Partner Visas · Australia
Bring your partner to Australia, or stay together here
Partner visas reward genuine relationships that are documented well. We prepare your evidence properly from the start, manage the risks, and give your application the best chance the law allows.
The Two Pathways
Onshore or offshore, we cover both
If your partner is already in Australia, the onshore pathway is the Subclass 820 and 801 partner visa. If your partner is overseas, the offshore pathway is the Subclass 309 and 100 partner visa. In both cases you apply as a couple, and the visa moves from temporary to permanent once the relationship is confirmed over time.
Applying onshore? See our dedicated 820/801 partner visa page, where you can check your eligibility in 60 seconds.
Your Options
Which partner visa fits your situation
Onshore
Subclass 820 and 801
For partners already in Australia. You lodge the 820 first, which is temporary. Later, the 801 grants permanent residence once the relationship is confirmed.
Offshore
Subclass 309 and 100
For partners overseas. The 309 is granted first, so your partner can enter Australia. The 100 then grants permanent residence at the later stage.
Engaged
Prospective Marriage 300
For couples who intend to marry. The Subclass 300 lets your fiancé come to Australia to marry you, and you then apply for a partner visa.
Both
Genuine relationship evidence
Every pathway turns on proof that your relationship is genuine and continuing. We build that evidence across the four pillars the Department examines.
The Four Pillars
What makes partner visa evidence strong
The Department assesses your relationship across four areas. We help you gather the right evidence for each one, so nothing important is missing.
Financial aspects
Shared finances, joint accounts, shared bills, and how you support each other.
Household aspects
Living arrangements, shared responsibilities, and how you run your home together.
Social aspects
How friends, family and the wider world recognise your relationship as a couple.
Commitment
Your knowledge of each other, your future plans, and the history of your relationship.
Getting It Right
The risks we manage for you
Previous refusals and PIC 4020
If either of you has a past refusal or an undisclosed history, it must be handled with care. We manage PIC 4020 risk directly rather than hoping it goes unnoticed.
Timing and bridging visas
When you lodge onshore, a bridging visa usually keeps your partner lawful while the application is decided. Timing the lodgement correctly matters.
Sponsor obligations
The Australian partner is the sponsor and must meet character and sponsorship requirements. We check these before you lodge.
Evidence gaps
Thin or inconsistent evidence is the most common reason partner visas struggle. We find the gaps early and help you fill them.
Costs
Fixed professional fees, official government charges
We charge fixed professional fees, agreed in writing before work begins. The government visa application charge is separate, it is significant for partner visas, and it changes over time. For the current figure, always check the Federal Register of Legislation or the ImmiAccount fee estimator. We confirm the exact amount for your application in writing first.
Common Questions
Partner visa questions, answered plainly
Do we have to be married?
No. A de facto relationship can qualify, and so can a married relationship. Generally, de facto couples need to show they have lived together, or been in the relationship, for at least twelve months, though exceptions exist.
Can my partner work while we wait?
Onshore, the bridging visa granted with an 820 application usually carries full work rights. We confirm the conditions that apply to your situation.
How much evidence is enough?
There is no fixed page count. What matters is quality and consistency across the four pillars. We help you present a clear, credible picture rather than a large pile of documents.
What if we had a visa refused before?
A previous refusal is not the end of the road, but it must be disclosed and handled properly. We assess the reason for the refusal and build the new application to answer it.
The lawyers who prepare partner visa applications
Partner visas are handled by our lawyers, not agents. Deepika and Sam prepare the relationship evidence, statements and submissions themselves, and stay with your file until the decision.
Meet the whole team →
What partner visa clients say
My partner and I had a complicated situation with limited documents, and we were terrified about being refused. Deepika helped us prepare strong relationship evidence, explained every step clearly, and supported us through each request from the Department. Our partner visa was approved much faster than we expected.
We were really stressed about our partner visa, but Deepika handled everything with care. She helped us organise our evidence properly and our visa was approved without issues.
How a partner visa matter runs with us
Consultation
We look at your circumstances, map the pathways open to you, flag the risks and give you a fixed fee quote in writing before any work begins.
Strategy and checklist
We decide the strongest approach first, then set you up in our secure client portal with a tailored document checklist so you always know what is needed.
Evidence and preparation
We review every document, draft the submissions and statements, and quality check the file so it is decision ready before it goes anywhere near the Department.
Lodgement and follow through
We lodge, respond to any Department requests, keep you updated at every stage and stay with your matter until the decision.
Partner visa costs in 2026
There are two parts to the cost: the government application charge, paid to the Department of Home Affairs, and our fixed professional fee. The government charge for partner visas rose on 1 July 2026.
Our professional fee: fixed, in writing
You approve the fee before work begins. There is no hourly billing and no hidden extras. Book a consultation for a quote on your exact situation.
Get a fixed fee quote| Government charge (main applicant) | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Partner visa, subclass 820 and 801 Onshore, temporary and permanent stages (one charge) | $11,710 |
| Partner visa, subclass 309 and 100 Offshore, temporary and permanent stages (one charge) | $11,710 |
| Prospective Marriage visa, subclass 300 Fiancé visa, applied for offshore | $11,710 |
| Additional applicant, each Family member included in the same application | $5,860 (18 and over) / $2,935 (under 18) |
Government charges are taken from the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing table and the Administrative Review Tribunal fee schedule (charges from 1 July 2026, checked 17 August 2026) and are a guide only. Surcharges and other government fees may apply, and charges change. Our professional fee is fixed and quoted separately in writing. We confirm every figure in your quote.
Partner visa questions we hear most
How much does a partner visa cost in Australia in 2026?
The government application charge for the 820/801 and 309/100 partner visas is $11,710 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026, and it covers both the temporary and permanent stages. On top of that you pay our fixed professional fee, plus costs such as police checks, health examinations and translations. We give you the full figure in writing before you commit.
How long does a partner visa take?
Processing times vary with the stream, the completeness of the application and the Department's caseload, and they change often. What you control is lodging a complete, well evidenced application: incomplete files attract requests for more information that add months. We give you a realistic timeframe for your circumstances at the consultation.
Do we need to be married to apply?
No. You can apply as a married couple, or as a de facto couple, which usually means you have lived together in a genuine relationship for at least 12 months, or have registered your relationship where that is available. There are exceptions, and we will tell you which pathway fits your situation.
Can I stay in Australia while my 820 is processed?
Generally, if you hold a valid substantive visa when you lodge an onshore 820 application, you are granted a bridging visa that lets you remain lawfully in Australia while the application is decided, with work rights in most cases. Your position depends on your current visa and any conditions, so we check this before you lodge.
What happens if a partner visa is refused?
Many partner visa refusals can be reviewed at the Administrative Review Tribunal, but the deadline to apply is short and starts from the date you are notified. If you receive a refusal, contact us immediately. We act on refusals and review as well as new applications.
Guides from our lawyers
The Four Pillars of Relationship Evidence
How the Department weighs financial, household, social and commitment evidence, and how to document each.
Partner Visa Processing Times in 2026
What is actually realistic for 820/801 and 309/100 applicants this year.
Partner Visa Refused for PIC 4020?
What PIC 4020 means, how to respond and when a waiver applies.
Ready to start your partner visa?
Book a consultation. We will confirm your pathway, map your evidence, and give you honest advice about timing and cost.
03 8108 8748 · info@skylinemigrationlawyers.com.au