Learn key information about Australia's 801 Partner visa, including eligibility requirements, supporting documents, relationship evidence, visa costs, processing times, and how to apply from inside Australia.
Turner-Rowe Migration can assist you throughout your entire visa application, with support available in both English and Spanish.
What do you need to know about the 801 Partner visa?
What is the official visa name → Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801).
What is the 801 Partner visa → The 801 Partner visa grants Australian Permanent Residency (PT) to eligible applicants who meet the requirements for the permanent stage of the onshore Partner visa pathway.
Who can apply for this visa → De facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia permanently. It is usually granted to people who already hold a Temporary Partner visa (subclass 820).
Where can you apply for this visa → Applicants generally apply for the 820 and 801 Partner visas together while in Australia.
How long can you stay in Australia with this visa → Permanently. The Partner visa 801 grants Australian permanent residency.
Can you work under this visa → Yes. You have full work rights in Australia.
Can you study under this visa → Yes. You have study rights in Australia.
Can you travel under this visa → Yes. You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you wish.
Can you include family members in the visa application → Yes. You can include eligible family members in your application.
Does this visa lead to Permanent Residency → Yes, this visa leads to Permanent Residency if the applicant meets the relevant requirements and the Department of Home Affairs approves the application.
Does this visa lead to Australian Citizenship → Yes, permanent residents may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship if they meet the relevant residence and other eligibility requirements.
What are the 801 Partner visa eligibility requirements?
Relationship and personal requirements:
Continue to meet relationship requirements
Meet the best interests of the child requirements (if applicable)
Visa status and immigration history:
Hold either a Partner visa (subclass 820) or a Dependent Child (subclass 445) visa
Other visa requirements:
Meet the health requirements.
Repay debts to the Australian Government or arrange repayment (if applicable).
Eligibility requirements may vary depending on your personal circumstances.
Official Eligibility Requirements → For detailed information on eligibility requirements, please visit the Department of Home Affairs subclass 801 Partner visa eligibility page.
What documents do you need?
Identity documents → Provide copies of the relevant pages of your current passport, including your photo, personal details, signature, and issue and expiry dates.
Character documents → To meet the character requirements, you may need to provide a current Australian police certificate when applying for the permanent stage of your Partner visa if you did not submit one with your 820 Partner visa application. If your previous certificate has expired, you may be asked to provide a new one, as Australian police certificates are generally valid for 12 months from the date of issue for immigration purposes.
You must also provide an overseas police certificate from each country, including your home country, where you have spent a total of 12 months or more since your 820 Partner visa was granted.
Evidence of your relationship → You must demonstrate that you remain in a genuine spousal or de facto relationship with the same partner who sponsored your 820 Partner visa application. To support your application, you can provide documents and other evidence demonstrating that your relationship is ongoing.
Family members documents (if applicable) → For each family member who holds a Subclass 820 or 445 visa, provide copies of their passport, any documents showing changes in their circumstances, and police certificates where applicable for dependants aged 16 or older.
Any changes to your situation (if applicable) → You must notify the Department of Home Affairs of any changes that may affect your application, including changes to your marital or de facto relationship status, the birth of a child, other relevant changes in your circumstances, or if you wish to withdraw your application.
Prepare your documents → Ensure all documents are translated into English and include both the original documents and their English translations with your application. Provide colour scans or photographs of all documents, including those in English and other languages.
Official Document Requirements → For detailed information on documents required, please visit the Department of Home Affairs subclass 801 Partner visa step by step page.
What relationship evidence do you need for the 801 Partner visa?
Relationship documents → Upload a statutory declaration completed by your sponsor, outlining key details of your relationship. This should cover your commitment to each other, the genuine and ongoing nature of your relationship, your living arrangements, the history of your relationship, the time you have lived together, and your future plans.
Married applicants should also provide a marriage certificate or other documentation confirming the validity of their marriage in Australia. Applicants in a de facto relationship should submit evidence supporting their relationship.
Shared finances → Provide evidence that you and your partner share financial responsibilities, such as joint mortgage or lease documents, loan agreements, bank statements, or household bills in both names.
Shared household matters → Provide evidence that you and your partner share domestic responsibilities and living arrangements, such as statements explaining how you divide household tasks, bills or correspondence addressed to both of you, documents showing joint responsibility for children, or proof of your shared residence.
