/100):

• Must be OUTSIDE Australia when you apply
• No Bridging Visa (must wait overseas)
• Can apply based on an intended marriage (as long as you marry before decision is made)

One additional point for offshore visas: You can apply for a Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) if you’re engaged but not yet married. This gives you 9-15 months to come to Australia and get married to your partner then apply for partner visa.Y

Confused  about which one partner visa suitable for you, let’s connect with our MARA Agent Now! Because…. MARA Agent know well.

Am I Eligible? The Core Requirements for a Partner Visa

To apply for a partner visa, your Australian partner must agree to support your application. In this official role, they are known as your sponsor. To qualify, your sponsor must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. They also have to meet character requirements and accept certain sponsorship obligations, promising to support you during your initial settlement in Australia.

Age Requirement

Both you and your sponsor must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application. This is a mandatory requirement with no exceptions.

Your Relationship Status

Your eligibility hinges on the nature of your relationship. You can apply if you are legally married to your sponsor. If you’re not married, you must prove you are in what immigration calls a de facto relationship, which means you live together as a committed couple.

For most de facto applicants, you will need to show that your relationship has existed for at least 12 months immediately before you lodge your application.

Exceptions to the 12-Month Rule

The 12-month relationship requirement can be waived if:

• You have registered your relationship with an Australian state or territory registry, or
• You have a child together, or
• You can demonstrate compelling and compassionate circumstances

Previous Marriage Considerations

If either you or your sponsor were previously married, you must provide proof that all prior marriages have legally ended. Acceptable evidence includes:

• Divorce certificates
• Annulment documents
• Death certificates (if widowed)

Sponsorship Limitations

Your sponsor can generally only sponsor two partner visa applicants in their lifetime. There must be at least five years between sponsorships. Some exceptions apply, but if your sponsor has previously sponsored others, this could affect your eligibility.

The Genuine Relationship Test

Your relationship must be assessed as genuine and continuing. This is the most critical test. Immigration needs to be convinced that you are not just a couple on paper, but that you share a real life and intend to do so permanently.

Immigration assesses four key aspects of your relationship:

• Financial aspects: Joint bank accounts, shared expenses, joint ownership of property or assets
• Nature of your household: Living arrangements, shared responsibilities, domestic routines
• Social aspects: Recognition as a couple by family and friends, joint social activities, public presentation
• Nature of your commitment: Future plans together, length of relationship, knowledge of each other, emotional support

Your entire application is about telling this story through evidence.

Health and Character Requirements

Beyond your sponsor’s character obligations, you as the applicant must also meet health and character requirements. This includes:

• Health examinations
• Chest x-rays and medical tests as required
• Police clearances from countries where you’ve lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
• Character declarations

Building Your Case: Understanding the Four Pillars of Evidence

After choosing where to apply, your main task is to prove your relationship is “genuine and continuing” to the Department of Home Affairs. You need to build a complete picture of your shared life. To assess this, case officers use a framework known as the “four pillars of evidence.” Thinking in these categories will help you create a strong application.

The goal is to show how you and your partner are intertwined in every key aspect of life. Your evidence should cover:

• Financial Aspects: How you share money and financial responsibilities.
• Nature of the Household: How you live together and share domestic duties.
• Social Aspects: How others in your community recognise you as a couple.
• Nature of the Commitment: How you see your long-term future together.

By providing proof across all four pillars, you present a balanced and convincing story of your relationship. This framework is your best guide for creating an effective evidence checklist. It’s less about one “magic” document and more about how all the pieces fit together.

Pillar 1: How to Prove Your Financial Interdependence

The most powerful items for your evidence checklist are those that clearly show shared responsibility. A joint bank account that you both use for income and expenses like groceries, rent, or utility bills is the gold standard.

Other strong evidence includes a joint loan for a major purchase like a car, a rental agreement in both your names, or joint ownership of a significant asset. These documents officially link you together and demonstrate a serious level of financial commitment.

If you don’t have a joint account or a major loan, you can still build a strong case. Provide individual bank statements showing regular money transfers between you, with descriptions like “for rent” or “shared bills.” You could also show that one partner pays for the electricity while the other pays for the internet and groceries. Naming your partner as a beneficiary on your life insurance or superannuation is another excellent way to prove this link.

Pillar 2: How to Prove You Share a Household

If your living situation isn’t captured on an official lease, you can still provide strong proof. This is a common hurdle when learning how to prove a de facto relationship. Gather any mail from government agencies, banks, or doctors addressed to you both individually at the same address. Even online shopping invoices showing deliveries to both of you at home can help build a convincing picture.

This pillar also extends beyond paperwork to the daily realities of your partnership. In your relationship statement, you should describe how you divide domestic responsibilities. 

