Partner Visa AU Guide: 820/801, 309/100, Eligibility & Costs

If you’re planning a life together in Australia, figuring out the right partner visa can feel overwhelming. Should you apply onshore (820/801) or offshore (309/100)? Do you meet the de facto or marriage requirements? How much will it cost, how long will it take, and what exactly counts as “genuine and continuing” evidence? Add in rules like condition 8503, section 48 and Schedule 3, plus questions about bridging visas, Medicare and travel, and it’s easy to see why couples—married or de facto, same‑sex or opposite‑sex—look for a clear, reliable roadmap.

This guide gives you that roadmap. It’s a practical, up‑to‑date walkthrough that helps you choose the right pathway, avoid common pitfalls, and submit a decision‑ready application. You’ll learn how to structure your ImmiAccount, build strong relationship evidence using the four pillars, budget for all fees and hidden costs, and manage your rights after lodgment. We’ll also highlight special concessions (family violence, sponsor death, de facto 12‑month waivers) that may apply in specific circumstances.

Here’s what to expect: step‑by‑step instructions from eligibility to grant, sponsor rules and limits, onshore constraints, timelines and processing, document checklists, adding children, responding to requests, moving from temporary to permanent, country notes for Filipino applicants, and life after grant—including your path to citizenship. Let’s start by confirming eligibility.

Step 1. Confirm you and your sponsor are eligible for a partner visa

Before you choose a pathway or open ImmiAccount, make sure you and your sponsor meet the baseline rules for a partner visa AU. Eligibility centers on who your sponsor is, whether your relationship is legally valid and genuine, and that you can satisfy health and character checks.

• Sponsor status: Your sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Relationship type: You must be either legally married or in a de facto relationship. Marriages must be valid under Australian law; certain polygamous, prohibited‑relationship, or underage marriages are not recognized.
• Genuine and continuing: You and your partner must have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others, and live together (or not be permanently separated).
• De facto length: Usually at least 12 months immediately before applying, unless you’re exempt (for example, if your relationship is registered under State/Territory law).
• Not related by family: Applies to de facto relationships.
• Health and character: You must meet health and character requirements; sponsors may also need police checks.

Note: Some onshore applicants can be blocked by a “no further stay” condition or face Schedule 3 hurdles if not holding a substantive visa. We cover those in Step 4. Sponsor limits and obligations are in Step 3.

Step 2. Choose your partner visa AU pathway: onshore 820/801 or offshore 309/100

Your pathway turns on where the applicant is at the time of application, and what rights you need while you wait. Both streams are two‑stage (temporary then permanent) and assess the same core relationship criteria. The key differences are application location and whether you’ll get a bridging visa in Australia.

Feature	Onshore 820/801	Offshore 309/100
Where you must be when you apply	In Australia	Outside Australia
Location at time of grant	Flexible (location no longer needs to match)	Flexible (location no longer needs to match)
Bridging visa after lodgment	Yes – BVA (starts when current visa expires)	No bridging visa
Work/study/Medicare while waiting	Possible on BVA (see Step 13)	Not applicable until 309 grant
Permanent stage timing	801 considered after about 2 years from application	100 considered after about 2 years from application

• Choose 820/801 if: you’re in Australia on a valid visa and want bridging‑visa coverage (work/study/Medicare) while you wait.
• Choose 309/100 if: you’re outside Australia or blocked from lodging onshore (for example, by a “no further stay” condition).

Important: onshore applicants should review condition 8503, section 48 and Schedule 3 risks before committing. We cover these rules in Step 4 so you pick the right partner visa AU pathway with eyes wide open.

Step 3. Check sponsor eligibility, limits and obligations

Your sponsor anchors the application. The Department checks their status, residence, character, and any past sponsorship history before progressing your partner visa AU case. Make sure your sponsor is ready with proof and understands what they must submit and disclose.

