What is the Processing Time for a Partner Visa in Australia in 2024?

The Australian Government offers various options to New Zealand citizens, Australian citizens, or permanent residents to unite with their partners, de facto partners, and prospective spouses in Australia. According to reports, the Department of Home Affairs granted 72,300 partner visas during 2021–2022. 

The application processing time for Onshore partner visas ranges between 3 to 9 months. On the other hand, offshore partner visa applications can take 5 to 8 months to be processed. 

Under a partner visa in Australia, you can live temporarily or permanently, depending on the type of category you are choosing. Moreover, the partner visa processing time varies depending on individual circumstances, the application volume, and the partner visa category you are applying for. 

What are the Types of Australian Partner Visa?

Here is the list of the main categories of partner visas in Australia:

• Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820)—Offshore
• Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 820)—Offshore
• Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)—Onshore
• Partner (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 309)—Onshore
• Partner (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 100)—Onshore

What is the Processing Time for Partner Visa in Australia?

According to the latest information provided by the Department of Home Affairs, the application processing time for Onshore partner visas ranges between 3 to 9 months. On the other hand, offshore partner visa applications can take 5 to 8 months to be processed. 

However, the processing time for each type of Australian partner visa category is different. It depends upon several factors including the completeness and number of the applications received by the Department.

Below is an overview of the different types of Australian partner visa with ample light on the processing time for each category.

1. Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820)—Onshore

A temporary partner visa (subclass 820) allows the spouse or de facto partner of an eligible New Zealand citizen, Australian citizen, or permanent resident to live and work in Australia temporarily. Candidates can submit a combined application for both the temporary and permanent visa streams. 

820 Partner Visa Processing Time

Look at the following table to check the processing time for 820 partner visas.

2. Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801)—Onshore

An 801 partner visa allows the candidates (spouses or de facto partners) of an eligible New Zealand citizen, Australian citizen, or permanent resident to live in Australia permanently. You must hold an 801 temporary partner visa to apply for a permanent visa. 

801 Permanent Partner Visa Processing Time

The processing time for an 801 partner visa is discussed in the following table:

Important Note: To speed up the processing of partner visa Australia, It is essential that you submit a strong, valid and decision-ready visa application. For this purpose, it is advisable to seek the professional advice rather than doing it alone. Schedule an online appointment now and allow us to help you get fast approval of your application.

3. Subclass 309 (Provisional) Partner Visa—Offshore

Partner visa (Provisional) subclass 309 permits the spouse or de facto partner of the eligible New Zealand citizen, Australian citizen, or permanent resident to live in Australia temporarily. This is the first step towards an offshore permanent partner visa (subclass 100).

309 Partner Visa Processing Time

Have a look at the following table to find out the approximate processing time for 309 partner visa applications:

4. Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100)—Offshore

A partner visa subclass 100 allows the de facto partner or spouse of an eligible New Zealand citizen, Australian citizen, or permanent resident to reside in Australia permanently. Candidates with a temporary partner visa (subclass 309) are eligible to apply for this visa stream. 

Subclass 100: Partner Visa Processing Time

The following table provides an overview of the estimated processing time for partner visa applications for subclass 100.

5. Subclass 300 (Prospective Marriage)—Offshore

A prospective marriage visa (subclass 300) allows the candidates to enter Australia and marry their prospective partner in Australia. After that, you can apply for a partner visa. However, make sure you are outside of Australia when applying for a prospective marriage visa. 

300 Prospective Partner Visa Processing Time

Let’s check out the processing time for a prospective marriage visa application in 2024:

Factors Affecting Partner Visa Processing Time

The Department of Home Affairs evaluates applications for partner visas on an individual basis, and processing time may differ due to various factors, including:

• How quickly do you reply to inquiries from the Department for more information?
• How many spots are available for citizenship applications in the migration program? 
• How long does it take to attend a citizenship ceremony or obtain a certificate of citizenship?
• Is your application complete and contains all the required supporting documentation?
• How long does it take you to complete the necessary verifications of the supporting documentation? 
• How long does it take to get further information from organizations, specifically regarding the character, health, and national security requirements?

Get Professional Help at The Migration

The Migration is a registered organization that provides authentic visa processing, immigration and consultancy services to the people who are seeking an Australian visa including partner visa. Our team of partner visa migration agents understands the complexities involved in partner visa processing and helps you prepare a strong, decision-ready application that will increase your chances of visa approval. 

According to the reports, 47% of the partner visa applications were refused by the Australian Government in 2016  just because they were not reviewed by the migration agents?

Therefore, it is better to seek professional advice rather than do it yourself. Getting help by a professional team will not only save your time and money but restrain your partner visa application being rejected. 

So, what are you waiting for?

Schedule an online appointment now to get a flawless, complete, and decision-ready visa application at affordable rates.

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How to Apply for a Partner Visa in Australia in 2024?

What is a Permanent Partner Visa 801 in Australia?

FAQs

How long does it take to process an Australian partner visa in 2024?

The approximate processing time for Australian partner visa applications usually ranges between 15 and 28 months. It can be varied depending on the visa category and the individual circumstances. Nonetheless, the median processing time for the first stage of the partner visa applications is 11 months. 

How long must you be in a relationship to apply for a partner visa?

To be eligible to apply for a partner visa in Australia, you must be in a genuine relationship with your partner and have resided together for at least one year. 

How long does it take to get a 309 partner visa in 2024?

Although Partner Visa 309 applications have a varying processing time, on average, the timeframe for 2024 is between 12 and 24 months. However, remember that this processing time can vary depending on individual circumstances, complicated application processes, and changes in immigration laws.

Closing Insights

So, by now, you have understood the types of Australian partner visas and the processing time for each category. Usually, the partner visa processing time in Australia takes 15 to 28 months. However, it can be varied due to several factors, including the individual circumstances, the type of partner visa you are applying for, the completeness, and the volume of the visa application being processed.