Partner Visa Complete Blueprint
Evidence, timing and the levers that move it faster — a full guide to the partner visa for de facto and married applicants.
The Australian partner visa is one of the most evidence-intensive applications in the immigration system. It's not complicated — but it is demanding. Officers are looking for consistent, multi-dimensional evidence of a genuine relationship across financial, social, household and commitment categories. Applications that fail almost always fail on the same thing: thin or poorly organised evidence, not ineligibility.
- Onshore (820/801) and offshore (309/100) paths have the same evidence requirements.
- The visa is two-stage: temporary grant first, permanent second (usually 2 years later).
- Bridging Visa A allows onshore applicants to stay and work while the application is assessed.
- Strong evidence across all four categories (financial, social, household, commitment) is the single biggest factor in outcome.
Where are you in the process?
Partner visa situations vary widely.
The partner visa at a glance
What the Department is looking for
**Financial** — joint bank accounts, shared property ownership or lease, combined insurance, shared finances, bills in both names. This is often the easiest category to evidence clearly, and the first thing an officer examines.
**Social** — how others know you as a couple: joint invitations, photos at social events, recognition by family and friends (statutory declarations from people who know you both are critical here), social media, attendance at family events together.
**Household** — evidence of a shared domestic life: joint lease agreements or mortgage, utility bills at the same address, shared responsibilities. For couples who haven't yet lived together full-time, explain this context clearly in a covering statement.
**Commitment** — evidence of mutual long-term commitment: communications (messages, emails, call records), knowledge of each other's families, joint travel, shared future plans, any legal arrangements (wills, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations). Duration of relationship matters here.
Statements from people who know you as a couple — family members, long-term friends, colleagues — are among the most powerful evidence in a partner visa. They need to be from people who can speak to the relationship in detail, not general character references. Invest time in getting good statutory declarations from multiple genuine sources.
The practical difference
If you're in Australia on any valid substantive visa when you lodge, the 820/801 onshore pathway allows you to stay. You'll be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA) that lets you live and work while the application is processed — this is a significant practical benefit for applicants who are already here.
The offshore 309/100 pathway requires you to be outside Australia at the time of lodgement. Once the temporary 309 is granted, you can travel to Australia. The permanent 100 stage follows the same two-year cycle.
Both pathways converge on the same permanent outcome — the choice depends on where you are when you apply and what best protects your current status.
A BVA keeps you lawful in Australia but doesn't automatically give you work rights. If your previous visa included work conditions, the BVA typically inherits them. But if you had restrictions or if you change circumstances, confirm your BVA conditions — working without permission is a character concern that can affect your application.
Partner visa — the process sequence
Build evidence + complete forms
Compile evidence across all four categories. Complete Form 47SP (applicant) and Form 40SP (sponsor). Commission statutory declarations.
Submit online, pay visa fee
Lodge online via ImmiAccount. Pay the application charge — among the highest in the system. Confirm BVA if onshore.
Biometrics + health checks
You'll be asked to complete health examinations and provide biometrics (fingerprints). Complete these promptly — delays here extend processing.
820 (onshore) or 309 (offshore)
Temporary stage is granted first. You receive confirmation, but the permanent stage is not assessed until 2 years later.
801 or 100 — final assessment
Department contacts you to confirm relationship is still genuine. Updated evidence may be requested. Permanent visa granted.
Ask MIOS — partner visa questions
Context-aware, supervised by a MARA-registered agent.
Partner visa — common questions
Yes — both married and de facto (including same-sex) couples can apply for the partner visa. De facto couples must have been in the relationship for at least 12 months (with some exceptions), and evidence requirements are identical.
The partner visa application charge is among the highest in the immigration fee schedule — check the current fee on the Department of Home Affairs website as it is indexed annually. It is non-refundable if the application is refused.
A BVA does not automatically include travel rights. If you need to travel overseas while your partner visa is pending, you'll need a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you depart — leaving without it cancels your BVA and your application may be affected.
If the relationship genuinely ends before the visa is granted, you must notify the Department. There are provisions for victims of family violence, but in a standard case, the application will generally not succeed if the relationship has ended.
Turn this intelligence into your plan.
The partner visa is evidence-intensive and the fees are non-refundable. A MARA-registered agent can audit your evidence before lodgement and ensure your application is positioned correctly the first time.