Partner visa Australia

To be eligible for a partner visa, you must be in one of the following relationship types with an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen:

• A marriage
• A de facto relationship
• A civil registered relationship
• An engagement (with marriage plans already in place)

Each partner visa subclass has its own unique eligibility requirements. However, most partner visas require that the applicant:

• Is over 18 years of age
• Is in a genuine relationship of mutual commitment to the exclusion of all others
• Has an eligible sponsor (usually your partner)
• Meets certain health and character requirements
• Doesn’t own any money to the Australian Government
• Holds a substantive visa
• Isn’t currently married to someone else, other than the partner you’re applying with

As of 1 July 2024, a partner visa application costs:

• Onshore partner visas (820/801 subclasses): AUD $9,365.00 for the main most applicant
• Offshore partner visas (309/100 subclasses): AUD $9,365.00 for the main applicant
• Prospective marriage visa (300 subclass): AUD $9,365.00 for the main applicant

These are the application fees charged by the Australian Government.

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Remember that this cost is not refundable, even if your application is rejected.

For short-term partner visa holders, you can live, work and study in Australia until your permanent partner visa is processed.

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With a permanent partner visa, you automatically become a permanent resident with full working rights and the ability to apply to become an Australian citizen after a certain period of time (usually four years after living in Australia and at least one year after receiving PR).

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Learn more in our ultimate guide to applying for a partner visa in Australia.

Australian partner visa processing times currently range from 20-29 months depending on the subclass . Onshore partner visas (subclass 820/801) typically take 24-29 months for the first stage, while offshore visas (subclass 309/100) take 20-26 months. The prospective marriage visa (subclass 300) processes in 16-23 months. Processing times can vary based on application completeness and individual circumstances. Our immigration lawyers help ensure your application is complete from day one, which can help avoid delays. This information is current as at February 2026.

The Department of Home Affairs assesses your relationship across four key areas: financial aspects (joint accounts, shared expenses), the nature of your household (living arrangements, shared responsibilities), social aspects (recognition by friends and family), and commitment (future plans, length of relationship).. Matilda will provide you with a personalised Task List with all the evidence that you need for your application.

mmigration lawyers provide legal expertise that can make a significant difference to your application's success. They assess your eligibility before you invest time and money, identify potential issues that could lead to refusal, prepare and review all documentation, lodge your application correctly, communicate with the Department on your behalf. At Matilda Migration, our free eligibility quiz and consultation helps you understand your options before committing.

Yes. If you apply for an onshore partner visa (subclass 820) while in Australia, you'll be granted a Bridging Visa A upon lodgement. This allows you to live, work, and study in Australia with no restrictions while your application is being processed. You can also access Medicare. If you need to travel overseas during processing, you'll need to apply for a Bridging Visa B before you leave to maintain your work rights upon return. Our immigration lawyers can guide you through managing your visa conditions throughout the process.

If your Partner Visa is refused, you should carefully review the refusal decision and note any deadlines that may apply. In many cases, applicants may be eligible to seek a merits review through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), subject to strict time limits. Independent legal advice can help you understand your options and next steps.

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Matilda offers a Money-Back Guarantee for Partner Visa applications. If your Partner Visa is refused, Matilda will refund the professional fees paid under this policy. Government charges and third-party costs are excluded.

No, you don't need to be married. Australia's partner visa program recognises both married couples and de facto relationships equally. If you're in a de facto relationship, you'll need to show you've lived together for at least 12 months (unless your relationship is registered or special circumstances apply). If you're not yet married but plan to be, you may also consider the Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300), which allows you to enter Australia and marry your partner within nine months. Our free eligibility quiz can help you determine which visa pathway is right for your situation.

The main difference is where you must be when you apply. The onshore partner visa (subclass 820/801) requires you to be physically in Australia when you apply and when the temporary visa is granted. The offshore partner visa (subclass 309/100) is for applicants outside Australia - you must be outside Australia when you apply and when the provisional visa is granted. Both pathways lead to permanent residency and have similar evidence requirements. Onshore applicants receive a Bridging Visa allowing them to stay and work in Australia during processing, while offshore applicants can travel to Australia once their provisional visa is granted. Processing times can vary between the two pathways. Not sure which pathway suits you? Our immigration lawyers can assess your circumstances during a free consultation.

To be eligible for an Australian partner visa, you must be in a genuine and continuing relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Both you and your sponsor must be at least 18 years old. You'll need to meet health and character requirements, including medical examinations and police clearances. If you're in a de facto relationship, you'll generally need to have lived together for at least 12 months (unless your relationship is registered or compelling circumstances apply). Your sponsor must meet eligibility requirements, including limits on how many partner visas they can sponsor and minimum timeframes between sponsorships. Not sure if you qualify? Our free eligibility quiz gives you an instant assessment of your situation.

Currently, there is no mandatory English language test requirement written into the Migration Regulations for Partner Visa applicants. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs sets out general rules for how Functional English can be demonstrated for visas that require it, but Partner Visas are not listed as requiring an English test at this time. Proposed changes to introduce English requirements for Partner Visas were discussed in earlier migration policy reviews, but as of 2026 these have not been enacted into law. Our immigration lawyers stay across all policy changes and can advise on how any new requirements may affect your application.

Partner visa applications require comprehensive documentation across several categories. You'll need identity documents (passport, birth certificate), evidence of your sponsor's Australian status, and proof your relationship is genuine across four key areas: financial aspects (joint accounts, shared expenses), household arrangements (lease agreements, bills), social recognition (photos, statutory declarations from friends and family), and commitment to each other (future plans, communication history). You'll also need police clearances from every country where you've lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years, and you'll be required to complete a health examination. Our immigration lawyers provide a tailored document checklist and review all evidence before submission to ensure nothing is missed.

Yes, de facto partners are equally eligible for Australian partner visas as married couples. To qualify, you'll need to demonstrate you've been in a genuine de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before applying. This 12-month requirement may be waived if your relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory, or if there are compelling and compassionate circumstances. You'll need to provide evidence that you live together as a couple and share a life, including financial, household, and social aspects of your relationship. Take our free eligibility quiz to see if your de facto relationship meets the requirements.