Australian Partner Visa
Australian Partner visas allow eligible spouses, de facto partners and prospective spouses of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to join or remain with their partner in Australia.
The correct pathway depends on relationship status and applicant location. Married and de facto partners use combined temporary and permanent pathways, while eligible prospective spouses may use Subclass 300 before marrying.
Understanding Partner Visa Pathways
Australia's Partner visa program includes onshore and offshore pathways for spouses and de facto partners, plus a temporary visa for eligible applicants intending to marry their Australian sponsor. Each pathway has specific location, relationship, sponsor and application requirements.
The temporary partner stage does not automatically guarantee permanent residence. Applicants must continue satisfying relationship, identity, health, character and other requirements at every relevant stage.
Main Partner Visa options
Onshore Partner Visa – Subclass 820/801
This combined pathway is generally for an applicant who is in Australia when lodging. Subclass 820 is the temporary stage, followed by the permanent Subclass 801 stage. Current visa status, application validity, No Further Stay conditions and bridging-visa implications require careful assessment before lodgement.
Offshore Partner Visa – Subclass 309/100
This combined pathway is for an applicant outside Australia when lodging. Subclass 309 is the provisional stage that allows the holder to live in Australia, followed by permanent Subclass 100 assessment when eligible.
Prospective Marriage Visa – Subclass 300
Subclass 300 is for an eligible applicant outside Australia who intends to marry their Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen prospective spouse. After entering Australia and marrying within the visa period, the applicant generally applies onshore for Subclass 820/801.
Core relationship requirements
Spouse and de facto applicants must demonstrate a genuine and continuing relationship, a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others, and that they live together or do not live permanently apart. Marriages must be valid under Australian law.
De facto applicants generally need to meet an applicable relationship-duration requirement unless an exception applies. Prospective Marriage applicants must genuinely intend to marry and live together as spouses.
Who can sponsor a partner?
The sponsor generally must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Sponsorship approval is separate from the visa decision, and limitations may apply due to previous partner sponsorships, certain offences, age or other circumstances.
How the Partner visa process works
Select the correct pathway
Assess current location, relationship status, visa conditions and intended marriage arrangements.
Check sponsor eligibility
Review citizenship or residence status, sponsorship history, character and support obligations.
Prepare relationship evidence
Organise financial, household, social and commitment evidence with detailed personal statements.
Lodge applicant and sponsor forms
Submit the correct application through ImmiAccount and attach complete supporting documents.
Maintain and update the case
Complete requested checks and provide updated evidence for the permanent stage when eligible.
Four areas of relationship evidence
Financial aspects: joint accounts, shared expenses, property, loans, insurance, leases and household bills.
Nature of the household: living arrangements, domestic responsibilities, correspondence and care of children.
Social aspects: witness statements, recognition by family and friends, photographs, invitations, travel and joint activities.
Nature of commitment: relationship history, communication during separation, knowledge of each other and plans for a shared future.
Temporary and permanent stages
Applicants for the 820/801 and 309/100 pathways lodge the temporary and permanent applications together. Permanent-stage eligibility normally begins two years after the original combined application date, although earlier consideration can apply in limited circumstances.
Updated relationship and character evidence is generally required for the permanent stage. Family violence, sponsor death or an eligible Australian child can affect ongoing eligibility when a relationship ends.
Important Partner Visa Responsibilities
- Choose the pathway that matches your location and relationship status.
- Provide accurate and consistent relationship information.
- Disclose previous relationships and sponsorship history.
- Continue collecting evidence after application lodgement.
- Complete identity, health and character checks when requested.
- Notify the Department about relationship and family changes.
- Check visa and travel conditions before leaving Australia.
Documents commonly required
Documents may include passports, birth and marriage records, divorce evidence, sponsor status records, relationship statements, joint financial and household documents, travel and communication evidence, photographs, witness statements, police certificates, health examinations and dependent-child records.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can identify the appropriate Partner visa pathway, assess applicant and sponsor eligibility, review current visa conditions, organise relationship evidence and assist with application, sponsorship and permanent-stage preparation.