Partner visas
Two-stage visas for the person you share your life with, onshore or offshore, prepared by agents who know exactly what the evidence file needs.
$11,710 charge from 1 Jul 20262 stages one application, one fee12 months de facto rule, or registration
Both pathways are the same two-stage visa on one application and one fee, $11,710 from 1 July 2026. Apply in Australia (820/801) and you usually wait here on a bridging visa with work rights. Apply from overseas (309/100) and you wait outside Australia. Engaged couples can enter on the Prospective Marriage (300) visa first. The applications that succeed are the ones whose evidence is built properly across all four pillars.
Onshore vs offshore
| Onshore 820/801 | Offshore 309/100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | In Australia | Outside Australia |
| While you wait | Bridging visa, usually with work rights | Outside Australia; visits possible |
| Travel | Bridging Visa B needed before leaving | N/A |
| Charge | $11,710 | $11,710 |
The four evidence pillars
- Financial: shared accounts, joint commitments, how you arrange money as a couple.
- Household: living arrangements and how responsibilities are shared.
- Social: how friends, family and institutions see you, together.
- Commitment: your plans, your knowledge of each other, time apart and how you stayed connected.
Partner applications are rarely refused because the relationship isn't real. They're refused because the file doesn't prove it. De facto couples generally need 12 months living together, or a registered relationship, which in NSW removes the 12-month requirement entirely. At $11,710 non-refundable, getting the file right the first time is the whole game.
Not sure this is your pathway?
Two questions, no personal details. Get pointed in the right direction in under a minute.
Common questions
Can I work while I wait onshore?
Usually yes. Applying onshore typically grants a bridging visa with full work rights once your current visa ends. Travel needs a Bridging Visa B before you leave.
We've been together less than 12 months. Can we apply?
Often yes: registering your relationship in your state generally removes the 12-month de facto requirement, or the Prospective Marriage (300) pathway may fit.
How long does a partner visa take?
Most take well over a year, varying with the completeness of the application. A decision-ready file avoids the requests for information that add months.
Is the fee refunded if we're refused?
No. The $11,710 charge covers both stages but is not refunded on refusal, and a refusal can add review deadlines and costs.
Speak with a registered migration agent
Open 8:30am to 5:00pm AEST, Monday to Friday. Level 10 & 11, 66 Clarence Street, Sydney.