Onshore Temporary Partner Visa
Partner Visa Subclass 820
The subclass 820 is the temporary onshore partner visa for applicants who are already in Australia and are the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. It grants work and study rights while the permanent stage of the partner visa is assessed.
Reviewed by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer Last updated 30 July 2026
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The subclass 820 partner visa allows the partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to remain in Australia while their partner visa application is assessed. You must be in Australia when you lodge. Since 25 November 2023 your location when the 820 is decided no longer matters.
Your partner must sponsor you and meet the sponsorship requirements. One application charge of AUD $11,710 covers both the temporary and permanent stages, and there is no further Department charge at the permanent stage
Your partner must sponsor you and meet the sponsorship requirements. One application charge of AUD $11,710 covers both the temporary and permanent stages, and there is no further Department charge at the permanent stage
Half of subclass 820 applications are currently decided within 20 months. The 820 carries full work rights, study rights and access to Medicare.
Eligibility
Who Is Eligible for the 820 Visa
Short answer
To be eligible for the subclass 820 you must be in Australia when you lodge, be the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, be sponsored by that partner, and meet the health and character requirements. Since 25 November 2023 your location at the time of decision no longer matters.
To be eligible for the subclass 820 you must be in Australia when you lodge, be the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, be sponsored by that partner, and meet the health and character requirements. Since 25 November 2023 your location at the time of decision no longer matters.
The Department of Home Affairs sets out the core criteria on its subclass 820 visa listing. The relationship must be either a marriage recognised under Australian law, or a de facto relationship. If you are applying as a de facto partner, you generally need to show you have lived together for at least 12 months before lodgement. That 12 month requirement does not apply if your relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory registry, or if compelling and compassionate circumstances apply.
Your sponsor must usually be aged 18 or over. A sponsor may only sponsor two partners in their lifetime, and there is generally a five year wait between sponsorships. Sponsors with certain criminal convictions must disclose them, and the Department may refuse the sponsorship on character grounds.
Your sponsor must usually be aged 18 or over. A sponsor may only sponsor two partners in their lifetime, and there is generally a five year wait between sponsorships. Sponsors with certain criminal convictions must disclose them, and the Department may refuse the sponsorship on character grounds.
Eligibility at a Glance
You are in Australia when you lodge the application
You are married to, or in a de facto relationship with, your sponsor
Your sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
You have lived together for at least 12 months, or your relationship is registered, or compelling circumstances apply
Your sponsor has not exceeded the lifetime sponsorship limit
You meet the health requirement
You meet the character requirement
You hold a substantive visa, or you can satisfy Schedule 3 criteria
Subclass 820 or Subclass 309
Which One Applies to You
The difference is where you are when you lodge. The subclass 820 is the onshore application. The subclass 309 is the offshore application. You cannot switch between them after lodgement, so the choice has to be right at the start.
Subclass 820 compared with subclass 309
Subclass 820 (Onshore)
Subclass 309 (Offshore)
Where you are when you lodge
In Australia
Outside Australia
Location when it is decided
No longer relevant
No longer relevant
Bridging visa while you wait
Yes, with work and study rights
No
Base application charge, primary applicant
AUD $11,710
AUD $11,710
Schedule 3 criteria can apply
Yes, if no substantive visa held
No
For offshore applications, see Partner Visa (309 Offshore).
Not sure whether you meet the eligibility criteria, or whether the sponsorship limit affects you?
PARTNER VISA VIDEO
Subclass 820 Partner Visa Australia Explained
Watch My Migration Lawyers’ video guide to the Subclass 820 Partner Visa, covering eligibility requirements, the application process, supporting evidence, processing stages and common issues to avoid
Our Guarantee
No
Visa?
No
Fee.
If your standard partner Visa application is refused, we refund our professional fees in full.
This isn't a gimmick. We only accept matters we believe in. When we take your case on, we are invested in your outcome.
This isn't a gimmick. We only accept matters we believe in. When we take your case on, we are invested in your outcome.
The MML GUARANTEE
Visa Refused? Full Professional fee refund.
Covers standard 820 partner visa applications
Covers standard 309 partner visa applications
Covers Prospective Marriage Visa 300 applications
Professional fees refunded in full if visa refused
Government fees paid to department -- non-refundable
Applies to standard applications
This guarantee applies to straightforward partner visa applications without Schedule 3 issues, character concerns, or health complications. Complex matters are assessed individually. Full terms provided at engagement.
