Onshore Partner Visa (820 Visa & 801 Visa)

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Onshore Partner Visa 820 and 801

Partner Visa 820 and 801 | 820 Visa | 801 Visa
Partner Visa Australia

Partner Visa 820 and 801 are the most sought-after partner visa options. If you are married to, or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen of same sex or opposite sex, you may be eligible for partner visa 820 and 801 to live together with your spouse or partner in Australia as a permanent resident.

    • If you are in Australia and hold a valid substantive visa, you can make a combined application for Subclass 820/801 Partner visas in Australia at the same time. Certain applicants in Australia without a valid substantive visa might still be able to apply for Subclass 820/801 Partner visas. Contact us for more details.
    • If you are currently outside of Australia, you will need to come to Australia before you can make an application for onshore Partner Visas. Alternatively, you may wish to apply for offshore Partner Visas (Subclass 309/100).

Although Subclass 820 Visa & 801 Visa (onshore Partner visas) are lodged at the same time, they are assessed and granted in 2 separate stages for relationship that is not a long-term partner relationship. The processing of Subclass 801 Partner (Permanent) visa will only commence after at least 2 years has passed since the date of Subclass 820/801 Partner visas application. This is to ensure only partner with genuine & committed relationship is eligible to become an Australian permanent resident. Long-term partner relationship can be defined as a relationship that has continued for:

    • at least 2 years if there is a dependent of both the applicant and the Australian spouse/partner;
    • at least 3 years if without a child in the relationship.

Those who arrived in Australia on subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa need to marry the sponsoring partner and apply for onshore Partner visa within 9 months of receiving the 300 visa. Some of the advantages for this pathway are:

    • Partner visa applicant can live in Australia together with the Australian spouse while waiting for Subclass 820/801 visas to be processed.
    • While in Australia, partner visa applicant can usually work without restrictions in most circumstances.
    • While in Australia, partner visa applicant may apply to enrol in Medicare, Australia’s health care scheme.

Partner visa 820, 801 Processing Time – Average Processing Time 2022

The current average processing time is as below:

  • Temporary Partner 820 Visa is about 6 months for 25% of all the visa applications, 11 months for 50% of all the visa applications, 17 months for 75% of all the visa applications, and 23 months for 90% of all the visa applications.
  • Permanent Partner 801 Visa is about 81 days for 25% of all the visa applications, 5 months for 50% of all the visa applications, 9 months for 75% of all the visa applications, and 18 months for 90% of all the visa applications.

Individual processing time does vary based on the specific circumstances of the applicant and sponsor, as well as the quality of the application presented to the Department of Home Affairs. Many applications are actually processed much faster than the average processing time.

If you wish to have your visa application presented in the best quality and would like to ensure the application can be processed timely, we suggest you contact our experienced Registered Migration Agents to manage your files.

If you have already lodged the files, and now would like to get a professional to review your application or help to escalate your application, Ausdirect Migration is the right team to help you. We have helped many clients successfully accelerate their visa applications, and have a number of clients got their visas application within a week after engaging us! Though we cannot guarantee visa grants in a specific timeframe, we are very proud and confident that our professional service will surely help you improve the quality and fast track the application!

Partner Visa Assessment

Information Sheet for 820 visa and 801 visa.

Subclass 820/801: Partner Visa (Onshore)

Subclass 820 Partner visa is a temporary partner visa which leads to permanent Subclass 801 Partner visa which will only be granted once at least 2 years has passed since the Subclass 820 Partner visa application was made.

Partner visa applicant that has been in a long-term partner relationship with the sponsoring partner will be granted permanent Subclass 801 visa in a 1-step process.

Long-term partner relationship is a relationship that has continued for:
  • at least 2 years if there is a dependent child of both the applicant and the Australian spouse/partner;
  • at least 3 years if without a child in the relationship.

Stay Period

  • For Subclass 820 Partner (Temporary) visa:
  • Temporarily until Subclass 801 Partner (Permanent) visa is granted.
  • For Subclass 801 Partner (Permanent) visa:
  • Indefinitely with 5-year travel facility after which you may need to apply for Subclass 155 or 157 Resident Return visa to extend your travel facility.

    You may consider applying for Australian citizenship for unrestricted travel facility once eligibility criteria are met.

Apply from...

All applicants must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, to make a combined application for Subclass 820/801 visas and to be granted the Subclass 820 Partner (Temporary) visa.

If Subclass 801 visa hasn't been granted in a 1-step process, Subclass 820 visa holder can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, to be granted the Subclass 801 Partner (Permanent) visa.

Applicant who has applied for Subclass 820/801 Partner visa can...

