Partnership Visa Australia Requirements: Onshore & Offshore

Bringing your partner to Australia means navigating one of the most document heavy visa applications the Department of Home Affairs offers. You need to prove your relationship is genuine, meet character and health standards, and choose between applying from inside or outside Australia. Each pathway has different requirements and processing times.

This guide breaks down exactly what you need to qualify for a partner visa. You’ll learn the core eligibility criteria, required documents, and which application pathway fits your situation. We cover both onshore (subclass 820/801) and offshore (subclass 309/100) options.

By the end, you’ll know what documents to gather, how to prove your relationship meets Australian standards, and what steps to follow when lodging your application. We’ve included practical tips from 22 years of helping couples successfully reunite in Australia.

What is an Australian partner visa

An Australian partner visa allows you to live in Australia with your spouse or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The visa operates as a two-stage process where you first receive temporary residency, then apply for permanent residency after approximately two years (though some couples qualify for immediate permanent residence).

The two-stage visa process

You apply for both the temporary and permanent visas at the same time by submitting one combined application. The Department of Home Affairs assesses your relationship at the time you apply and grants you temporary residency first. Your permanent visa assessment happens roughly two years later, when the Department checks whether your relationship still exists and remains genuine.

Couples who have lived together for at least three years, or two years with a child together, may receive permanent residency immediately without the waiting period.

Some couples skip the two-year waiting period entirely. This happens when you can prove exceptional circumstances or meet specific long-term relationship criteria.

Four main visa subclasses

The onshore pathway uses subclass 820 (temporary) and subclass 801 (permanent). You must be in Australia when you lodge this application and when the Department grants your temporary visa. This option automatically includes a bridging visa that lets you stay in Australia while waiting for a decision.

The offshore pathway uses subclass 309 (temporary) and subclass 100 (permanent). You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the Department grants your temporary visa. Understanding the partnership visa australia requirements for both pathways helps you choose the right option for your circumstances. Each pathway has the same core eligibility criteria but different location requirements and processing considerations.

Step 1. Check your basic eligibility

You must meet four core requirements before you can apply for an Australian partner visa. The Department of Home Affairs checks your relationship status, age, sponsorship eligibility, and personal standards during the assessment process. Understanding these partnership visa australia requirements upfront saves you time and prevents application delays.

Relationship requirements

Your relationship must be genuine and continuing when you lodge your application. You can apply if you are married, in a registered relationship with an Australian state or territory government, or in a de facto relationship. Each category has specific proof requirements.

De facto relationships require 12 months of cohabitation immediately before you apply. You can skip this 12-month requirement if you register your relationship in states like New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, or the Australian Capital Territory. The relationship registration process requires your Australian partner to have lived in their state for at least six months (requirements vary by state).

Married couples do not need to prove 12 months of living together, but you still must demonstrate your relationship is genuine and ongoing.

Same-sex and opposite-sex couples have identical requirements and assessment processes. The Department evaluates all relationships using the same criteria regardless of gender.

Age requirements

Both you and your partner must be at least 18 years old when you apply. The Department makes limited exceptions for marriages that occurred under 18 if you had parental consent and the marriage is legally recognized in both countries. These exceptions are rare and require additional documentation.

Sponsorship criteria

Your Australian partner must sponsor your application and meet specific eligibility standards. They need to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsor cannot have sponsored more than two other partners for Australian visas, and at least five years must have passed since their last sponsorship (with some exceptions).

Previous sponsorships create limitations even if the earlier relationship ended. Your partner needs to declare all past sponsorships, including any that did not result in a visa grant. The Department checks sponsorship history during the assessment process.

Sponsors with family violence convictions or certain criminal records may not qualify to sponsor you. The Department conducts police checks on all sponsors to protect applicants from potential harm.

Character and health standards

You must meet health requirements by completing medical examinations with approved panel doctors. The Department generates a Health Assessment Portal (HAP) ID number after you lodge your application. You need chest x-rays if you are 11 years or older and HIV tests if you are 15 years or older.

Police certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years prove your character. These 12 months can be cumulative rather than consecutive. You need police certificates from both your home country and any other countries where you spent significant time. Most certificates expire after 12 months, so timing matters when you gather these documents.

Character requirements also apply to your sponsor, who must provide police certificates and disclose any criminal history. Previous visa cancellations, deportations, or immigration fraud can affect your eligibility to receive a partner visa.