Special Circumstances
What if You Do Not Meet the Standard 820 Requirements
Short answer
To be eligible for the subclass 820 you must be in Australia when you lodge, be the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, be sponsored by that partner, and meet the health and character requirements. Since 25 November 2023 your location at the time of decision no longer matters.
To be eligible for the subclass 820 you must be in Australia when you lodge, be the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, be sponsored by that partner, and meet the health and character requirements. Since 25 November 2023 your location at the time of decision no longer matters.
If You Do Not Hold a Substantive Visa
If you do not hold a substantive visa when you lodge the subclass 820, Schedule 3 criteria apply. The application must satisfy the Department that compelling reasons exist for those criteria not to be applied. A genuine relationship on its own is not enough. These applications are assessed differently and carry materially higher risk. See Schedule 3 Waivers.
If Your Sponsor Has Sponsored a Partner Before
A sponsor may sponsor a maximum of two partners in their lifetime, and there is generally a five year wait between sponsorships. Sponsorship can also be refused on character grounds or where a sponsorship bar applies. Check this before lodging, because a refused sponsorship ends the application.
See Sponsorship Limitations.
See Sponsorship Limitations.
If the Relationship Has Ended or Your Sponsor Has Died
The subclass 820 can still proceed in limited circumstances where the relationship has ended, including where there has been family violence, where there is a child of the relationship, or where the sponsor has died. You must notify the Department of any change. Get legal advice before you notify.
See Family Violence Provisions
See Family Violence Provisions
Same Sex and LGBTI Couples
Same sex couples are eligible for the subclass 820 on exactly the same basis as any other couple, as married partners or as de facto partners. There is no separate visa and no additional test. Evidence requirements can be harder to satisfy where a couple has had reason to keep the relationship private, and that is worth addressing directly in the application. See Partner Visa LGBTI
Schedule 3, sponsorship limits and family violence matters are assessed differently. Have yours reviewed first.
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What the visa allows
What Can You Do on a 820 Visa
Short answer
The subclass 820 allows you to live in Australia, work without restriction, study, travel in and out of the country, and enrol in Medicare. It stays valid until the permanent stage of your partner visa is decided. You must keep meeting your visa conditions throughout.
The subclass 820 allows you to live in Australia, work without restriction, study, travel in and out of the country, and enrol in Medicare. It stays valid until the permanent stage of your partner visa is decided. You must keep meeting your visa conditions throughout.
Live Anywhere in Australia
No location condition applies to the subclass 820.
Work Without Restriction
Full work rights, with the same minimum wage protections as any other worker in Australia.
Study Without Restriction
Government tuition assistance is not available, and some institutions charge international student fees.
Travel in and Out of Australia
No further permission needed once the subclass 820 is granted.
Enrol in Medicare
Subclass 820 holders are generally eligible to enrol in Australia's public health system.
Enrol in the Adult Migrant English Program
Available to subclass 820 holders who are eligible for the program.
A Substantive Visa, Not a Bridging Visa
The subclass 820 is a substantive visa, so the travel and work rights above are different from, and better than, the bridging visa conditions that apply before it is granted.
How Long It Stays Valid
The subclass 820 stays valid until the Department decides the permanent stage. You must tell the Department if your circumstances change, including your address, your relationship status, or the birth of a child. You can withdraw the application at any time, but the charge is not refunded and the visa ceases on withdrawal.
Want to confirm what your bridging visa will allow before the 820 is granted?
Cost
How Much Does the 820 Visa Cost
Short answer
The base application charge for the subclass 820 is AUD $11,710 for the primary applicant as at 1 July 2026. That single charge covers both the temporary and the permanent stage. Additional applicants aged 18 or over attract $5,860 each, and applicants under 18 attract $2,935 each.
The base application charge for the subclass 820 is AUD $11,710 for the primary applicant as at 1 July 2026. That single charge covers both the temporary and the permanent stage. Additional applicants aged 18 or over attract $5,860 each, and applicants under 18 attract $2,935 each.
Primary applicant
$
11,710
Covers both the temporary and permanent stage. No further Department charge later.