• Who can sponsor: An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. If the sponsor is under 18, a parent/guardian may sponsor on their behalf.
• Prove status and residence: Provide evidence of citizenship/PR/NZ eligibility; PRs and eligible NZ citizens should also show they usually live in Australia.
• Character checks: Sponsors are commonly asked for police certificates. Certain past offenses can limit or prevent sponsorship.
• Sponsorship limits: Prior partner sponsorships or having been sponsored yourself, or holding specific visas, can trigger limitations. Some limits can be waived in defined circumstances.
• Forms and timing: After the applicant lodges Form 47SP, the sponsor submits the online sponsorship (Form 40SP) via ImmiAccount using the TRN/application ID.
• Evidence expectations: Sponsors should contribute to relationship evidence (financial, household, social, commitment) and may be asked for statements.
• If sponsoring for a child: Provide court permission for the marriage (if relevant) and proof you are the parent/guardian.

Keep details honest and up to date—changes in relationship status must be promptly notified to the Department.

Step 4. Understand key rules that affect applying onshore: time/place of application and grant, condition 8503, section 48, schedule 3

Getting the onshore strategy right means knowing the rules that can block, delay, or unlock your partner visa AU options. Four settings matter most: where you are when you apply, whether a “no further stay” condition applies, if section 48 affects you after a refusal or cancellation, and whether Schedule 3 criteria apply when you don’t hold a substantive visa.

Time/place of application and grant

You must be in Australia to apply for subclass 820, and outside Australia to apply for subclass 309. Since 25 November 2023, subclasses 309, 820 and 801 can be granted regardless of your location at the time of decision. If you plan to travel while awaiting a decision, check your bridging visa settings (see Step 13).

Condition 8503 (“No further stay”)

If your current or most recent visa has condition 8503, you cannot lodge onshore unless the Department first waives it. Waivers are possible only in limited circumstances; without a waiver you must lodge offshore via 309/100.

Section 48 after refusal/cancellation

If you’ve had a visa refused or cancelled while in Australia, section 48 can restrict new onshore applications. Partner visa 820 is an exception to this bar, so you can generally still lodge onshore, though other hurdles (like Schedule 3) may apply.

Schedule 3 (no substantive visa at lodgment)

If you don’t hold a substantive visa, you’ll face extra criteria unless waived. The Department may require that your situation arose from factors beyond your control, that there are compelling reasons to grant the visa, and that you substantially complied with previous visa conditions. Compelling reasons can include Australian citizen children, maternal health issues, serious impacts on your sponsor, or conflict/violence in your home country. Officers can consider circumstances up to the time of decision.

Step 5. Map your timeline: processing times, two-stage pathway and when permanent residence is possible

The partner visa AU journey is a two-stage pathway. You first get a temporary visa (820 onshore or 309 offshore), then the Department reassesses you for permanent residence (801 or 100). Timeframes vary with caseload, completeness of evidence, and health/character checks. As a guide, many cases finalize the temporary stage in roughly 12–24 months, but ranges of about 3–30 months (onshore) and 3–33 months (offshore) are possible.

Typical timeline at a glance

• Lodgment (Day 0): Submit 820/309 with fee; complete health, biometrics and police checks as requested.
• If onshore: A Bridging visa A (BVA) is granted automatically; it activates when your current visa expires.
• Temporary decision: Most applicants receive 820/309 in the 12–24 month window; some are quicker or slower depending on the factors above.
• Permanent stage window: Around 2 years from your original application date, the Department assesses you for 801/100. You’ll provide updated evidence; no new visa application charge for the permanent stage.
• Direct permanent assessment (possible): If, at the time you applied, your relationship was 3+ years (or 2+ years with a dependent child), you may be assessed for permanent residence without waiting the full two years.
• Location at grant: Since 25 Nov 2023, 309/820/801 can be granted regardless of where you are at decision.
• Delays: Requests for more information pause timelines until you respond.

Step 6. Budget the full cost: visa application charges, dependents and other expenses

Costs add up fast, so map them early. For both onshore (820/801) and offshore (309/100), you pay one Partner Visa Application Charge (VAC) at Stage 1; the permanent stage (801/100) does not have a new VAC. Fees are the same whether you apply onshore or offshore.

