Partner Visa Cost & Processing Time Calculator · May 2026 DHA data
What is your realistic wait time?
7 questions. Based on real DHA processing data, nationality risk bands, occupation flags, and evidence quality signals. This is what agents charge $300 to explain — and most of them only tell you the average.
1 Which visa are you applying for?
Where you apply from determines the subclass and the processing queue.
2 What is your relationship type?
Married applicants consistently process faster than de facto — DHA considers marriage as stronger relationship evidence by default.
3 What is the applicant's nationality?
DHA applies different scrutiny levels by country. This is the single biggest variable outside your control.
This is the factor most agents underestimate when giving you a timeline.
4 Is the Australian sponsor a citizen or permanent resident?
Citizens can sponsor immediately. PR holders have a 5-year waiting period restriction in some cases.
5 How strong is your relationship evidence?
DHA assesses four categories: financial, household, social, and commitment. Be honest — weak evidence is the most common reason for delays and requests for more information.
6 Have you completed health and character checks upfront?
Submitting health exams and police clearances with your application (rather than waiting for DHA to request them) can reduce processing time by 3-6 months.
7 Does the applicant work in a flagged occupation?
DHA cross-references occupation claims with skills assessments. Some occupations trigger additional verification, adding weeks to processing.
How your factors affect processing
What to do right now
📧 Save my estimate & get processing time alerts
We'll notify you if processing times shift.
DHA processing times change without notice. We email you within 24 hours if the timeline for your visa type and nationality moves significantly.
✓ Saved — we'll alert you if processing times change for your profile.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe any time
Stage 1 vs Stage 2 — How the partner visa actually works
Most people are confused by this. You apply for both stages at once and pay one fee. But they are assessed separately, years apart.
1
Lodgement — you apply for both stages simultaneously
One application, one fee ($9,905), covers both 820+801 (onshore) or 309+100 (offshore). You submit all relationship evidence, health exams, and police clearances at this point. The date you lodge is your "application date" — this matters for stage 2.
Day 0
2
Stage 1 granted — temporary partner visa
820 (if onshore) or 309 (if offshore) is granted. You can now live and work in Australia freely. You receive full work rights, Medicare access (if applicable), and can travel in and out of Australia. This is what DHA's "17-24 month" average refers to.
17–36 months from lodgement
3
Stage 2 assessment begins
Exactly 2 years after your original application date (not the stage 1 grant date), DHA assesses stage 2. They check you are still in a genuine relationship. They may request updated evidence — new photos, updated statutory declarations, evidence of ongoing cohabitation.
2 years after application date
PR
Stage 2 granted — 801 or 100 permanent residence
If your relationship is ongoing and genuine, permanent residence is granted. Stage 2 typically processes in 6-12 months from assessment. You are now a permanent resident of Australia — unlimited stay, work rights, and Medicare.
~6-12 months after stage 2 assessment
The key insight most agents miss: Stage 2 is assessed 2 years from your APPLICATION date, not from when stage 1 was granted. If stage 1 takes 24 months, stage 2 is assessed almost immediately after. If stage 1 takes 12 months, you wait another 12 months before stage 2 is triggered.
Evidence Guide — The 4 categories DHA actually assesses
DHA does not publish a checklist. But they do publish the four categories they assess. Strong evidence across all four = fastest processing. Weak in any one = delay or request for more information.
💰 Financial aspects
✓ Joint bank account (active, regular transactions)
✓ Shared mortgage or lease agreement
✓ Joint utility bills (electricity, internet)
✓ Each listed as beneficiary on insurance
✓ Joint ownership of significant assets
✓ Evidence of financial support to each other
✓ Shared mortgage or lease agreement
✓ Joint utility bills (electricity, internet)
✓ Each listed as beneficiary on insurance
✓ Joint ownership of significant assets
✓ Evidence of financial support to each other
🏠 Nature of household
✓ Evidence of living together (mail, lease, utilities)
✓ Shared responsibility for household tasks
✓ Both names on lease/mortgage
✓ Statutory declaration from landlord
✓ Evidence if living separately (work reasons etc)
✓ Photos of shared home and belongings
✓ Shared responsibility for household tasks
✓ Both names on lease/mortgage
✓ Statutory declaration from landlord
✓ Evidence if living separately (work reasons etc)
✓ Photos of shared home and belongings
👥 Social aspects
✓ Statutory declarations from 2+ friends or family
✓ Known to each other's family
✓ Joint social media presence
✓ Photos together over time (with dates)
✓ Joint invitations, event tickets together
✓ Recognition as a couple by community
✓ Known to each other's family
✓ Joint social media presence
✓ Photos together over time (with dates)
✓ Joint invitations, event tickets together
✓ Recognition as a couple by community
💫 Commitment
✓ Knowledge of each other's personal history
✓ Future plans together (house, children, travel)
✓ Communication history (messages, calls if LDR)
✓ Length and history of the relationship
✓ Joint travel history (boarding passes, bookings)
✓ Your own statements about the relationship
✓ Future plans together (house, children, travel)
✓ Communication history (messages, calls if LDR)
✓ Length and history of the relationship
✓ Joint travel history (boarding passes, bookings)
✓ Your own statements about the relationship
The fastest-processing evidence combination: Joint bank account with 12+ months of transactions + both names on a lease + 2 statutory declarations from family members who know you both + a comprehensive photo timeline. This combination signals a genuine relationship across all 4 categories immediately.
What triggers a Further Information Request (FIR): Weak financial evidence (no joint account), short cohabitation period, inconsistent statements about your relationship history, no statutory declarations, or evidence that only covers one category. A FIR adds 3-9 months to processing.
