Get your Partner Visa in 2026
How to get your Partner Visa in 2026. This article gives you a simple overview of the process, without the legal jargon. Whether you’re married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident, understanding Australian Partner Visas in 2026 can save you time, stress, and uncertainty.
This article covers:
- Who can apply for a Partner or Spouse Visa in 2026
- Where to apply from (inside or outside Australia)
- Visa Types (Subclass 820/801, Subclass 309/100, and Subclass 300)
- The two‑stage Partner Visa process
- What to know about Partner Visa evidence
- Other key eligibility and application requirements
Key Facts
- Three Main Partner Visa Pathways (2026): The Partner or Spouse Visa includes the 820/801 (onshore), 309/100 (offshore), and 300 (Prospective Marriage Visa) streams, depending on your relationship stage and location.
- Genuine Relationship Evidence: Applicants must show their relationship is genuine and continuing through financial, social, household, and commitment‑based documentation.
- Onshore and Offshore Options: Onshore Partner Visa applicants are usually granted a Bridging Visa, allowing them to stay and often work while waiting for the decision.
- Processing Times (2026): Average processing times range from 12–24 months, depending on visa subclass, case complexity, and documentation quality.
- Eligibility and Extra Requirements: All applicants must meet health, character, and visa history requirements before approval.
Are you thinking of applying for a Partner Visa in 2026 to live in Australia with the Aussie who you love?
Whether you're married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand Citizen, this article outlines the Spouse Visa process which is commonly called the Partner Visa process.
Keep reading to understand the Partner or Spouse Visa process in Australia. We’ve seen how confusing the Australian Spouse/Partner Visa process can feel at this start, and this article is designed so you know what to expect and how to get started the right way.
Who can apply for a Partner Visa or Spouse Visa in 2026?
Australian Partner or Spouse Visas are designed for people who are:
- Married to an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident,
- Engaged to be married (in which case you’d apply for a Prospective Marriage Visa), Or
- In a de facto relationship, which usually means living together for at least 12 months or registering the relationship.
Find out more about Partner Visa Eligibility.
Where do I need to be when I apply?
You can apply onshore, if you’re already in Australia, or offshore, if you're applying from outside the country. (There are requirements to meet for both those options.)
The Subclass 820/801 is the Onshore Partner Visa option.
The subclass 309/100 is the Offshore Partner Visa option.
And the Prospective Marriage visa (for Engaged couples) can be applied for Offshore before you travel to Australia and apply for the Subclass 820/801 visa onshore.
Two Step Partner Visa Process
Applying for a Spouse Visa (or Partner Visa) in Australia is a two step process (a temporary visa then a permanent visa).
In most cases, paperwork for the Permanent Visa is submitted two years after the initial application.
Some couples may be eligible for the double grant of the temporary and permanent visa at the same time.
In the case of the Prospective Marriage Visa it is a three step process (firstly the visa that allows you to travel to Australia and then the two step onshore partner visa process).
Types of Partner or Spouse Visas
There are three main types of Partner or Spouse Visas:
The Subclass 820/801 is the onshore Partner Visa. Once your application is submitted, you’ll usually be granted a Bridging Visa that lets you stay in Australia while your application is processed. If you are eligible you apply for this while you’re in Australia. A Bridging Visa allows you to stay in Australia during processing and move from a temporary visa (Subclass 820) to a permanent visa (Subclass 801) over time.
The Subclass 309/100 is the offshore Partner Visa. You apply from outside Australia. The Subclass 309 is a temporary visa, and the Subclass 100 is a permanent visa.
Subclass 300 is the Prospective Marriage Visa, for couples who are engaged and planning to marry in Australia after the visa is granted. Once you marry, you can then apply for a Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa from inside Australia.
Find out more about Onshore Partner Visas, Offshore Partner Visas and Prospective Marriage Visas.
Which Partner Visa is right for me?
