Are you already in Australia and want to stay with your Australian partner long-term? The onshore Partner Visa (subclass 820 and 801) might be your best option. This two-stage visa process lets you build your life together — first on a temporary basis, and later as a permanent resident. It applies to you if you’re married or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
This blog will explain these visas, show you how to apply, outline what you can expect for timelines and requirements, and describe how Ezy Immigration can help you at each stage.
What is the Onshore Partner Visa (820/801)?
The Partner Visa (subclasses 820 and 801) allows partners or spouses of Australian citizens permanent residents, or eligible NZ citizens to live in Australia.
- The 820 visa is a temporary visa granted first letting you stay and work in Australia while you wait for the permanent stage.
- The 801 visa is the permanent visa, which you apply for as a second stage two years after your initial application, if your relationship remains genuine and ongoing.
You submit a combined application for both stages meaning you apply just once and are considered for both — starting with the 820.
Who Can Apply for the 820 and 801 Partner Visas?
To apply, you need to:
- Be in Australia when you submit the visa application.
- Have a real and ongoing relationship with your sponsor.
- Be married or in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months (with some exceptions).
- Have a sponsor who is an Australian citizen permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Have a valid visa (not a bridging visa with limits).
- Pass health and character checks.
For couples living together without marriage, you might not need to live together for 12 months if you’ve registered your relationship in some Australian states or territories.
If you’re not sure about de facto timelines or how to prove your relationship, check out our detailed explanation of Partner Visa Requirements here.
Why Choose the Onshore Partner Visa
- Live with your partner in Australia while officials review your application.
- **Work ** and use Medicare once you get the 820 visa.
- Request the 801 permanent visa after two years without submitting a new application.
- You can add children as dependent applicants.
- Suits you if you’ve set up your life in Australia and want to stay put.
It’s a common choice for couples who first met in Australia or came on different visas and chose to stay together long-term.
Application Process: How It Works
- Submit a joint application for both subclass 820 and 801.
- Show solid proof of your relationship: joint finances, shared chores, mutual friends, trips taken, messages exchanged, and long-term plans.
- Get the temporary 820 visa — this can take 12–24 months, based on your situation.
- After 2 years, Immigration will ask you to send updated papers to check if you qualify for the permanent 801 visa.
If you’ve been in a long-term relationship (3+ years or 2+ with children), you might get the permanent 801 visa right away.
Common Challenges and How to Avoid Them
1. Proving Your Relationship
The Department of Home Affairs wants to make sure relationships are real. You need to give them solid proof — don’t just rely on photos. Include shared leases, bills, statements, travel bookings, and letters from friends and family.
2. Bridging Visa Conditions
Things get tricky if you’re applying from a visa that says “No Further Stay” or if you’re here . You’ll need to get a waiver before you can apply.
3. Processing Delays
Incomplete paperwork, lack of health or police checks, or drafted relationship statements can hold up your visa. Working with a registered migration agent from Ezy Immigration can help cut down these risks.
Check out our Partner Visa support services and how we help couples succeed.
Visa Costs and Timeline (as of 2025)
The Government application charge stands at AUD $8,850 for the main applicant. Extra costs include:
- Police checks
- Medical assessments
- Translation and certification of documents (when needed)
Processing times in 2025 differ:
- 820 visa: 12–24 months
- 801 visa: 6–12 more months after eligibility notice
Getting expert help to apply can reduce time and anxiety when dealing with the system.
Can I Include My Children?
Yes. Your onshore partner visa application can include dependent children. They’ll get visas that match yours — first temporary then permanent as long as they still qualify.
Our Partner and Dependent Visa Guide goes into this in more depth.
Why Choose Ezy Immigration for Your Onshore Partner Visa?
Applying for a Partner Visa carries emotional and legal weight. Errors can cost you years and lots of money. At Ezy Immigration, our registered migration agents:
- Support you in gathering robust and acceptable proof
- Help you craft tailored relationship statements
- Steer you through tricky situations (e.g., overstays, visa denials)
- Keep track of deadlines temporary visas, and talks with the Department
We’ve supported many New Zealand-Australian pairs and partners from different countries to get their 820 and 801 Partner Visas. We aim to do more than just secure approval — we want to give you clarity, peace of mind, and the chance to stay together.
Begin Your Partner Visa Process with Assurance
Living together in Australia shouldn’t be a hassle. If you’re devoted to each other and already in the country, the 820/801 Partner Visa offers a straightforward route to permanent residency and a future together.
Ezy Immigration helps couples deal with tricky immigration rules. Our registered agents can guide you, whether you’re new to the process or stuck on what to do next.
Contact our Partner Visa team now to start your onshore visa process — we’ll work on it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — but you need to be in Australia with a valid visa. You can’t have a “No Further Stay” condition unless you get it waived.
The 820 visa lets your partner stay in Australia for a while. The 801 visa allows them to live here forever after you’ve been together for some time.
No. You can apply for the 820 visa when you’re already in Australia.
Getting from your first application to the 801 permanent visa usually takes 2.5 to 3 years, but this can change.
You might lose your eligibility for the 801, but exceptions exist when kids or domestic violence are involved. Getting legal advice is essential in this situation.
Yes. Australian immigration laws recognize relationships between people of opposite and same sexes.
You could be eligible if you’ve registered your relationship in a state that allows it or if you meet other exemption criteria.
Once the bridging visa connected to your 820 becomes active, you have full rights to work.