Complete Cost Breakdown — 820/801 and 309/100
Total cost verified May 2026. Agents rarely tell you about all the hidden costs. This is everything.
| Cost item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application fee (stage 1 + 2 combined) 820+801 onshore or 309+100 offshore | $9,905 | Per applicant. Paid once at lodgement. Non-refundable if refused. |
| Additional applicant fee (children) If including children under 18 | $2,475 each | Per child included in application |
| Health examination Panel physician — all applicants and dependants | $300 – $500 | Per adult. Children slightly less. Book at an approved panel physician. |
| Police clearances Every country lived in 12+ months since age 16 | $50 – $300 | Per country. Australian Federal Police clearance is $42. |
| Statutory declaration witnessing Justice of Peace (free) or solicitor | $0 – $150 | JP is free. Some solicitors charge per declaration. |
| Translation of documents If any documents are not in English | $100 – $500 | NAATI-accredited translator required. Per document. |
| Migration agent (optional) For complex cases or previous refusals | $3,000 – $8,000 | Not required for straightforward applications. Worth it after a refusal. |
| Total — without agent | ~$10,500 – $11,500 | Typical range for a couple with no children and standard documentation |
| Total — with agent | ~$14,000 – $19,000 | Including agent fees. Worth it for complex situations. |
Your Rights While Waiting — 820 Bridging Visa period
After you lodge your 820 application, you are typically granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). Here is exactly what you can and cannot do.
✅ On Bridging Visa A (BVA)
- ✓ Work full-time, any employer
- ✓ Study full-time
- ✓ Access Medicare (if applicable treaty)
- ✓ Remain in Australia until decision
- ✓ Apply for Bridging Visa B to travel
❌ On BVA — restrictions
- ✗ Cannot leave Australia without BVB
- ✗ If you leave without BVB, BVA is cancelled
- ✗ Cannot get BVA if previously offshore
- ✗ Some BVAs have condition 8101 (no work)
Critical — travel on bridging visa: If you need to leave Australia while your 820 is processing, you MUST apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you depart. If you leave on a BVA without a BVB, the BVA is automatically cancelled and you cannot re-enter. Apply for BVB at least 2 weeks before travel. Fee: free.
Once Stage 1 (820) is granted: You become a temporary resident. Full Medicare, unlimited work rights, travel freely in and out of Australia. No more bridging visa concerns. You are now waiting for Stage 2 (801) which happens automatically 2 years after your original application date.
Partner Visa FAQ
How much does the partner visa cost in Australia 2026?
The partner visa application fee is AUD $9,905 for the combined temporary and permanent application (820/801 onshore or 309/100 offshore) as of 2026. This is non-refundable if refused. Additional costs: health examinations ($300–500 per person), police clearances ($50–300 per country), and relationship evidence. Total without an agent is typically $10,500–$11,500.
How long does the 820 partner visa take in 2026?
The 820 onshore partner visa currently takes 17–24 months at the 75th percentile and 28–36 months at the 90th percentile as of May 2026. Your actual timeline depends on nationality, evidence quality, and whether you submit health and character documents upfront. Use the calculator above for your personalised estimate.
What is the difference between 820 and 801?
The 820 is the temporary partner visa — you are granted this first and can live and work in Australia. The 801 is the permanent partner visa assessed 2 years after your original application date. Both are applied for together in one application for one fee of $9,905. You don't need to do anything extra to trigger the 801 assessment — DHA does it automatically.
Does nationality affect processing time?
Yes — significantly. This is the factor most agents understate. DHA applies different levels of scrutiny by nationality based on historical fraud rates and risk assessments. UK, US, NZ, Canadian, and European applicants typically process at the faster end. Indian, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Afghan applicants face additional checks that can add months to years to processing time.
Can I work while my partner visa is being processed?
Yes. Once your 820 application is lodged from inside Australia, you are issued a Bridging Visa A (BVA). Most BVAs have full work rights. Once the 820 temporary visa is granted, you have unrestricted work rights. Check your BVA conditions — some have condition 8101 (no work) which must be removed by application.
What evidence do I need for a partner visa?
DHA assesses four categories: financial (joint accounts, shared expenses), household (shared address, cohabitation evidence), social (photos, statutory declarations from friends and family), and commitment (communication records, future plans). Strong applications have extensive evidence across all four. The most impactful single piece of evidence is an active joint bank account with 12+ months of regular transactions.
What happens if my relationship ends while waiting?
You must notify DHA if your relationship breaks down. If the relationship ends before stage 1 is granted, your application is generally refused unless you or your children have experienced family violence. If the relationship ends after stage 1 but before stage 2, you may still be eligible for stage 2 if family violence occurred. Always seek urgent advice from a MARA-registered agent if your relationship breaks down during processing.
Can I travel while my partner visa is processing?
Only if you have a Bridging Visa B (BVB). You must apply for the BVB before departing. If you leave Australia on a BVA without a BVB, the BVA is automatically cancelled and you cannot re-enter to continue your 820 application. Apply for BVB at least 2 weeks before travel — it is free and processed quickly.
Is a de facto partner visa harder than a married visa?
Not technically harder, but de facto applications face more scrutiny because there is no official registration. You need to prove your de facto relationship has existed for at least 12 months (or register it in some states, which can waive the 12-month requirement). Married applicants have a legal document proving the relationship — de facto applicants must prove it entirely through evidence. This is why de facto applications statistically take slightly longer on average.