Applying in Australia
Temporary subclass 820 and permanent subclass 801 planning for an eligible spouse or de facto partner who is in Australia when applying.
Partner visas · Subclasses 300, 309/100 & 820/801
Partner visa lawyers in Perth
Partner visa advice for spouses, de facto partners and prospective spouses of Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens—inside or outside Australia.
Updated 8 September 2026Start a client enquiryOverview
The relationship is personal. The application is evidentiary.
Australia’s partner program includes different pathways for applicants in Australia, applicants outside Australia and prospective spouses. The correct pathway depends on where the applicant is when the application is made, the nature of the relationship, immigration history and any timing or status issue.
A strong application does more than collect documents. It explains the development of the relationship and supports the financial, household, social and commitment aspects with consistent, credible evidence from both partners.
We identify the legal and factual issues early, build a proportionate evidence plan and guide the applicant and sponsor through the temporary and permanent stages. Where a relationship has changed, the sponsor has died or family violence is involved, we advise privately and urgently on the provisions that may apply.
| Pathway | Where you apply | Typical situation |
|---|---|---|
| 820 → 801 | In Australia | Eligible spouse or de facto partner; temporary and permanent stages. |
| 309 → 100 | Outside Australia | Eligible spouse or de facto partner; provisional and permanent stages. |
| 300 | Outside Australia | Eligible prospective spouse intending to marry, then apply for a Partner visa. |
Official starting point: Home Affairs — About Partner visas.
Who this service is for
Choose the pathway before building the application.
Applying outside Australia
Provisional subclass 309 and permanent subclass 100 planning for an eligible spouse or de facto partner who applies from outside Australia.
Prospective spouses
Subclass 300 advice for an applicant outside Australia who intends to marry their prospective spouse and then apply for a Partner visa.
Changed or complex circumstances
Advice where there is prior visa history, separation, a child of the relationship, sponsor death, family violence or another material change.
Supporting evidence
Four relationship domains, one coherent account.
Home Affairs considers the relationship as a whole. No single joint account, photograph or witness statement proves a case; the evidence should be consistent across time and across both partners’ accounts.
Financial
Shared expenses, accounts, liabilities, housing, insurance, beneficiary arrangements and the practical way the couple manages money.
Household
Living arrangements, correspondence to the shared address, domestic responsibilities, care of children and the couple’s ordinary day-to-day life.
Social
How family, friends and institutions understand the relationship, supported by events, travel, communication and credible witness evidence.
Commitment
The relationship history, knowledge of one another, periods apart, long-term plans and evidence of an enduring shared life.
Scope of assistance
How we help
- Pathway, location, visa-status and timing assessment before lodgement
- Applicant and sponsor eligibility and immigration-history review
- Relationship chronology and tailored evidence plan
- Applicant, sponsorship and supporting-document preparation
- Personal statements, statutory declarations and witness evidence
- Health, character, identity and prior-disclosure issue management
- Temporary-to-permanent stage planning and document updates
- Relationship cessation, family violence and other sensitive-case advice
A relationship-led process
From pathway decision to permanent-stage readiness.
Pathway conference
We confirm relationship status, location, visa history, sponsor position, timing and any immediate risk.
Evidence map
We build a chronology and identify the documents and witnesses that genuinely support each relevant aspect.
Prepare & lodge
We coordinate the applicant and sponsor material, check consistency and lodge the complete matter in sequence.
Manage both stages
We respond to requests, advise on changes and prepare for permanent-stage assessment when eligible.
Common questions
Clear starting points
Frequently asked questions.
- Which Partner visa applies if I am in Australia?
- The onshore pathway generally involves the temporary subclass 820 and permanent subclass 801 visas. Your current visa, location, conditions, immigration history and ability to make a valid application should be checked before lodgement.
- Which Partner visa applies if I am outside Australia?
- The offshore partner pathway generally involves the provisional subclass 309 and permanent subclass 100 visas. A Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) may be relevant where an applicant outside Australia intends to marry their prospective spouse.
- Do we have to be married?
- Not always. Partner visas can be available to eligible spouses and de facto partners, while subclass 300 is for eligible prospective spouses. The legal definition and evidence requirements must be assessed against your circumstances.
- Do de facto partners need 12 months together?
- A de facto relationship ordinarily must have existed for at least 12 months immediately before application. Specified exceptions can apply, including for certain registered relationships and in some compelling or compassionate circumstances, so the facts should be checked rather than assumed.
- When is the permanent Partner visa stage assessed?
- Applicants usually become eligible for permanent-stage assessment two years after the original combined Partner visa application, not two years after the temporary visa grant. This is an eligibility point, not a promised decision date. Different timing may apply in a legally defined long-term relationship or another qualifying circumstance.
- Does separation always end a pending Partner visa matter?
- No. Home Affairs identifies limited circumstances in which an application may continue, including sponsor death, qualifying family violence, or a child of the relationship with shared access and parental responsibility. Obtain advice promptly and protect your privacy and safety.
Important
Location, status and timing can change the strategy.
Do not assume that a relationship alone makes an application valid or approvable. Visa status, application location, sponsor eligibility, prior history and changes in circumstances can materially affect the pathway. No adviser can guarantee an outcome or processing time. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
Discuss your position
A strong strategy starts before the application.
Share a concise overview of your circumstances. We will identify the right next conversation and explain what information is genuinely needed.
Start a client enquiry