  • enrol in Medicare, Australia’s universal health insurance scheme with access to a wide range of health and hospital services at low or no cost even before the partner visa grant.
To be eligible to become a sponsor for Subclass 820/801 visa applicant(s), the following sets of criteria must be met:
Sponsor must be at least 18 years old and is an Australian citizen/Australian permanent resident/eligible New Zealand citizen
The sponsor must be at least 18 years old and is either:
  • an Australian citizen; or
  • an Australian permanent resident; or
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen.
Limitation on sponsorship
There are limitations on sponsorship for sponsor that was granted a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa, a Partner visa, a Contributory Parent visa, or a Subclass 204 Women At Risk visa within the last 5 years. Sponsor usually can only make 2 sponsorships application for Subclass 300 visa or Partner visa in a lifetime. Contact us for more details in relation to limitations on sponsorship.
To make a valid application for combined Subclass 820/801 visas and/or be granted these visas, the following sets of general criteria must be met:
Not holding a Subclass 771 Transit visa
The primary visa applicant must not be a holder of Subclass 771 Transit visa at the time of submitting visa application.
Be at least 18 years old in most situation
For application involving de facto relationship, both the primary visa applicant & partner must be at least 18 years old. This is because couples must be at least 18 years old to be in a de facto relationship as outlined in Reg 2.03A of the Migration Regulations 1994.

For application involving married relationship, both the primary visa applicant & spouse must usually be at least 18 years old. This is because the minimum age to be able to get married is 18 years old under the Australian law.
Be sponsored or Sponsor has died or Sponsor has committed family violence
All applicants must be sponsored by, usually the primary applicant’s spouse or de facto partner, who is at least 18 years old and is either:
  • an Australian citizen; or
  • an Australian permanent resident; or
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen.
If the sponsoring spouse is below 18 years old, the adult parent or adult guardian of the primary applicant’s spouse can be a sponsor. Please note that this only apply to married relationship and does not apply to de facto relationship because both parties must be at least 18 years old to be in a de facto relationship as outlined in Reg 2.03A of the Migration Regulations 1994.

In limited circumstances, applicants may still be eligible for a Subclass 801 Partner (Permanent) visa if the sponsoring spouse/partner has died or any of the applicants suffered from domestic violence committed by the sponsoring spouse/partner. Contact us for more details if this applies to you.
Be in a married or a de facto relationship to the exclusion of all others
The primary visa applicant in a spousal or a de facto relationship with a person of the same-sex or opposite sex.

For married applicants, the following must apply:
  • both parties are legally married to each other and the marriage must be valid under Australian law;
  • both parties must have mutual commitment to a shared life as a married couple to the exclusion of all others. This means either party must not be in a polyamorous or polygamous marital situation;
  • the relationship is genuine and continuing;
  • live together or do not live separetely on a permanent basis.
For de facto partners, the following must apply:
  • both parties are not legally married to each other;
  • both parties are not related by family, including adoptive family relationships;
  • both parties must have mutual commitment to a shared life as a married couple to the exclusion of all others. This means either polyamorous or polygamous relationship must not involve in the de facto relationship;
  • the de facto relationship must have existed for at least 12 months immediately before the visa application date, unless there are compelling and compassionate reasons for not meeting the 12-month relationship requirement;
  • the relationship is genuine and continuing;
  • live together or do not live separetely on a permanent basis.

    • If the Australian de facto partner of the primary visa applicant is or was a holder of a permanent humanitarian (Subclass 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 215, 216, 217 or 866 visa) visa or is an applicant for a permanent humanitarian visa, the 12-month de facto relationship requirement does not apply.

    De facto relationship registered under State or Territory law of Commonwealth of Australia is exempted from meeting the 12-month de facto relationship requirement. As of the time of writing, relationship registration recognised for this purpose only available in Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.
The following persons can make a combined Subclass 820/801 Partner visas application:
  • any person who met the eligibility criteria outlined in "Eligibility Criteria" tab on this page (hereinafter referred to as "the Primary Applicant");
  • the member of family unit of the Primary Applicant, e.g.: children who are still dependent on the Primary Applicant.
If the substantive visa or the last substantive visa held by the applicant is/was a Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa or a Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, the applicant must have held that visa for at least 3 years at the time of application unless exceptional circumstances exist.

Partner Visa Document Checklist

Need help with your application for Partner Visa 820 and 801? Contact us today!

Partner visas can be very complex and our team at Ausdirect Migration is experienced in complex cases as follows:

Partner Visa Fees

Must Read for Australian Partner Visas

⇒ Australian Partner Visa 820 & 801 Application Checklist

⇒ Cost of Australian Partner Visa 820 & 801 Application

⇒ Can I apply for an Australian Skilled visa based on my skills and qualifications?

⇒ Should I use a Registered Migration Agent to manage my partner visa application?

 

Why not giving Ausdirect Migration a call at 1800 462 188 to discuss your options for Australian Visas?

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