Partner Visa Onshore Subclass 820/801

Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) is for applicants inside Australia when application is made, while the Partner Visa (Subclass 309/101) is for applicants outside Australia when application is made.

Both onshore and offshore applications cost the same, and all criteria are the same.

Partner visa have two parts. A temporary visa (subclass 309 for offshore and subclass 820 for onshore), and a permanent visa (subclass 101 for offshore and subclass 801 for onshore). Applicant must lodge the temporary visa first, get the approval and wait for the invitation before they can apply for the permanent visa.

 Married vs De facto

 Partner visa can be lodged and granted when the sponsor and applicant are in a genuine relationship. The couple can be either married or in a de facto relationship.

Married Applicants must be committed to share a life together, and have a continuing and genuine relationship. Must live with each other and do not live apart on a permanent basis.

De facto applicants must be in a genuine relationship, without being married to each other. The de facto relationship must have existed for at least 12 months immediately before you apply for the visa. Usually this means living together and share a life together for more than 12 months. Online relationship will not count as being in a de facto relationship. De facto applications usually require much more evidence compared to married applicants. If marrying is not an issue, it is recommended to lodge a married application.

Criteria for the Sponsor

You must meet all the following criteria to be eligible to sponsor your partner.

• Sponsor must be an Australian permanent resident, citizen, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Sponsor must be above the age of 18.
• Sponsor must not have been sponsored for, and granted, a Partner visa less than 5 years.
• Sponsor must not have sponsored more than 1 other person for a Partner visa less than 5 years.
• Sponsor must not have sponsored more than a total of 2 partner visa applicants.
• Sponsor must have good character, and have never been charged or convicted of serious offences.
• Sponsor must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship with the applicant.
• The relationship can be with someone of the same or different sex.

Criteria for the Applicant

You must meet all the following criteria to be eligible to apply.

• Applicant must be sponsored by their partner.
• Applicant must be above the age of 18.
• Applicant must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship with the sponsor.
• Applicant may bring dependent child(ren) into this application at the time of application or they can be added after application have been lodged.
• Applicant must have good character.
• Applicant must meet all health requirements.
• Applicant must have no debts to the Australian Government.

Duration of the visa

Applicants who have the temporary visa approved may stay on the visa until the permanent visa is decided or the application withdrawn. Once permanent visa is granted, applicant will be able to stay in Australia indefinitely. After 5 years, the applicant must renew their Permanent Residency (Resident Return Visa 155)

Cost of Visa

The current visa costs for Partner Visa is AU$7,715 for the main applicant. Addition fees apply for additional applicants.