Australia Partner Visa Subclass 820 (Temporary, Onshore): Complete Guide

The Partner visa subclass 820 is the temporary stage of the onshore partner visa. It is for people who are inside Australia when they apply and who are the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. When you lodge the onshore partner application you apply for two visas at once: the temporary subclass 820 and the permanent subclass 801. The Department of Home Affairs decides the 820 first and the 801 later, usually about two years after you lodged. This guide explains who can apply, how the process runs, what happens to your status while you wait, what evidence helps, and what to do if things change. It is general information, so check the official website before you act.

What the subclass 820 visa is

Subclass 820 is a temporary visa that lets you stay in Australia with your partner while the Department finishes the assessment of the permanent visa. It normally lets you live and work in Australia, and may let you study and enrol in Medicare, but you should read the conditions in your grant letter. The 820 stays in force until the Department decides the permanent 801 visa.

It belongs to the wider partner visa family. If you are outside Australia you would normally follow the offshore route, which uses the subclass 309 and the subclass 100 instead.

Who can apply for the 820

You may be able to lodge the onshore partner application if all of these apply.

• You are in Australia when you lodge the application, and when the Department makes the decision on the temporary visa.
• You hold a visa that allows you to lodge a partner application onshore, or you meet an exception.
• You are married to your sponsor, or you are in a de facto relationship with them, or you meet the registered relationship rules.
• Your sponsor is an eligible Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and meets the sponsor requirements.
• You meet health and character requirements.

If your current visa has a condition that prevents you from applying for another visa onshore, you may not be able to lodge unless a waiver applies. This is one of the most common traps, so check your conditions before you lodge anything.

What happens when you lodge

After you lodge, the Department usually grants you a bridging visa, which lets you remain in Australia while the application is processed. The type and conditions of the bridging visa depend on your situation. A common outcome is a Bridging visa A, which allows you to stay but may not allow you to travel outside Australia. See our guides on Bridging visa A and Bridging visa B to understand how these visas work, including the travel rules.

You may be asked to provide further information, attend an interview or complete health checks. Respond promptly and keep your contact details updated. If you move house, change your phone number or change your email address, tell the Department the same day.

How the Department assesses the relationship

The Department looks at the relationship as a whole. It considers the financial aspects of your relationship, the nature of your household, the social aspects and the nature of your commitment. It also looks at the length of the relationship, how and when you met, and whether you have lived together. A strong case shows a pattern across all four areas, supported by documents and by statements that match each other.

Typical evidence includes joint bank accounts or evidence of shared finances, joint leases or shared bills, photos over time, travel records, messages, invitations addressed to both of you, statements from friends and relatives and evidence of plans for the future. For more detail, see our guide to the partner visa.

Step by step

1. Check your eligibility and your current visa conditions. Confirm that you are allowed to lodge onshore.
2. Choose your sponsor evidence. The sponsor needs to meet the requirements and provide information.
3. Collect your relationship evidence. Build a timeline and attach documents.
4. Prepare health and character documents. Arrange medicals when asked and gather police certificates.
5. Lodge the application online and pay the charge. Keep your receipt and reference number.
6. Check your bridging visa. Understand work, study and travel conditions.
7. Respond to requests. Provide information on time.
8. Receive the decision on the 820. If granted, read the conditions and plan for the second stage.
9. Prepare for the 801 assessment. Update your evidence before the second stage.

Bridging visa questions

While you wait for the 820, your bridging visa is your lawful status. Check whether you may work, whether you may study and whether you may travel. If you want to leave Australia temporarily, you may need a Bridging visa B, which has its own application, charge and conditions. If you travel without the right permission, you may not be allowed to return. If your work rights are limited, do not work outside the conditions. For more general information about how these visas work, read about Bridging visa C and Bridging visa E, which apply in other situations.

Costs

The combined partner application charge covers both the 820 and the 801. Besides the visa charge, plan for medical examinations, police certificates, translations and certified copies. If you use an agent, add their fees. Fees change each year, so check the Department’s current fee table and do not rely on figures from old pages.

