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Expert Guidance for Your Australian Partner Visa Journey in 2026
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Australian Partner Visa Overview
You’ve found the person you want to spend your life with. Now comes the hard part: navigating the Australian migration system to ensure you can actually live together in the country through Partner Visa.
The Australian Partner Vias is more than just paperwork; it’s the bridge to your future. However, with application fees now exceeding AUD 9,000 and a refusal rate that remains high due to “insufficient evidence”, this isn’t a process you want to leave to chance.
At ONEderland Consulting, our Registered Migration Agents specialise in turning complex relationship stories into “decision-ready” applications. We handle the stress of the law so you can focus on your life together.
Are you eligible for the Partner Visa? Book a personalised consultation with our Registered Migration Agent below.
What is the Australian Partner Visa?
Simply put, the Australian Partner Visa allows the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live, work, and study in Australia.
The Australian Partner Visa consists of two-stage process:
- The Temporary Stage, consists of Subclass 820 (onshore) and Subclass 309 (offshore).
- The Permanent Stage, consists of Subclas 801 (onshore) and Subclass 100 (offshore).
Which Pathway is Right for You?
The right pathway depends entirely on where you are standing when you hit the “submit” button.
1. Applying Inside Australia (onshore)
- Subclasses 820 & 801
- Best for: Couples already living together in Australia, and the applicant is on a substantive visa, such as a Student or Temporary Work visa.
- The benefit: You usually receive a Bridging Visa, allowing you to stay in Australia with your partner while the Department of Home Affairs processes your application.
Onshore (Apply in Australia)
Temporary Partner Visa Subclass 820
Partner visa subclass 820 allows the de facto partner or the spouse of an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or New Zealand Citizen to live in Australia Temporarily. This temporary partner visa is the first stage before moving forward to the Permanent Partner Visa.
Subclass 820 Visa Key Information for 2026
- You must be married or in a de facto relationship with an Australian Citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen.
- You must be able to show a marriage certificate if your relationship is based on marriage.
- You must be able to show that you have been living together for 12 months or more if your relationship is based on de facto.
- You must be in Australia when applying for this visa and by the time of decision.
- You must hold a temporary visa before applying for this visa.
- Partner visa 820 allows the holder to stay in Australia temporarily while immigration processes their permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) application or it is withdrawn.
- Subclass 820 visa costs on average AUD9,365 for main applicants.
- 90% of partner visa subclass 820 applications take around 29 months to be finished.
Onshore (Apply in Australia)
Permanent Partner Visa Subclass 801
This visa allows the de facto partner or the spouse of an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or New Zealand Citizen to live in Australia permanently.
Subclass 801 Visa Key Information for 2026
- The applicant must hold the temporary partner visa subclass 820 when applying for this visa.
- The applicant must continue to be in a marriage or de facto relationship with their Australian partner.
- Partner visa 801 allows the holder to stay in Australia permanently.
- Subclass 801 visa costs are combined from the temporary (subclass 820) and permanent partner visa application.
- 90% of partner visa 801 applications takes around 26 months before granted.
2. Applying Outside Australia (offshore)
- Subclasses 309 & 100
- Best for: Couples where the applicant is currently overseas.
- The benefit: You can continue your life abroad while the “waiting period” passes, entering Australia once the temporary stage visa is granted.
Offshore (Apply overseas)
Subclass 309 Partner (Provisional) Visa
309 visa allows the de facto partner or the spouse of an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or New Zealand Citizen to live in Australia permanently.
Subclass 309 Visa Key Information for 2026
- You must be married or in a de facto relationship with an Australian Citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen.
- You must be able to show a marriage certificate if your relationship is based on marriage.
- You must be able to show that you have been living together for 12 months or more if your relationship is based on de facto
- The applicant must lodge the application from outside of Australia.
- The applicant must continue to be in a marriage or de facto relationship with their Australian partner.
- Subclass 309 visa holders are allowed to stay in Australia temporarily until immigration decides their permanent Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100) application or the application is withdrawn.
- Subclass 309 visa application cost from AUD9,365.
- Most of the time, 309 visa application processing time takes up to 26 months.
Offshore (Apply overseas)
Subclass 100 Partner (Migrant) Visa
Subclass 100 visa allows the de facto partner or the spouse of an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or New Zealand Citizen to live in Australia permanently.
Subclass 100 Visa Key Information for 2026
- The applicant must hold the temporary partner visa subclass 309 when applying for this visa.
- The applicant must continue to be in a marriage or de facto relationship with their Australian partner.
- Subclass 100 visa holders are allowed to stay in Australia permanently.
- Processing time for 90% of partner visa subclass 100 applications is 20 months.
3. The Engaged Pathway (Prospective Marriage)
- Subclass 300
- Best for: Couples who are engaged but haven’t married yet and don’t quite meet the 12-month de facto requirement. This visa gives you 9 to 15 monts to marry your partner in Australia and then transition to a Partner Visa.
The 4 Pillars of a Successful Application
The Department of Home Affairs doesn’t just take your word for it; they need proof.
To get an approval, your evidence must cover the four pillars of a relationship:
| Pillar | What the Department Wants to See |
|---|---|
| Financial | Joint bank accounts, shared leases, or how you split the grocery bills. |
| Household | How you share chores, mail sent to the same address, and your living arrangements. |
| Social | Photos with friends, wedding invites, travel trinkets, and Form 888 statements from family. |
| Commitment | Your long-term plans together, your communication during time apart, and your shared “future” goals. |
| Pillar | What the Department Wants to See |
|---|---|
| Financial | Joint bank accounts, shared leases, or how you split the grocery bills. |
| Household | How you share chores, mail sent to the same address, and your living arrangements. |
| Social | Photos with friends, wedding invites, travel trinkets, and Form 888 statements from family. |
| Commitment | Your long-term plans together, your communication during time apart, and your shared “future” goals. |
Why is the Partner Visa So Expensive?
