Australia Partner Visa in 2026

Australia's partner-migration system uses different subclasses depending on where the applicant applies and whether the relationship is a spouse/de facto partnership or a prospective marriage. The common pathways are 820/801 onshore, 309/100 offshore, and the subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa.

Onshore 820 and 801

The subclass 820 is the temporary stage for an applicant who applies in Australia as the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The linked subclass 801 is the permanent stage.

The relationship must satisfy the legal requirements and be genuine and continuing. Sponsorship, identity, character and relationship evidence are central. The applicant generally must be in Australia when lodging the onshore partner application.

Offshore 309 and 100

The subclass 309 is the provisional offshore partner visa and subclass 100 is the permanent stage. The applicant generally applies from outside Australia under the offshore pathway. The same core principle applies: the relationship and sponsorship must satisfy the legal criteria; marriage alone does not automatically produce a grant.

Prospective Marriage subclass 300

Subclass 300 is for eligible applicants intending to marry their Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen prospective spouse. It is temporary, generally allowing a stay of 9 to 15 months. The holder must later lodge the appropriate partner application if they want to remain through the partner pathway.

Permanent-stage timing

Home Affairs generally assesses permanent partner eligibility after the applicant reaches the relevant two-year point from the original combined application, although long-term relationships and particular circumstances can change the timing. Applicants should respond to Home Affairs requests and keep relationship evidence current rather than assuming the permanent stage is automatic.

Cost

The current 2026 Home Affairs pages list a main application charge of AUD 11,710 for most new partner and prospective-marriage applications. Different amounts can apply in specified transition circumstances, including some subclass 300 holders moving into the partner process, and additional family-member charges can apply.

Processing times are dynamic. Home Affairs also applies processing priorities, so published historical averages are not a promise for a new case.

Return to the Australia visa hub, Oceania or family visa routes.

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, verified 16 September 2026.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Australia