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Partner visa (subclass 820 801)

AustraliaFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Australia Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

This combined onshore pathway is for the spouse (married) or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The temporary Partner (Subclass 820) visa is the first stage and leads directly to the permanent Partner (Subclass 801) visa, applied for together as one combined application while the applicant is in Australia.

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Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The applicant's partner, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, sponsors them for the temporary Subclass 820 visa, and the same sponsor covers both stages of this onshore pathway: the permanent Subclass 801 visa depends on continuing to hold the Subclass 820 visa and remaining in the sponsored relationship, with no separate sponsorship process required for the second stage.

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What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

Relationship proof on this combined pathway centres on being in Australia when the applications are lodged and being in a genuine relationship as the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Detailed spouse, de facto and 12-month rules are set out on the official Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 pages rather than on the combined page.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Detailed relationship-proof rules (12-month de facto requirement, forced-marriage carve-outs, registered-relationship exception) are documented on the dedicated Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 pages, not repeated in full on this combined listing.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The sponsor must assist the partner and any family members included in the application, financially and with their accommodation. If the applicant or any family members owe the Australian Government money, they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back. Applicants not eligible for Medicare are recommended to take out health insurance; otherwise they are personally liable for all their healthcare costs while in Australia.

See recorded sources

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

The pathway runs from a temporary visa (Subclass 820), which permits living in Australia while the permanent application is processed, to a permanent visa (Subclass 801) granted once eligibility is confirmed, ordinarily two years after the combined application was lodged. The combined application costs from AUD11,710.00 for most applicants, or from AUD1,955.00 for people who already hold a Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) visa, with no additional cost when the permanent Subclass 801 visa is later granted.

See recorded sources

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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