AU · partner · subclass 820-801
Partner visa — onshore (subclasses 820/801)
Last verified 9 July 2026· 2 sources
The onshore partner visa: a combined application where subclass 820 (temporary) is granted first and subclass 801 (permanent) is assessed about two years later. For spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and certain other eligible sponsors, applying from inside Australia.
Who it's for
People in Australia in a genuine, ongoing relationship — married or de facto — with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or other eligible sponsor . It is one application, two stages: the 820 keeps you lawfully in Australia with work rights while the permanent 801 is assessed, normally two years after lodgement .
Key requirements
- A genuine and continuing spousal or de facto relationship — de facto generally requires 12 months together before application, unless the relationship is registered under a state scheme
- Sponsorship by your partner, with sponsor character checks
- You hold a substantive visa at application, or meet Schedule 3 criteria — a significant complication that needs advice before lodgement
- Health and character requirements
Points/criteria table
Not points-tested. Relationship evidence is assessed across four pillars:
| Pillar | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Financial | Joint accounts, shared liabilities, how expenses are pooled |
| Household | Living arrangements, sharing of domestic life |
| Social | How the relationship is known to family, friends, institutions |
| Commitment | Duration, plans, knowledge of each other, time apart and why |
Process & timeline
- Combined 820/801 application lodged onshore — a bridging visa is granted for when your current visa ends
- 820 (temporary) granted after assessment — processing commonly runs one to two years
- 801 (permanent) assessed from two years after the original lodgement; long-standing relationships may go straight to permanent
Costs
| Item | Paid to | Indicative amount |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application charge (covers both the 820 and 801 stages) | Department of Home Affairs | AUD 11,710 (from 1 July 2026) |
| Health examination (onshore) | Bupa Medical Visa Services | ~AUD 300–450 |
| Police clearance certificate — India | Passport Seva Kendra | ₹500 |
| Police check — Australia (AFP), applicant and sponsor | Australian Federal Police | ~AUD 50–60 each |
| Document translations (where required) | Certified translator | Per document; varies |
| Relationship registration (optional alternative to 12 months' cohabitation for de facto couples) | State registry | Varies by state |
It is among the highest application charges in the visa program, which makes a refusal particularly costly. Amounts payable to Australian authorities and assessing bodies are in Australian dollars; costs incurred in India are shown in rupees. Figures are indicative, change periodically, and should be treated as a planning guide rather than a quote. Our advisory fees are separate — see Services & fees.
Common pitfalls
- Thin evidence in one pillar — extensive photographs and message histories do not compensate for missing financial interdependence
- De facto couples applying at eleven months without a registered relationship
- Lodging while unlawful or on certain visas without addressing Schedule 3 — one of the most technical areas of partner visa law
- Inconsistencies between the two partners' statements — interviews test detail
- Partner applications receive close scrutiny; the size of the application charge has no bearing on the standard of assessment
FAQ
We've been together five years. Do we still wait two years for permanence? Long-standing relationships (including with children) can be granted 801 without the usual interval .
Can I work while it processes? The bridging visa associated with the application generally carries full work rights .
What if my partner is in India and I'm applying from there? That is the offshore route — see subclasses 309/100.
Related visas
Sources
Review cycle: every 30 days.