Australian Partner Visas
Assess Australian Partner Visa options with MARA-registered guidance on onshore, offshore, and prospective marriage pathways.
- Licensed advice
- Evidence and timing
- Next step
Australian partner visas allow spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia. The onshore pathway (subclass 820 temporary, then 801 permanent) is for applicants already in Australia; the offshore pathway (309 temporary, then 100 permanent) is for applicants abroad. Engaged couples can apply for the Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) before converting to the 820/801 stream after the wedding.
Eligibility
- 01
Genuine and continuing relationship with an eligible sponsor
The relationship must be genuine and ongoing at both the time of application and the time the visa is decided. The Department assesses four aspects: financial, social, household, and commitment. Evidence in all four categories is expected.
- 02
Sponsor holds Australian citizenship, permanent residence, or eligible NZ citizenship
The sponsoring partner must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Certain previous sponsorship activity can limit a sponsor's eligibility to sponsor a new partner; this must be checked before lodgement.
- 03
Relationship must be de facto, married, or prospective (for subclass 300)
Married couples can apply immediately. De facto couples must generally show at least 12 months of cohabitation or registration of the relationship. Engaged couples may apply for the prospective marriage visa (subclass 300) and then convert to a partner visa after the wedding.
- 04
Sponsor has not exceeded the sponsorship limitation rules
A sponsor may only sponsor two partners in a lifetime and cannot sponsor a second partner within five years of sponsoring the first, with limited exceptions for compelling circumstances. Sponsors who have been sponsored themselves are also subject to restrictions.
- 05
Health and character requirements for both applicant and sponsor
The applicant must undergo a medical examination and provide police clearances. The sponsor must also meet character requirements. Health waivers exist for certain conditions but must be applied for with supporting medical evidence.
- 06
No minimum English language requirement for the temporary stage
There is no English language test requirement for partner visa applicants. For the permanent stage (801 or 100), no English test is formally required, though English ability is assessed informally if an interview is conducted.
Mistakes that cost a refusal
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Providing insufficient relationship evidence across all four assessment categories; many applicants focus on documents like marriage certificates and overlook the financial intermingling, social activities, and household commitment evidence that the Department expects.
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Applying onshore (820) when the applicant should apply offshore (309), or vice versa; choosing the wrong category results in bridging visa complications or refusal.
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Not disclosing the sponsor's previous sponsorship history; a sponsor who has sponsored before may be within a restriction period, making the current sponsorship ineligible.
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Submitting a sparse statutory declaration that merely states facts without telling the story of the relationship; case officers are assessing genuineness, and a factual list is not persuasive.
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Assuming that a long or legally registered marriage is automatically sufficient without additional relationship evidence; the Department still assesses genuine ongoing commitment at the time of decision.
From first call to grant
01 · 1 wk
Strategy
Subclass selection (820/801 onshore vs 309/100 offshore vs 300 prospective marriage), sponsor eligibility check, and evidence gap analysis.
02 · 3-6 wk
Evidence build
Compiling financial, social, household, and commitment evidence across the four categories. Statutory declaration drafting and supporting statements from friends or family.
03 · 1 wk
Lodgement
Full visa application lodged online with all evidence attached and government fees paid. Bridging visa is issued automatically for onshore applicants at lodgement.
04 · 12-24 mo
Department review
Case officer review, possible request for further information, and temporary visa decision. Two-year waiting period before permanent stage decision for most applicants.
05 · 12-24 mo
Permanent stage decision
After the waiting period, the permanent visa (801 or 100) is decided. Fresh evidence of the ongoing relationship is provided at this stage.
What that buys you
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MARA-registered agents frame relationship evidence persuasively, structuring the four-category narrative so the case officer can follow the story of the relationship, not just its documentation.
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Sponsor restriction checks: agents identify prior sponsorship limitations before lodgement so the application is not refused on a procedural ground that could have been identified in advance.
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Response strategy when the case officer issues a Request for Further Information (RFI): agents know what additional evidence the Department expects and how to respond within the tight deadline.
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Pathway planning from temporary partner visa through to permanent and eventually citizenship, ensuring each stage is lodged at the optimal time with the right evidence.
We work on a transparent flat fee, quoted at the consultation. We do not publish prices because the right number is the case-specific one.
The Three Partner Visa Pathways
The onshore pathway (820/801) is for applicants already in Australia. Lodging the 820 application triggers an automatic bridging visa with full work rights for as long as the application is pending. The offshore pathway (309/100) is for applicants abroad; the temporary 309 visa grants entry and the right to live and work in Australia pending the permanent 100 decision. The Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) is for engaged couples where the applicant is outside Australia; the visa holder must marry within nine months of grant and then convert to the 820/801 onshore stream after the wedding.
The Department assesses partner applications across four categories of relationship evidence: financial, social, household, and commitment. Strong applications address all four in depth; applications that rely on a marriage certificate alone without corroborating evidence are consistently queried by case officers.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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How long does the partner visa process take in total?
The temporary stage (820 or 309) is typically decided in 12 to 24 months. After a further waiting period of usually two years from the original lodgement date, the permanent stage (801 or 100) is assessed. The total process from application to permanent residence commonly takes three to five years.
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Can my partner work in Australia while the visa is being processed?
Yes. Onshore applicants (820) receive a bridging visa at lodgement, which carries full work rights. Offshore applicants (309) cannot work in Australia until the temporary partner visa is granted and they enter on it.
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What if our relationship ends before the permanent stage is decided?
If the relationship ends before the permanent stage is decided, the temporary visa remains valid but the permanent stage will be refused unless specific family violence provisions apply. We advise on the options available at each stage if circumstances change.
Next step
Speak with a licensed advisor about your visa options.
A focused consultation routed to the right licensed advisor. Continue independently after the call, or proceed with us and have the consultation fee deducted from the service fee.