Subclass 820 Partner Visa (Temporary)

The Subclass 820 Partner Visa is a temporary visa for partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It allows you to live in Australia while your permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801) is processed. This visa is the first step toward permanent residency for partners who are already in Australia.

To be eligible, you must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. This relationship can be a marriage, de facto partnership, or registered relationship. You must be in Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted, and you need to meet health and character requirements.

Processing times for the Subclass 820 visa can vary. On average, it takes about 6 to 24 months for the visa to be processed. Factors that can affect processing times include the completeness of your application, how quickly you respond to requests for additional information, and the current caseload of the Department of Home Affairs. You can keep up to date with current processing times on our Youtube Channel.

You will need a range of documents to support your application, including proof of your relationship (such as joint bank account statements, lease agreements, and photos together), identity documents (passport, birth certificate), and evidence of your sponsor's citizenship or permanent residency status. You will also need to provide police checks and may be required to undergo health examinations. You can Download our Free Guide to Partner Visas for more information.

Yes, holders of a Subclass 820 Partner Visa have full work rights in Australia. You can also study. This visa allows you to live, work, and study in Australia while you wait for your permanent visa (Subclass 801) to be processed.

If your relationship ends while your Subclass 820 visa is being processed, you must notify the Department of Home Affairs. The outcome will depend on your individual circumstances. In some cases, the visa application may be canceled, but there are exceptions, such as if you have children with your partner or if you can demonstrate that the relationship ended due to family violence.

Yes, you can include dependent children in your Subclass 820 Partner Visa application. They must meet the health and character requirements, and you will need to provide evidence of your relationship with them, such as birth certificates. Children included in your application will have the same visa conditions and rights as you.

Applicants must undergo health examinations to ensure they meet Australia's health standards. This may include medical, x-ray, and HIV tests. For character requirements, you must provide police certificates from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years. The Department of Home Affairs assesses character based on these certificates.

If you need to travel, you can apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB), which allows you to leave and return to Australia temporarily while your application is processed.

The Subclass 801 Partner Visa is the permanent stage of the Partner Visa process. Approximately two years after you apply for the Subclass 820 visa, the Department of Home Affairs will invite you to submit additional documents to transition to the Subclass 801 visa. You will need to provide updated evidence of your ongoing relationship and meet any additional health and character requirements. You can learn more about Permanent Partner Visa Processing on our blog.