Partner visa
One application, two stages, and since April 2026 generally one chance to respond. We help couples build a clear, consistent application from day one.
- Category
- Partner
- Visas
- 820 then 801 (onshore), 309 then 100 (offshore)
- Government charge
- A$11,710 main applicant, covering both stages
- Permanent stage
- About 2 years after you apply
- Our fee
- From A$4,950
Start here
Do this
- Check whether your current visa lets you apply in Australia
- Agree one timeline of your relationship before writing anything
- Show evidence across finances, household, social life and commitment
- Have the sponsor complete their part at the same time
Avoid this
- Travelling on a visitor visa planning to apply onshore without advice
- Lodging thin evidence and planning to send more later
- Letting dates differ between statements and documents
- Leaving the sponsor's checks to the end
What a wrong turn can cost: A refusal means losing an A$11,710 charge and starting again — often with a review that can take more than a year.
Are you on the right track?
- Can you show you've lived together, or are married or registered?
- Do your statements and documents tell the same story with the same dates?
- Has your sponsor checked they can sponsor you?
Unsure about any of these? Talk it through on a free call — you're not alone in this.
Is this you?
- You're married to, or living with, an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- Your partner is overseas and you're not sure which visa to apply for.
- Someone told you to just come on a tourist visa and apply here.
What changed
April 2026 Home Affairs expects applications to be decision-ready and generally asks for more information only once.
25 Jul 2026 Ministerial Direction 117: family visa applications made in Australia, for a visa granted in Australia, get the highest processing priority.
1 Jul 2026 The partner visa charge rose to A$11,710.
17 Sep 2026 A No Further Stay condition was announced for all future visitor visas, closing the visit-then-apply route once it starts.
Who qualifies
- Married, or de facto. De facto couples usually need 12 months living together, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory.
- A genuine and continuing relationship, shown across finances, household, social life and commitment.
- A sponsor who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen. Sponsorship limits apply.
- Onshore: apply in Australia if your current visa allows it. Offshore: apply from outside Australia and be outside when the first visa is granted.
Step by step
- Relationship consultationOnshore or offshore, married or de facto, sponsor eligibility and evidence gaps.
- Evidence planThe four evidence areas mapped to your life, plus one agreed timeline.
- Statements and declarationsBoth partners' statements and two Form 888s, consistent with the evidence.
- Quality check and lodgementDecision-ready, with the sponsor's part complete.
- Temporary visaConditions explained, with evidence updates every 6 months.
- Permanent stageUpdated evidence about 2 years after you applied.
Document checklist
Your ticks are saved on this device only.
Common problems
Myths and facts
How we help you with Partner visa
- 1UnderstandA relationship consultation: onshore or offshore, timing and sponsor checks.
- 2PlanA written plan with the evidence map and your shared timeline.
- 3PrepareStatement guidance, Form 888 support and a document tracker for both of you.
- 4LodgeA decision-ready lodgement and one well-prepared response if Home Affairs asks.
- 5DestinationGrant explained, then we prepare you for the permanent stage.
What you'll receive
How we keep in touch: Fortnightly check-ins while you prepare, then updates every time Home Affairs contacts us — and a reminder before the permanent stage.
Three ways to do it
An honest look at your options. Some people do this themselves, and that can work well.
| Topic | With Omar Nafiz | Doing it yourself | With another provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onshore or offshore | Checked against your visa conditions and MD 117 priority | Often decided by what a friend did | Varies |
| Evidence | Mapped across all four areas, with one shared timeline | Lots of photos, gaps elsewhere | Often a generic checklist |
| Statements | Guided so they match your documents | Written alone, dates often differ | Sometimes templated |
| Request for information | Ready before lodging — you generally get one chance | Scramble when the request arrives | Varies |
| Both stages | Planned from day one | The permanent stage often forgotten | Sometimes quoted separately |
Free mini-course: Partner visa, decision-ready
3 short lessons and quick checks. About 11 minutes.
A situation like yours
An illustrative situation, in Omar's words. Names and details are fictional. See all situations.
A partner overseas and a plan that does not work
- Age 29
- English Not scored
- 💞 Partner visa
The situation. Camila is 29 and overseas. Her partner Daniel is an Australian citizen. Someone told them to come on a tourist visa and apply here.
How I'd approach it
What I check first. That route is closing. Home Affairs lists a No Further Stay condition for all visitor visas among the changes being rolled out from September 2026. Many visitor visas already carry it. So I check the plan against the current rules before they book flights.
The options. Build a clear, consistent application from day one. Home Affairs says a complete application is decided faster, so check twice and submit once. Family applications made in Australia get the highest processing priority (Ministerial Direction 117, from 25 July 2026).
Age and English. A partner visa has no points test. Age and English points do not apply. Evidence of a genuine, continuing relationship does. The charge is A$11,710 for the main applicant (as at 1 July 2026).
My caution. Being married does not guarantee the visa. Home Affairs assesses whether the relationship is genuine and continuing. I will tell them what is realistic before they spend money.
Illustrative situation. The names and details are fictional.
Questions people ask
Should we apply onshore or offshore?
It depends where the applicant is and what visa they hold. We check before you plan any travel.
We've lived together under 12 months.
Usually not as de facto partners, unless the relationship is registered or limited exceptions apply.
Do we pay again for the permanent stage?
Usually no. The charge covers both stages.
How long does it take?
Usually more than a year for the first stage. Since 25 July 2026, onshore family applications for onshore grant are processed with the highest priority.
What if the relationship ends during processing?
Tell us straight away. Some situations, like family violence or the sponsor's death, may still allow the applicant to continue.
Pricing
Consultation
A full review of your situation and a written plan.
Decision Ready
Both stages: preparation, statements, lodgement, request response and permanent stage.
Complex
Previous refusals, sponsorship limits or complex histories.
Government visa charge (Department of Home Affairs, as at 1 July 2026)
| Visa | Main applicant | Extra 18+ | Extra under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner visa (820/801), in AustraliaDifferent charges apply in some cases, for example Prospective Marriage visa holders. Check the official table. | A$11,710 | A$5,860 | A$2,935 |
| Partner visa (309/100), outside Australia | A$11,710 | A$5,860 | A$2,935 |
Checked 22 October 2026. Official pricing table · Estimate for your family
Our prices as at 22 October 2026. Packages are paid in stages, only after you sign a written service agreement. All services and fees.
Book
Talk to us about Partner visa
Start with a free 15-minute phone call. If you need full advice, book a A$110 consultation — it comes off your package.
Often considered alongside
Official sources
Figures checked 8 October 2026. Visa rules and charges change — we confirm everything for your situation before you pay for a package.