Waiting for an Australian partner visa can feel like your life is on hold. You are not just asking for a number. You are asking when you can plan a home, a job and a future together.
Here is the current answer. As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs decided half of all onshore (820) and offshore (309) temporary partner visas within 21 months.
Many factors affecting partner visa processing time are out of your hands. The quality of your application is not, and that is where you have real influence.
Home Affairs shows two numbers for each visa, such as “21 to 30 months”. The first is when 50% of applications were decided. The second is when 90% were decided, including complex or incomplete ones.
This guide explains the partner visa processing time for each subclass, what slows a case down and how to read your account status. Always check the official global visa processing times page for the latest figures.
Onshore vs offshore: why your location is a major timing factor
Your location on the day you lodge decides your pathway, and that shapes how you spend the wait. The two paths are called onshore and offshore.
If you are already in Australia on another valid visa (such as a student visa or visitor visa), you apply for the onshore partner visa (subclass 820/subclass 801). Once you apply, you are usually granted a bridging visa.
The bridging visa lets you stay in Australia after your current visa ends. Most partner applicants can also work and access Medicare while the application is processed.
If you are outside Australia, you apply for the offshore partner visa (subclass 309/subclass 100). There is no bridging visa, so the subclass 309 processing time is usually time spent apart. The onshore vs offshore partner visa guide compares both paths in detail.
Either way, it is a two-stage journey. You first receive a temporary visa (the 820 or 309). About two years after you applied, Home Affairs assesses you for the permanent visa (the 801 or 100).
Partner visa processing times at a glance (2026)
- The figures below are from Home Affairs, updated 2 November 2026, for applications decided up to 30 September 2026.
- The permanent-stage figures start from the date you become eligible, which is two years after you first applied.
| Visa | Stage | 50% decided within | 90% decided within |
| Subclass 820 | Onshore temporary | 21 months | 30 months |
| Subclass 801 | Onshore permanent | 6 months | 19 months |
| Subclass 309 | Offshore provisional | 21 months | 35 months |
| Subclass 100 | Offshore permanent | 9 months | 18 months |
| Subclass 300 | Prospective marriage | 18 months | 31 months |
Onshore partner visa processing time (subclass 820/801)
- You apply for the temporary and permanent visas together, in one application, while you are in Australia.
- Half of 820 applications were decided within 21 months and 90% within 30 months.
- For the second stage, see how long the 801 takes after the 820 below.
Offshore partner visa processing time (subclass 309/100)
- You must be outside Australia when you apply. Home Affairs now says you can be in or outside Australia when the 309 is decided.
- Half of 309 applications were decided within 21 months and 90% within 35 months.
- Offshore is no longer faster than onshore at the 50% mark, so older advice on this point is out of date.
Key factors that influence wait times
- Completeness: decision-ready applications, with health and police checks done early, generally see fewer delays.
- Complexity: cases with dependants, past visa refusals or complex relationship histories need more detailed checks.
- Long-term relationships: a long-term relationship can shorten the wait for the permanent visa, as explained in the 801 section below.
Want to know whether anything in your file could slow it down? A MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738) at The Migration can review your evidence before you lodge. Book a partner visa review.
How long does the 801 take after the 820?
Based on Home Affairs figures, most onshore applicants wait about two and a half years from lodgement to the permanent 801 (the two-year eligibility date plus the 6-month median). This is our estimate, not an official figure. The 801 clock starts on your eligibility date, which is two years after you lodged the combined 820/801 application. It does not start when the 820 is granted.
From that date, Home Affairs decided half of 801 applications within 6 months and 90% within 19 months. If your 820 took 21 months, the gap between the two grants can be short.
When and how you lodge the second stage
- There is no second visa fee. The 801 was part of the combined application you lodged at the start.
- Once two years have passed since you applied, you send your documents in ImmiAccount under “Stage 2 – Permanent Partner Visa Assessment”.
- Home Affairs asks you not to send them before the two-year mark. Your lodgement date is shown in ImmiAccount.
- The 801 second stage checklist lists every document.
Can the 820 and 801 be granted together?
- Sometimes. Home Affairs might grant the 801 in less than two years if you were in a long-term partner relationship with your sponsor when you applied.
- That generally means 3 years together, or 2 years with a dependent child of the relationship. Applicants often call this a “double grant”.
- It is not automatic. Your evidence still has to show the relationship is genuine and continuing.
What happens after the 820 visa is granted?
- You can live, work and study in Australia while the 801 is processed, and you can enrol in Medicare.
- You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the 820 is in effect.
- Tell Home Affairs about any change, such as a new address or passport, the birth of a child or a change in your relationship.
- Keep adding fresh relationship evidence in ImmiAccount. Home Affairs suggests doing this regularly because waits are long.
