Partner visa Subclass 820 (On-Shore)

Partner Visa Subclass 820 — Onshore Partner Visa Australia 

If you are already in Australia and in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, the Partner Visa Subclass 820 allows you to remain in the country legally while your permanent partner visa application is assessed. 

The Subclass 820 is the temporary stage of the onshore partner visa pathway. Once lodged, it is assessed alongside the permanent Partner Visa Subclass 801 — meaning you apply for both at the same time, and the permanent visa is generally granted approximately two years after the application date if the relationship is ongoing and genuine. 

At FTS Visa Services, our MARA-registered migration agents work with couples from our offices in Parramatta, Sydney, and Melbourne to help them prepare well-organised, evidence-supported applications that reflect current Department of Home Affairs requirements. 

Key Facts: Partner Visa Subclass 820 at a Glance 

Processing times are estimates and subject to change. Always check the official Department processing times tool for current figures. 

Who Can Apply for the Partner Visa Subclass 820?

To be eligible, you must generally meet the following requirements: 

You must be in Australia at the time the application is lodged and at the time the temporary visa decision is made. This is an onshore visa — if you are outside Australia, the offshore pathway (Subclass 309/100) applies instead. 

You must be in a genuine relationship with an eligible sponsor. This includes: 

• A married spouse, or 
• A de facto partner who has been in a genuine de facto relationship for at least 12 months at the time of application (unless an exemption applies, such as a registered relationship or compelling circumstances) 

Your sponsor must be: 

• An Australian citizen 
• An Australian permanent resident 
• An eligible New Zealand citizen 

Your sponsor must be approved by the Department as a sponsor. The sponsor must also meet character and other eligibility requirements — sponsorship is not automatic, and a refused sponsor means the application cannot proceed. 

You and any included family members must meet health and character requirements, including medical examinations and police clearances from all countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. 

If any of these conditions are unclear or your situation involves complications — previous visa refusals, a short relationship history, or visa conditions — an eligibility assessment before lodgement is strongly recommended. 

What Evidence Is Required? 

Insufficient or poorly organised relationship evidence is the most common reason Partner Visa Subclass 820 applications receive requests for further information or face unnecessary delays. 

The Department of Home Affairs assesses four areas of relationship evidence. A well-prepared application provides clear, organised evidence across all four — not just one or two. 

1. Financial Aspects of the Relationship

This category demonstrates that the couple shares financial commitments and responsibilities. Evidence may include: 

• Joint bank account statements showing regular shared transactions 
• Joint loan or mortgage documents 
• Shared lease agreements 
• Joint utility, insurance, or subscription accounts 
• Each partner named as beneficiary on superannuation or life insurance policies 
• Shared financial planning records 

Note that not all couples will have every type of financial evidence — the Department assesses the overall picture rather than a checklist. 

2. Nature of the Household

This demonstrates that you are living together or, where living separately, that there is a genuine reason. Evidence may include: 

• Joint lease or property ownership documents 
• Shared utility bills addressed to both partners 
• Correspondence from government agencies (e.g. Centrelink, Medicare) addressed to both at the same address 
• Evidence of shared household responsibilities 

Where couples live apart for work, study, or family reasons, a clear explanation and supporting evidence of ongoing contact and commitment is important. 

3. Social Aspects of the Relationship

This demonstrates that your relationship is acknowledged by others and that you participate in social activities as a couple. Evidence may include: 

• Photographs together over time, including with family and friends 
• Records of travel taken together 
• Invitations, event tickets, or bookings addressed to both partners 
• Statements from family members, friends, or colleagues who know you as a couple 
• Social media records showing the relationship over time 

Statutory declarations from people who know you both well are an important part of this category. They should describe the relationship in genuine, specific terms — not just confirm that the relationship exists. 

