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What Is the Partner Visa?
Sponsored by Citizen or PR
Australia's Partner Visa program allows Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to sponsor their spouse or de facto partner for residency in Australia.
Temporary then Permanent
A two-stage process — a temporary visa is granted first, then assessed for permanent residency after the eligibility period, typically around 2 years from initial lodgement.
820/801 (Onshore) or 309/100 (Offshore)
Apply onshore via the Subclass 820/801 pathway if you are in Australia, or offshore via the Subclass 309/100 pathway if you are outside Australia at the time of application.
Family Reunion
Recognises genuine relationships and allows couples — including same-sex and de facto partners — to build their future together in Australia. Dependent children can also be included.
Eligibility
Genuine Relationship
Applicants must demonstrate a genuine and continuing relationship with mutual commitment to a shared life — evidenced across four aspects: financial, social, nature of household, and nature of commitment.
Married or De Facto
Both married and de facto partners are eligible. De facto couples must generally demonstrate a relationship of at least 12 months unless the relationship is formally registered.
Sponsor Eligible
The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who is able to support the applicant and meets character requirements set by the Department.
Meet Health & Character
All applicants and included dependants must satisfy standard Australian immigration health examinations and character requirements, including police clearances from relevant countries.
Two-Stage Process
Stage 1 – Temporary (820 or 309)
The temporary partner visa is granted first — Subclass 820 for onshore applicants (with Bridging Visa at lodgement) or Subclass 309 for offshore applicants. This stage covers the initial eligibility assessment.
Stage 2 – Permanent (801 or 100)
The permanent visa — Subclass 801 (onshore) or Subclass 100 (offshore) — is assessed approximately 2 years after initial lodgement. The couple must demonstrate the relationship remains genuine and continuing.
How ABEE'S Consultancy Helps
Relationship Assessment
We assess your relationship against the four legislative aspects and advise on the strength of your evidence before lodgement — identifying any gaps that could delay or jeopardise your application.
Application & Evidence Preparation
We prepare a complete, structured application — including relationship timeline statements, statutory declarations (Form 888), and all supporting evidence — for both the applicant and sponsor.
Stage 2 Permanent Visa Support
We guide you through the permanent stage assessment — ensuring your ongoing evidence of the relationship is compiled correctly and submitted to the Department at the right time.
Documents Required
- Passports and identity documents for applicant, sponsor, and included dependants
- Marriage certificate or evidence of de facto relationship registration (if applicable)
- Joint financial evidence (bank accounts, shared bills, joint assets)
- Household evidence (rental or lease agreements, shared address documents)
- Social evidence (photographs, travel records, social media, communication history)
- Statutory declarations from third parties (Form 888) attesting to the relationship
- Relationship timeline statement prepared by applicant and sponsor
- Health examination results and police clearances from all relevant countries
Frequently Asked Questions
De facto couples must generally demonstrate at least 12 months of cohabitation unless the relationship is formally registered under a state or territory register. Married couples have no minimum relationship duration requirement.
Yes. Dependent children can be included in the application at lodgement or added later. They are subject to the same health and character requirements as the primary applicant.
Cohabitation is not strictly mandatory, but the couple must demonstrate a genuine and continuing relationship. Where partners live apart, strong evidence of the relationship and a credible explanation for the separation are required.