Onshore
partner visa
The primary legal route for spouses and de facto partners currently residing in Australia on a substantive visa.
The Combined Application
The Subclass 820 (Temporary) and Subclass 801 (Permanent) visas are applied for simultaneously in a single online lodgement. You are granted the 820 visa first, allowing you to remain in Australia with full work and study rights while the Department assesses your long-term commitment for the permanent 801 stage.
One government fee covers both stages. The assessment turns on the four pillars of relationship evidence - financial, household, social and commitment - measured at lodgement and again at the permanent stage.
Strategic Requirements
- ●You must be in Australia at the time of lodgement, holding a substantive visa (or with Schedule 3 issues carefully addressed).
- ●A Bridging Visa A with work rights is typically granted on application, taking effect when your current visa expires.
- ●Medicare access is typically available once the application is lodged.
2026: Decision-Ready or Refused
Home Affairs’ April 2026 partner processing update signalled a firm shift: applications should be complete and decision-ready at lodgement. Applicants should expect typically one s 56 request for further information before a decision, ImmiAccount is the only accepted lodgement channel, and stale relationship evidence, expired police checks and out-of-date health examinations are now common refusal drivers.
Our onshore methodology front-loads the evidence: we audit all four pillars, calendar the validity windows of police checks and medicals, and lodge a complete file - never a bare application to be topped up later.
Government charges (paid to Home Affairs) - from 1 July 2026
The visa application charge is not refunded if the application is refused. Health examinations, police certificates and any professional fees are additional.
Fees current as at 3 July 2026 (FY2026‑27); the charge at your lodgement date applies - confirm at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Onshore FAQs
Can I apply if my current visa is about to expire?
Timing is critical. Lodging while you hold a substantive visa keeps the pathway clean; lodging after it expires engages the Schedule 3 criteria, which require compelling reasons. Get advice before your visa runs out - options narrow quickly after expiry.
How long does the 820 stage take?
As at February 2026 the median processing time for the provisional partner stage was around 17 months. Complete, decision-ready applications are generally assessed faster because they avoid the delays of information requests.
When is the permanent 801 stage assessed?
Generally two years after you first lodged the combined application, the Department reassesses the relationship for the permanent stage. Long-term relationships and couples with children may be eligible for a faster permanent grant.
Lodge it complete. Lodge it once
Book a consultation with an Australian migration lawyer and have your onshore application audited before the Department sees it.
Book a consultation