The Partner Visa (Subclass 820) is a temporary onshore visa for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. live, work, and study in Australia while awaiting a decision on the permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801).
The partner visa 820 is a type of temporary Australian partner visa. It allows individuals to live together with their partner in Australia. 

The 801 visa grants permanent residency to individuals to work, live, and access the benefits of living in Australia indefinitely. This visa acts as the first step partner visa process. If you are going to apply for this visa, you will have to prove that you are in a genuine ongoing relationship with an Australian partner and wish to live together with that person.

The following rights will be granted to its holder: Work in Australia during the processing period, Study in the country, and Travel in and out of the country. 

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Benefits Partner Visa Subclass 820 (Onshore)

  • Live in Australia: Stay legally in Australia while your permanent partner visa is processed.
  • Work Rights: Full rights to work in Australia and gain local job experience.
  • Study Access: Freedom to study or attend training programs like other residents.
  • Travel Flexibility: Travel in and out of Australia freely while the visa remains valid.
  • Pathway to Permanent Residency: This is the first stage toward a permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801).
  • Apply for PR After 2 Years: If your relationship is still genuine and ongoing, you can apply for permanent residency after 2 years.
  • Access to Medicare: You may be eligible for Australia’s public healthcare system if in a genuine relationship.
  • Include Family Members: Dependent children and eligible family members can be added to your application.
  • Stay Together: Allows couples to live together in Australia while awaiting permanent residency.
  • Build Your Life: Offers flexibility to work, study, and settle with your partner during the visa period.

Detailed Partner Visa 820 Benefits

The Visa 820 has various benefits for people who are in a genuine and ongoing relationship with an Australian citizen or a permanent resident in the country. These include:

Work rights

The holders of this VISA will have the right to work in the country and also gain some work experience in the process.

Ability to live in Australia

The 820 visa allows visa holders to live in the country for the specified duration of the visa. This helps those couples who want to stay together but are still waiting for the permanent partner visa to be processed.

Travel

With this visa, individuals can travel in and out of the country time the visa is valid. Therefore, couples can meet their family members and fulfil other commitments that they have overseas.

Study rights

The visa holders can study educational courses and other training that are available to Australian residents.

Permanent residency

The partner visa Subclass 820 is basically the first step in the process of obtaining a permanent partner visa. This visa will give you permanent residency eventually. After holding the 820 visa for 2 years, you can apply for a PR if your relationship is still genuine and ongoing at the time of application.

Healthcare access

The visa holders access the Medicare system provided they are able to demonstrate a genuine relationship with an eligible person in Australia.

Including family members

Your dependent children and family members can be included in your visa application. This will allow the entire family to live together in the country during the processing period.

Flexibility to work and study

You can build a life in Australia while waiting for your permanent visa approval. The A20 visa will give you the right to work and study country.
Therefore, the Partner visa Australia 820 will provide you with an opportunity to be together with your partner in Australia till the time you can get a permanent residency in the country.
 

Partner Visa Subclass 820 (Onshore) Requirements

  • Genuine Relationship: You must be in a genuine, ongoing relationship with your Australian partner. You should be married or in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before applying.
  • Living Together: You and your partner must be living together, or show that you have lived together and intend to live together permanently.
  • Eligible Sponsor: Your sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and be 18 years or older.
  • Age Requirement: You must be 18 years or older at the time of lodging your visa application.
  • Health Requirements: You must pass health examinations as part of the visa process. Any serious medical issues must be disclosed.
  • Character Requirements: You and any family members must provide police clearance certificates from every country lived in for over 12 months.
  • Supporting Evidence: Provide evidence of your relationship history, shared finances, joint responsibilities, and social recognition as a couple.
  • Mutual Commitment: Show proof of your commitment to sharing life emotionally and financially.
  • Debt Status: You and your sponsor must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or a formal repayment plan in place.

Detailed Partner Visa 820 Requirements

For a partner visa 820, the applicant must meet the following requirements to ensure that day are in a genuine and ongoing relationship with their Australian partner:

Relationship status

You must be in an ongoing and committed genuine relationship with your partner living in Australia. You could be either married or living together for at least 12 months with your partner.

Sponsorship

Your partner should be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and should agree to sponsor you. The sponsor must be above 18 years of age.

Age requirement

 At the time of filing your application, you should be above 18 years of age. You will not be eligible for a partner visa 820  if you are below 18 years of age.

Health and character requirements

You must meet health requirements in the country and undergo any health examination as a part of the process.
You and your family members will have to submit a police clearance certificate to demonstrate your clean criminal record.

Supporting evidences

You will need to prove the legitimacy of your relationship. Various documents will be required to demonstrate the same. These are:

  • Proof of your relationship-Statements from your friends and relatives. Evidence regarding how long you have lived together.
  • Financial responsibility-Your Australian partner should confirm that they will support you financially while you are in the country.
  • Mutual commitment-There will have to demonstration of commitment to sharing a life, both financially and on an emotional level.
  • Outstanding debts-There should be no outstanding date of you or your partner what’s the Australian government. This may affect the status of your application for the visa.