Social matters → Provide statements from two people aged 18 or older who know both you and your partner and can confirm they are aware of your relationship.
Commitment to each other → Provide evidence of your commitment to a long-term relationship, including your knowledge of each other’s personal backgrounds and family circumstances, shared personal matters, communication when apart, and confirmation that you are not related by family. You may also include the terms of your wills as supporting evidence.
Official Relationship Evidence → For detailed information on relationship evidence, please visit the Department of Home Affairs subclass 801 Partner visa step by step page.
What does the Department of Home Affairs need from you?
When assessing your Permanent Partner visa (subclass 801), the Department of Home Affairs must be satisfied that your relationship remains genuine and ongoing. To do this, they review updated evidence across four key areas: finances, household arrangements, social recognition, and commitment to each other.
A strong 801 Partner visa application demonstrates how your relationship has continued to develop since your initial partner visa application. Providing clear and up-to-date evidence in all four categories can help support your transition from the Temporary Partner visa (subclass 820) to permanent residency.
How much does the 801 Partner visa cost?
The visa cost was included when you lodged your Temporary and Permanent Partner visa application.
Costs are subject to change and may vary depending on your individual circumstances and any additional charges, such as our Registered Migration Agent Fees.
Official Visa Pricing → For detailed information on visa costs, please visit the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing estimator page.
What is the 801 Partner visa processing time?
Permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) applications are processed within:
50% of applications are processed within 3 months
90% of applications are processed within 17 months
Processing times are subject to change and may vary depending on individual circumstances and the completeness of your application.
Official Processing Times → For the latest information on Permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) processing times, please visit the Department of Home Affairs visa processing times page.
How do we help you apply for an 801 Partner visa?
1) Client consultation → Our Registered Migration Agent can assess your circumstances and help you understand whether you and your partner continue to meet the visa eligibility requirements before applying. We offer consultations online via Zoom, by phone, or face-to-face (in Brisbane), with professional guidance in both English and Spanish. During your consultation, you can speak directly with our agent, discuss the visa process, requirements and next steps. You are also welcome to ask questions throughout your consultation.
2) Sign our service agreement & form 956 → Our Service Agreement outlines the services we will provide, our professional fees and the terms of our engagement. Form 956 confirms that we are representing you in your immigration matter and authorises us to communicate with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf.
3) Document gathering & review → We will advise you which documents and relationship evidence are required for your application. You will then gather and organise your documents and provide them to us for review. Our Registered Migration Agent will assess your documents and let you know if any improvements, additional information or supporting documents may strengthen your application and ensure it is presented as thoroughly as possible.
4) Preparing visa application draft → Once your documents are ready, our Registered Migration Agent will prepare your visa application. We will carefully review the completed application before sending the draft to you, giving you the opportunity to review and approve your visa application before it is lodged.
5) Visa lodgement → Our Registered Migration Agent will lodge your visa application on your behalf.
6) Post lodgement support & requests → We keep you informed of important updates throughout the processing of your application and assist you in responding to any additional requests from the Department of Home Affairs. We are always happy to provide guidance and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
7) Visa application outcome → The Department of Home Affairs will provide us with your visa outcome, and we will promptly notify you as soon as it is received and explain your visa conditions. If your visa is granted, you will receive your visa grant number, commencement date and any applicable visa conditions. If your application is refused, you will be informed of the reasons for refusal and any available review rights.
Important → The Department will not refund you the application fee if your visa is refused.
What happens after the 801 Partner visa is granted?
Once your 801 Permanent Partner visa is granted, you become an Australian permanent resident. This means you can live, work and study in Australia permanently, subject to the conditions and entitlements that apply to permanent residents.
What happens next?
Live in Australia permanently: You can remain in Australia indefinitely as a permanent resident.
Work and study: You can continue working and studying in Australia.
Access Medicare: You can access Australia's public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
Sponsor eligible family members: You may be able to sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia.
Travel internationally: You can travel to and from Australia for five years from the date your visa is granted. After that, you generally need a Resident Return Visa to travel overseas and return as a permanent resident.
Consider Australian citizenship: You may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship once you meet the relevant requirements.
Start Your Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801) Application
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general information purposes only and is based on information published by the Australian Government and the Department of Home Affairs. Australian visa requirements, policies, fees, processing times and eligibility criteria may change. For the latest and most accurate information, applicants should refer to the Department of Home Affairs and the relevant visa subclass requirements.