• Main applicant VAC: AUD 9,365
• Each dependent 18+ VAC: AUD 4,685
• Each dependent under 18 VAC: AUD 2,345

Beyond the VAC, plan for third‑party expenses that vary by country and case:

• Health examinations: Panel doctor medicals for applicant and any dependents.
• Police certificates: Australian Federal Police (if applicable) and every country lived in 12+ months; sponsors may also need checks.
• Biometrics: If requested.
• Translations and certification: For non‑English documents.
• Relationship registration fee: If using state/territory registration to meet or waive the 12‑month de facto rule.
• Travel costs: Offshore applicants (or onshore applicants needing to travel), plus any courier/postage.
• Bridging visa B (onshore travel): A fee applies if you need to leave and return while on a BVA.
• Professional help (optional): Migration agent or lawyer fees.
• Passport renewal: If nearing expiry.

Example: a couple with one child under 18 lodging a partner visa AU should budget the VAC of AUD 9,365 + 2,345 = AUD 11,710 plus the third‑party costs above. Always confirm the latest VAC on the Department’s website before you pay.

Step 7. Create your ImmiAccount and set up the application correctly

Your ImmiAccount is the control center for your partner visa AU. Set it up carefully so you select the right stream, generate the Transaction Reference Number (TRN), and line up the sponsor form and documents without back‑and‑forth. Online lodgment is standard; paper is only by permission.

1. Create/Log in to ImmiAccount: Go to My applications > New application > Family > “Stage 1 – Partner or Prospective Marriage (300, 309/100, 820/801).”
2. Choose the correct stream: Select 820/801 (onshore) or 309/100 (offshore) to match where the applicant is at lodgment.
3. Complete Form 47SP online: Add all dependents now, disclose visa refusals/cancellations, and ensure addresses, dates, and relationship details are accurate.
4. Pay the VAC to lodge: Payment creates your TRN/application ID.
5. Sponsor submits Form 40SP: The sponsor logs in separately and uses the applicant’s TRN to lodge the sponsorship and upload sponsor evidence.
6. Set up document uploads: Use the Department’s categories (Identity, Relationship, Character). Include at least two Form 888s, Form 80, and consistent four‑pillar relationship evidence.
7. Quality control: Use clear file names, keep facts consistent between 47SP and 40SP, and only include certified/translated copies where required.

Tip: If you’re relying on a relationship registration to meet/waive the de facto 12‑month requirement, upload the registration certificate under Relationship evidence.

Step 8. Prepare identity, health and character documents (applicant and sponsor)

Strong identity, health, and character files keep your partner visa AU on track and prevent avoidable requests. Gather clear scans, certified or translated where required, and keep names, dates, and addresses consistent across the applicant’s Form 47SP and the sponsor’s Form 40SP.

• Applicant – Identity

  • Passport bio page and any previous passports
  • Birth certificate showing both parents, or equivalent civil record
  • National ID card (if held)
  • Two recent photos (45 mm x 35 mm; head and shoulders; name on back)
  • Proof of name change (marriage certificate, deed poll)
  • If previously married/partnered: divorce, separation or death certificates

• Applicant – Health

  • Complete panel‑doctor medical examinations when instructed; the doctor submits results directly to the Department
  • Include any prior health reports if relevant

• Applicant – Character

  • Form 80 (personal particulars/character assessment)
  • Police certificates for Australia (if applicable) and each country lived in for 12+ months
  • Military service records/discharge papers (if served)

• Sponsor – Identity and residence

  • Evidence of Australian citizenship/PR/eligible NZ status
  • For PR/eligible NZ sponsors: proof you usually live in Australia

• Sponsor – Character

  • Police certificates as requested by the Department
  • Military service records/discharge papers (if served)

Tip: Upload documents under the correct ImmiAccount categories (Identity, Health, Character). If a document isn’t available, add a short statement explaining why and provide alternatives where possible.