Common mistakes

• Lodging while holding a visa with a no further stay condition, without considering a waiver.
• Supplying evidence that does not match the dates in the forms.
• Not telling the Department about a change of address or relationship status.
• Travelling without the right bridging visa permission.
• Leaving the collection of evidence until the second stage.
• Assuming the sponsor does not have to do anything.

How GIEC Global UK can help

We can help you understand how the 820 fits into the partner visa process, explain what evidence the Department looks at and talk through the stages. We cannot guarantee a visa, because decisions are made by the Department. For a free consultation, contact GIEC Global UK, or return to the Australia migration hub.

Your status while you wait: a closer look

Many people say that the waiting period is the hardest part. You have applied, you are living in Australia with your partner and you do not yet have the visa you want. The key is to understand your status and your conditions at every stage.

Before you lodge

Check the exact conditions of your current visa. Look for conditions such as “no further stay” and note the date on which the visa expires. If your visa is close to expiry, plan the timing of your application carefully, because lodging after expiry creates a different and much harder situation. If you are unsure, take advice before you lodge.

Immediately after you lodge

When the application is valid, you will normally be granted a bridging visa. Read the grant notice. It tells you the type of bridging visa, the date from which it applies and its conditions. Save it. If your work rights are not stated clearly, check your online account. If you need to start or change work, make sure your conditions allow it.

When the 820 is granted

If the Department decides that you meet the requirements, it grants the temporary subclass 820. The grant letter sets out your conditions. It also tells you that the permanent subclass 801 will be assessed later. Mark the date in your calendar and start building your updated evidence. Do not wait for the Department to contact you before you collect it.

Between the 820 and the 801

During this period you live your life as a couple. That is the best evidence you can create. Continue to keep joint bills, photos, travel records and anything that shows your shared life. If something changes, such as a move, a new job, a baby or a separation, tell the Department as the rules require.

Understanding family members and children

If you have dependent children who are included in your application, they usually follow the same process, with their own health and character checks. Children born after you lodge may need to be added to the application, and the process differs depending on whether the child is born in Australia or overseas. If your sponsor has children from an earlier relationship, they may have a connection to the application too, and court orders or consent documents may be needed. Keep these papers organised.

Relationship evidence: dos and don’ts

Do present evidence from the whole length of your relationship, not just the recent months. Do make sure that statements are consistent with documents. Do explain gaps, such as time apart for work or study. Do keep copies of everything you submit.

Don’t present documents that you cannot explain. Don’t let friends write statements that are untrue or copy a template. Don’t assume that a single joint account is enough or that no joint account means failure. Don’t wait until the Department asks, because it is easier to build the file steadily.

Preparing for an interview

If the Department invites you to an interview, it may speak to both of you, sometimes separately. Questions may cover how you met, your daily routine, your family and friends, your finances and your plans. You do not need to memorise a script. You need to be honest and know your own life. Review your timeline and your documents so that you can answer consistently. If you do not know something, say so.

When to seek professional advice

You can lodge a partner visa application without an agent, but there are moments where advice is especially valuable. These include a visa with a no further stay condition, a previous refusal or cancellation, a criminal conviction, a short relationship, a large age gap or cultural differences that might need explanation, a health condition, a complicated family situation and any situation where time is running out. If you use a registered migration agent, ask for a written agreement and a clear fee schedule.

Staying safe from scams

Partner visa applicants are sometimes targeted by scams, such as fake agents, fake government websites and people who claim they can arrange a “marriage for visa”. These are illegal and dangerous. Always use the official Department website, check an agent’s registration and never provide false documents. If you are worried, contact the relevant authority.

A worked example of the evidence timeline

Imagine a couple, Anna and Ben, who met through friends, started dating, moved into a flat together after eight months, got engaged on a holiday and married the following year. Anna holds a temporary visa and wants to lodge the onshore partner application. To prepare, the couple builds a timeline with documents attached to every milestone.

