820 Partner visa (Temporary) (subclass 820)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Partner visa (Temporary) (subclass 820)
Purpose	Temporary partner visa pathway
Stay	Until subclass 801 finalised or withdrawn
Cost	From AUD11,710 main applicant
Apply from	Australia only
Decision location	In or outside Australia
Eligibility	Genuine spouse or de facto relationship
Sponsor	Eligible partner must sponsor
Work rights	Full work rights
Study	Allowed; self-funded
Medicare	May apply for access
Travel facility	Unlimited travel while visa held
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Dependent children may be included
Visa record	Digital link to passport
Permanent pathway	Subclass 801 consideration after two years

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Purpose

The Temporary Partner visa (subclass 820) lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia while the related permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) application is processed.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be in Australia when applying. Any family members applying with you must also be in Australia.
• Be the genuine spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Have the same approved sponsor when applying and while holding the visa. You cannot change sponsors.
• Usually be at least 18 years old.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have paid, or arranged to pay, any debts to the Australian Government.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over.
• Meet all applicable visa criteria when the application is decided.

Relationship requirements

For a married relationship, provide evidence that the marriage is valid in Australia.

For a de facto relationship, you usually must have been in the relationship for at least 12 months immediately before applying. This requirement may not apply where:

• The relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory authority.
• Compelling and compassionate circumstances exist.
• Specific humanitarian-visa circumstances apply.

Time spent dating or in an online relationship might not count as a de facto relationship.

Visa-status restrictions

You cannot apply if your current or previous visa has a no-further-stay condition, such as condition 8503, unless a waiver has been approved before applying.

If you do not hold a substantive visa and did not previously hold a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300), you must show compelling reasons for grant of the visa.

If you do not hold a substantive visa and have had a visa cancelled or refused, you may not be eligible. Where eligible, additional lodgement evidence is required, including the sponsor form, evidence of sponsor status, and at least two recent statutory declarations.

Regional visa waiting periods

If you hold, or last held, certain regional visas, you must hold them before applying for this visa for:

• At least two years: Skilled–Independent Regional (Provisional), subclass 475, subclass 487, or Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional).
• At least three years: subclass 491 or subclass 494.

Stay and Permanent Visa Pathway

You can stay in Australia until your permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) application is finalised or withdrawn.

You become eligible for consideration of the permanent Partner visa two years after first applying for the temporary and permanent Partner visas. To receive the permanent visa, you must hold subclass 820 or a Dependent Child visa (subclass 445). Grant of another visa will end eligibility for subclass 801.

Cost

The listed costs cover both the temporary subclass 820 and permanent subclass 801 stages.

Applicant circumstance	Main applicant charge
Most applicants	AUD11,710.00
Current subclass 300 holder	Generally AUD1,955.00
Certain former subclass 300 holders	Generally AUD2,475.00

Additional charges apply for family members. Other possible costs include health examinations, police certificates and biometrics. The application cannot be processed until the correct visa application charge is paid.

From 1 July 2026, eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste may receive a lower visa cost through ImmiAccount when applying with a valid passport. This also applies to eligible family members based on the primary applicant’s passport.

Processing

Processing times vary and may be longer than expected. Applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 117.

Processing-time estimates are based on recently decided applications and do not guarantee an outcome by a particular date.

Rights and Benefits

With this visa, you can:

• Live in Australia.
• Work with full work rights.
• Study in Australia, but without government study support; you pay your own study costs.
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want.
• Attend free Adult Migrant English Program classes if eligible.
• Apply for access to Medicare.
• Receive Australian workplace-law protections.

You may need to wait before accessing certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

If you are not eligible for Medicare, you may be personally liable for healthcare costs. Health insurance is recommended.

Family Members

You may include a dependent child when lodging the application, or after lodgement but before the temporary visa decision. The child must be in Australia.

Family members applying with you must meet health and character requirements. Non-migrating family members may also need to meet these requirements.