Step 9. Build decision-ready relationship evidence using the four pillars

“Decision‑ready” means your relationship evidence for a partner visa AU is complete, clearly organized, and easy for a case officer to verify against dates and addresses. Aim to cover your relationship from start to present, show both names where possible, explain gaps, and demonstrate everyday interdependence—not just special occasions.

How to structure your evidence

• Create a timeline: Map key dates (met, moved in, trips, lease changes, registrations) and align evidence to those points.
• Group and label: Upload under the Department’s categories and add short captions (what it is, whose name, date range, how it proves a pillar).
• Cover distance periods: If you lived apart, include messages/phone logs, travel bookings, and remittance records showing ongoing commitment.

Evidence by pillar

• Financial aspects: Joint lease/mortgage, joint bank statements showing regular use, shared utility bills, joint loans/insurance, invoices paid from a joint account, and any legal/financial obligations (wills, powers of attorney, beneficiary nominations).
• Nature of the household: Proof of cohabitation (mail to same address, lease addendums), division of chores (brief statements), shared purchases for the home (furniture/appliance invoices), joint responsibility for children (school/childcare forms).
• Social aspects: Joint invitations, event tickets, photos with captions/dates/people, joint travel (itineraries/boarding passes), evidence you’ve declared the relationship to institutions, club/gym memberships, and—if applicable—relationship registration.
• Nature of commitment: Length of relationship and cohabitation history, future plans (letters, bookings, savings goals), evidence of emotional support when apart, and documents showing you treat each other as next‑of‑kin.

Quality over quantity: provide representative samples across the relationship, ensure translations where required, and keep facts consistent with Forms 47SP/40SP. Form 888s from supporting witnesses will reinforce the social pillar (next step).

Step 10. Draft your personal relationship statements and collect Form 888s

Your personal statements are the heart of a partner visa AU case—the clear, consistent story that ties your forms and evidence together. Both the applicant and sponsor should write separate statements in their own words, covering the full relationship timeline and aligning with the four pillars (financial, household, social, commitment). Keep dates precise, explain any gaps, and make sure details match Forms 47SP and 40SP.

• How you met and early contact: When, where and how you first met; first in‑person meeting if you met online.
• Relationship development: Key milestones, moving from dating to commitment.
• Cohabitation: When you started living together, addresses and any periods apart.
• Financial arrangements: Joint accounts, bills, big purchases, and how you share expenses.
• Household life: How you divide chores and make day‑to‑day decisions.
• Social recognition: How you present as a couple to family/friends; joint events and travel.
• Periods of separation: Why you were apart and how you stayed in contact.
• Significant events and future plans: Engagement/marriage, children, property goals, long‑term intentions.

Form 888 statutory declarations from supporting witnesses corroborate your story. Provide at least two Form 888s from people who know your relationship; if they are Australian citizens or permanent residents they should use Form 888, otherwise a detailed letter is acceptable. Strong 888s explain how the witness knows you, what they’ve observed about your relationship, timelines, social interactions, and your future plans. Note: if you don’t hold a substantive visa and have had a refusal/cancellation, ensure the two Form 888s are signed and witnessed within 6 weeks before lodgment and included with the application.

Step 11. Include dependent children: who can be added and required consents

If you have children, plan their inclusion at Stage 1 so your partner visa AU lodgment is complete and fees are paid correctly. You can include your child or step‑child if they meet the definition of “dependent” and you can provide the required parental consents or court authority for them to migrate.

• Who qualifies as a dependent child

  • Under 18: Must be unmarried, not engaged, and not in a de facto relationship.
  • 18 or over: Either financially dependent on you for basic needs for at least the last 12 months, or incapacitated for work due to loss of bodily or mental functions. Dependency must continue until decision.
  • Step‑children: Can be included if they meet the same dependency rules.

• Required consents and legal authority

  • Provide a signed Form 1229 (Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18) from any person who can lawfully decide where the child lives.
  • If consent is unavailable, upload relevant court orders showing you can remove or relocate the child.
  • Include the child’s birth certificate (naming both parents); adoption/guardianship orders if applicable.

