Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801)

Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801): Complete 2026 Guide

The onshore partner visa is a two-stage pathway to permanent residency for partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. You apply while you're in Australia, receive the temporary subclass 820 first, then the permanent subclass 801 follows — usually about two years later. At $9,095 for a single application covering both stages, it's a significant investment, but it's also one of the most direct routes to permanent residency available.

Quick Facts: Onshore Partner Visa

How the Two-Stage Process Works

The onshore partner visa is really two visas combined into one application:

Stage 1 — Subclass 820 (Temporary Partner Visa): Assessed first. If approved, you get a temporary visa allowing you to live and work in Australia while waiting for the permanent stage.

Stage 2 — Subclass 801 (Permanent Partner Visa): Assessed approximately two years after your 820 application date. If your relationship is still genuine and continuing, the permanent visa is granted.

You submit one application and pay one fee. The Department assesses the 820 first, then contacts you around the two-year mark (from the date you applied) to request updated evidence for the 801 assessment.

The Exception: Long-Term Relationships

If you've been in a de facto relationship for three or more years at the time of application, or two or more years with a child of the relationship, you may be eligible for direct permanent residency — skipping the temporary stage entirely. This means you could receive the 801 without waiting two years.

Eligibility Requirements

Your Relationship

You must be in one of these relationship types:

• Married: Legal marriage recognised under Australian law (including overseas marriages)
• De facto: Living together on a genuine domestic basis for at least 12 months (some exceptions apply)
• Same-sex: Both married and de facto same-sex relationships are fully recognised

For de facto relationships, the 12-month cohabitation requirement is the most common hurdle. Exceptions may apply if:

• You've registered your relationship with a state or territory registry
• There's a compelling reason you couldn't live together (e.g., one partner was overseas on a work assignment)
• You have a child together

Your Sponsor

Your Australian partner must:

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Be at least 18 years old
• Not have sponsored more than one partner visa before (there's a lifetime limit of two, with a five-year gap between sponsorships)
• Not have been sponsored for their own partner visa within the last five years (in most cases)
• Pass character checks

You (The Applicant)

• Must be in Australia when you apply and when the 820 is granted
• Must meet health requirements
• Must meet character requirements
• Must be a genuine partner in a continuing relationship

The Bridging Visa Advantage

When you lodge your 820/801 application while holding another substantive visa in Australia, you're automatically granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This bridging visa activates when your current visa expires and gives you:

• Lawful status in Australia while your partner visa is processed
• Full work rights (unrestricted)
• Medicare eligibility
• Travel rights: You can apply for a Bridging Visa B before travelling overseas, which lets you re-enter Australia

This is one of the biggest advantages of the onshore pathway. Even though processing takes 15-28 months (or longer), you can live, work, and access healthcare in Australia throughout.

Evidence Requirements

The Department assesses four main aspects of your relationship. You need strong evidence in all four categories.

1. Financial Aspects

Evidence that you share financial responsibilities and resources:

• Joint bank accounts with regular transactions
• Joint credit cards or loans
• Shared rental lease or mortgage
• Shared household bills (electricity, internet, insurance)
• Shared financial commitments (car loans, investments)
• Evidence of financial support for each other

You don't need to merge every dollar. Having some individual accounts is normal. The key is showing financial interdependence and a shared approach to finances.

2. Nature of the Household

Evidence that you live together and share domestic life:

• Joint lease or property ownership
• Shared household bills in both names
• Mail addressed to both of you at the same address
• Evidence of shared responsibilities (cooking, cleaning, maintenance)
• Statutory declarations from others confirming your cohabitation

3. Social Aspects

Evidence that others recognise you as a couple:

• Joint invitations to social events
• Photos together at various times and in various contexts
• Social media showing your relationship
• Travel together (flight bookings, hotel reservations in both names)
• Statutory declarations from friends and family
• Joint memberships (gym, clubs, etc.)

4. Commitment

Evidence of your mutual commitment:

• Length of the relationship and its history
• Knowledge of each other's backgrounds, families, circumstances
• Future plans together (property purchases, investment plans, discussion of children)
• Combined wills, life insurance beneficiaries, superannuation nominations
• Power of attorney arrangements

Statutory Declarations

You'll need statutory declarations from:

• You and your partner: Detailing your relationship history, how you met, when you decided to commit, your living arrangements, and your future plans. These should be personal, detailed, and consistent with each other.
• Two witnesses: Friends or family members who know your relationship well. They should describe specific observations about your relationship — not generic statements.