Step 2. Choose onshore or offshore pathway

Your location when you lodge your application determines which partner visa pathway you must follow. The onshore pathway requires you to be inside Australia when you apply and when the Department grants your temporary visa. The offshore pathway requires you to be outside Australia at both these points. This choice affects your processing timeline, work rights, and ability to travel during the assessment period.

Onshore pathway (subclass 820/801)

You apply for the subclass 820 (temporary) visa first, which leads to the subclass 801 (permanent) visa after approximately two years. This pathway works best when you are already in Australia on another valid visa, such as a tourist, student, or working holiday visa. Your current visa must still be valid when you lodge your partner visa application.

The Department automatically issues you a bridging visa A when you apply, which activates once your current visa expires. This bridging visa lets you stay in Australia lawfully while waiting for a decision. You inherit the same work and study rights from your previous visa. For example, if your tourist visa prohibited work, your bridging visa maintains that restriction until your temporary partner visa gets granted.

The onshore pathway prevents you from leaving Australia unless you apply for and receive a bridging visa B before your travel date.

Offshore pathway (subclass 309/100)

You apply for the subclass 309 (temporary) visa from outside Australia, which progresses to the subclass 100 (permanent) visa after the standard waiting period. This pathway suits couples where the applicant lives overseas and plans to move to Australia after visa approval. Current processing times for offshore applications range from 12 to 24 months for the temporary visa decision.

No bridging visa comes with offshore applications because you remain in your home country during processing. You can continue working, studying, and living normally while you wait. Some applicants prefer this pathway because they can maintain their current employment and avoid the limitations of an Australian bridging visa.

Key decision factors

Your current visa status in Australia creates the biggest constraint in choosing your pathway. You cannot apply onshore if you hold a visa with an "8503 no further stay" condition. These conditions typically attach to tourist and working holiday visas. Check your current visa grant notice to verify your conditions before deciding.

Processing priorities differ between pathways, though official timeframes show similar ranges for both options. Onshore applications give you the security of staying in Australia with your partner during the wait, while offshore applications let you maintain your overseas life and employment until approval. Consider whether meeting partnership visa australia requirements from inside or outside Australia better fits your financial situation, employment commitments, and family circumstances.

Step 3. Collect identity and relationship documents

You need to gather two categories of documents for your partner visa application: identity documents that prove who you are, and relationship documents that demonstrate your partnership is genuine and continuing. The Department of Home Affairs uses these documents to verify your identity and assess whether your relationship meets partnership visa australia requirements. Start collecting these documents at least three months before you plan to apply, as some take weeks to obtain.

Identity documents for applicant and sponsor

Both you and your sponsor must provide proof of identity through government-issued documents. You need your current passport (the biographical page showing your photo and details), plus either a birth certificate showing both parents’ names, a government-issued identification card, or a family book with parent information. Your documents must be in English or accompanied by certified translations from a NAATI-approved translator.

Gather these specific identity documents for your application:

• Current passport (biographical pages)
• Birth certificate or family book
• National identity card (if applicable)
• Two recent passport photos (45mm x 35mm) with your name on the back
• Evidence of any name changes (marriage certificate, deed poll)
• Driver’s license or other government ID

Proving your relationship is genuine

The Department assesses your relationship using four main aspects: financial, household, social, and commitment. You must provide evidence across all four categories to prove your partnership is real and ongoing. Stronger applications include documents spanning the entire length of your relationship, not just recent evidence from the past few months.

Financial aspects evidence

Joint financial management proves you share economic responsibilities as a couple. The Department looks for bank accounts, assets, and expenses in both names. You need documents showing how you support each other financially and plan your future together.

Submit these financial documents to strengthen your application:

• Joint bank account statements (minimum 6 months)
• Lease or mortgage documents in both names
• Joint loan agreements for cars or major purchases
• Utility bills addressed to both of you
• Joint credit cards or supplementary card arrangements
• Tax returns showing your relationship status
• Life insurance policies naming each other as beneficiaries

Household evidence

Shared living arrangements demonstrate you function as a household unit. You need proof that you live at the same address and share daily responsibilities. The Department checks whether you manage your home together and present yourselves as a couple to service providers.

Collect these household documents:

• Rental agreements or property ownership papers
• Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) in both names
• Joint subscriptions (streaming services, gym memberships)
• Mail addressed to both of you at the same address
• Household purchase receipts for furniture or appliances

Social aspects evidence

Public recognition of your relationship shows others acknowledge you as a couple. You need evidence that friends, family, and your community view you as partners. This category includes social activities, shared friendships, and how you present yourselves publicly.