• Other requirements

  • Children must meet health requirements; character documents apply where requested.
  • Additional VAC applies to each dependent (see Step 6 for current amounts).

Carefully align all names, dates and addresses across your forms and documents to avoid requests and delays.

Step 12. Lodge a complete application and pay the fee

This is where you make it official. A “decision‑ready” partner visa AU lodgment means your forms are accurate, all dependents are included, and key identity/relationship/character documents are uploaded and labeled. Once you pay, your application date is fixed and your sponsor can link their part. If a document isn’t available yet (for example, a police check), you can still lodge and provide it when requested.

1. Review Form 47SP and dependent details for accuracy (names, dates, addresses).
2. Upload core evidence under correct categories (Identity, Relationship, Character), including at least two Form 888s and Form 80.
3. Confirm the correct stream (820/801 onshore or 309/100 offshore) and submit.
4. Pay the Visa Application Charge: main applicant AUD 9,365; each dependent 18+ AUD 4,685; each dependent under 18 AUD 2,345.
5. Record your TRN and save the lodgment acknowledgment.
6. Have the sponsor submit the online sponsorship (Form 40SP) using the TRN and upload sponsor documents.

After lodgment, monitor ImmiAccount for messages and promptly upload any further information the Department requests.

Step 13. After lodgement: bridging visas, work/study rights, Medicare and travel

What happens after you hit submit depends on where you applied. Offshore 309/100 applicants don’t receive any bridging visa and must maintain another valid visa if they wish to visit Australia before grant. Onshore 820/801 applicants are issued a Bridging visa A (BVA) linked to the partner visa AU application so you can stay lawfully in Australia while you wait.

• Bridging visa A (BVA): Granted automatically on lodgement and activates when your current visa expires. BVAs issued to partner‑visa applicants allow you to work, study (without government assistance) and enrol in Medicare.
• Travel on a BVA: A BVA does not permit travel. If you need to leave and return to Australia while your application is in process, apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB) before you depart. BVBs for partner‑visa applicants also allow work, study (no government support) and Medicare.
• Don’t cancel your current visa: If you cancel it, you become unlawful and won’t be eligible for a BVA/BVB/C. You’ll generally only be considered for a Bridging visa E (BVE), which is not automatic and must be applied for.
• Check your grant notice: Your BVA/BVB will state your conditions and start date. Keep your contact details updated in ImmiAccount and carry evidence of your lawful status when needed.
• Offshore applicants (309/100): No bridging status or Medicare until the temporary 309 is granted. Plan health insurance and travel accordingly.

Handled well, your bridging settings protect work, study and healthcare access while your partner visa AU progresses.

Step 14. Respond to requests and manage your application while you wait

Waiting isn’t passive. The smoother your “in‑process” management, the fewer delays your partner visa AU will face. The Department can ask for more information at any time and can consider new circumstances up to decision, so stay organized and responsive.

• Check ImmiAccount routinely: Log in weekly and act quickly on any “Request for Information” (RFI) or messages.
• Answer precisely: Provide exactly what’s asked, in the right category, with clear file names. Avoid duplicates and contradictions.
• Ask for time if needed: If you can’t meet a deadline, request an extension before it expires.
• Complete checks promptly: Book medicals when instructed and arrange police certificates as requested; sponsors may also be asked for checks.
• Keep evidence current: Every 2–3 months upload fresh four‑pillar samples (recent joint statements, bills, travel, photos with captions).
• Notify changes immediately: Update ImmiAccount if you change address, passport, employment, add a child, or if the relationship status changes.
• Travel smart (onshore): On a BVA, get a BVB before leaving Australia (see Step 13).
• Schedule 3 or compelling‑reasons cases: Keep uploading up‑to‑date evidence supporting your circumstances until decision.
• Stay scam‑aware: Treat ImmiAccount as the source of truth; cross‑check emails against your account.

Consistent, clean updates reduce RFIs and keep your file decision‑ready.