How Much Evidence Is Enough?

More is generally better, but quality matters more than quantity. A well-organised application with strong, relevant evidence in all four categories is more effective than a massive pile of every receipt you've ever shared.

Aim for:

• At least 3-5 pieces of evidence in each category
• Evidence spanning the duration of your relationship
• A mix of official documents and personal items
• A coherent narrative that tells the story of your relationship

Cost Breakdown

The second instalment charge applies if the main applicant doesn't have functional English at the time the 801 is assessed. You can avoid this by providing evidence of functional English (IELTS 4.5 overall, or equivalent) or by having studied in English for at least five years.

Processing Times

Subclass 820 (Temporary)

Current processing times for the 820 are approximately:

• 25th percentile: 8 months
• 50th percentile: 15 months
• 75th percentile: 22 months
• 90th percentile: 28 months

These times fluctuate. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for current estimates.

Subclass 801 (Permanent)

The 801 is assessed approximately two years from the date of your original application. If you applied on 1 March 2026, expect the Department to contact you around March 2028 for updated evidence. The actual assessment of the 801 stage can take an additional few months after you provide your updated evidence.

Application Process Step by Step

1. Create an ImmiAccount: Both you and your sponsor need accounts
2. Sponsor approval: Your sponsor lodges a sponsorship application (can be combined with the visa application)
3. Gather evidence: Compile documents across all four relationship aspects
4. Complete the application form: Form 47SP (main applicant) and Form 40SP (sponsor)
5. Upload documents: Through ImmiAccount
6. Pay the fee: $9,095 (plus additional applicant charges if applicable)
7. Health examination: Complete within 28 days of request, or proactively before applying
8. Police clearances: From every country you've lived in for 12+ months since age 16
9. Wait for 820 assessment: Bridging visa provides work rights and Medicare
10. 820 granted: Temporary partner visa
11. Two-year mark: Department contacts you for updated evidence
12. Provide updated evidence: Fresh relationship evidence, updated police checks
13. 801 assessed and granted: Permanent residency

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Insufficient evidence of cohabitation: If you haven't been living together for 12 months as de facto partners, your application may face problems. Make sure you can demonstrate a genuine shared household.

Generic statutory declarations: "They seem happy together" doesn't help much. Witnesses should describe specific events, observations, and interactions that demonstrate the relationship is genuine.

Inconsistencies between your statements: If your version of how you met or when you moved in together differs from your partner's, the Department will notice. Compare your statements before submitting.

Waiting too long to apply: If your current visa is about to expire, you need to lodge before it does. Once you're unlawful, you can't apply for most visas onshore.

Not budgeting for the second instalment: If you don't have functional English, the additional $3,090 at the 801 stage can be a surprise. Plan for it or take an English test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while waiting for my partner visa to be processed?

Yes. The Bridging Visa A granted when you lodge your application includes full work rights. You can work for any employer in any occupation with no hour limitations.

Can I travel while my partner visa is being processed?

You can, but you need a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you leave Australia. The BVA does not allow re-entry. Apply for a BVB through ImmiAccount before your travel — it costs AUD $185 and is usually granted within days.

What happens if we break up during processing?

If your relationship ends before the 820 is granted, the visa will generally be refused. If it ends between the 820 and 801, the 801 will generally be refused. There are exceptions for family violence — if you separated due to family violence by your sponsor, you may still be eligible.

Can same-sex couples apply for the partner visa?

Yes. Australia fully recognises same-sex marriages and de facto relationships for immigration purposes. The evidence requirements are identical to those for opposite-sex couples.

Do I need to be married?

No. De facto relationships (including same-sex) are accepted. You need to show you've been living together for at least 12 months on a genuine domestic basis, or that you've registered your relationship with a state/territory, or that there are compelling circumstances for not meeting the 12-month requirement.

How long does the whole process take from application to permanent residency?

Typically 2-3 years in total. The 820 is processed in approximately 15-28 months, and the 801 is assessed around the two-year mark from application. Once the 801 is granted, you have permanent residency.