Updated on June 6th, 2026
If you plan to join your partner in Australia or have already applied for a Partner Visa, this blog can give you a few insights into this visa category. I am not a registered migration agent, but have been working in a related profession for over two decades, having offices in India and Australia. I regularly interact with different registered migration agents, talk to colleagues, and read other professional blogs, so I based the information shared here on my own experiences and research. This blog unpacks the partner visa clauses and a few common mistakes you should avoid when applying for a partner visa.
Partner Visa, when lodged onshore:
The Partner Visa subclasses 820 & 801 are lodged while you are in Australia. This Visa allows an individual to live in Australia who is the spouse or a de facto partner of an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident. The temporary Partner Visa subclass 820 is granted initially. It lets you stay in Australia. With the permanent Partner visa subclass 801, once granted, you can live in Australia as a permanent resident and further work toward your citizenship. There are other requirements on age, health, and character grounds for this visa to be granted.
Partner Visa, when lodged offshore:
Other clauses for Partner Visa are subclass 309 & 100. We can apply for these visas while the applicant is out of Australia. Partner Visa (Provisional) under subclass 100 is a temporary visa that allows the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to stay in Australia. This Visa is the first step towards a permanent Partner Visa subclass 100.
There is another Visa that can later lead to a Partner Visa. This Visa is a Prospective Marriage Visa subclass 300. This Visa is for those who want to enter before marriage. To apply for this visa, your fiancé must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. This Visa has a duration of 9 months, during which visa holders need to marry. They can apply to convert their visa to a Partner Visa once they get married.
How do Partner Visas work?
As discussed above, the partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident can apply for a partner visa either onshore or offshore. When applied for onshore, the applicant obtains a bridging visa to remain in Australia during processing. The applicant is not entitled to a bridging visa when they applied offshore. The applicant must remain in their home country during processing or visit Australia as a tourist for a short time. On tourist visas, they have no work or study rights, unlike other applicants who apply onshore. The Visa fee in both cases remains the same. Presently, it is $7715. As per the Migration law, those who lodge an offshore application must also be outside Australia when their visa is granted.
A few mistakes that people normally make
Now I will share a few mistakes that people usually make when applying for this visa. I have seen so many small and big reasons for the refusal of Partner Visa applications. This Visa is the most expensive, so everyone wants to get it right the first time.
It is not mandatory to lodge this visa with the help of a migration agent. You can file it yourself, but I suggest seeking help from professionals. Otherwise, you need to invest a lot of time in researching various details of partner visas. Due to a lack of professional advice, they reject many applications. Department refused 47% of Partner Visa applications without migration agents in the financial year 2015-16. It was 53% in 2016-2107. So, given such a high rate of refusals, I suggest we seek professional advice to improve the outcomes of visa applications.
Importance of Information stated in Form 888s
Form 888 is an essential part of Partner Visa or Prospective Marriage visa applications. Your family, friends, or colleagues made this statutory declaration, witnessing your relationship. It would help if you ensured that the information provided in this form does not contradict what you stated in your application. This declaration considers the social aspect of relationships. If you do not write statements, the information provided may not match the application. So we need a proper check while lodging a visa application.
Lack of sufficient evidence is one reason
Insufficient information or evidence can be another reason for a partner visa refusal. There is no parameter to say what evidence is acceptable. But you will need to provide evidence to prove your claims in your application. Proving the genuineness of your relationship is an essential part of a successful visa application. A visa officer, while deciding on your application, may consider various facets of your lifestyle. This includes, but is not limited to, financial interdependence, mixing of finances, financial planning, social conduct, sharing social life, shared properties, household duties, travel, how the relationship was maintained when the couple was separated, and how others view the relationship. We need to provide evidence of all facts to help the case officer assess your application.
Dates are very important in any visa application
All dates related to your relationship in your visa application must be consistent with one another. Forgetting dates can give visa officers a chance to question the integrity of your relationship. When filling in the forms, you must take care with all dates. I have seen so many applications where a minor mistake about dates was the reason for visa rejection. You and your partner must know the correct timeline and dates of the relationship.
There is no last list of such mistakes. Here, I just tried to recall a few of them. I suggest thorough research into your visa application to ensure you are aware of every detail. Otherwise, I recommended the professional services of experts. If the department contacts you, you must provide such information within a specified timeframe. Make sure you check your Immi account and emails regularly.
Stories Around Every Turn from Kasol to Tosh
A memorable journey to Tosh filled with mountain views, peaceful streets, cafés, and unforgettable travel memories.
4 Comments
Very accurate and precise.
Keep writing..
Thanks for appreciating words
Very Informative blog.
Thanks a lot