Step 15. Transition from temporary (820/309) to permanent (801/100): what to submit and when

The permanent stage is a reassessment of your relationship, usually more than two years after you lodged the original partner visa AU application. There is no new visa application charge. If, at the time you first applied, you’d already been together 3+ years (or 2+ years with a dependent child), the Department may assess you for permanent residence earlier or even grant temporary and permanent together.

• When it happens: The Department will invite you (via ImmiAccount) to provide updated information around the two‑year mark from your original lodgment date.
• What to upload:
  • Updated four‑pillar relationship evidence covering the period since lodgment/temporary grant
  • Fresh personal statements from both partners addressing any changes, separations, or moves
  • Current police certificates for applicant (and sponsor if requested); military records if applicable
  • Health checks if the Department requests new medicals
  • Identity updates (new passports, name changes) and documents for any new dependent children (with consents/court orders where required)
• Location at grant: Since 25 Nov 2023, 801/100 can be granted regardless of where you are at decision.
• If the relationship has ended: Certain concessions (family violence, sponsor death) may still allow permanent grant—see the next step.

Respond within the time given in your ImmiAccount. If you need more time, request an extension before the deadline expires.

Step 16. Special pathways and exemptions: de facto 12‑month waiver, family violence, sponsor death and other concessions

If you don’t neatly fit the standard rules—or your relationship ends after you apply—some concessions can still keep your partner visa AU on track. These are assessed case‑by‑case, so document everything carefully and notify the Department through ImmiAccount.

De facto 12‑month requirement: recognized exemptions

You usually need 12 months in a de facto relationship at lodgment. Exemptions include:

• State/Territory relationship registration: Registration can waive the 12‑month rule (available in VIC, NSW, QLD, TAS and the ACT).
• Humanitarian pathway history: If you are (or were) the de facto partner of a permanent humanitarian visa holder and the relationship was declared to the Department.
  Time spent only “dating” or purely online doesn’t count.

Family violence provisions

If the relationship breaks down because you experienced family violence, you can still be granted the permanent stage (801/100) after a temporary application. From July 2024:

• The definition was updated (uses “experienced”).
• 309/100 applicants can access these provisions without needing to be in Australia at decision.
  Provide the evidence requested by the Department (they will specify acceptable proofs).

Sponsor death provisions

If your sponsor dies after you apply, you may continue and be granted. From July 2024:

• 820/801: The previous “ties to Australia” requirement for deceased sponsors was removed.
• 309/100: Access to sponsor‑death provisions is available without needing to be in Australia at decision.

Other concessions to know

• Prospective Marriage (subclass 300): From July 2024, certain 300 holders may apply for 820/801 without marrying the sponsor under new relationship‑cessation settings.
• Schedule 3 (onshore without a substantive visa): Can be waived for compelling reasons (for example, Australian citizen children, serious health or safety issues). Keep uploading updated evidence until decision.
• Condition 8503: A waiver may allow onshore lodgment; otherwise, apply offshore (309/100).

If any of these apply, explain the circumstances in clear statements, upload supporting documents, and promptly respond to any Department requests.

Step 17. Common mistakes to avoid and pro tips for smoother processing

Small missteps can trigger big delays—or even refusal—on a partner visa AU. Use this pre‑lodgment and post‑lodgment checklist to keep your file clean, consistent, and decision‑ready from day one.

• Lodging the wrong stream: 820/801 is onshore; 309/100 is offshore. Match your location at application.
• Ignoring blocking rules: Overlooking condition 8503, section 48, or Schedule 3 can derail an onshore plan.
• Thin evidence (photos only): Failing to cover all four pillars (financial, household, social, commitment).
• Inconsistencies across forms: Dates, addresses, and timelines that don’t match between 47SP, 40SP, statements, and bills.
• Missing Form 888s: Or not getting them witnessed correctly; if you don’t hold a substantive visa and had a refusal/cancellation, ensure two 888s are signed within 6 weeks pre‑lodgment.
• Letting your visa lapse or cancelling it: You may lose BVA eligibility and fall to a BVE.
• Traveling on a BVA without a BVB: You can’t re‑enter Australia on a BVA.
• Delaying police/health checks: Late character/health clearances stall decisions.
• Not updating changes: Relationship, address, new child, or new passport not notified in ImmiAccount.

