How Long Does It Actually Take to Get a Decision on a Partner Visa 820 in Australia?

For more on the overall partner visa journey and what the different relationship status pathways look like, read our guide on which Australian partner visa you need based on your relationship status.

First: The 820 Is Not One Decision. It Is Two.

This is the single most important thing to understand about partner visa processing, and it is the thing that catches the most people off guard. When you lodge a partner visa application onshore, you are actually lodging two visas at the same time: the Subclass 820 (temporary) and the Subclass 801 (permanent). The 820 is assessed first. The 801 is assessed later, typically around two years after your original lodgement date, as a second, separate decision.

This means your total journey from lodgement to full, permanent residency is not just the 820 processing time. It is the 820 processing time, plus the two-year waiting period before the 801 can be assessed, plus the 801 assessment itself. That is why most couples end up with a three to four year total timeframe. For a complete walkthrough of the two-stage journey, read our guide on the temporary to permanent partner visa process.

The Current Numbers, From Actual DHA Data

These figures are drawn from Department of Home Affairs published data as at early 2026 and represent median and range estimates, not guarantees. Individual timelines vary based on case complexity, documentation quality, and whether the Department issues a Request for Further Information. For the latest processing time updates, see our guide on partner visa processing delays and the queue.

What You Actually Have While You Wait

One of the most practical things to understand about the 820 process is that the waiting period is not as disruptive as it sounds, because you are not left in limbo without rights. From the moment you lodge the application, a Bridging Visa A is automatically granted. This gives you full, unrestricted work rights immediately, the right to remain in Australia lawfully, and access to Medicare in most cases.

Your life can and should continue during this period. You can work, study, rent a home, open bank accounts, and do everything you would normally do. The 820 does not freeze your life. What it does require is that you keep building evidence of your ongoing relationship throughout the wait, since the Department will assess the relationship at the time of decision, not just at lodgement.

What Slows Applications Down

Incomplete Evidence at Lodgement

The most common cause of extended processing times is an application that arrives without adequate evidence across all four relationship categories: financial, household, social, and commitment. Applications that trigger an RFI pause while you respond, and given the new one-RFI-only policy, a weak response can result in a refusal rather than another chance to provide more. For a full breakdown of what strong evidence looks like, read our guide on how to prove a genuine relationship for the Australian partner visa.

Outstanding Health or Character Checks

Health examinations and overseas police clearances each have their own processing timelines, and if these are not completed before or shortly after lodgement, they can hold the application in a waiting state for months. Requesting overseas police clearances early, before lodgement if possible, is one of the most practical steps to avoid this.

Expiring Medical Results

Health examination results are generally valid for 12 months. For applications that run longer than that, the Department may request that health checks be redone before a decision is made. This is more common than people expect given current processing times, and it adds weeks rather than being immediate.

Static Evidence File During the Wait

For applications in the queue for more than 12 months, the Department expects evidence updates to be submitted periodically through ImmiAccount. Applicants who lodge and then do nothing for two years risk having their permanent stage assessed against a snapshot of the relationship from years ago. Continue submitting updated financial records, recent photos, and evidence of joint activities throughout the processing period.

For guidance on the most common mistakes that derail applications, see our guide on how to avoid errors in your Australian partner visa application.

The One Exception: Early Grant for Long-Term Couples

There is a meaningful exception to the standard two-stage timeline. If your relationship was already three or more years old at the time of lodgement, or if you have a dependent child together, the Department may consider granting the permanent 801 visa at the same time as the temporary 820, without requiring the separate two-year wait. This can compress the total timeline significantly for couples who qualify.

What to Keep Doing While You Wait

• Continue documenting your relationship: joint financial statements, shared lease agreements, photos, travel records, and social evidence
• Submit periodic evidence updates through ImmiAccount if your application has been pending for over 12 months
• Keep your contact details current in ImmiAccount so the Department can reach you promptly if an RFI is issued
• Apply for a Bridging Visa B before any overseas travel - leaving on a BVA without one causes your visa to cease. Read our guide on Bridging Visa B and travel rules
• Notify the Department of significant changes in circumstances: change of address, relationship status, or sponsor's circumstances

For a broad overview of the partner visa from the beginning, including which visa type applies to your relationship, visit our partner visa FAQ guide.