Spouse visa Australia: what it is and how to get one

Which visa you are actually applying for

The Partner visa runs as two linked stages — a temporary stage first, then a permanent stage roughly two years later — and the subclass numbers depend on where your spouse is when you apply.

If the applicant (your spouse) is in Australia on a valid visa: apply for subclass 820 (temporary), which automatically triggers an application for subclass 801 (permanent) in the same lodgement.

If the applicant is overseas: apply for subclass 309 (Partner Provisional), which similarly triggers a combined application for subclass 100 (permanent). The applicant must be overseas when the 309 is granted.

In both cases you lodge one combined application, pay one fee, and both stages are assessed from that single lodgement. There is no separate permanent-stage application to lodge later.

Who can sponsor a spouse or partner

The Australian side of the couple is the sponsor. To sponsor your spouse or partner you must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and at least 18 years old.

There are limits: you generally cannot have sponsored two or more partners previously, or sponsored a partner within the last 5 years (limited exceptions apply). The Department runs a criminal history check on sponsors, and a relevant domestic violence history can prevent sponsorship.

Sponsoring your spouse does not require you to prove income or meet a financial threshold — the income requirement that exists in some other countries does not apply in Australia. What matters is the genuineness of the relationship.

Eligibility — what your relationship must meet

To qualify, your relationship with the Australian sponsor must fall into one of these categories:

Married: you are legally married under Australian law or a foreign marriage recognised in Australia (including overseas same-sex marriages). The marriage must be genuine — a certificate alone is not enough.

De facto: you have lived together in a genuine de facto relationship for at least 12 months before the application. The 12-month rule can be waived if you have a relationship registered under a state or territory law, or where compelling and compassionate circumstances apply.

The Department does not differentiate between married and de facto couples in terms of visa pathway — both use the same subclasses and the same four evidence categories. What counts is whether the relationship is genuine and continuing.

Costs — what you will pay the government

The government visa application charge for a Partner visa (820/801 or 309/100) is $11,710 for the primary applicant, current as at 1 July 2026. This single fee covers both stages — there is no second payment at the permanent stage.

Additional applicants included in the same application pay separately: each additional applicant aged 18 or over is $5,860, and each under 18 is $2,935.

One exception: if you already hold a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) and are now lodging the Partner visa, you pay a substantially reduced charge, because the full fee was collected at the 300 stage.

Beyond the government charge, budget for migration agent fees ($2,500–$6,000 depending on complexity), health examinations ($300–$700 per adult), police clearances from each country lived in, and certified document translation. Government fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome.

Evidence — what you need to show

The Department assesses relationship evidence across four categories. A strong application provides evidence in all four, because a case thin in one area raises questions regardless of strength elsewhere.

1. Financial aspects: joint bank accounts, shared expenses, joint loans or assets, financial support between partners. The pattern of genuine sharing matters more than the amount.

2. Nature of the household: a lease naming both people, utility bills, shared living arrangements and division of domestic responsibilities. If you do not live together, explain why and provide evidence of your actual shared life.

3. Social aspects: how friends and family recognise you as a couple — statutory declarations from people who know you both, photographs across time, joint invitations and travel.

4. Commitment: correspondence, future plans, and each person's knowledge of the other's life. For married couples the marriage is evidence of commitment, but not sufficient on its own.

Married couples should include the marriage certificate (or a certified copy), with a certified translation if it is not in English.

Processing times and work rights during the wait

Partner visa processing is among the slower streams. As of mid-2026, the onshore temporary stage (subclass 820) has a median of roughly 17 months, with a realistic range of 12–24 months; the offshore temporary stage (subclass 309) sits around 16 months. The permanent stage (801 or 100) becomes eligible for assessment two years after the original lodgement, then takes a further period to grant. Applications that are decision-ready at lodgement process faster; those needing repeated information requests are increasingly delayed. Check the official global processing times page for current figures.

When an onshore applicant's existing visa expires before the 820 is granted, they are automatically issued a Bridging Visa A (subclass 010), which includes full work rights — your spouse can work without restriction while the 820 is pending. The Bridging Visa A does not permit travel outside Australia; a Bridging Visa B must be obtained before any trip. Offshore applicants on the 309 remain overseas until that visa is granted, then travel to Australia to live and work.

Getting professional help

Partner visa applications do not legally require a migration agent, but gathering evidence, writing relationship statements and preparing statutory declarations is time-consuming to get right. Thin or disorganised evidence commonly triggers a request for further information, extending processing by months. In cases involving prior refusals, periods of separation, short relationships or cultural factors that limit certain evidence, professional preparation is particularly valuable. A MARA-registered agent who specialises in partner visas can assess your evidence, identify gaps before lodgement, and structure the application to address predictable concerns from case officers.

Does Australia have a spouse visa?

No. Australia does not have a visa called a 'spouse visa'. The equivalent is the Partner visa. Married couples apply for subclass 820/801 if the applicant is in Australia, or 309/100 if the applicant is overseas. De facto and married couples use the same pathway.

How do I bring my wife or husband to Australia?

You sponsor them for a Partner visa. If they are in Australia on a valid visa, you lodge a combined 820/801 application and they receive a temporary visa to stay while the permanent stage is processed. If they are overseas, you lodge a 309/100 application and they travel here once the 309 is granted. You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to sponsor.

What is the government fee for a spouse or partner visa?

The charge is $11,710 for the primary applicant as at 1 July 2026, covering both the temporary and permanent stages — you pay once at lodgement. Additional applicants aged 18 or over add $5,860 each, and children under 18 add $2,935 each. These fees are non-refundable. Confirm on the Home Affairs fee schedule before you lodge.

Can my spouse work in Australia while the partner visa is processed?

Yes, if they applied onshore. When an onshore applicant's substantive visa expires, they are automatically granted a Bridging Visa A (subclass 010), which includes full work rights with no restriction on occupation or hours. They cannot travel overseas on the Bridging Visa A without first obtaining a Bridging Visa B.

How long does the partner visa take in 2026?

The temporary stage (820 or 309) currently takes around 12 to 24 months, with a median near 16–17 months. The permanent stage (801 or 100) becomes eligible two years after the original lodgement, then takes a further several months. The full process to permanent residency typically takes around 2.5 to 3.5 years.

Do we need to be married to get a partner visa?

No. De facto couples are equally eligible. You need to show at least 12 months living together in a genuine de facto relationship, or have a relationship registered under state or territory law. The Department treats married and de facto couples on the same terms — same subclasses, same evidence criteria.