Partner visa 820: what it is and how it is assessed

The Partner visa (subclass 820) is a temporary onshore visa that lets the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia while a permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) is assessed. You lodge the 820 and 801 together in one application, and the 820 is granted first if you meet the requirements. The 820 is not a separate application you choose instead of the 801: it is the first stage of a combined pathway, and the two-year wait for the permanent stage runs from the date you applied for the 820. Processing is governed by Ministerial Direction 117, which gives highest priority to onshore Partner visa applications, and the department publishes median processing times as a guide rather than a guarantee for your case.

What the 820 visa is

The Partner visa (subclass 820) is a temporary visa for the partner or spouse of an eligible sponsor. It is applied for onshore, meaning you must be in Australia when you lodge. The application is not a standalone application: when you apply for the 820, you also apply for the Partner visa (subclass 801), which is the permanent visa. The department considers both together, and if you are granted the 820, you hold temporary status while the permanent stage is decided.

The 820 is one of two onshore partner visa subclasses. The other is the 801, which is the permanent visa. The offshore equivalents are the Partner visa (subclass 309), which is provisional, and the Partner visa (subclass 100), which is permanent. The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) is a separate offshore visa for people engaged to be married to an eligible sponsor.

How the 820 relates to the 801

When you apply for a Partner visa (subclass 820), you must also apply for the Partner visa (subclass 801). The department will assess both. If you are granted the 820, you hold temporary residence while the 801 is considered. You are not eligible for assessment of the permanent visa until two years have passed since you applied for the temporary visa.

This two-year rule matters for priority processing requests. If you hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309 or 820), two years must have passed since you applied for that visa before the permanent visa can be assessed. If you are not yet eligible for the permanent visa, the department cannot consider a request for priority processing of the permanent stage.

Processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 117

Partner visa applications are processed according to Ministerial Direction 117. Applications are generally assessed in the order in which they are received, with highest priority given to applications for the onshore Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801).

Lower priority is given to offshore applications for the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) and the Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100). The department states that applications with lower priority are likely to experience longer processing times.

The department may prioritise a Partner visa application if you can show special circumstances of a compassionate nature and compelling reasons to depart from the order of priority. There is no guarantee that your application will be given higher priority, because other applicants might have equally or more compelling and compassionate circumstances. The department will only consider priority processing if all supporting documents and information are submitted with your application, and most requests for priority processing cannot be approved.

What affects processing time

The department publishes median processing times for key visa categories. For the Partner (Provisional/Temporary) category, the median processing time as at July 2026 was 23 months. This is a median across the category, not a guarantee for your application. Processing times vary between different visas within these categories, and in some cases it may take longer for a visa to be finalised.

Several factors influence how long your application takes. According to the department, processing times vary because of whether applications have all necessary supporting documents, whether applications are lodged online or on paper, how quickly responses to requests for further information are provided, how long it takes to receive information from external agencies relating to health, character and national security requirements, the number of places available in the migration program for permanent visa applications, the complexity of the application, changes in the number of applications, changes to Ministerial Directions, and the effect of deciding older applications.

For a more specific indication, you can use the visa processing time guide tool, which shows processing times for recently decided applications. The department states that this is a guide only and not specific to your application. You can also check global processing times for the current standard processing times for the Partner visa you are applying for.

What you must do before you lodge

You must apply online via ImmiAccount. In limited circumstances you may apply on paper, but only by invitation. If you apply on paper and you have not been invited to, your application will be invalid and will not be processed.

Before you lodge, you should confirm which partner visa you can apply for and check who can help with your application. Only certain people can help you with your application. You should also check what documents you need to attach. The department recommends using the checklist provided in ImmiAccount, and visiting the web page of the visa you are applying for and selecting the step-by-step tab.

Lodging a complete application helps avoid delays. The department notes that for permanent visa applications, the number of places available in the migration program affects processing times, and that submitting all necessary supporting documents at the time of applying helps the department process applications as quickly as possible.

After you apply

After lodging, you can find your Application ID in correspondence the department sent you, including your acknowledgement of application received letter, notification of visa grant letter, or email subject line. You can check the status of your visa application and whether you have provided all supporting documents through ImmiAccount.

If you need to provide further information or documents, you attach them to your ImmiAccount. If you cannot provide documents in the specified timeframe, you can request additional time using the Partner processing enquiry form. Your request must include evidence showing the steps you have taken to provide the requested information, such as a payment receipt or booking confirmation. The department will only consider your request if it is made before the original timeframe for response expires, and it cannot guarantee additional time will be given.

You can complete health examinations after you apply. The results of your health assessment are valid for 12 months from the time you complete your examinations. If the department asks you to sign a health undertaking, that is valid for 6 months. The department may ask you to provide health examination results again if they expire before your visa is decided.

If you need to add a child to a Partner visa application, you visit the web page of the visa you are applying for, select the step-by-step tab, go to after you apply, then add family members.

If you want to withdraw your application, you can do so online using ImmiAccount. Applicants aged 18 years or over included in the withdrawal must provide their consent. You must attach a signed statement for each applicant 18 years of age or older, and you must withdraw both visa subclasses if your application is for a Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100) or (subclass 820 and 801).

What to check on the official pages

The department’s information on partner visas is the authoritative source for your situation. Before you lodge, verify the following on the official pages:

• Confirm the current processing time for the 820 using the visa processing time guide tool and the global processing times page. The median figures published are not specific to your application.
• Confirm the current visa application charges on the visa pricing table. The department’s pages on fees and charges explain that the subsequent temporary application charge may apply in certain circumstances, but the exact amount payable for your application is set out in the visa pricing table.
• Confirm the document checklist in ImmiAccount and on the step-by-step tab of the 820 visa page.
• Confirm whether you meet the legislative requirements before you apply. The department states that you must meet all relevant legislative requirements before an application can be granted.

The department also advises that you should not contact them if your application is still within the standard processing time, because they cannot provide further updates on your application’s progress. If your application is outside the standard processing time, the Partner processing enquiry form is the channel for requesting additional time to provide information.

Next steps

Start by identifying which partner visa applies to you and confirming your eligibility. Then prepare your supporting documents using the ImmiAccount checklist and the step-by-step tab for the 820. Lodge online through ImmiAccount, and keep your Application ID and correspondence. If the department requests further information, respond within the specified timeframe or request additional time before the deadline using the Partner processing enquiry form. Monitor processing times through the official tools rather than contacting the department within the standard processing period.