Children under 18

Provide identity and relationship evidence, health examinations, and character documents for 16- or 17-year-olds. You generally need migration consent from anyone with legal responsibility for a child who is not migrating, using Form 1229, unless an applicable court order or home-country law supports the child’s migration.

Dependent children over 18

They must generally be unmarried and either:

• Wholly or substantially dependent on you for basic needs; or
• Unable to support themselves because of a disability.

Provide Form 47a and evidence of dependency.

Adding children after grant

You cannot add family members after subclass 820 is granted. A dependent child seeking inclusion in the permanent subclass 801 application must first hold a Dependent Child visa (subclass 445), be in Australia, and submit Form 1002.

Required Evidence

Provide clear colour scans or photographs of original documents and English translations. Documents do not need certification.

Key evidence includes:

• Birth certificate showing both parents, or alternative identity documents.
• Passport identity pages and national identity card, if held.
• Name-change documents, where applicable.
• A written relationship history.
• Marriage certificate or de facto relationship evidence.
• Evidence of shared finances, household, social recognition and long-term commitment.
• Evidence of former relationships ending, if relevant.
• Evidence for dependent children.
• Health examination results.
• Police certificates and military records, where required.
• Form 80 for character assessment.

Relationship evidence

Provide evidence in the following areas:

Area	Examples
Financial	Joint accounts, loans, lease, bills
Household	Shared living and domestic arrangements
Social	Joint activities and witness statements
Commitment	Future plans and ongoing contact

You must provide statements from two witnesses aged 18 or older who know both partners and know about the relationship. Witnesses may use Form 888.

If the applicant does not hold a substantive visa, Form 888 is not acceptable instead of the required statutory declarations.

Character documents

If you have spent 12 months or more in Australia during the last 10 years since turning 16, provide a complete-disclosure National Police Certificate from the Australian Federal Police.

Also provide police certificates from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more during the last 10 years since turning 16. Police certificates are valid for immigration purposes for 12 months from issue.

How to Apply

Apply online through ImmiAccount while in Australia:

1. Log in to, or create, an ImmiAccount.
2. Select New application.
3. Select Family.
4. Select Stage 1 – Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa.
5. Attach supporting documents.
6. Pay the application charge.
7. Record the Transaction Reference Number (TRN).
8. Give the TRN or application ID to your sponsor.

Your sponsor should apply to sponsor you as soon as possible after you apply.

You can attach up to 100 documents for each person in the application. Clearly label documents and attach each document only once.

After Applying

• Keep relationship evidence and other documents updated through ImmiAccount.
• Complete health examinations when requested or appropriate.
• Upload further requested information promptly.
• Tell the Department about changes to your relationship, contact details, passport, address, child’s birth, or other relevant circumstances.
• Tell the Department if you made a mistake or want to withdraw the application.
• Keep a valid visa and remain lawful while awaiting a decision.

If you held a substantive visa when applying, a Bridging visa A may start when your current visa expires.

Obligations and Conditions

You and your family members must:

• Obey Australian laws.
• Meet all visa conditions.
• Maintain the required sponsorship arrangements.
• Notify the Department of relevant changes.

Use VEVO to check visa details and conditions.

Travel

You may leave and return to Australia as many times as you want while holding subclass 820.

Before the visa is granted, travel rights depend on your current visa or bridging visa. If leaving Australia, ensure you hold a valid visa allowing return.

Warning for New Zealand passport holders

At the border, tell the immigration officer that you hold a temporary Partner visa and do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444). If granted subclass 444, it overrides subclass 820 and you will not be eligible for subclass 801.

Visa Record

The visa is digitally linked to your passport. No visa label is placed in the passport.

Use VEVO to prove your visa status and conditions to employers, airlines, banks, government agencies and other registered organisations.

Important Warnings

• The visa application charge is not refunded if the application is refused.
• Do not obtain police certificates or complete health examinations too early if they may expire before a decision.
• A relationship ending, partner death, or domestic and family violence may not necessarily end eligibility. Notify the Department and seek assessment under the relevant provisions.
• Information provided about relationship changes or domestic and family violence is confidential.