Updated April 202612 min read

How Long Does a Partner Visa Take? (Realistic Timelines 2025-26)

The partner visa is one of the most popular — and one of the slowest — visa pathways in Australia. Processing times have fluctuated significantly over the years, and the wait can be stressful. This guide gives you realistic timelines for 2025-26 and explains what factors speed things up or slow them down.

Current Processing Times (2025-26)

The Department of Home Affairs publishes partner visa processing times on their website, showing the time range within which 25% to 90% of applications are decided. Here are the current figures:

820 Visa Timeline: What to Expect

Here is a typical timeline for the 820/801 onshore partner visa pathway:

Day 0: Application Lodged

You lodge your combined 820/801 application online through ImmiAccount while physically in Australia. You automatically receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) with full work rights. Your current visa remains in effect until it expires, then the BVA activates.

Weeks 1-4: Acknowledgement

You receive an acknowledgement letter confirming your application has been received. Your transaction reference number (TRN) is provided, which you use to track your application. Your health examination and police clearance requests may be issued.

Months 1-6: Initial Processing

Your application enters the processing queue. A case officer may or may not be assigned during this period. If your application is straightforward and complete, some applications receive the 820 decision within this window. Complete any health examinations and biometrics if requested.

Months 6-18: Active Processing

Most 820 visa decisions are made during this period. You may receive a request for additional information or documents. Respond to all requests promptly — delays on your end directly extend processing time. If your case involves security or character checks, this phase may take longer.

Month 18-28: Decision (820)

Your temporary 820 visa is granted. You receive a visa grant notification. Your BVA ceases and you are now on the 820 visa. You continue to have full work rights and Medicare access.

~2 Years After Application: Eligible for 801

Approximately 2 years after your original application date, you become eligible for the permanent 801 visa. Services Australia contacts you to provide updated evidence that your relationship is still genuine and continuing. This includes updated financial, social, and commitment evidence.

Months 24-42: Permanent 801 Decision

After submitting your updated evidence, the 801 is processed. Most decisions are made within 6-12 months of becoming eligible. Once granted, you become a permanent resident of Australia.

309 Visa Timeline: What to Expect

The 309/100 offshore pathway follows a similar pattern but you are outside Australia:

Application to 309 Grant: 5-24 Months

You apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. Processing is similar to the 820 but you do not receive a bridging visa. You may visit Australia on a visitor visa during this time but cannot work. When the 309 is ready to be granted, you must be outside Australia.

309 Grant to 100 Eligibility: ~2 Years

After the 309 is granted, you enter Australia and live with your partner. Approximately 2 years from your original application date, you become eligible for the permanent 100 visa. You provide updated relationship evidence and the 100 is processed.

For a detailed comparison of both pathways, read our 820 vs 309 comparison guide.

Permanent Visa Stage (801/100)

The permanent stage is an important milestone. Here is what you need to know:

When You Become Eligible

You become eligible for the permanent partner visa (801 or 100) 2 years after the date you applied for the combined temporary/permanent visa. The Department will contact you to request updated evidence.

Evidence You Need to Provide

• Financial evidence: Joint bank accounts, shared expenses, joint property ownership or lease
• Household evidence: Proof you live together, shared responsibilities, joint memberships
• Social evidence: Photos together, statutory declarations from friends and family, correspondence addressed to both of you
• Commitment evidence: Wills naming each other, power of attorney, insurance beneficiary designations, children together

Processing Time for Permanent Stage

Once you submit your updated evidence, the permanent visa typically takes 6-18 months to be decided. During this time, your temporary visa (820 or 309) remains in effect with full work rights.