Gather this social evidence:

• Two statutory declarations (Form 888) from friends or family
• Joint photos from events, holidays, and daily life
• Joint invitations to weddings, parties, or events
• Social media posts showing your relationship
• Joint memberships to clubs or organizations
• Travel bookings and itineraries in both names

Commitment evidence

Long-term intentions prove you plan to stay together permanently. The Department wants to see you make significant decisions together and consider each other in major life choices. Include documents showing future planning and emotional connection.

Form 888 statutory declarations from witnesses who know both partners provide crucial third-party verification of your genuine relationship.

Provide these commitment documents:

• Personal statements explaining how you met and your relationship history
• Messages, emails, or letters showing communication when apart
• Evidence of meeting each other’s families
• Wills naming each other as beneficiaries
• Joint plans for children or property purchases
• Records of supporting each other through difficulties

Police and character documents

You need police certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months or more (cumulative, not consecutive) in the past 10 years. Order these certificates early because some countries take eight weeks or longer to process requests. Both you and your sponsor must provide police certificates.

Request police certificates through official channels in each country. Australian Federal Police certificates require online applications through their website. Many countries issue certificates through their embassy or consulate if you cannot apply in person. Keep certificates valid by ordering them no more than 12 months before you lodge your application.

Step 4. Lodge your partner visa application

You lodge your partner visa application online through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs’ official portal for visa applications. The process requires you to create an account, complete two separate forms, upload all supporting documents, and pay the application fee. Allow yourself at least two hours to complete the entire lodgement process without rushing.

Create your ImmiAccount

You need to register for an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website before you can start your application. This account stores your application, lets you upload documents, and allows you to track progress after submission. Create your account using a personal email address you check regularly, as the Department sends all updates to this email.

Set up your ImmiAccount by following these steps:

1. Visit the Department of Home Affairs website and click "Create ImmiAccount"
2. Enter your email address and create a strong password
3. Verify your email through the confirmation link sent to your inbox
4. Log in and complete your account profile with basic personal details
5. Select "New application" and choose the partner visa category

Complete Form 47SP and Form 40SP

Form 47SP is your visa application form as the main applicant, while Form 40SP is the sponsorship form your partner completes. You must finish your Form 47SP first because it generates a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) that your partner needs to complete their sponsorship form. Both forms include detailed questions about your relationship, personal history, and background.

Answer every question completely and accurately on both forms. Leave no sections blank unless they genuinely do not apply to your circumstances. The Department cross-checks information between both forms, so ensure your answers match your partner’s responses. Include explanations for any gaps in employment, travel, or residence history that span more than three months.

The TRN from your completed application must be entered into your partner’s sponsorship form, linking both submissions together in the Department’s system.

Upload your documents systematically

The ImmiAccount portal lets you attach documents to specific sections of your application after you complete the forms. Organize your files before uploading by creating clear folder structures on your computer. Name each file descriptively using formats like "JohnSmith_Passport_2025" or "JointBankStatements_Jan2024-Dec2024" so case officers can easily identify documents.

Upload documents in PDF format whenever possible, as this ensures compatibility and prevents formatting issues. Scan physical documents at 300 DPI resolution or higher for clear readability. Combine multiple pages of the same document (like bank statements covering several months) into single PDF files rather than uploading dozens of separate pages.

Pay the application fee and submit

The current application fee sits at $9,365 for the main applicant, plus $4,685 for dependent children over 18 and $2,345 for children under 18. You pay this fee using a credit card or debit card through the secure ImmiAccount payment portal. This single payment covers both your temporary and permanent partnership visa australia requirements, so you do not pay additional fees when applying for your permanent visa two years later.

Review your entire application thoroughly before clicking the final submit button. Check that all mandatory fields contain accurate information, all required documents have uploaded successfully, and your payment processed correctly. The Department sends you an email confirmation with your application reference number within 24 hours of successful submission.

Step 5. Know what happens after you apply

The Department of Home Affairs begins processing your application within days of lodgement, though the full assessment takes months or years to complete. You receive automated confirmation emails at key stages, and case officers may contact you to request additional documents or clarify information. Understanding the post-lodgement process helps you respond quickly to requests and avoid delays in your partnership visa australia requirements assessment.

Acknowledgment and case officer assignment

You receive an automatic confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting your application, containing your unique reference number and basic lodgement details. The Department assigns a case officer to your file within four to eight weeks, though this timeline varies based on current processing volumes. Your case officer reviews your entire application, checks that you submitted all required documents, and determines what additional evidence they need.

