Complex migration laws shouldn’t keep you apart. Our MARA Agent experts specialise in securing your Australian Partner Visa (subclasses 820/801 and 309/100) with confidence and clarity, ensuring your journey to permanent residency is secure.
Welcome to Bombay Migrations. Securing your Partner Visa Australia is one of the most important applications you will ever make. This visa is the definitive pathway for individuals in a genuine and committed relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. We are committed to simplifying this critical application.
Which Australian Partner Visa Is Right for You?
Australia offers different Partner Visa pathways depending on whether you are applying from inside or outside Australia and the stage of your permanent residency journey. Understanding the right visa option is an important first step in preparing your application.
Partner Visa 820
(Temporary – Onshore)
The Partner Visa 820 is designed for applicants who are already in Australia and are in a genuine and ongoing relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. This visa allows eligible applicants to remain in Australia while their permanent Partner Visa is assessed.
Partner Visa 801
(Permanent – Onshore)
The Partner Visa 801 is the permanent stage of the onshore Partner Visa pathway. Applicants who previously lodged a combined 820/801 application may become eligible for permanent residency after meeting the relevant relationship and migration requirements.
Partner Visa 309
(Temporary – Offshore)
The Partner Visa 309 is intended for applicants who are outside Australia when they apply. It allows eligible partners to enter and remain in Australia while awaiting assessment for permanent residency.
Partner Visa 100
(Permanent – Offshore)
The Partner Visa 100 is the permanent stage of the offshore Partner Visa pathway. Applicants who hold or have previously held a Partner Visa 309 may be eligible for permanent residency once they continue to satisfy the Department of Home Affairs’ relationship requirements.
Not sure which Partner Visa is right for your circumstances? Our MARA Registered Migration Agents can assess your eligibility and recommend the most suitable pathway based on your relationship and migration goals.
Why Partner Visa MARA Agents are Essential for Your Success
The Department of Home Affairs applies a rigorous standard when assessing relationship evidence, judging your case against four key pillars: financial, social, household, and commitment. This process extends far beyond simply gathering documents; it demands a clear, compelling narrative of your life together.
Our MARA Agent experts are here to protect you from the high-stakes risk of refusal. We provide end-to-end Partner Visa Expert Consultation to ensure your application is decision-ready from the moment it is lodged, saving you the stress, cost, and time of a complex appeal.
Understanding the Subclasses and Processing Time
| Subclass | Status | Key Pro | Key Con |
|---|---|---|---|
| 820/801 | Onshore Partner Visa | Allows the applicant to stay, live, and work in Australia immediately upon application (via a Bridging Visa). | Applicant must be physically present in Australia to apply. |
| 309/100 | Offshore Partner Visa | Allows the applicant and sponsor to prepare the application from overseas. | The applicant must remain outside Australia until the temporary visa is granted. |
Need the full legal details on 820/801 vs 309/100?
Partner Visa Eligibility Snapshot
Eligibility for the Partner Visa Australia hinges on two factors: proving a genuine, ongoing relationship and meeting sponsor obligations, including character and background checks.
Common Challenges Applicants Face
Based on our extensive experience, most Partner Visa delays and refusals stem from five critical areas that we are experts in solving:
- The Evidence Confusion: Many applicants gather too much irrelevant evidence or have critical gaps in one or more of the four key relationship pillars (financial, social, household, commitment). This is especially true for De Facto Visa Australia applicants who lack a marriage certificate.
- Fear of Visa Refusal: The cost and lengthy Partner Visa Processing Time put immense pressure on getting it right the first time. The fear of a Section 48 bar (which prevents re-application onshore after refusal) is a major stressor.
- Misunderstanding the Subclass Choice: An incorrect decision between the onshore and offshore stream can lead to unnecessary separation, financial stress, or a technically invalid application.
- Sponsor Complications: Issues such as prior sponsorship history, character concerns, or an unclear financial situation on the sponsor’s side can stall the entire process.
Partner Visa Application Document Checklist
Preparing a well-organised application is an important part of demonstrating that your relationship meets the requirements of the Australian Partner Visa programme. While the exact documents required vary depending on your circumstances, applicants are generally expected to provide evidence that supports their identity, relationship, and eligibility.
A typical Partner Visa application may include:
Identity Documents
Valid passports, birth certificates, and other identity documents for both the applicant and sponsoring partner.
Relationship Evidence
Evidence demonstrating that your relationship is genuine and ongoing, such as marriage certificates or documents supporting a de facto relationship.
Financial Evidence
Documents showing shared financial responsibilities, including joint bank accounts, shared bills, insurance policies, or other financial commitments.
Living Arrangements
Evidence that you have lived together or maintain a genuine domestic relationship, such as lease agreements, utility bills, or shared residential documents.
Social Recognition
Photos together, travel records, invitations, messages from family and friends, and other documents that show your relationship is recognised socially.
Sponsor Documents
Evidence confirming the sponsor’s Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible New Zealand citizenship, together with any other supporting sponsorship documents required.
Health and Character Requirements
Health examinations and police clearance certificates may be required as part of the visa assessment process.
Supporting Documents
Providing clear, consistent, and well-organised documentation helps demonstrate that the application meets the relevant visa requirements.
Our MARA Registered Migration Agents can review your documentation, identify any gaps, and help you prepare a comprehensive Partner Visa application.
How Bombay Migrations Help
Our service goes far beyond simple form-filling. We provide a full-spectrum shield against the complexities of Australian migration law:
- Personalised Evidence Mapping and Strategy: We create a bespoke plan for your relationship, identifying the strongest pieces of evidence and helping you compose compelling relationship statements that clearly address the Department’s requirements.
- AAT Support and Risk Management: We assess your case’s complexity upfront, advising on potential Schedule 3 issues or character concerns. If a refusal occurs, our experts are prepared to offer guidance and representation for an Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) review.
- Bridging Visa and Status Management: We provide clear advice on maintaining your legal status in Australia during the waiting period, navigating the conditions of your Bridging Visa, and ensuring compliance.
- Updates During Long Processing Times: We manage all correspondence with the Department of Home Affairs, keeping you informed and responding efficiently to requests for further information (RFI), minimising frustrating delays.
Timeline & What to Expect
The Partner Visa journey is a two-stage process that establishes your long-term commitment. It begins with your initial consultation and proceeds through: Evidence preparation, Application Lodgement (marking the beginning of the processing time), the grant of the Temporary Visa (820 or 309), and finally, the eligibility assessment for the Permanent Visa (801 or 100) after the mandatory two-year period.
End the Waiting: Secure Your Partner Visa Success with Bombay Migrations
Don’t let errors or missing evidence delay your life together. Our MARA Expert Agents are ready to provide the clarity and confidence you need to submit a decision-ready Partner Visa Australia application.
Don’t risk costly delays or refusal.
Get a MARA-backed strategy designed for success.
FAQs
How many types of partner visas are there in Australia?
There are four main Partner Visa Subclasses (temporary and permanent) split into two streams: onshore (Subclasses 820/801) and offshore (Subclasses 309/100).
How difficult is it to get a partner visa in Australia?
The process is considered highly complex due to the rigorous standard of relationship evidence required across the four pillars (financial, social, household, and commitment). Expert assistance is strongly recommended.
What is strong evidence for a partner visa?
Strong evidence is documented proof that is consistent, credible, and demonstrates shared responsibility across all four aspects of your relationship, with documentation spanning the entire relationship timeline.
For how long does a partner visa let you remain in Australia?
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