How Long Does Partner Visa Take Australia

How long does an Australia partner visa take? See current 820, 309, 801 and 100 processing milestones and what actually speeds up your application.

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As of the Department of Home Affairs' most recent published data, the temporary stage of a partner visa (Subclass 820 onshore or 309 offshore) has a median processing time of around 17 months, with most applications finalised somewhere between 12 and 24 months. The permanent stage (Subclass 801 or 100) is then assessed roughly two years after your original lodgement date. Altogether, most couples are looking at 3 to 4 years from first application to permanent residency.

Here's what that actually looks like broken down by where you are in the process.

Milestone 1: You Lodge Your Application

A partner visa isn't one decision — it's two, lodged together but assessed months or years apart. If you're applying onshore, you're granted a Bridging Visa A automatically the moment you lodge, giving you lawful stay and work rights while you wait. If you're offshore, no automatic bridging visa applies, so processing time needs to be spent overseas or on a temporary visitor visa with its own limits.

Milestone 2: The Temporary Stage Decision

This is the part most applicants track closely:

Subclass 820 (onshore): median around 17 months; range roughly 12–24 months
Subclass 309 (offshore): broadly similar, around 14–17 months for the middle of applications, longer for the slowest 10%

Processing speed here depends heavily on how "decision-ready" your application is at lodgement — meaning how complete and consistent your relationship evidence is across the four key areas: financial, household, social, and commitment.

Milestone 3: Reaching Permanent Eligibility

Here's the detail that catches people out: eligibility for the permanent stage (801 or 100) opens exactly two years from your original lodgement date — not two years after your temporary visa is approved. If your temporary visa is granted quickly, you may still be waiting on the calendar, not the queue.

📞 Wondering where your application sits in this timeline?

Stop guessing about processing times. Book a consultation with our team to find out exactly where your specific application stands and get a realistic read on your case.

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Fahad Shamim

Migration & Education Consultant

MARA Registered MARN 2619225

QEAC G12906

As a Migration & Education Consultant, I provide expert guidance on Australian visas and international education, helping clients navigate both with ease.

Phone +61 424 295 050

Email fahad@edvisehub.com

Milestone 4: The Permanent Decision

Once you're eligible, the permanent stage (801 or 100) is generally assessed within a matter of months rather than years, provided the relationship remains genuine and ongoing and no further checks are triggered.

What Actually Affects Your Timeline

Completeness and consistency of relationship evidence at lodgement
The country you're applying from, if offshore (affects police checks and document verification)
Application volumes and departmental priorities at the time
Whether any additional information or checks are requested mid-process

Note that the current combined application charge for the primary applicant is significant and covers both stages of the pathway, not each stage separately — always confirm the exact figure at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging, since fees are reviewed periodically.

At Edvise Hub, we help couples prepare a decision-ready application from the outset — reducing the back-and-forth that often adds months to an already long wait.