Explain who handles the cooking, who takes care of the cleaning, and how you manage household shopping. This narrative paints a vivid picture for the case officer, showing that you operate as a team to run your home.

Pillar 3: How to Prove Your Relationship is Socially Accepted

The Department of Home Affairs needs to see that your relationship is known and accepted by your community. This is where the Form 888 statutory declaration becomes one of the most powerful items on your checklist. This is a formal statement written by your friends and family who must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, vouching for the fact that they know you as a genuine and committed couple. Getting at least two of these declarations is a critical step.

Beyond official forms, your photo collection tells a powerful story. Compelling photos include other people’s pictures from family dinners, holidays with friends, or you attending a wedding together. These images demonstrate that your relationship isn’t a secret but an open and recognised part of your social circle. An invitation to an event addressed to both of you also helps by showing that others view you as a single unit. 

Pillar 4 : Nature of the Commitment

Both partners embrace their future with full awareness of its responsibilities and with complete devotion to one another. They continuously support each other’s personal and professional aspirations, navigate life’s challenges as a united front, and remain wholeheartedly dedicated to growing together — not by circumstance, but by deliberate and conscious choice.

Example: “We have discussed settling permanently in Melbourne, where we plan to purchase our first home within the next two years. We have already begun saving jointly toward this goal.”

The 12-Month Rule for De Facto Partners: What It Is and How to Meet It

If you’re applying as a de facto couple, one of the most critical requirements you’ll face is the “12-month rule.” This means you must prove that you have lived together as a couple for at least 12 continuous months immediately before lodging your visa application. The Department sees this cohabitation period as strong, objective evidence that your relationship is established.

Fortunately, there are important exceptions that may allow you to proceed without proving a full year of cohabitation. The main exceptions are if:

• You and your partner have a child together.
• You have formally registered your relationship with an Australian state or territory government.
• Your de facto relationship is illegal in your home country.

For many couples, the most powerful exception is registering a relationship. This formal process provides an official government certificate legally recognising your partnership. It effectively waives the need to prove 12 months of living together and is one of the clearest ways of showing how to prove a de facto relationship for a visa.

Partner Visa vs. Prospective Marriage Visa: Which Path Is Right for You?

While the Partner Visa is for married or de facto couples, what if you’re not there yet? If you are committed to marriage but haven’t lived together, the Prospective Marriage Visa (often called the fiancé visa or Subclass 300 visa) may be a better fit. Its purpose is to allow you to travel to Australia, specifically to marry your Australian partner.

The core difference is the requirements. Instead of needing to prove 12 months of cohabitation, the Prospective Marriage Visa requires you to show that you are engaged, have met in person at least once, and genuinely intend to get married. This makes it ideal for long-distance couples who are ready to close the gap but don’t yet meet the strict de facto evidence rules.

If granted, the Subclass 300 visa gives you up to 9 months to enter Australia and marry your partner. Once you are legally married, you can then apply for an onshore Partner Visa to remain in the country permanently. Think of it as a dedicated stepping stone that brings you to Australia for the wedding, which then opens the door to your formal partner visa application.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Lodging the Partner Visa Application

Once you’ve decided the Partner Visa is your path, the next stage is the application process itself. Everything happens online through the Department of Home Affairs’ official portal, called an ImmiAccount. This is your personal dashboard for managing your entire application.

A crucial detail is that applying is a team effort. The application has two parts: one for the visa applicant and one for the Australian sponsor. First, the applicant completes their online application. After it’s submitted, your partner will complete their separate sponsorship form, which then links directly to yours. Both parts are required.

Breaking it down into simple steps, the process looks like this:

1. Prepare Your Evidence

Think of this as building a “story of us” for a very skeptical audience. The Department of Home Affairs wants to see that your relationship is genuine and continuing. You’ll need to organize documents into four main pillars:

• Financial: Joint bank statements, shared leases, or utility bills in both names.
• Household: How you share chores, mail addressed to the same home, and living arrangements.
• Social: Photos of you together, invitations sent to you as a couple, and travel tickets.
• Commitment: Statutory declarations (Form 888) from friends and family confirming you’re a real couple.

2. Create an ImmiAccount

This is your personal digital “portal” to the Australian government.

• You’ll go to the official Department of Home Affairs website to sign up.
• Pro Tip: Use an email address you check daily. This is how they will notify you if they need more info or (hopefully) when the visa is granted.
• You only need one account; both the applicant and the sponsor can use the same login to manage the two different parts of the application.

3. Complete the Applicant Form

This is the “heavy lifting” for the person who actually wants the visa.