As of 2026, the visa application charge is AUD 9,365. This is a non-refundable fee. If your visa is refused because of a simple mistake or a lack of evidence, the Department will not refund the fee.
Additional costs to budget for:
- Medical examinations and X-rays.
- Police clearance (from every country you’ve lived in for 12+ months).
- Professional translation for non-English documents.
Dealing with Complex Situations
Relationships are rarely perfect, and life happens. We have extensive experience helping couples navigate:
Relationship Breakdown During Processing
If a relationship ends during the visa process, the Department may allow you to continue it in certain circumstances.
Read our guide here: Partner Visa Relationship Breakdown: What Happens Next?
Family Violence Provisions
Australian migration law has provisions in place that protect applicants experiencing domestic or family violence.
In some situations, the visa may still be granted even after separation.
Read more: Full Guides on Partner Visa Family Violence Provision
Partner Visa Refusal
The Department may refuse Partner Visa applications due to insufficient evidence, inconsistent information, or eligibility issues.
Understanding the common refusal reasons can help avoid serious immigration complications.
Learn more: Why Australian Partner Visa Refused or Denied — 2026 Guide
Why Choose ONEderland Consulting?
A Partner Visa refusal doesn’t just lose you money; it can lead to a 3-year ban or a heartbreaking separation. We ensure that doesn’t happen.
- No “robot” templates: We help you write a relationship statement that sounds like you, not a legal brief.
- The “double-check” system: Our agents review every single photo, chat log, and bank statement before the Department sees them.
- Strategic communication: We handle all correspondence with the Department of Home Affairs so you don’t have to decode “immi-speak”.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can my partner cancel my visa if we argue?
No, your partner doesn’t have the right to cancel your visa; only the Department does. However, they can withdraw sponsorship during the processing stage. If you are experiencing difficulties, contact us immediately to protect your status.
2. How long will we be waiting?
Current 2026 processing times range from 12 to 24 months. We focus on submitting “decision-ready” applications, which helps the Department process your file as quickly as possible.
3. What if we aren’t married?
Australia recognises de facto relationships. As long as you can prove you’ve lived together and shared a life for at least 12 months, or have registered your relationship, you are eligible!
Australian Partner Visa Application Process
Plan Your Migration Process Professionally
Schedule an appointment with our migration agent to discover the visa option best that suits you and plan the step by step strategy.
Get Your Plan Going
Together we will make your migration dream come true by crafting a decision-ready partner visa application for you or your partner which results in an improved chance of being granted a partner visa.
Live Your Dreams
Enjoy your dreams that have now become true. You are now reunited with your partner in Australia.
Australian Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions
It is difficult to judge as every Australia partner visa application is judged on its own merits. In the past the rate was around 50% granted for every Australia partner visa but the best chance you will get for the partnership visa Australia will be engaging the services of a registered migration agent. The road to permanent residence through partner visa Australia is a long complicated process that could involve 3 different visas if you take a pathway from the PMV subclass 300 to the spouse visa Australia.
Yes even though it is at times referred to as the spouse visa Australia, it is the partnership visa Australia meaning that as long as you meet the requirements to be considered in a de facto relationship that you may apply for a partnership visa Australia. If you can not meet the requirements for being in a de facto relationship then there is also the prospective marriage visa subclass 300 which is a partnership visa Australia for engaged couples that is a pathway towards a spouse visa Australia.
As the partner visa Australia has different subclasses and streams there are several different pathways with different requirements depending on your circumstances. For the partnership visa Australia there are the onshore and offshore 2 step processes that are for de facto or spouse visa Australia.
For offshore it is the temporary subclass 309 which leads into permanent subclass 100 and for onshore it is the temporary subclass 820 into the permanent subclass 801. If you do not meet the requirements of the de facto or spouse visa Australia then you should apply for the Prospective marriage subclass 300.
The visa partner Australia generally has a cost of $7,850 AUD for the 2 step process whether onshore or offshore. If you start this pathway from the Prospective marriage visa subclass 300 then it is an additional charge of $1,660.
For the visa partner Australia if you are going through the offshore pathway then once you are granted the initial subclass 309 then you may travel to Australia while you wait for the permanent Australia partner visa subclass 100.
Both stages of the partnership visa Australia may take between 17-20 months, so in total it can take about 3 to 4 and a half years to get PR from visa partner Australia. It depends on each person’s circumstances when applying for the partnership visa Australia.
If you don’t fill the information correctly, the processing time might be longer. It may be as well that you started at the prospective marriage visa before the spouse visa Australia, in which case it will take longer to get your PR from partnership visa Australia.
You need to notify the Department that you are no longer in a relationship with your partner while on or applying for a partnership visa Australia. As an applicant of a partnership visa Australia, usually, you will have 28 days to comment and provide additional information as to why your de facto or spouse visa Australia should be granted.
If you are the sponsor and would like to no longer want to sponsor your partner for the visa partner Australia, you need to write the letter to the Department stating that you don’t want to sponsor your partner and would like to withdraw the application for the visa partner Australia.
The permanent de facto or spouse visa Australia, the subclass 100, generally will take 2 years from the time of the application of the first stage subclass 309, however you may apply directly for the de facto or spouse visa Australia
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My deepest gratitude to Mba Indah, Mba Ayu and team for all their guidance during my Spouse Visa Application process. My 820 Partner Visa was approved and only had to wait 8 months. They were very professional when handling my case. Every question i asked they always patiently explained it. Highly recomended using ONE derland Consulting
Thank you again. 10 stars for you!
enil Y.
Partner Visa (subclass 820 & 801)