Additional applicant 18+
$
$5,860
Per additional applicant aged 18 or over included in the subclass 820 application.
Subclass 300 holders
$
1,955
Reduced charge, because the main charge was paid at the earlier stage.
Subclass 820 cost breakdown
Item
Amount
Base charge, primary applicant
AUD $11,710
Additional applicant 18 or over
AUD $5,860
Additional applicant under 18
AUD $2,935
Subclass 300 holder, primary
AUD $1,955
Card payment surcharge
1.4%
Health examinations
$400 to $600 per adult
Police clearances
$50 to $200 per country
NAATI translation
$30 to $80 per page
Professional fees
Quoted in writing
The application charge is paid to the Department of Home Affairs and is not refundable if the application is withdrawn or refused. Clients pay Department charges directly through their own ImmiAccount, so the money never passes through a third party.
The Department applies a 1.4% surcharge to online card payments, which adds approximately $164 to an $11,710 charge.
Department charges are set by the Department of Home Affairs and typically increase on 1 July each year. Use the Department's visa pricing estimator or the current visa pricing table to confirm the exact charge for your circumstances.
The Department applies a 1.4% surcharge to online card payments, which adds approximately $164 to an $11,710 charge.
Department charges are set by the Department of Home Affairs and typically increase on 1 July each year. Use the Department's visa pricing estimator or the current visa pricing table to confirm the exact charge for your circumstances.
Get a written quote for professional fees before you commit to anything.
Processing Time
How Long Does the 820 Visa Take
Short answer
On the Department of Home Affairs processing times guide, 50% of subclass 820 applications are decided within 20 months of lodgement and 90% within 25 months. These are historical figures for applications already decided, not a commitment for your application. The permanent stage is generally assessed around two years after you lodge.
On the Department of Home Affairs processing times guide, 50% of subclass 820 applications are decided within 20 months of lodgement and 90% within 25 months. These are historical figures for applications already decided, not a commitment for your application. The permanent stage is generally assessed around two years after you lodge.
Processing time reference
Measure
Time from lodgement
50% of applications decided within
20 months
90% of applications decided within
25 months
Permanent stage assessment begins
Approx. 2 years after lodgement
Processing time is not a queue position. A complete application lodged today can be decided before an older application that is missing documents. The factors that most affect timing are the completeness of your evidence at lodgement, the strength of your relationship evidence, health and character checks, and whether the Department needs to request further information.
Some case officers issue only one request for further information before deciding the application on the material in front of them. That is the practical reason to lodge with your evidence complete rather than intending to supply it later.
While the 820 is pending, you hold a bridging visa and can remain in Australia lawfully.
Some case officers issue only one request for further information before deciding the application on the material in front of them. That is the practical reason to lodge with your evidence complete rather than intending to supply it later.
While the 820 is pending, you hold a bridging visa and can remain in Australia lawfully.
A complete application at lodgement is the one factor you control. We can check yours.
Relationship Evidence
What Evidence Do You Need for the 820 Visa
Short answer
Migration Regulation 1.15A requires the Department to assess four aspects of your relationship: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social context of the relationship, and the nature of your commitment to each other. You need documentary evidence across all four. Weakness in any single category is a common cause of refusal
Migration Regulation 1.15A requires the Department to assess four aspects of your relationship: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social context of the relationship, and the nature of your commitment to each other. You need documentary evidence across all four. Weakness in any single category is a common cause of refusal
Financial Aspects
Joint bank accounts and transaction history, shared liabilities such as a mortgage or lease, joint utility accounts, evidence of pooling income, insurance policies naming each other, and evidence of how you divide expenses.
Nature of the Household
Evidence you live together and share domestic arrangements: a lease or title in both names, mail addressed to both of you at the same address, shared household bills, and a statement describing how you divide domestic responsibilities.
Social Context
Evidence that others recognise your relationship: photographs across the span of the relationship, invitations addressed to you as a couple, joint travel, social media where relevant, and statutory declarations from people who know you both.
Nature of the Commitment
Evidence of the duration and permanence of the relationship: how long you have been together, periods of separation and how you maintained the relationship, future plans, wills or superannuation nominations, and your own written statements about the relationship history.