• The form (usually Form 47SP) asks for your entire life history everywhere you’ve lived, worked, and traveled for the last 10 years.
• You don’t have to finish it in one sitting. You can “Save” and come back to it.
• The Critical Moment: You aren’t officially “in the queue” until you hit submit and pay the application fee, which is quite substantial.

4. Complete the Sponsorship Form

Once the applicant has submitted their part and paid, a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) is generated.

• The Australian partner (the sponsor) uses that TRN to start their own form (Form 40SP).
• This form focuses on the sponsor’s ability to support the applicant and their own background.
• Don’t skip this: The application isn’t considered “complete” by the department until the sponsor’s form is linked and submitted.

5.Upload & Pay

 Attach all your prepared evidence and pay the visa application charge to officially lodge your application

That first step, preparing everything upfront, is the most important. The best strategy is to ‘front-load’ your application, meaning you submit a complete, evidence-heavy file on the day you lodge. This helps demonstrate the strength of your relationship immediately and can prevent lengthy delays.

Avoiding a Visa Refusal: The 3 Most Common Application Pitfalls

After investing so much time and money, the thought of a visa refusal is stressful. Thankfully, most reasons for refusal are preventable. The number one pitfall is failing to provide enough convincing evidence that your relationship is both “genuine and continuing.” Without a deep and consistent collection of documents across the four pillars, a case officer may not be satisfied that your relationship meets the legal standard.

Beyond the weight of your evidence, small inconsistencies across your application can create serious doubts. If you state in your relationship history that you moved in together in May, but a rental agreement shows the lease started in July, a case officer may see a red flag. Ensuring your dates, details, and personal statements all align is crucial for building trust.

Another critical hurdle is the Character Test. The government assesses your past conduct, including any criminal records, to ensure you are of good character. It is vital to be truthful and disclose everything required, as attempting to hide information can be far more damaging than the issue itself. Similarly, the applicant must also pass a standard health examination.

Avoiding a partner visa rejection comes down to building a case that is honest, consistent, and thoroughly documented. By carefully preparing your evidence, double-checking your facts, and being upfront in all your statements, you put yourself in the strongest possible position for a successful outcome.

How The Migration Helps You In Partner Visa Success

The partner visa is one of the most document-heavy and emotionally demanding applications in the Australian immigration system. Even small mistakes can cause delays, additional requests, or a refusal. Working with a registered migration agent makes a real difference.

The Migration offers expert support across Australia. Our registered MARA agents review your eligibility, build a strategic evidence plan across the four key pillars, assist with relationship statements, and audit every document for inconsistencies prior to lodgement. Most importantly, we handle your case with total discretion, ensuring your personal information remains strictly confidential.

Whether you prefer a face-to-face meeting at one of our offices in Sydney or Melbourne, or an online consultation from elsewhere in Australia or overseas, you will receive the same high level of personalized guidance.

Conclusion

The partner visa journey is one of the most personal and important applications you will ever make. It asks you to open your relationship to scrutiny, gather years of shared memories into documents, and trust a process that takes time. But thousands of couples complete it successfully every year. The key is preparation, honesty, and patience. 

Start early, build your evidence across all four pillars, and treat every step as an investment in your future together. Australia is waiting. With the right approach, so is your permanent life there as a couple. Ready to start your partner visa journey? Book a consultation with the migration and start your journey in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions About Partner Visa Australia

Q1: How do I qualify for a partner visa for Australia? 

To qualify, you must be married to or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Both you and your sponsor must be at least 18 years old. Your relationship must be genuine, continuing, and supported by evidence across financial, household, social, and commitment aspects.

Q2: How long does it take to get a partner visa in Australia?

The temporary stage (subclass 820 or 309) typically takes between 17 and 24 months to process. The permanent stage (subclass 801 or 100) takes a further 7 to 13 months. In total, the entire partner visa journey from lodgement to permanent residency can take up to 3 years or more.

Q3: How to apply for a partner visa in Australia? 

Applications are lodged online through the Department of Home Affairs’ ImmiAccount portal. The applicant completes their visa form first, then the Australian sponsor completes a linked sponsorship form. You will need to upload all supporting evidence and pay the application fee at the time of lodgement.

Q4: What makes a partner visa complex? 

A partner visa can become complex if you have a long-distance relationship history, previous visa refusals, criminal records, or limited shared evidence. Situations involving previous marriages, children from prior relationships, or short relationship histories also add complexity. In these cases, professional guidance from a registered migration agent is strongly recommended.

Q5: Can you work in Australia on a temporary partner visa? 

Yes, if you applied onshore, you will receive a Bridging Visa that allows you to work full-time while your subclass 820 application is being processed. Once your temporary partner visa (subclass 820) is granted, you have full work rights in Australia. Offshore applicants on the subclass 309 visa also have full work rights once they enter Australia.