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Partner Visa 820/801 Australia 2026: Onshore Partner Visa Guide
The subclass 820 and 801 pathway is Australia's onshore Partner visa route for eligible spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens. Applicants lodge the temporary subclass 820 and permanent subclass 801 applications together, but the Department usually assesses them in stages.
For the wider visa system, see the Australian Visa Subclass Database.
How the 820 and 801 pathway works
The subclass 820 is the temporary stage. It allows an eligible partner or spouse to live in Australia while progressing toward the permanent subclass 801. The subclass 801 is the permanent stage and is generally for people who hold the subclass 820.
Home Affairs states that the permanent-stage processing period ordinarily starts from the date of eligibility, which is generally two years after the combined temporary and permanent Partner visa application was lodged. Some applicants can be assessed earlier, including in circumstances recognised by the migration framework.
Relationship requirements
The applicant must satisfy the relevant spouse or de facto relationship requirements. The Department examines whether the relationship is genuine and continuing, whether the parties have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of others, and whether they live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.
For de facto applicants, the usual 12-month relationship requirement can be affected by factors such as a registered relationship or compelling and compassionate circumstances. The exact rule depends on the applicant's circumstances and the applicable legislative criteria.
What relationship evidence matters?
Home Affairs commonly examines four broad areas: financial aspects, the nature of the household, social aspects and the nature of the parties' commitment to each other. Strong applications usually rely on a coherent body of evidence rather than one document.
See our dedicated guide to partner visa relationship evidence.
What if the relationship ends?
A relationship ending does not automatically produce the same outcome in every Partner visa case. The Migration Regulations contain exceptions and special pathways in certain circumstances, including domestic and family violence, death of the sponsor and some child-related circumstances. Applicants should obtain advice before assuming the application must be withdrawn.
Read our guide to family violence provisions for Partner visa applicants.
Partner visas in the Family Migration Program
Partner visas are the largest component of Australia's Family stream. Planning figures are useful for understanding the scale of the program, but they do not predict the processing time or outcome of an individual application.
See the latest Partner Visa Statistics Australia 2026.
Official sources
This article provides general information only. Partner visa eligibility and permanent-stage outcomes depend on the Migration Act 1958, Migration Regulations 1994, the applicant's visa history, relationship facts and the law in force at the relevant time.