Documents Commonly Required
Certified passport and identity documents for both parties
Marriage certificate, or relationship registration certificate, or evidence of 12 months cohabitation
Form 888 statutory declarations from at least two supporting witnesses
Relationship statements from both the applicant and the sponsor
Joint financial documents covering the length of the relationship
Proof of shared address
Police certificates for every country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
Health examination results from a Department-approved panel physician
Sponsor identity, citizenship or residency evidence, and character disclosures
Have your relationship evidence assessed against all four regulatory categories.
Refusals
Why Are 820 Visa Applications Refused
Short answer
Most subclass 820 refusals are not caused by a relationship the Department considers false. They are caused by thin evidence in one of the four mandatory relationship categories, an incomplete sponsorship application, unmet Schedule 3 criteria, or a failure to respond adequately to a request for further information.
Most subclass 820 refusals are not caused by a relationship the Department considers false. They are caused by thin evidence in one of the four mandatory relationship categories, an incomplete sponsorship application, unmet Schedule 3 criteria, or a failure to respond adequately to a request for further information.
Common Refusal Grounds
Insufficient evidence in one of the four relationship categories, most often financial
De facto cohabitation under 12 months with no registered relationship and no compelling circumstances
Form 888 statutory declarations from at least two supporting witnesses
Form 888 declarations that are generic or made by witnesses who do not meet the requirements
Sponsorship refused on character grounds, or the lifetime sponsorship limit already reached
Schedule 3 criteria not satisfied where the applicant held no substantive visa at lodgement
Health requirement not met by the applicant or a dependent family member
Adverse immigration history, including previous refusals or cancellations not addressed in the application
A request for further information answered late or answered incompletely
If Your 820 Has Been Refused
Review rights generally apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal, and strict time limits apply from the date you are taken to have received the decision. Those time limits cannot be extended. If you have received a refusal, act on it immediately rather than waiting.
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The Process
How to Apply for the 820 Visa
Short answer
The subclass 820 is lodged online through ImmiAccount while you are in Australia. You and your sponsor complete separate applications that are linked, upload identity and relationship evidence, pay the application charge, and complete health examinations. The Department prefers applications to be decision ready at the point of lodgement.
The subclass 820 is lodged online through ImmiAccount while you are in Australia. You and your sponsor complete separate applications that are linked, upload identity and relationship evidence, pay the application charge, and complete health examinations. The Department prefers applications to be decision ready at the point of lodgement.
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
01
Check Eligibility
Confirm your eligibility and your sponsor's eligibility, including the sponsorship limit and any character disclosures.
02
Compile Relationship Evidence
Gather documents across all four regulatory categories before you go near ImmiAccount.
03
Obtain Police Certificates
One for every country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
04
Create an ImmiAccount
Complete the applicant form for the subclass 820.
05
Upload Your Documents
Upload everything before you pay the charge, so the application is decision ready when it lodges.
06
Pay the Charge and Lodge
The base application charge is AUD $11,710 for the primary applicant.
07
Link Your Sponsor
Give your Transaction Reference Number to your sponsor so they can lodge the linked sponsorship application.
08
Health Checks, Then Keep Evidence Current
Complete health examinations, then keep adding fresh relationship evidence to ImmiAccount while the application is pending.
There is no physical visa label. Once granted, the subclass 820 is recorded digitally against your passport and confirmed by a grant notice.
Have your subclass 820 reviewed before you pay the charge and lodge.
While You Wait
Can You Work While Your 820 Is Pending
Short answer
Yes in most cases. If you held a substantive visa when you lodged the subclass 820, you are generally granted a Bridging Visa A, which carries full work rights once your previous visa expires. Bridging visa conditions vary, so check the grant notice for your specific visa.
A Bridging Visa A does not permit travel outside Australia. If you need to leave and return while the 820 is pending, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B before you depart. Leaving Australia on a Bridging Visa A without a Bridging Visa B in place means you cannot re-enter on that bridging visa.
If you held no substantive visa at lodgement, you may instead be granted a Bridging Visa E, which carries different and more restrictive conditions.
Yes in most cases. If you held a substantive visa when you lodged the subclass 820, you are generally granted a Bridging Visa A, which carries full work rights once your previous visa expires. Bridging visa conditions vary, so check the grant notice for your specific visa.
