Partner visa (permanent, onshore)

What this visa is for#

The Subclass 801 Partner visa is the permanent stage of an onshore partner application. It follows the temporary Subclass 820 stage and is part of the same two-stage process.

This visa sits in the partner category and the second stage stream. In general terms, it is the stage where the Department of Home Affairs looks at whether the relationship is still ongoing and whether the application can move from temporary residence to permanent residence.

The 801 is usually not a separate first application. In most cases, it is connected to an 820 application that was lodged earlier while the applicant was in Australia. Usually no further charge applies if it was lodged with the 820.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who applied onshore for a partner visa and are at the permanent stage of that process. It covers people whose earlier application included the temporary Subclass 820 stage and who are being considered for the second stage.

This visa is for people in a partner relationship covered by the partner visa framework, such as a married couple or a de facto couple, where the application was made from inside Australia. The permanent stage generally focuses on whether the relationship has continued and whether the Department has the information it needs to finalise the second stage.

This visa is also part of a process that can involve requests for updated evidence. The Department may ask for more documents about identity, the relationship, health or character before making a decision.

What it costs#

No visa application charge is recorded for this item in our data. The permanent stage of an 820 is usually no further charge if lodged with the 820.

That is the government side. A migration agent or lawyer may charge professional fees for preparing documents, organising evidence, answering Department requests, or managing the matter to decision. Those professional fees are separate from any government charge.

The government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application. Using a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner does not change the Department's own fee.

Charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. If a charge applies in a particular case, the current amount is usually checked on the Department's website at the time of lodgement or payment.

How long it takes#

There is no single processing time that fits every 801 application. Timeframes can vary depending on how complete the file is, whether the Department asks for more information, and how quickly updated documents are provided.

For many applicants, the 801 stage is considered after a period has passed since the original partner application. Even after the file reaches that stage, finalisation can still take time if checks are outstanding or if the Department needs further evidence.

Processing can also slow down where documents have expired, identity details do not match across records, or police certificates are requested and take time to obtain. Delays are also common when the Department sends a request and the response is late, incomplete or uploaded to the wrong place.

The Department publishes processing information separately and updates it from time to time. Those figures can change and are not a promise about any individual application.

What the process involves#

The 801 is the second stage of an onshore partner application. In many cases, the person first lodges the combined partner application in Australia, then holds the temporary 820 while waiting for permanent stage assessment.

When the permanent stage is due for consideration, the Department may contact the applicant for updated information. This often includes more recent relationship evidence, identity documents, police checks, and notice of any changes since the first stage was lodged.

Relationship evidence is commonly updated across the same broad areas used in partner matters, such as shared finances, living arrangements, social recognition of the relationship, and commitment to a shared life. The Department may look for current material, not just documents from the time of the original 820 application.

Documents are usually managed through the applicant's online Department account. If the Department asks for information, the request normally has a deadline. Missing that deadline can lead to delay and, in some cases, a decision being made on the information already on file.

Health and character steps can also form part of the process. If new police certificates are requested, they usually need to be recent and from the countries relevant to the Department's request. If health examinations are requested, the Department's instructions normally set out what is needed and where it can be done.

It is also important that contact details stay current during the process. The Department sends notifications to the address, email or account linked to the application, so old details can mean important requests are missed.

What commonly goes wrong#

A common problem is assuming the permanent stage is automatic. The 801 is linked to the earlier 820 process, but the Department can still ask for updated evidence and can still need a response before it can finalise the matter.

Incomplete evidence is another frequent issue. Applicants often upload a few recent photos and assume that is enough, but the Department may be looking for a broader picture of the relationship over time, including current documents that show shared life in practical terms.

Documents expiring during the wait causes many delays. Passports expire, police certificates go out of date for the Department's purposes, and identity documents can become inconsistent if a person changes name or renews a passport and does not update the application record.

Not telling the Department about changes is a practical mistake with real consequences. A change of address, email, phone number, passport, relationship status, or family circumstances can affect communication and processing. If a request goes to an old email address and no one answers, the file can stall or be decided without the missing material.

Another problem is uploading documents to the wrong application or labelling them poorly. Where the Department receives many files with generic titles like "document 1" or "photo", it can be harder to identify what each item is meant to prove. Clear file names and organised uploads make a practical difference.

People also sometimes assume a bridging visa has the same conditions as the visa they held before. That is not always the case. Work rights, travel rights and study arrangements on a bridging visa can be different from the previous substantive visa, so it is important to check the actual visa grant notice and conditions.

Travel creates another point of confusion. Leaving Australia without the right travel facility in effect can affect a person's ability to return on the same basis. Travel planning is one of the areas where people often rely on assumptions instead of checking the visa they currently hold.

Requests for further information are often answered late or only in part. For example, the Department may ask for updated relationship evidence, a police certificate and a form, but only one item is uploaded. Partial responses commonly lead to more delay.

Finally, some files become inconsistent over time. Dates of living together, employment history, addresses and travel history can differ across forms, statements and later updates. Even small inconsistencies can trigger further questions if they are not explained by the documents on file.

Frequently asked questions#

Is the 801 visa a separate application from the 820?#

Usually, no. The 801 is the permanent stage of an 820, and it is commonly part of the same onshore partner process rather than a brand new application with a separate starting point.

The Department may still require updated documents at the permanent stage. Even where it is not a fresh application in practical terms, it can still involve new evidence and further checks before a decision is made.

Do I have to pay again for the 801 visa?#

No visa application charge is recorded for this item in our data. The permanent stage of an 820 is usually no further charge if lodged with the 820.

Professional fees are different. A registered migration agent or lawyer may charge for work done at the second stage, but that is separate from the government's own charge.

What kind of evidence is usually updated for the 801 stage?#

The Department often asks for current relationship evidence. This can include updated material about shared finances, living arrangements, social recognition and ongoing commitment.

It may also ask for identity documents, police certificates or other records that are more current than the documents given at the 820 stage. The exact request can vary from one file to another.

Can I travel while waiting for the 801 decision?#

Travel issues depend on the visa currently held and whether it includes the right to leave and re-enter Australia. A bridging visa does not automatically carry the same travel rights as a substantive visa.

Before travel, people commonly check the conditions on the current visa grant notice and any travel facility in effect. Assumptions in this area often lead to practical problems.

How do people delay their 801 application by mistake?#

One common way is by not responding fully to a Department request. Another is by missing emails because contact details were not updated after moving house or changing phone number or email address.

Delays also happen when documents expire mid-process, when uploads are disorganised, or when key details do not match across the file. These are practical issues, but they can add a lot of time to a partner matter.

About this page. This is general information about how the Partner visa (permanent, onshore) (subclass 801) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.