What Affects Processing Time

Several factors can speed up or slow down your partner visa processing:

Factors That Speed Things Up

• Complete application: Submitting all required documents upfront is the single most important factor. Incomplete applications go to the bottom of the queue
• Clear relationship evidence: Strong, well-organised evidence that clearly demonstrates a genuine relationship
• Prompt responses: Responding to requests for information within the timeframe given
• No adverse findings: Clean health and character checks with no issues
• Australian-born sponsor: Applications where the sponsor is Australian-born may process slightly faster than those where the sponsor is a naturalised citizen (though this is not officially confirmed)

Factors That Slow Things Down

• Missing documents: Any request for additional information adds weeks or months to processing
• Complex relationship history: Previous marriages, age gaps, cultural differences, or limited evidence of cohabitation may trigger additional scrutiny
• Security or character issues: If either partner has a criminal record, involvement in adverse security assessments, or is from a country that requires additional vetting
• Health issues: Conditions requiring further medical assessment or a health waiver
• High application volumes: Seasonal variations in the number of applications can affect queue times
• Applicant from high-risk country: Some nationalities face additional security screening that extends processing

How to Avoid Delays

While you cannot directly control the Department's processing speed, you can avoid common causes of delay:

1. Submit a Complete Application

This is the most critical step. Before submitting, check that you have included:

• All required forms completed accurately
• Certified copies of identity documents (passports, birth certificates)
• Relationship evidence across all four categories (financial, household, social, commitment)
• Statutory declarations from two witnesses (Form 888)
• Health examination results (or booking confirmation)
• Police clearances from every country you have lived in for 12+ months since age 16

2. Front-Load Your Evidence

Do not hold back evidence for later. Provide as much as possible with the initial application. The more comprehensive your initial submission, the less likely you are to receive time-consuming requests for additional information.

3. Keep Your Contact Details Updated

Ensure your email address and phone number in ImmiAccount are current. Missing a request for information because you did not receive the email can add months to your processing time.

4. Do Health and Police Checks Early

Complete your health examination as soon as your application is lodged. Health results are valid for 12 months, so get them done early. Similarly, organise police clearances from all relevant countries as soon as possible — some countries take months to process these.

Life While Waiting

The partner visa wait can feel endless. Here is what your life looks like during the processing period:

820 Applicants (Onshore)

• Work: You have full, unrestricted work rights on your Bridging Visa A. You can work for any employer in any occupation
• Medicare: You are eligible to enrol in Medicare and receive subsidised healthcare
• Travel: You can apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) to travel overseas and return to Australia. The BVB costs $185 and you must return before it expires
• Centrelink: Limited access — you may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit if your partner is Australian and you have children. Read our 820 Centrelink guide
• Study: You can study in Australia without restriction

309 Applicants (Offshore)

• Work: You can work in your home country. You cannot work in Australia unless you hold a separate visa with work rights
• Visit Australia: You can apply for a visitor visa (subclass 600) to visit your partner in Australia. Visitor visas do not include work rights
• Medicare: Not available until the 309 is granted

Can You Get a Direct Permanent Grant?

In some circumstances, you can skip the 2-year temporary stage and receive the permanent partner visa directly:

Eligibility for Direct Grant

You may be eligible if, at the time of application:

• You have been in a de facto relationship for 3 or more years, OR
• You have been in a de facto relationship for 2 or more years and have a child together

If you are married, the 2-year waiting period still applies regardless of how long you have been married (unless you also have a child together and have been married for 2+ years).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an 820 partner visa take to process?

The subclass 820 (temporary onshore partner visa) currently takes approximately 12-28 months to process, with 75% of applications decided within 18 months. Processing times vary based on application completeness, complexity, and whether additional checks are needed. You receive a Bridging Visa A with full work rights while waiting.

How long does a 309 partner visa take?

The subclass 309 (temporary offshore partner visa) currently takes approximately 12-24 months to process. Times depend on your country of application, document completeness, and whether security or health checks are required. Unlike the 820, you do not receive a bridging visa and must wait outside Australia.

How long until I get permanent residency after a partner visa?

The permanent partner visa (801 or 100) is generally assessed approximately 2 years after you lodged the combined application. You provide updated relationship evidence and the permanent visa is typically processed within 6-18 months after that. If your relationship was already 3+ years at application time (or 2+ years with children), you may be eligible for a direct permanent grant.

What slows down partner visa processing?

Common factors include: incomplete applications or missing documents, slow responses to information requests, complex relationship histories, security or character concerns, health issues requiring further assessment, and high application volumes in certain periods.

Can I speed up my partner visa application?

While you cannot directly speed up processing, you can avoid delays by submitting a complete application with all documents upfront, responding promptly to any requests, completing health examinations and police clearances early, and providing strong, well-organised relationship evidence.