A Bridging Visa A does not permit travel outside Australia. If you need to leave and return while the 820 is pending, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B before you depart. Leaving Australia on a Bridging Visa A without a Bridging Visa B in place means you cannot re-enter on that bridging visa.
If you held no substantive visa at lodgement, you may instead be granted a Bridging Visa E, which carries different and more restrictive conditions.
Need to travel while your 820 is pending? Check your bridging visa conditions first.
After the Grant
What Happens After the 820 Is Granted
Short answer
The subclass 820 is temporary. Around two years after your original lodgement date, the Department assesses the permanent stage of the partner visa. You must show the relationship is still genuine and continuing at that point. The permanent stage is not automatic and requires updated relationship evidence.
The most common mistake at the permanent stage is assuming approval follows automatically from the 820 grant. It does not. The Department reassesses your relationship against the same four regulatory categories, using evidence from the period after the 820 was granted. Keep adding financial, household and social evidence to ImmiAccount throughout the temporary stage rather than reconstructing two years of evidence at the end.
The subclass 820 is temporary. Around two years after your original lodgement date, the Department assesses the permanent stage of the partner visa. You must show the relationship is still genuine and continuing at that point. The permanent stage is not automatic and requires updated relationship evidence.
The most common mistake at the permanent stage is assuming approval follows automatically from the 820 grant. It does not. The Department reassesses your relationship against the same four regulatory categories, using evidence from the period after the 820 was granted. Keep adding financial, household and social evidence to ImmiAccount throughout the temporary stage rather than reconstructing two years of evidence at the end.
Planning for the permanent stage from the start makes it considerably easier.
Questions
Subclass 820 Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions Indonesians applicants ask most often. See also our 30 protection visa FAQs and 30 LGBT protection visa FAQs.
Can I Apply for the 820 Visa From Outside Australia
No. You must be in Australia when you lodge the subclass 820. If you are outside Australia when you lodge, the equivalent application is the Partner Visa (309 Offshore).
Do I Need to Be Married to Apply for the 820 Visa
No. You can apply as a de facto partner. You generally need to show at least 12 months of living together before lodgement, unless your relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory registry or compelling circumstances apply.
Can I Travel While My 820 Visa Is Being Processed
Not on a Bridging Visa A. You must apply for and be granted a Bridging Visa B before leaving Australia, otherwise you cannot re-enter on your bridging visa while the 820 is pending.
Can I Study on an 820 Visa
Yes. The subclass 820 carries study rights, though you are not entitled to government tuition assistance and you may be charged international student fees at some institutions.
Am I Eligible for Medicare on an 820 Visa
Yes. Subclass 820 holders are generally eligible to enrol in Medicare. Applicants on a bridging visa awaiting the 820 decision may also be eligible once the partner visa application is lodged.
How Many Times Can My Partner Sponsor Someone
A sponsor may sponsor a maximum of two partners in their lifetime, and there is generally a five year wait between sponsorships. Limited exceptions apply where compelling circumstances exist.
Is the 820 Application Charge Refundable if My Visa Is Refused
No. The application charge is not refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn. This is one reason to have the application assessed before lodgement rather than after a refusal.
What Happens if My Relationship Ends While the 820 Is Pending
You must notify the Department. In limited circumstances, including family violence or where there is a child of the relationship, the application may still proceed. Get legal advice before notifying the Department.
Can I Withdraw My 820 Application After Lodging
Yes. You can withdraw at any time before a decision. The application charge is not refunded, and your bridging visa ceases when the application is withdrawn, which can leave you unlawful if you hold no other visa.
Can I Include My Children in My 820 Application
Yes. Dependent children can be included as secondary applicants, which attracts an additional charge per child. Each child must meet health and character requirements.
About the Reviewer
Who Reviewed This Page
Weiwei Zhang is an Australian lawyer practising exclusively in Australian migration law and is the Principal Lawyer at My Migration Lawyers. She reviews the firm's published legal guidance for accuracy.
Weiwei Zhang
Managing Director and Principal Lawyer, My Migration Lawyers
Weiwei Zhang
Principal Lawyer
Weiwei Zhang is an Australian lawyer practising exclusively in Australian migration law and is the Principal Lawyer at My Migration Lawyers. She reviews the firm's published legal guidance for accuracy.
Last Reviewed
16 September 2026
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