A partner visa allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia on a pathway to permanent residency. The process involves two stages: a temporary visa granted first, followed by a permanent visa assessed after a waiting period. Eligibility depends on your relationship type, your sponsor's eligibility, and whether you both meet the Department of Home Affairs health and character requirements. Contact us to assess your eligibility before you lodge

Married applicants must provide a valid marriage certificate recognised under Australian law. De facto applicants generally need to show at least 12 months of cohabitation before lodgement, though registering your relationship under state or territory law can waive this requirement in most states and territories. Both relationship types require genuine, ongoing relationship evidence across four categories: financial, household, social, and commitment.

The temporary stage generally takes between 12 and 24 months from lodgement. The permanent stage is typically assessed approximately two years after the initial application date, meaning most couples should plan for a total timeline of three to four years from lodgement to permanent residency. A well-prepared, decision-ready application reduces the risk of delays caused by requests for further information.

The government application charge for the primary applicant is AUD $11,710 from 1 July 2026, with additional charges applying for secondary applicants. Most applicants also need to budget for health examinations, police clearance certificates, and document translation, which vary depending on individual circumstances and country of origin. Government fees are non-refundable even if the application is refused, and are reviewed annually each July.

The Department of Home Affairs assesses your relationship across four categories: financial aspects, the nature of your household, your social life as a couple, and your commitment to each other. Evidence across each category can include joint bank accounts, shared lease or mortgage documents, utility bills, photographs, and statutory declarations from people who know you both (Form 888). Consistency and depth across all four categories is one of the most significant factors in the outcome of your application.

Most partner visa refusals made by a Department delegate are reviewable at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). For onshore partner visa refusals, the deadline to lodge a review application is generally 21 days from the date of notification, though you should always confirm the deadline stated in your refusal letter as it is the authoritative source. Acting promptly is critical as the ART has no power to extend time limits once they have passed.

Onshore applicants lodging a Subclass 820 application are granted a Bridging Visa A at lodgement, which activates when their substantive visa expires and provides full work rights and Medicare access. Offshore applicants lodging a Subclass 309 application do not receive a bridging visa and do not have Australian work rights while waiting outside Australia. If you need to travel outside Australia during onshore processing, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B before departing.

If you are in Australia at the time of lodgement, you apply for the Subclass 820/801 onshore pathway and receive a Bridging Visa A that keeps you lawful and working while your application is processed. If you are outside Australia, you apply for the Subclass 309/100 offshore pathway and wait overseas until the temporary visa is granted before travelling to Australia. Both pathways lead to permanent residency through the same two-stage process.

There is no legal requirement to use a lawyer, and you can lodge a partner visa application yourself. However, partner visas are among the most evidence-intensive applications in the Australian migration program, and errors or gaps at lodgement are difficult to correct after the fact since fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome. Our lawyers reduce the risk of refusal by identifying issues before lodgement, preparing your evidence package, and managing your application through to decision.

Our service covers an initial eligibility assessment, advice on the correct visa pathway, preparation and review of your application and supporting evidence, lodgement, and ongoing case management through both Stage 1 and Stage 2 assessments. Where complications arise, including Schedule 3 issues, prior refusals, or requests for further information from the Department, we advise and respond on your behalf. We charge fixed fees with no hourly billing, so you know your costs upfront.