For the meeting, they have messages and a photo from the event where they met. For the dating period, they have photos from weekend trips, ticket bookings and messages. For the move, they have the lease signed by both, utility bills in both names and bank statements with shared expenses. For the engagement and wedding, they have travel bookings, the marriage certificate, invitations and photos, plus a letter from the celebrant. For the period after the wedding, they have a joint bank account, a joint insurance policy and a shared car registration. They add statements from two friends and two relatives, each describing events they attended as guests.

This example is only an illustration, because every couple is different. The point is that each part of the relationship has some kind of record, and the statements support the documents instead of replacing them. If a couple has fewer documents, they can still build a credible case by giving clear explanations and by using the evidence they do have.

How the Department thinks about financial evidence

The financial aspect does not mean that you must have a joint bank account. It means that the Department wants to see how you manage money as a couple. Some couples pool all their money. Others keep separate accounts but share costs through transfers or agree who pays for what. Both can be genuine. What matters is that you can explain the arrangement and that the documents match your explanation.

Relevant evidence includes joint accounts, evidence of transfers between you, shared loans or credit cards, shared responsibility for rent or a mortgage, insurance that lists each other, wills that name each other and evidence that one partner supports the other during study or illness. If you do not share finances, explain why, for example because one partner is a student with limited income, or because you recently arrived and have not yet set up joint accounts.

The household and the social aspect

For the household, address evidence is the most obvious, but daily routines matter too. Who cooks, who shops, who pays which bills, who cares for children or pets? Photos of your home and statements about how you share the work can help. For the social aspect, the Department wants to see that others know you as a couple. Invitations to both of you, photos at gatherings, social media posts and statements from friends are all relevant. Avoid sending hundreds of photos. A selected set spread across time is more useful than a huge unstructured folder.

Commitment

Commitment is shown by your plans and decisions. Examples include wills, joint insurance, shared goals such as buying a home, plans for children, decisions about work and study based on being together and the effort you make to see each other during periods apart. Explain how the relationship has changed your life and plans in a way that shows a shared future.

Practical points on forms and statements

When you complete the forms, take your time. The Department treats the application form as a formal statement, and mistakes can be costly. Use the same spelling of names and the same dates throughout. If the form has no space for an explanation, add a short supporting statement. Keep the statements clear, written in your own words and focused on facts. If English is not your first language and the sponsor writes the statement, it should still reflect the truth.

When you attach documents, name the files clearly, for example “joint bank statements January to June” or “lease agreement 2024”. A well organised application is easier to assess and shows that you took the process seriously.

What happens after the grant of the 820

When the 820 is granted, keep the grant letter and read the conditions. You should know the date by which the Department expects to assess the 801 and what updated evidence you will need. Some couples set a reminder every six months to collect new documents, so that nothing is missed. If you travel, keep records. If you change your phone number or move, update the Department. If your relationship status changes, tell the Department as required and take advice, since the consequences depend on your circumstances.

A short note about timing and patience

The partner visa process takes a long time and can feel stressful. It helps to remember that the Department’s job is to check each application carefully and that many couples go through the same process. Use the time to build your life together and your evidence. Focus on what you can control, such as accurate forms, complete documents and quick responses. Avoid the temptation to make decisions based on rumours in online forums, because every case is different. If you need support, you can speak to a registered professional or to a trusted organisation that helps migrants.

Questions couples often ask

Can we apply if we have not lived together for long?

Marriage does not have a fixed minimum cohabitation period for the partner visa, but the Department will still examine whether the relationship is genuine. If you have lived together for a short time, explain why, for example because you lived in different cities or countries, and show how you maintained the relationship. For de facto couples, the twelve month rule normally applies, with some exceptions, such as a registered relationship.

What if my partner and I have different cultural or religious backgrounds?

Different backgrounds are common and are not a problem in themselves. Explain how you met, how your families responded and how you manage your differences. Provide evidence such as photos from family events and statements from relatives. If a religious ceremony took place, include the certificate and photos.

Can a sponsor sponsor more than one partner?

There are limits on repeated sponsorship, and the rules include waiting periods and circumstances where an additional sponsorship is not allowed. If your sponsor has sponsored someone before, check the current rules before you lodge, because this can affect eligibility.

What if the Department asks for more evidence?