Pro tips for smoother processing:

• Register the relationship (where available) if you need to waive the 12‑month de facto rule.
• Label evidence by pillar and date range; build a simple timeline to anchor uploads.
• Quality over quantity: Representative statements/bills per quarter beat massive duplicates.
• Sync statements: Applicant and sponsor narratives should align on key dates and facts.
• Refresh evidence every 2–3 months while waiting; respond to RFIs early and ask for extensions before deadlines.
• Pre‑plan travel: Apply for a BVB if you must leave; since 25 Nov 2023, grants are location‑flexible, but keep lawful status.
• Schedule 3 cases: Keep documenting compelling reasons until decision.

Step 18. Country notes for Filipino applicants: documents, police checks and translations

Filipino couples often have unique patterns—periods of work overseas, name changes after marriage, and documents that may already be in English. Your goal is to keep names, dates and addresses consistent across forms and evidence, and to plan early for police checks from the Philippines and any other countries you’ve lived in.

Civil documents to prepare

• Identity: Passport bio page(s), birth certificate, national ID (if held), two recent photos (45×35 mm), proof of any name change.
• Marital status: Marriage certificate (if married); divorce, separation or death documents if previously married.
• Children (if included): Birth certificates and, where required, consent/court orders (see Form 1229 in Step 11).

Police checks (Philippines and abroad)

You must provide police certificates for Australia (if applicable) and for every country you’ve lived in for 12+ months. Filipino applicants should obtain a Philippines‑issued police certificate that covers all current and previous names. Sponsors may also be asked for police checks.

Translations and certification

Many Philippine civil documents are issued in English. If any document isn’t in English, upload a certified English translation. Provide certified copies where requested and ensure names (maiden/married), dates and addresses match across Forms 47SP/40SP and your evidence.

Pro tips for OFWs: keep a clear residence timeline, save remittance receipts and travel records to evidence ongoing support during separations, and refresh four‑pillar evidence regularly while you wait.

Step 19. Life after grant: rights, obligations and the path to citizenship

Grant day changes what you can do—and what you must keep doing. Your entitlements differ slightly between the temporary (820/309) and permanent (801/100) stages, but both expect you to keep information current, meet character requirements and comply with Australian laws.

• Temporary partner (820/309):

  • Work and study: Full work rights; you can study but generally no government fee assistance (e.g., HECS).
  • Medicare: You can enrol in Medicare.
  • Travel: You can travel in and out of Australia while your permanent stage is assessed.

• Permanent partner (801/100):

  • Permanent residence benefits: Keep full work rights, Medicare, and pay domestic student fees at Australian institutions.
  • Family sponsorship: You can sponsor eligible family members under the relevant programs.
  • Citizenship pathway: You can apply for Australian citizenship once residence requirements are met.

• Your ongoing obligations (both stages):

  • Update the Department via ImmiAccount if your address, passport, family composition or relationship circumstances change.
  • Provide requested checks (police/health) when asked.
  • Comply with Australian laws and maintain good character.

If your relationship ends after you’ve been granted permanent residence, your visa status is generally unaffected. If it ends before permanent grant, see Step 16 for concessions that may still apply.

Conclusion

You now have a clear, step‑by‑step roadmap for a successful partner visa AU application—choosing the right pathway (820/801 or 309/100), confirming eligibility, organizing decision‑ready evidence across the four pillars, understanding onshore rules like 8503/section 48/Schedule 3, mapping timelines and costs, and managing your rights after lodgment through to permanent residence and citizenship. Follow the steps, keep your facts consistent, refresh your evidence while you wait, and respond quickly to any requests.

If you’d like expert eyes on your strategy—or help with complex issues like Schedule 3, waivers, or relationship changes—our team can guide you from lodgment to grant with precision. Start your partner visa plan with a quick consult at Simon Mander Consulting and move forward with confidence.