Most people picture a partner visa as a single yes or no. It is not. It is one application that gets decided twice, often years apart, and grasping that one fact is the difference between a calm wait and a miserable one.
Whether you apply from inside Australia or outside it, you lodge a temporary visa and a permanent visa together, and you pay one combined fee. Onshore, that is the Subclass 820 then the 801. Offshore, the 309 then the 100. The temporary stage is judged first. The permanent stage is judged roughly two years later. This is exactly why experienced australian migration lawyers tell couples to treat a partner visa as a relationship file they keep feeding, not a form they fire off once and forget.
Onshore or offshore: your location calls the shots
Where the applicant stands when they apply decides the pathway. Apply onshore while holding a valid visa and you generally get a Bridging Visa A, which keeps you lawful, lets you work, and gives you Medicare while you wait. Need to leave the country before the 820 is granted? Apply for a Bridging Visa B first. Leave without one and your bridge can simply cease, and you may not get back in on it.
Offshore applicants get no Australian bridging visa. You wait outside the country until the 309 comes through, then you fly in and start your life here.
Married or de facto: does it matter?
Both are recognized, and the visa is the same. What changes is what you have to prove. If you are married, a valid marriage certificate does a lot of the heavy lifting on the fact of the relationship. If you are de facto, you generally need to show you have lived together, or at least not lived separately on a permanent basis, for at least 12 months before you apply.
There is a useful shortcut. If you register your relationship with an Australian state or territory that offers it, you can usually skip the 12 month de facto requirement. Couples who have been together a while but only recently moved in together often overlook this, and it can save a year of waiting to apply.
What it costs, and how long you will wait
Brace yourself. This is one of the pricier visas going, with a base charge sitting around 9,000 Australian dollars in early 2026, and that is before health checks, police certificates, translations, and any professional help. Dependent children add more.
The wait is long and it moves around. In early 2026 the median for the onshore temporary stage was about 17 months, with a real world range closer to 12 to 24. The permanent stage is then assessed around two years after you lodged. Add it up and most couples should plan for three to four years from first application to permanent residence. It is a marathon, so pace yourself.
The four pillars of evidence
The Department needs to be satisfied your relationship is genuine and ongoing. It checks four areas, and a strong file shows a steady pattern across all of them, not a mountain in one and a molehill in the rest.
| Pillar | What it proves | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Financial | Shared money and commitments | Joint accounts, shared bills, big purchases together |
| Household | A life under one roof | Lease or title in both names, shared chores, mail to both |
| Social | Recognized as a couple | Photos over time, invitations, statements from friends and family |
| Commitment | A future together | Knowing each other’s lives, time together, joint plans |
Why good applications still get delayed
In 2026 the Department wants decision ready files. A complete, consistent application moves. One that triggers a Request for Information stalls, and that can cost you months. The usual culprits are painfully avoidable.
- Thin evidence. Two or three documents per pillar will not cut it. They want to see a relationship that runs across time.
- Dates that do not match. You say you moved in together in March, your partner’s statement says April. A case officer will spot it, and now they are wondering what else is off. Cross check everything.
- Outstanding checks. A missing police certificate or an unfinished health exam can freeze an otherwise excellent file.
What if things go wrong: separation and family violence
Life does not pause while a visa processes, and the rules account for that. If your relationship breaks down after you lodge, the general position is that the visa can no longer be granted, because the relationship it depends on has ended. But there are important exceptions worth knowing about.
If your Australian partner passes away, or if there has been family violence in the relationship, you may still be able to be granted the permanent stage in certain circumstances. The family violence provisions exist precisely so that a person is not forced to stay in a dangerous relationship simply to keep their visa hopes alive. These cases are sensitive and evidence-heavy, and they are exactly the situations where early, careful advice matters most.
A real timeline
| Worked example. Sam, an Australian citizen, and Priya, on a student visa, marry in Melbourne. They lodge onshore, so Priya moves to the 820 and is granted a Bridging Visa A that lets her keep working. Eleven months later she needs to visit family overseas, so she applies for a Bridging Visa B first and travels without breaking her bridge. Her 820 is granted at 16 months. Around two years after lodgement, the Department assesses the 801, sees a continuing relationship backed by two years of joint finances and a shared lease, and grants permanent residence. One application, two decisions, roughly three years start to finish. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I work while I wait?
Onshore applicants on a Bridging Visa A usually have full work rights and Medicare access while the application is processed. Offshore applicants wait outside Australia until the temporary visa is granted.
Can I travel overseas during processing?
Not on a Bridging Visa A alone. You must apply for and be granted a Bridging Visa B before you leave, or your bridge can cease and leave you stuck outside the country.
Do I have to apply for the permanent stage separately?
No. You apply for both stages together and pay one fee. The Department simply assesses the permanent stage later, usually about two years after lodgement.
What happens if my current visa expires while I wait?
If you applied onshore while holding a valid visa, your Bridging Visa A generally activates when your substantive visa ends, so you stay lawful without a gap.
Does a shorter relationship mean automatic refusal?
No, but it does mean the Department looks harder at whether the relationship is genuine and continuing. Strong, consistent evidence across all four pillars matters even more when the relationship is newer.
Strip away the paperwork and a partner visa is an emotional thing. The couples who suffer least are the ones who take the evidence seriously from the start and remember they are not waiting on one decision. They are building toward two.
This article is general information only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Fees and processing times change regularly, and family violence and bereavement provisions are complex. Check current figures and seek advice from a registered professional before acting.