4. Commitment to a Shared Future

This demonstrates mutual commitment to a long-term relationship. Evidence may include: 

• Future plans — shared savings goals, travel plans, family plans 
• Joint property purchases or planning 
• Personal relationship statements describing the history and future direction of the relationship 
• Evidence of time spent planning and building a life together 

Personal statements from both partners are a critical component of this area. They should be detailed, consistent with each other, and tell the story of the relationship authentically. 

What Happens After the Subclass 820 Is Lodged? 

Once your Partner Visa Subclass 820 application is lodged and your Bridging Visa A (BVA) is issued, you are able to remain lawfully in Australia while your application is being processed. The BVA includes: 

• Full work rights — you can work for any employer in any industry 
• Medicare access — if you are eligible as a partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident 
• Travel — you may be able to travel on your BVA, but this should be confirmed before departing as conditions vary 

During the processing period, the Department may contact you with a request for further information (sometimes called a Section 56 request). Responding accurately and within the given timeframe is important — delayed or incomplete responses can affect how and when your application is decided. 

At the two-year mark from the application date, the Department will reassess whether the relationship is genuine and ongoing. If the relationship has ended, the permanent Subclass 801 visa cannot be granted. If you are in a registered relationship or have been married for more than three years, a waiver of the two-year waiting period may be available. 

Onshore vs Offshore: Choosing the Right Partner Visa Pathway

If you are unsure which pathway applies to your situation — for example, if you travel frequently or your circumstances have recently changed — an eligibility assessment can clarify the correct approach before any costs are committed. 

👉 Learn about the Offshore Partner Visa Subclass 309 

Common Mistakes in Partner Visa Applications 

Even applicants who have prepared carefully sometimes encounter avoidable issues. The most common include: 

Underestimating the evidence required. Many applicants submit a thin evidence file assuming basic documents are sufficient. The Department expects a thorough and well-organised file that tells the story of the relationship across all four evidence categories. 

Inconsistent information between forms. Dates, addresses, and relationship history must be consistent across the applicant’s form, the sponsor’s form, and all supporting documents. Inconsistencies attract scrutiny. 

Not addressing gaps in the relationship. If there were periods where you lived apart, had limited contact, or faced difficulties, these need to be acknowledged and explained — not left as unexplained gaps in the evidence. 

Sponsorship issues not identified early. If the sponsor has a criminal record, prior sponsorship history, or other factors affecting eligibility, these should be assessed before lodgement. 

Slow responses to Department requests. If the Department issues a Section 56 request and the response is late or incomplete, the Department can make a decision based on the information already on file — which may not be in your favour. 

Choosing the wrong visa pathway. Applying for the onshore visa while outside Australia, or vice versa, is a fundamental error that wastes the application fee and requires starting over. 

How FTS Visa Services Supports Your Application 

Our MARA-registered migration agents provide end-to-end support for partner visa applicants, including: 

• Eligibility assessment for both the applicant and the sponsor before any costs are committed 
• Visa pathway confirmation — onshore vs offshore, and whether de facto relationship exemptions apply 
• Evidence review — assessing your current evidence file and identifying gaps across all four relationship categories 
• Sponsorship assessment — ensuring the sponsor meets all eligibility requirements before lodgement 
• Document preparation and organisation — structuring your application in line with what the Department expects to receive 
• Health and character guidance — explaining when and how to complete medical examinations and obtain police clearances 
• Application lodgement via ImmiAccount 
• Section 56 and Department correspondence — responding accurately and on time to any requests during processing 
• Two-year review support — helping you prepare updated evidence for the permanent Subclass 801 assessment 

Working With a MARA-Registered Migration Agent

Partner visa applications are among the most evidence-intensive visa categories in the Australian migration system. A MARA-registered migration agent is legally authorised to provide immigration advice and assistance under Australian law and is subject to professional conduct obligations under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. 

At FTS Visa Services, all migration advice is provided by registered professionals. You can verify the registration of any migration agent through the official register at mara.gov.au. 

Working with a registered agent means your advice is tailored to your specific circumstances, based on current migration law, and provided by someone legally accountable for the guidance they give.

Frequently Asked Questions — Partner Visa Subclass 820