Partner visas are grouped in relation to the geographical location of the applicant as well as the marital status. Here are the primary types:

  • Subclass 820 (Temporary partner visa)

This category is for those who are applying from within the boundaries of Australia. Through this visa, the holder can wait in Australia for the decision as to the permanent visa without leaving the country because they are allowed to work, study, and live during the process. SUBCLASS 820 is a temporary visa that allows you to stay valid until the decision on the Permanent Visa number SUBCLASS 801 is made.

  • Subclass 801 (Permanent partner visa)

This is done after the Subclass 820 visa provided the holder has complied with all the necessary requirements. These include the ability to live in Australia, access all-important benefits and privileges as permanent residents, as well as create an application for residency upon becoming a citizen at some point in their lives.

  • Subclass 309 (Provisional Partner Visa)

This visa is for applicants who reside in various corners of the globe. In addition to this, it allows the holder to enter and reside in Australia while their permanent visa is being finalized.

  • Subclass 100 (Permanent Partner Visa)

This visa allows the applicant to have permanent residence after the permanent vulnerable stage. Like Subclass 801, it provides open-ended time and advantage, for the holder and his or her family members.

  • Subclass 300 (Prospective Marriage Visa)

This visa is for those people who are engaged to an Australian citizen. It enables the applicant to visit the country to get married to their partner within 9 months. Key features include:

The applicant is required to show special circumstances that show that the intention is sincere to get married to the partner before the visa expires. If an applicant is already married, he/she has to apply for a Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) to enable one to stay in the country.

Further, each of the Partner Visas is relevant to distinct situations and enables couples and families to cope with their objective of living in Australia.
 

Partner Visa Subclass 820 (Onshore) Processing Time

The processing time for a Partner Visa 820 ranges from one year to 1.5 years. However, the timings can vary due to factors such as the complexity of your case and the completeness of your application. Sometimes, the Department of Home Affairs requires you to submit additional documents along with evidence. This can extend the processing time for your visa.
Partner visa 820 will be your route to living together with your partner in Australia. If you are in a genuine relationship with an Australian Citizen or a permanent resident of the country you can apply for this visa and then eventually Residency too. Do not wait any longer and start your application process today.
 

Visa Application Costs

Applications of the Subclass 491 visa on behalf of the main applicant will have an approximate cost of visa processing of AUD 4,910. Moreover, the other visa applications by the visa applicants aged 18 years and above will incur an estimated cost of AUD 2320, and the dependent children under the age of 18 years will incur an estimated cost of AUD 1,160.

Partner Visa Subclass 820 (Onshore) Application Process

There are several steps involved in applying for a partner visa 820. These are as follows:

Step-1. The first step is to check your eligibility. Eligibility requirements will have to be fulfilled, such as:

  • Being in a genuine and ongoing relationship with your partner
  • Your partner should be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident.
  • Meeting the health and character requirements.

Step-2. Gathering the documentation
All the supporting documents need to be provided. This is to prove the legitimacy of your relationship with your partner.
Key documents include:

  • Proof of the relationship, such as evidence of living together, photos, etc.
  • Personal documentation, passport, and identity proofs.
  • Financial documentation, like joint bank accounts and more.
  • Sponsors documents such as proof of citizenship, police clearance, etc.

Step-3. Creating an ImmiAccount
You will need to create an ImmiAccount on the DHA website. You can submit your visa application using this account and also track its progress.

Step-4. Completing the application
Once the ImmiAccount has been set up, you can complete your visa application bio uploading all the required documents. After this you can pay the visa application fee for a partner visa 820.
After holding the 820 visa for a period of 2 years, you can apply for a partner visa 801 Residency status. It is important that your relationship remains genuine at the time of applying for a permanent visa.
 

  • Gather Documents

    The foundation of a successful application lies in robust documentation. Accuracy in this phase prevents lengthy delays or refusals.

    Identity Proofs: Valid passport and certified birth certificates.

    Proof of Relationship: Documentation proving your link with the sponsor.

  • Online Application

    Complete the digital lodging via the official Department of Home Affairs (DHA) portal.

  • Wait for Processing

    During this time, the DHA may request additional information, health checks, or police clearances. It is imperative to respond to these requests promptly to avoid further delays or potential application closure.

  • Final Notification

    The Department will notify you in writing of the outcome of your visa application. This formal letter will contain crucial details regarding your future status.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can reduce processing delays by applying through ImmiAccount and including all required information.

To apply for a Partner visa as a de facto partner, you and your partner must show that you have been in a de facto partner relationship for the entire 12 months immediately before lodging your application and that this relationship is to the exclusion of all others.

From AUD9,365.00 for most applicants. From AUD1,560.00 for Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) holders. For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool.

Processing usually takes 15 business days from receipt by the Embassy of a complete application and may take longer during peak times and in exceptional circumstances.

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