801 Visa Explained: Australia's Permanent Partner Visa Stage (2026)
The 801 is the permanent stage of Australia's onshore partner visa, decided automatically after a waiting period. This video covers the combined fee, the wait, the evidence you need to update, and what happens if the relationship ends before it's granted. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 No new form.
- 0:14 $11,710 combined,
- 0:24 +$5,860 per adult
- 0:35 2-year wait —
- 0:47 What you need
- 1:00 De facto: at least
- 1:10 Evidence for the 801
- 1:24 Separated during the wait?
- 1:37 Police certificates expire:
- 1:52 Where to read more
Transcript
The 801 isn't a separate application — it's decided automatically, generally two years after you lodged the 820, with no new form and no new fee.
The combined charge for both the 820 and 801 is $11,710 for the primary applicant — paid once, at lodgement.
A secondary applicant aged 18 or over adds $5,860. A child under 18 adds $2,935.
The wait is generally 2 years from the date you lodged. It's shorter if you were already in a long-term relationship when you applied — at least three years together, or 2 years with a dependent child.
To be eligible: a genuine relationship, married or de facto; holding — or applying alongside — the 820; and meeting health and character requirements at the time it's assessed.
De facto couples need a relationship of at least 12 months before the original application — unless it's registered with a state or territory, which waives that.
The 801 asks for updated evidence across the same four areas — financial, social, household, commitment — covering the period since the 820 was granted, not repeating what you submitted before.
If you separate during the wait, the 801 generally isn't granted. Exceptions exist: the sponsor died, family violence by the sponsor, or shared custody arrangements for a child with the sponsor.
One detail people miss: a police certificate is only valid for 12 months, so a new Australian certificate — and an overseas one, for any country you've lived in 12 months or more since the 820 — can be requested at the 801 stage.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.
Short versions
- The 801: no new form, no new fee (0:33)
- What happens if you separate before the 801? (0:31)
- The evidence changes once you're on the 820 (0:31)
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