Find your likely pathway
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Free interactive guide · Updated July 2026
Understand your Australian partner visa journey.
Get clear on the pathways, eligibility rules, relationship evidence, costs and process—then turn what you learn into a practical checklist.
About 8 minutesNo email required to learn
- ✓ Personalised starting point
- ✓ Six clear chapters
- ✓ Progress saved on this device
Your learning journey0% complete
- 01EligibilityWho can apply
- 02Visa pathways820/801, 309/100 or 300
- 03EvidenceBuild a coherent story
- 04Application processPreparation to decision
- 05Costs & timingPlan realistically
- 06Risks & next stepsKnow when to get help
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A complex process, made manageable.
General information in plain English.
Partner Visa Guide
Learn in the order that decisions happen.
Partner visa information is often scattered across subclass pages. This guide joins the essentials into one navigable experience while keeping the legal boundary clear.
Understand the evidence
See how the four relationship evidence pillars work together.
Know what comes next
Explore the stages, common risks and practical preparation steps.
Start here
Where are you starting from?
These answers tailor the explanation. They stay on this device and are not sent to Salvo Migration.
Your starting point
820 → 801
Onshore pathway
Important: educational guidance only—not an eligibility assessment or legal advice.
Chapter 1 · Eligibility
Start with the legal building blocks.
The applicant, sponsor and relationship each need to meet relevant requirements.
Eligible relationship
Usually a spouse, de facto partner or—under subclass 300—a prospective spouse.
Eligible sponsor
Usually an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Genuine and continuing
The relationship must be genuine and continuing, with mutual commitment to a shared life.
Applicant requirements
Identity, health, character, location and visa status can affect the process.
Quick check
“Every couple must have lived together for 12 months.”
That's a myth.
De facto applicants generally face a 12-month relationship requirement unless an exception applies, but married applicants are assessed under spouse criteria.
What does “genuine and continuing” mean?
Decision-makers consider the relationship as a whole: mutual commitment, exclusivity, continuity and whether the couple live together or are not permanently separated.
What if we spend time apart?
Time apart does not automatically prevent a visa, but explain why it occurred, how the relationship continued and how you remained committed.
Chapter 2 · Visa pathways
Three common routes to understand.
The applicant's location and whether the couple is married, de facto or intends to marry often shape the starting point.
Apply in Australia→Temporary 820→Permanent 801
What it is
A combined application for temporary subclass 820 and permanent subclass 801, usually made while the applicant is in Australia.
Watch closely
Current visa, conditions, lawful status and location at key stages may matter. Travel and bridging visa questions need individual checking.
Apply outside Australia→Provisional 309→Permanent 100
What it is
A combined application for provisional subclass 309 and permanent subclass 100, usually made while the applicant is outside Australia.
Watch closely
Travel plans, current visas in other countries and the applicant's location should be planned carefully.
Apply outside Australia→Prospective Marriage 300→Marry, then consider 820/801
What it is
A temporary visa for a person outside Australia who intends to come to Australia and marry their prospective spouse within the visa period.
Watch closely
The couple generally must have met face to face as adults and plan the later Partner visa before subclass 300 expires.
Good to know
Permanent-stage eligibility is generally considered two years after the original combined application, although exceptions can apply.
Chapter 3 · Relationship evidence
Show the relationship as a whole.
Strong applications usually organise evidence into four connected areas and explain what each document demonstrates.
Pillar 01
Financial aspects
Show how finances operate in real life, not merely that a joint account exists.
- Joint account activity over time
- Shared bills, rent, mortgage or major purchases
- Beneficiary nominations or insurance
- Explanations where finances remain partly separate
Dates and history should align across forms, statements and documents.
Different periods show continuity better than a last-minute bundle.
Explain circumstances that shape how your relationship looks.
Chapter 4 · Application process
From preparation to permanent stage.
The exact sequence varies, but this is the shape of a typical combined Partner visa journey.
