If you’re in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident and you’re planning to live together in Australia, the Partner Visa 820 might be your best path forward. This visa is for people already in Australia and allows them to stay temporarily while their permanent visa is being processed.
Visa application can be daunting. But learning what's at risk with the Partner Visa 820—the time, the needs, and how to build your application—can be the key.
What Is the Partner Visa 820?
The Partner Visa 820 is a provisional visa that allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian resident, citizen, or eligible New Zealand citizen to reside in Australia. It's the first step of a two-step process to permanent residence via the Partner Visa 801.
In contrast to offshore partner visas, this visa is for applicants who are already in Australia at the time of lodging and when the visa is granted. It's usually lodged as part of a joint application with the 801 visa, i.e., you lodge both stages at the same time, though they're processed separately.
What Can the Visa Entitle You to Do?
Once you've been granted the Partner Visa 820, you can:
Stay in Australia temporarily until your permanent visa (subclass 801) is processed
Work and study in Australia
Get access to Australia's public healthcare system, Medicare
Travel to and from Australia freely (as long as you have a valid bridging visa if your existing visa has lapsed)
Have dependent children join you with your application
This visa is your gateway to establishing a life in Australia with your partner, lawfully and with access to the majority of resident benefits.
Who is Eligible for the Partner Visa 820?
You need to be genuinely, ongoing in your relationship with your partner. You can be either:
Married, or
In a de facto relationship (typically for at least 12 months unless your relationship is registered in Australia)
Other Requirements:
You need to be in Australia at the time of application as well as at the time the visa is granted
Your partner has to sponsor you (they need to be an Australian citizen, resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen)
Both you and your partner will have to be over 18 years old
You will need to be healthy and of good character
Your sponsor should not have sponsored another partner in the last five years unless there are special circumstances. They'll also have to pass character checks.
What You'll Need: Required Documents
It’s essential to back up your relationship with detailed, credible evidence. The Department of Home Affairs will want to see that your relationship is genuine and continuing. Here’s a list of common documents you’ll need to include:
Personal Documents:
Your passport
Birth certificate
National identity card (if applicable)
Relationship Evidence:
Joint lease agreements, utility bills, or bank accounts
Photos together with friends and family
Travel records, emails, texts, or social media interaction
Written statements from people who know about your relationship
Statutory declarations (Form 888) from Australian citizens or permanent residents
Other:
Police checks (from all countries where you've lived for 12+ months during the last 10 years)
Medical exams from panel doctors approved by DIBP
Affidavits from you and your partner on how you met and what you can expect in the future
The stronger and more diverse your evidence is, the more likely you will have of having an easy approval.
Getting the Visa: Step by Step
Getting the Partner Visa 820 is two major steps. It may seem straightforward, but accuracy is everything.
Step 1: Lodge the Combined Application
You lodge both the provisional Partner Visa 820 and the permanent Partner Visa 801 concurrently. Provided that your relationship remains authentic and strong two years from the date of lodging the application, the permanent visa (801) can be considered.
Step 2: Wait for Processing and Furnish Further Information
After some 24 months, the Department will request you to submit further relationship evidence to determine whether you qualify for the 801 visa.
How Much Does the Partner Visa 820 Cost?
The visa does not come cheap, so financial planning is recommended. The minimum cost as of 2025 is AUD 8,850. This is for both the 820 and 801 visa applications. Further probable costs are:
Medical tests: $300–$500
Police certificate: Varies according to place
Translation or certification of documents: Varies
Note: If you have held a Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) previously, you can be charged a lower application fee when you apply for the Partner Visa 820.
Processing Time: How Long Will It Take?
Processing times will depend upon how comprehensive and well-documented your application is. On average:
25% of applications take less than 6 months
50% take 10–14 months
90% take 20 months or less
Furnishing complete, concise documentation will help immensely in minimizing delays.
Bridging Visa: What Happens Next?
You should be able to obtain a Bridging Visa A (BVA) upon application for the Partner Visa 820. This visa commences when your existing visa lapses and will enable you to stay legally in Australia pending the processing of the partner visa.
The Bridging Visa usually comes with work and study entitlements, depending on your previous visa. If you have to leave the country for an interim stay, you would need to apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB).
What If Your Relationship Breaks Down While You Are in the Process?
Not all goes smoothly. If you split up prior to being issued the Partner Visa 820, your visa will be in jeopardy. But you have to come in to report to the Department straight away, because there are circumstances under which you can still be eligible:
When your partner passes away
When you or your child have been subject to domestic violence
When you've had shared parenting of a child from the relationship
Each instance is different, and there will be compassionate or exceptional reasons in which your visa can still go forward.
Working Tips to Upgrade Your Application
Be Consistent
All aspects of your documents must be one story—the same dates, the same facts, and the same statements must apply.
Take Maximum Advantage of Statutory Declarations
Ask close acquaintances and relations to sign 888 declarations on Form. They are powerful documents.
Create a Relationship Timeline
Mark down notable dates, i.e., the day you both moved in, went on honeymoon, met the partner's parents, etc. It will prove to be handy when you do your personal statements.
Organise Your Evidence Clearly
Cluster comparable documents together and label them accordingly. A nicely arranged application will save time.
Do Not Ignore Financial Evidence
Joint bank statements, joint bills, and electricity bills are stronger than just snapshots.
Final Tips
The Partner Visa 820 is not just bits of paper filled in with forms—it's taking a big leap towards building a future in Australia with the one you love. Although the process can be lengthy and at times stressful, spending the time to put together a good and honest application provides you with the best opportunity for success.
If your relationship is genuine, your documents are adequate, and you are willing to put in the hard yards of commitment to getting it through, the Partner Visa 820 can be your ticket to eternity in Australia.
Whatever you choose to do yourself or seek out a migration agent to assist you with, make sure you stay organized, informed, and up-to-date on it all along the way.
Best of luck!