Check your ImmiAccount regularly for status updates and messages from the Department. Case officers send requests through the portal rather than by email, so you must log in frequently to avoid missing time-sensitive requests. Set up email notifications in your ImmiAccount settings to alert you when new messages arrive.

Medical examinations and police checks

The Department issues your Health Assessment Portal (HAP) ID number approximately four to six weeks after you lodge your application. You need this ID to book appointments with approved panel doctors for your required medical examinations and chest x-rays. Book your medical appointment within 28 days of receiving your HAP ID to prevent processing delays.

Complete these health assessment steps in order:

1. Wait for your HAP ID email from the Department
2. Locate an approved panel doctor in your area using the Department’s clinic finder
3. Call the clinic and provide your HAP ID number to book your appointment
4. Attend your examination with valid photo identification
5. Confirm the doctor uploaded your results electronically to the Department

Police certificates older than 12 months at the time of decision require replacement, so monitor expiry dates if your application takes longer than expected to process.

Responding to information requests

Case officers typically request additional documents between three and six months after lodgement. These requests arrive through ImmiAccount with specific instructions about what documents you need and the deadline for submission (usually 28 days). Respond before the deadline even if you cannot provide everything requested, as late responses can result in application refusal.

Structure your response using this approach when submitting requested documents:

1. Create a cover letter listing each requested item
2. Number your documents to match the request order
3. Explain any documents you cannot provide and offer alternatives
4. Upload everything as clearly labeled PDF files
5. Submit through ImmiAccount and keep confirmation screenshots

Checking your application status

Your processing timeframe depends on whether you applied onshore or offshore, plus factors like application complexity and document completeness. Current processing times range from 12 to 24 months for temporary partner visas. You can check updated timeframes on the Department of Home Affairs website by searching for your specific visa subclass and application date range.

Monitor your ImmiAccount dashboard for status changes that indicate progress. The status updates from "Received" to "In Progress" once a case officer begins actively reviewing your file. Contact the Department only if your processing time exceeds published timeframes by more than three months or if urgent circumstances require faster processing.

Additional tips and common mistakes

Avoiding common application errors saves you months of processing delays and prevents costly refusals. Most mistakes happen during document preparation and form completion rather than during the eligibility assessment stage. Learning from typical applicant errors helps you submit a stronger application on your first attempt.

Common application errors to avoid

You risk automatic refusal if you submit your application with incorrect visa conditions or when your current visa has expired. Check your current visa grant notice thoroughly to verify you hold no "no further stay" conditions before applying onshore. Applications lodged with these conditions become invalid immediately, and you lose your application fee without any assessment taking place.

Incomplete statutory declarations cause significant delays when Form 888 witnesses fail to include specific examples of your relationship. Your witnesses must describe actual events they attended, conversations they heard, and observations they made about your partnership. Generic statements like "they seem happy together" provide no value to case officers assessing your application.

Never submit photocopied signatures on statutory declarations, as the Department requires original wet signatures on all Form 888 documents.

Document preparation best practices

Bank statements must show regular transactions rather than just account opening confirmations or single deposits. Case officers look for evidence of daily financial interdependence through grocery purchases, bill payments, and shared expenses over at least six consecutive months. A joint account with minimal activity raises questions about whether you genuinely share finances.

Certified translations become necessary when you submit documents in languages other than English. You must use NAATI-accredited translators in Australia or equivalent certified translators in your home country. Uncertified translations from friends or family members do not meet partnership visa australia requirements regardless of the translator’s language skills.

Timing considerations

Police certificate validity creates problems when applications take longer than expected to process. Order your certificates no earlier than three months before lodging to maintain validity throughout the assessment period. Expired certificates require replacement before case officers can finalize your temporary visa decision, adding months to your processing timeline.

Key takeaways

Meeting partnership visa australia requirements means gathering extensive documentation, proving your relationship across four key areas (financial, household, social, and commitment), and choosing the correct application pathway based on your location. You need police certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months in the past decade, plus medical examinations from approved panel doctors. The two-stage process takes 12 to 24 months for temporary visa decisions, with permanent residency following approximately two years later.

Start collecting documents at least three months before you plan to apply, as police certificates and translations take weeks to obtain. Avoid common mistakes like submitting expired police checks, incomplete Form 888 declarations, or applying with "no further stay" visa conditions. Professional guidance helps you navigate complex cases and avoid costly refusals. Contact Simon Mander Consulting for personalized assessment of your partner visa situation.