Onshore Partner or Spouse Visa (Subclass 820/801)
The Onshore Partner or Spouse Visa (Subclass 820/801) is the pathway that lets you stay in Australia with your husband, wife, or partner while your relationship is assessed for permanent residency. It works in two stages: a temporary Subclass 820 visa comes first, followed by the permanent Subclass 801 once the Department of Home Affairs is satisfied that your relationship is genuine and ongoing.
This specialized visa service page from Ezy Immigration walks you through who can apply, what proof you will need, how long the process usually takes, and what it costs. You will also find our team’s Licensed Immigration Adviser (New Zealand) and Registered Migration Agent (MARA, Australia) credentials.
What Is the Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801)?
The Subclass 820/801 is for spouses and de facto partners — including same-sex couples — of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. You apply for both stages together, in one combined application, while you are physically in Australia.
Once your application is lodged, you are usually granted a Bridging Visa A, which lets you stay in the country lawfully while your case is processed. When your Subclass 820 is approved, you can live, work, and study in Australia without restriction, and you gain access to Medicare. Around two years later, provided your relationship is still going strong, you move to the permanent Subclass 801, which gives you the same rights as any other Australian permanent resident.
Staying Together While Your Visa Is Assessed
Most couples who come to us feel the same way — hopeful about their future, but unsettled by the process. Partner visa applications ask for detailed proof of something deeply personal: your relationship. Get the evidence wrong, miss a document, or misjudge a timeline, and you risk delays that can stretch on for months, or worse, a refusal that puts everything on hold.
There is also the practical worry of visa conditions. If your current visa carries a “no further stay” condition, you may need a waiver before you can even apply. None of this needs to be figured out alone.
“You don’t have to face the paperwork by yourself. That is what we are here for — honest timelines, clear next steps, and steady support until your visa is granted.” — The Ezy Immigration Team
Our advisers review your situation early, flag anything that could cause a hold-up, and build your evidence file the way the Department expects to see it. That groundwork is often what separates a smooth application from a stressful one.
What You Gain With the Onshore Partner Visa
The Subclass 820 stage gives you the freedom to live in Australia with your partner rather than apart, with full working and study rights and access to public healthcare through Medicare while your case is assessed. You are also free to travel in and out of the country during this time.
Reaching the Subclass 801 stage brings permanent residency: the same entitlements as any other Australian permanent resident, ongoing access to government services, and a clear road towards Australian citizenship if that is your long-term goal. For many of the couples we work with, this visa is less about paperwork and more about finally being able to plan a life together without wondering what comes next.
Who Can Apply for the Subclass 820/801?
You need to be in Australia when you submit your application, and your relationship must be either a marriage recognised under Australian law or a de facto relationship, generally one that has lasted at least twelve months. That twelve-month rule can be waived if you have registered your relationship with an Australian state or territory, if you have a child together, or in cases involving family violence. Your sponsoring partner must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen, and both of you will need to meet standard health and character requirements.
Same-sex relationships and marriages are fully recognised under Australian immigration law, so same-sex couples can apply on the same terms as any other couple. If you married your partner overseas, that marriage can also count, provided it is valid under Australian law and, where needed, properly translated.
What counts as evidence of a genuine relationship?
The Department looks for proof across four areas: your finances together, how you run your household, how friends and family see your relationship, and your shared commitment to a future together. This might include joint bank accounts, a shared lease, photos across different points in your relationship, and statements from people who know you as a couple. Ezy Immigration helps you gather this evidence, organise it clearly, and present it in a way that makes your case easy for a case officer to assess.
Onshore or Offshore? Comparing Your Partner Visa Options
If you are not yet sure whether the onshore pathway is right for you, it helps to see it alongside the offshore option, the Subclass 309/100.
| Feature | Onshore — Subclass 820/801 | Offshore — Subclass 309/100 |
|---|---|---|
|
Where you must be when you apply |
In Australia |
Outside Australia |
|
Bridging visa |
Bridging Visa A granted after lodgement |
Not applicable |
|
Work and study rights while waiting |
Yes, once the 820 stage is active |
Depends on your current visa |
|
Medicare access while waiting |
Yes, once the 820 stage is active |
No, not until the visa is granted |
|
Typical wait for the permanent stage |
About two years after lodging |
About two years after lodging |
|
Best suited to |
Couples already settled together in Australia |
Couples currently living apart, applying from overseas |
If your circumstances point towards the offshore route instead, our Subclass 309/100 page covers that pathway in full, and our Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) page may also be worth a look if you are engaged but not yet married.
How Much Does It Cost, and How Long Does It Take?
The combined 820/801 application currently carries a government charge of roughly AUD 9,000 to 9,400 for the main applicant, with smaller additional charges for a partner or children included on the same application. On top of that, budget for medical examinations, police clearances from any country you have lived in, and, if you choose to use one, a migration agent’s professional fee. Government charges are reviewed each year, so we always confirm the exact current figure with you before you lodge.
On timing, the temporary Subclass 820 stage is currently taking roughly 17 to 24 months to decide, while the permanent Subclass 801 stage is generally assessed around two years after lodgement, once your relationship is confirmed as ongoing. These timeframes shift as the Department’s workload changes, which is why we track your case closely and keep you updated in plain language, rather than leaving you to guess.
How the Application Works
Ready to see where you stand? Fill out our Free Preliminary Evaluation and we will tell you, plainly, whether the subclass 189 is realistic for your profile today.
Talk to Us Before You Apply
Every relationship is different, and so is every application. Before you lodge anything, it is worth having a straightforward conversation about your situation, what evidence you already have, and what timeline you are realistically looking at. You can start with our free preliminary assessment, and if you would like to hear how this has worked out for other couples, our client stories are a good place to look.