Read the request carefully, note the deadline and respond with exactly what is asked. If you cannot supply something, explain why and offer alternative evidence. Never ignore a request, because the Department can decide the application on the information it has.

Is it a problem if our social media does not show us as a couple?

Not everyone uses social media, and a lack of posts is not a problem on its own. If you do use social media and your posts conflict with your statements, for example if your profile says single, explain this. Be consistent between what you say to the Department and what is public.

What should we do if we move house during processing?

Update your address with the Department straight away through your online account. Keep documents that show your new address, such as a lease and utility bills. If you are applying from different addresses for a valid reason, keep evidence of where each of you lived and how often you saw each other.

Final checklist before you lodge the 820 application

• You are in Australia, and your current visa allows an onshore application.
• You and your sponsor meet the eligibility requirements.
• You have collected evidence across financial, household, social and commitment areas.
• You have written statements and obtained declarations from people who know you.
• You have organised identity, health and character documents.
• You have checked the current fees and lodgement instructions on the official site.
• You have copies of everything and a plan for updating your evidence over the next two years.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Australia partner visa subclass 820?

It is the temporary stage of the onshore partner visa for spouses and de facto partners of eligible Australians, applied for from inside Australia together with the permanent subclass 801.

Can I apply for subclass 820 from outside Australia?

No. You must be in Australia when you apply for the onshore partner visa. If you are outside Australia, the offshore route with subclass 309 and subclass 100 applies.

What is the difference between the 820 and the 801?

The 820 is the temporary visa and the 801 is the permanent visa. You apply for both in one application, and the Department decides the 801 later.

How long does subclass 820 take?

Processing times vary and change often. Check the Department's current processing guide. The permanent 801 assessment normally follows about two years after you lodge.

Can I work on a subclass 820 visa?

Generally yes, but you should read the conditions on your visa. While you wait for the grant, your bridging visa conditions control your work rights.

Can I travel while my 820 application is processed?

It depends on your bridging visa. Many bridging visas do not allow travel, and you may need a Bridging visa B. Check before you leave Australia.

Can I apply for 820 if I am on a visitor visa?

Visitor visas often carry a condition that prevents applying for another visa onshore. A waiver may apply in limited cases, so check your conditions and seek advice before you lodge.

Do I need to be married to apply?

No. You can apply as a de facto partner if you have a genuine and continuing relationship, usually with at least twelve months of living together, subject to exceptions.

What evidence do I need for the 820?

You need evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing across financial, household, social and commitment areas, plus identity, health and character documents.

Does my sponsor have to sign anything?

The sponsor must meet the requirements and complete the sponsor forms and statements the Department asks for. They also need to give accurate information.

Can I include my children in the application?

Dependent children can often be included, and each must meet health and character requirements. The rules differ depending on whose children they are.

Do I need to do a medical for the 820?

Usually yes. You and included family members may need a health examination when the Department requests it.

What happens if our relationship ends before the decision?

Tell the Department and seek advice. The outcome depends on the stage and circumstances, and there are protections for some people affected by family violence.

What is a bridging visa A?

A bridging visa A allows you to remain in Australia while your substantive visa application is processed. It may not allow travel outside Australia.

Can I study on a subclass 820 visa?

In most cases yes, but conditions may apply, and fees may differ from those for permanent residents. Check your visa conditions and the education provider's rules.

Can I get Medicare on the 820?

Often yes once the visa is granted, but entitlement depends on your circumstances. Check the Services Australia website for current rules.

How much does the partner visa cost?

There is a combined partner visa application charge that is among the higher charges, plus medicals, police certificates and translation costs. Check the Department's current fee table.

What if my current visa is about to expire?

Lodging a valid application before your visa expires normally gives you a bridging visa, but check the rules for your case and seek advice quickly if time is short.

When can I apply for citizenship after the 820?

Citizenship generally requires permanent residence first, so you would normally need the 801 or another permanent visa, and then meet the citizenship requirements.

How can GIEC Global UK help with the 820 visa?

We can explain the process, discuss the evidence you may want to collect and guide you through the stages. We cannot guarantee a visa decision.