The partner visa is for people in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The application requires substantial evidence that your relationship is real, continuing and to the exclusion of all others.
Is this your situation?
You are in a relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident and you want to live together in Australia. But you are worried about whether you have enough evidence, whether your relationship will be considered genuine, or whether something in your visa history will cause problems.
Or your partner visa has been refused and you are not sure what went wrong or what to do next.
Or you came to Australia on a visitor visa with condition 8503 and now you have met someone and want to apply for a partner visa, but the condition is blocking you.
We deal with all of these.
How the partner visa works
The partner visa has two stages. You first receive a temporary visa, then a permanent visa. In most cases both stages are decided from a single application, but the permanent visa is generally not granted until about two years after the application date.
If you have been in a relationship for more than three years at the time of application (or two years with a child of the relationship), you may be eligible for the permanent visa at the same time as the temporary visa.
Onshore partner visa - subclass 820/801
If you are in Australia, you apply for the 820 (temporary) and 801 (permanent). While the 820 is being processed, you generally receive a bridging visa that lets you stay in Australia, work and travel.
Offshore partner visa - subclass 309/100
If you are outside Australia, you apply for the 309 (temporary) and 100 (permanent). You must be outside Australia when the 309 is decided.
Prospective marriage visa - subclass 300
The 300 is for people who are engaged to an Australian citizen or permanent resident but have not yet married. It allows you to come to Australia and marry your partner within nine months. After marrying, you apply for the onshore partner visa (820/801).
NZ partner visas - subclass 461
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, the subclass 461 may be relevant. This visa has its own requirements separate from the standard partner visa pathway.
Relationship evidence - what actually matters
The Department assesses your relationship across four areas: financial aspects (shared bank accounts, joint assets, shared expenses), the nature of the household (living arrangements, shared responsibilities), social aspects (recognition by friends, family and community) and the nature of the commitment (length of relationship, future plans, knowledge of each other).
There is no single document that proves a genuine relationship. The strongest applications include a range of evidence across all four areas over the full period of the relationship.
Where partner visas run into trouble
Short relationship duration. If you met recently and applied quickly, the Department will look closely.
Limited evidence of cohabitation. If you have lived in different countries for most of the relationship, you need to explain why and provide other evidence of commitment.
Significant age differences. This is not an automatic ground for refusal but it gets scrutiny.
Cultural arrangements that differ from the Department's expectations. Arranged marriages, relationships that began online, and relationships where the couple met briefly before the application all require careful handling.
Previous visa refusals or overstays by the applicant. Past non-compliance with visa conditions makes the Department question your motives.
Condition 8503 on your current visa. If you are in Australia on a visitor visa with condition 8503, you cannot apply for a partner visa unless the condition is waived. See our condition 8503 waiver page.
Schedule 3 issues. If you did not hold a substantive visa at the time you applied, the Schedule 3 criteria apply and you need to demonstrate compelling and compassionate circumstances. See our Schedule 3 waiver page.
Partner visa refused? You have a deadline.
If your onshore partner visa is refused, you generally have 21 days to apply for a review at the Administrative Review Tribunal. The ART conducts a fresh review and can overturn the Department's decision. But you must lodge within the deadline.
If you receive a refusal notice, call us on 0425 825 500 the same day. Do not wait.
How Robbie Toor (MARN 1170356) helps
Robbie assists with evidence preparation, statutory declarations, relationship statements, and the visa application. He handles both straightforward and complex partner visa cases, including those involving Schedule 3 criteria, section 48 bar issues, condition 8503 waivers, and health or character concerns.