Partner Visa Subclass 820: Requirements, Application Process, and Processing Time
By Ryan Cooper 20-01-2026 2
The Partner Visa Subclass 820 Application can be overwhelming - many forms, lots of deadlines, and plenty of pressure. It allows you to remain in Australia with your partner or spouse during your temporary stay in Australia. This blog post provides clear, detailed information on Partner Visa Subclass 820: what it means, how to apply for it, what documents you may require to apply for a Partner Visa 820, how long the application will take to process, and the overall Partner Visa 820 checklist in simple language, making it easy for you to follow along.
What is a Partner Visa Subclass 820?
A visa subclass 820 is a temporary partner visa for people who are still living in Australia. Your genuine relationship with your Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealander allows you to apply for this temporary visa. The Subclass 820 Visa is the first step in a two-step partner visa process that can lead to permanent residency through Subclass 801.
Consider the Partner Visa 820 as a pathway for your temporary stay in Australia, as the Department of Home Affairs considers your genuine relationship with your partner over time. Once you are granted the partner visa Subclass 820, you will be able to live a normal lifestyle (e.g. Work full-time; accessing Medicare; integrating into the Australian Community) without the stress of needing to worry about the expiration of your temporary visa every month.
Eligibility Criteria for Partner Visa Subclass 820 in Australia
Before applying for the Partner Visa Subclass 820, Immigration looks at two major areas to determine eligibility for the Partner Visa. The first is your relationship with your sponsor, and the second is your personal eligibility.
1. Relationship Requirements
To be eligible for a Partner Visa Subclass 820, you have to be in one of the following relationships with your sponsor:
- Married relationship
- De facto relationship.
Your relationship must be:
- Genuine and continuing
- Exclusive
- Long-term in nature
When assessing whether a couple is relationshipImmigration looks at four different areas of evidence:
- Financial aspects – joint bank accounts, shared expenses
- Nature of the household – Living Arrangements and Shared Responsibilities.
- Social aspects – photos, social recognition, statements from friends
- Commitment to each other – plans, communication history
2. Applicant Requirements
- Must be in Australia at the time of application and decision
- Meet health and character requirements
- Hold a valid visa (or be eligible for a bridging visa)
3. Sponsor Requirements
- Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Must meet sponsorship obligations
- No serious sponsorship limitations or prior breaches
Partner Visa 820 Checklist
A well-prepared application can save months of delay. Below is a simplified partner visa 820 checklist to help you stay organised:
1. Identity Documents
- Passport (all pages)
- Birth certificate
- National ID (if applicable)
2. Relationship Evidence
- Marriage certificate (if married)
- Evidence of living together
- Joint bank statements
- Utility bills and lease agreements
- Photos together over time
- Relationship statements from both partners
- Statutory declarations from friends and family
3. Sponsor Documents
- Proof of Australian citizenship or PR
- Sponsor relationship statement
- Police checks (if required)
4. Health and Character
- Police clearance certificates
- Health examination results
Uploading clear, well-labelled documents makes a big difference in how smoothly your application progresses.
Application Process for Partner Visa Subclass 820
The entire process of applying for a Partner Visa Subclass 820 must be done online and consists of a number of stages.
Step 1: Prepare the Evidence
This is the most time-consuming step. Collect and organise documents that tell the story of your relationship from the beginning until now. Quality matters more than quantity—documents should clearly support your claims.
The preparation of your evidence is the longest stage of the process. To prepare for this step, need to collect and arrange all documents that will help to substantiate your statements regarding your relationship from its commencement to date, placing more emphasis on the quality of documents than on the number of documents collected. Ensure that your collected documentation is adequate to support your claims.
Step 2: Lodge Your Online Application
Your application is lodged with the Department of Home Affairs through their online service. You will:
- Apply for Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 simultaneously
- Pay your total government application fee at the time of submitting your application
Step 3: Grant of Bridging Visa
Once you have lodged your application, you will generally receive a Bridging Visa, which permits you to reside in Australia while your application is being processed. Once the Bridging Visa becomes effective, you will normally have full authority to work in Australia.
Step 4: Requests and Updates
The Department of Home Affairs may request the following items:
- Further documentation
- Updated evidence of the relationship
- Medical and/or criminal history checks
By responding to these requests promptly, you will help avoid delays in processing the application.
Partner Visa Subclass 820 Processing Time
The time it takes to process your application will be directly influenced by how well you prepare your application. On average:
- 75% of applications are processed within 12–18 months
- 90% of applications may take up to 24 months
Factors that affect processing time include:
- Completeness of documents
- Strength of the relationship evidence
- Background checks
- Application volume at the time
Generally speaking, a well-prepared application tends to be processed in a reasonably timely manner, while an application that has been poorly prepared and therefore requires numerous contacts with your caseworker will take longer to process.
The Benefits of a Professional Consultant
Visa applications for partners are often denied because applicants do not provide sufficient evidence of a relationship, or they do not prepare their application properly. A professional visa consultant can assist you with:
- Avoid common Errors
- Organise strong evidence
- Prepare clear relationship statements
- Responding to Requests from Immigration Authorities
Although professional assistance is not a necessity, it can help alleviate some of the burdens associated with preparing and submitting a partner visa application, especially if you are a couple who wishes to minimize the risk of experiencing any delay or rejection of your application.
Conclusion
The Partner Visa subclass 820 is not just about filling out forms. It is about providing your partner with stability and security and allowing them to build a future with you in Australia. The partner visa process can be simplified by properly preparing for it, understanding what you will need to meet the requirements, and making yourself a partner visa 820 checklist.
Whether you are applying for your partner’s visa on your own or having a visa consultant Perth assist you with the proces if you take the time to create a strong application at the beginning of your application, you will be able to obtain an outcome that you will be happy with. A strong Partner Visa application will provide a cohesive story of how you and your partner have developed a life and relationship together in Australia and provide you with evidence to support your application.