- Family visas are processed in the order set by Ministerial Direction 117 (family visa processing priorities).
If the relationship ends or your partner dies before the 801 is decided, you might still be eligible. The same applies if you experience family violence. Home Affairs explains this on its subclass 801 page. Get advice before you notify the change. The permanent partner visa 801 page covers the visa itself.
The ‘decision-ready’ approach: your best strategy to avoid delays
Beyond your location, the biggest factor affecting your timeline is the quality of your application. This is where the idea of a “decision-ready” application comes in.
A decision-ready file is complete and well organised, so the officer can see your genuine relationship without hunting for missing links.
A complete file avoids requests for more information, which is the most effective way to keep your partner visa application moving. The checklist below shows how to build a strong case from day one.
Your practical ‘decision-ready’ checklist for a stronger application
A decision-ready application shows your relationship rather than just describing it. Case officers look for evidence across four areas of your shared life, and a strong file covers each one.
Gather balanced partner visa evidence across these four areas:
- Financial aspects: how you share money, bills and major costs.
- Nature of the household: how you share a home and daily tasks.
- Social aspects: how friends, family and others see you as a couple.
- Nature of the commitment: your plans for a long-term future together.
Covering each area well leaves little room for doubt and helps the case officer make a confident decision. For the documents behind each area, read the partner visa evidence guide.
Why is my partner visa taking so long? 3 common roadblocks explained
Most long waits come from three things: the complexity of the case, requests for more information, and outside checks that Home Affairs does not control.
The first driver is case complexity. A couple married for ten years with no dependants is often simpler to assess than a new relationship, or one that includes children from previous partners. These factors need more detailed checks, which naturally extends the timeline.
The second is a request for more information. When an application has gaps, the case officer asks for more information or documents. Your case then waits until you send a complete response, usually within the time stated in the request, and each request can add weeks or months to your wait. Replying quickly and fully the first time is the best way to keep it moving.
The third is outside checks. Health and character checks are often handled by panel doctors and police services in Australia and overseas. Home Affairs has no control over how long they take, which is why the subclass 801 and subclass 100 processing times can vary.
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How long does an ART partner visa review take?
- If a partner visa is refused, the review now goes to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the AAT on 14 October 2024.
- The ART’s published figures for partner cases show 50% finalised within 3 years and 1 month, and 95% within 3 years and 11 months (ART processing times, read 10 November 2026).
- The deadline to apply for review is strict and is stated in your refusal letter.
- The partner visa refusal guide explains what to do next.
For eligibility basics, read Australia partner visa eligibility.
How to check your partner visa status without stressing out
You check your partner visa application status by logging in to your ImmiAccount and viewing the submitted application. Next to its details, you will see a status.
It is tempting to refresh this page every day. It helps to understand what each status means, and what it does not mean.
Your application moves through a few stages. It first shows “Received”, which confirms it is in the queue. It may later change to “Initial assessment” and then “Further assessment”. These often just mean a case officer has opened your file. The status does not update in real time as they work. “Finalised” means a decision has been made.
Your status will probably stay on “Further assessment” for most of the wait. It is normal for months, or even more than a year, to pass with no change. This silence is not a red flag. The ImmiAccount display is not a live tracker, so you can check it now and then and focus on what you can control.
Your path forward: taking control of your partner visa journey
The official processing times are a guide, not a fixed date, and your actions affect your journey. Knowing how the system works is your first tool for managing the wait.
Your influence lies in a complete, decision-ready application from the start. Clear, organised evidence and fast replies to any requests give your case officer everything they need.
Receiving your temporary visa is a huge milestone. You will need to provide updated evidence for the permanent stage about two years after you applied, but you can now plan your future together in Australia.
How The Migration Helps You With Your Partner Visa
The partner visa process involves detailed evidence, and the stakes are high. The Migration is an Australian immigration and education consultancy whose MARA-registered migration agents (MARN 2518738) work with couples at every stage. You can confirm registration on the MARA register.
The team takes time to understand your relationship, your history and your circumstances, then builds a plan that fits. If you are worried about your partner visa application, book a consultation with our team in Sydney.
Conclusion
The partner visa processing time in Australia is currently 21 to 30 months for the onshore 820 and 21 to 35 months for the offshore 309. That can feel long and uncertain, but you are not powerless.
A complete, decision-ready application is your strongest tool. It reduces the risk of a request for more information and gives you the best chance of a smooth outcome. Every couple’s case is different, which is why a personal risk check matters.
Not sure whether your application is strong enough? Book a consultation with a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738) at The Migration to review your case, strengthen your evidence and lodge with confidence.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not migration advice. Visa rules, fees and processing times change often, so get advice on your own circumstances from a registered migration agent before you apply.