- 01Foundation
Check the pathway and risks
Confirm subclass, sponsor position, location, current visa conditions and complicating history.
- 02Preparation
Build the evidence plan
Create a chronology, identify gaps and gather identity, relationship, sponsor, health and character material.
- 03Lodgement
Lodge through ImmiAccount
Complete the application, pay the charge and submit the sponsorship with accurate, consistent information.
- 04Assessment
Complete requirements
Upload evidence methodically and complete health, police and information requirements when appropriate.
- 05Ongoing
Respond and keep details current
Monitor correspondence, meet deadlines and notify Home Affairs of relevant changes.
- 06Stage two
Prepare for the permanent stage
Continue preserving evidence for stage two and follow Home Affairs instructions.
Do not treat the upload limit as a target.
Home Affairs currently states applicants can attach up to 100 documents for each person. Clear labelling and coherent evidence are more useful than duplication.
Chapter 5 · Costs & timing
Plan with current sources, not old figures.
Government charges and processing data change. Recheck official information immediately before acting.
Home Affairs base chargeFrom AUD 11,710
Official Visa Pricing Estimator ↗For most 820/801 applicants, as listed from 1 July 2026. Concessions and different charges can apply.
Check on the day
Charges can be indexed and payment surcharges may apply.
Allow a separate budget
Police, health, translation, certification and travel costs can add up.
Depend on scope
Legal assistance is separate. Ask what is included and whether fees are fixed.
Processing times
Use the live Home Affairs guide
Published figures describe recently decided applications—not a promise.
What can influence processing time?
Completeness, identity, health and character checks, information requests, complexity, changed circumstances and government workloads.
Chapter 6 · Risks & next steps
Know when the general guide is not enough.
Some circumstances can change strategy, validity or eligibility. Obtain individual advice if a risk point may apply.
Visa refusal or cancellation
Section 48, review rights or another restriction may affect onshore options.
Unlawful status or Schedule 3
Onshore pathways may involve additional criteria and careful timing.
No-further-stay condition
A current visa condition may prevent an onshore application unless waived.
Sponsor limitations
Past sponsorships, offences or other factors can affect sponsorship.
Health or character concerns
Medical history, criminal records and disclosure need careful handling.
Relationship change or family violence
Special provisions may be relevant. Safety comes first.
Final knowledge check
Which approach is strongest?
✓
Guide completeReady to turn knowledge into action?
You now understand the main pathways, evidence pillars, application stages and risk points. The next step is to organise your own evidence.
Get the Partner Visa Checklist →Free interactive checklist · Personalised evidence pathway · No document uploadsCommon questions
Australian Partner Visa Guide FAQs.
Clear starting answers, with official sources where information can change.
Which Australian partner visa can I apply for?+
The likely pathway depends on location, relationship status, sponsor eligibility and visa history. Common pathways are 820/801, 309/100 and subclass 300.
Do we need to have lived together for 12 months?+
Not in every case. De facto applicants generally face a 12-month requirement unless an exception applies. Married applicants are assessed under spouse criteria.
What evidence is needed?+
Evidence is commonly organised around financial, household, social and commitment aspects. Quality, consistency, context and time coverage matter.
How much does an Australian partner visa cost?+
Charges change. Home Affairs listed 820/801 from AUD 11,710 for most applicants from 1 July 2026. Check the official estimator.
How long does a partner visa take?+
Processing varies. Home Affairs publishes a guide based on recently decided cases; it is not a promise for an individual application.
Official sources
Checked against Home Affairs.
Last reviewed 21 July 2026. Government policy, charges and processing information can change.
- Partner visas: apply in Australia (820/801) ↗
- Partner visas: apply outside Australia (309/100) ↗
- Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) ↗
- Current visa pricing ↗
- Home Affairs Partner visa FAQs ↗
Legal information boundary: This guide provides general information only and is not legal advice. It does not assess whether you can make a valid application, meet visa criteria or obtain a particular outcome.