Which one is right for you depends on a range of factors including:
- your relationship status (married, de facto or engaged),
- where you are in the world (Australia or overseas),
- your options for travel to Australia (this can be hard in some cases) and
- your timeline for being together in Australia.
The right visa depends on your personal circumstances and your goals for the future.
What else do I need to know?
Once you understand the different types of Partner Visas or Spouse Visas and you know which one (and where) you will apply from, it’s important to know that the Spouse Visa Process is not just about filling out a form.
And it isn’t just about love.
You’re proving that your relationship is genuine and continuing.
To do that, you need to provide strong evidence in four main areas, which are:
- Financial evidence,
- Social evidence,
- Household evidence and evidence of the
- Nature of the Commitment.
Each of these categories provide proof of your genuine and ongoing relationship for the Home Affairs decision maker.
Find out more about Partner Visa Evidence.
If you’re not sure what kind of evidence to include, we’ve created a Free Partner Visa Guide. It breaks down each category to fast track your research. The guide is straightforward, simple to understand and free. Thousands of couples have used it to get their Partner Visa research started right.
What else do I need to provide?
In addition to proving your relationship, there are a few extra requirements you’ll need to meet.
Extra requirements include:
- Health Examinations
- Character requirements and
- Any additional requirements relating to other current or previous Australian Visas and your visa status.
How long will it take to get my Partner Visa?
Partner Visa Processing times can vary, but typically range from 12 to 24 months, depending on the visa stream, your circumstances, and how strong your application is. Long Partner Visa processing times can be frustrating, but no news often doesn’t mean there’s a problem. It just means your application is still in the queue.
Conclusion
The Spouse Visa or Partner Visa process in Australia in 2026 is the pathway for Aussies who find love overseas to bring their love home. If you’re applying for a Partner Visa in 2026 t’s important to understand options for onshore or offshore applications, the three main Partner visa types, and evidence and other requirements.
Need more information?
Remember: you don’t have to figure it out on your own—we’re here to help every step of the way.
At Port Migration we have been helping couples just like you successfully apply for Partner Visas for over 10 years. And we have a 100% Partner Visa Success Rate.
Our experienced team of MARA Migration Agents is here to handle your case from start to finish.
A free call is a great place to start. Reach out to get your application started today.
The term Spouse Visa and Partner Visa in Australia usually refers to Visa Subclass 820/801, 309/100 and 300. This includes visa pathways for people who are married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. You can apply either onshore or offshore, depending on your circumstances. Find out how to apply.
There are three main Partner Visa pathways:
- 820/801 (onshore): Apply from within Australia and get a Bridging Visa to stay during processing.
- 309/100 (offshore): Apply from outside Australia and wait offshore while it’s processed.
- 300 (Prospective Marriage Visa): For engaged couples planning to marry in Australia before transitioning to a Partner Visa.
You must prove your relationship is genuine and continuing by providing documents in four key areas:
- Financial (e.g., joint bank accounts)
- Social (e.g., photos, events with friends)
- Household (e.g., living arrangements)
- Nature of Commitment (e.g., shared plans and responsibilities)
The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa is for couples who are engaged and want to marry in Australia. Once the visa is granted and the couple marries, they can then apply for the onshore Partner Visa (820/801). This is often a great option when your partner can’t get a Visitor Visa to come to Australia beforehand. Find out more.
Processing times vary depending on the type of visa and the strength of your application. Generally, Partner Visas take 12–24 months to be processed. The timeline may also depend on whether you apply onshore or offshore and if you’ve submitted strong relationship evidence. Find out more.
All Partner Visa applicants must meet health and character criteria. This includes a medical exam, police clearances from every country you’ve lived in for 12+ months, and disclosure of any prior visa issues. These requirements apply whether you’re applying onshore or offshore.
Check out the Port Migration Podcast The Partner Visa Podcast is an 8-part series that walks you through the Partner Visa process in plain English. You can also book a free call to discuss your situation with our team.