Why Couples Trust Ezy Immigration
Australia’s partner visa system is detailed, and small oversights can lead to long delays or refusals that are genuinely painful to go through. Ezy Immigration has spent over twelve years guiding couples through New Zealand and Australian immigration, and our team includes a Licensed Immigration Adviser in New Zealand alongside Registered Migration Agents (MARA) in Australia. That dual registration matters if you are navigating this process between the two countries, since it means one team understands both sides of your move.
We plan for both stages of your visa from the outset, help you build supporting evidence that holds up under scrutiny, draft the statutory declarations and letters your case needs, and stay in touch with you right through to your permanent visa grant. You can read more about our advisers and how we work on our About Us page.
Your Future Together Starts Here
Being apart while paperwork gets sorted is hard on any relationship. The Onshore Partner or Spouse Visa (Subclass 820/801) exists precisely so that you do not have to put your life together on hold while the Department makes its decision. With the right preparation from the start, most of the stress in this process is avoidable. Ezy Immigration is here to help you get it right the first time, so you can focus on building your future together, not on paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801)?
The Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia while their relationship is assessed for permanent residency. It starts as a temporary visa (820) and, after a wait of about two years, moves to a permanent visa (801), giving you a long-term future together in Australia.
- How do I apply for the onshore partner visa if I'm a New Zealander already in Australia?
You must be in Australia when you lodge your application, so most New Zealanders already living or staying in Australia with their partner can apply onshore. You will need a genuine relationship, a sponsor who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and supporting evidence. Ezy Immigration can check your eligibility and prepare your application from New Zealand or Australia.
- What documents do I need for a Subclass 820/801 application?
You will need proof of identity, evidence your relationship is genuine, and health and character checks for both partners. Relationship evidence usually covers shared finances, a joint home, how friends and family see you as a couple, and your future plans together. Ezy Immigration helps you gather, organise, and present this evidence so your file is clear and complete before it is lodged.
- How long do onshore partner visas take to process?
Processing takes place in two stages. The temporary Subclass 820 visa is currently taking roughly 17 to 24 months to decide, while the permanent Subclass 801 stage is generally assessed about two years after you lodge, once your relationship is confirmed as ongoing. Timeframes shift as the Department updates its workload, so we track your case and keep you informed at every step.
- How much does the onshore partner visa cost, including agent fees?
The combined 820/801 application currently carries a government charge of roughly AUD 9,000 to 9,400 for the main applicant, plus smaller charges for any partner or children included. Extra costs include medical exams, police checks, and, if you use one, a migration agent’s fee. Because government charges change yearly, we always confirm the exact figure for you before you lodge.
- Can I track my onshore partner visa application once it's lodged?
Yes. Once your application is lodged, the Department of Home Affairs gives you access to an online account (ImmiAccount) where you can check its progress and upload extra documents if asked. Ezy Immigration also monitors your case on your behalf, so you always have a clear, human explanation of where things stand rather than just a status update on a screen.
- Do I need a registered migration agent, and how do I find one in New Zealand?
A registered migration agent isn’t compulsory, but the 820/801 process is detailed, and small errors can cause long delays or refusal. Ezy Immigration’s team includes a Licensed Immigration Adviser in New Zealand and MARA-registered Migration Agents in Australia, so you get properly qualified guidance whether you are based in New Zealand, in Australia, or moving between the two.
- Can I include my children in my onshore partner visa application?
Yes, dependent children can usually be included in your onshore partner visa application and move through the same two stages as you. Ezy Immigration reviews each child’s circumstances, gathers the right documents, and makes sure their interests are protected throughout the process, so your whole family’s future in Australia is considered together.
- What happens if I'm on a visitor or student visa when I apply?
You can usually apply for the 820/801 visa while holding a visitor, student, or other temporary visa, provided it does not carry a “no further stay” condition. If it does, a waiver may be needed before you can apply. Ezy Immigration checks your current visa conditions first, so there are no surprises once your partner visa application is lodged.
- What's the difference between the onshore (820/801) and offshore (309/100) partner visa?
The onshore Subclass 820/801 is for couples already living in Australia, while the offshore Subclass 309/100 suits couples applying from outside Australia. Both lead to permanent residency and use similar evidence, but where you are when you lodge, and whether you hold a bridging visa while you wait, are the key practical differences between the two pathways.
How would you like to proceed with your Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) plans?
Find on this page
New Zealand Licensed Immigration Adviser and Australia Registered Migration Agent
IAA # 201300919
MARA # 2117455
Currently in Australia and ready to build your permanent life together? Ezy Immigration helps you start your onshore migration journey without hassle. Set up a one-on-one meeting with our registered migration advisers to get personalized advice for your Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) application.
Success Stories
Hear from skilled professionals we have helped successfully migrate to New Zealand.
- What You Get From Your Free 820/801 Onshore Partner Evaluation
Ready to transition from a temporary visitor, student, or working holiday visa to permanent residency alongside your Australian partner? Take our quick 2-minute evaluation to see if your relationship history and documents meet Department of Home Affairs requirements. It is 100% free, transparent, and hassle-free. You will get clear, actionable guidance on relationship registration waivers, evidence compilation, and continuous lawful stay in Australia.
- We evaluate your proof across the 4 relationship pillars (financial, household, social, and mutual commitment)
- We verify your Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ partner's sponsorship standing and lifetime caps
- We structure a step-by-step roadmap from onshore lodgement and Bridging Visa A to final Subclass 801 PR
- Your private messages, financial files, and personal evidence remain 100% secure and protected