801 — Partner (Permanent) Visa - Onshore

Australia•Oceania

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801 — Partner (Permanent) Visa - Onshore

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

9 months – 1.8 years

Estimated Cost

AUD $1,955–$11,710

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

Permanently

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Living in Australia

Cost of Living

2% more than United States

Avg SalaryA$73,000

Quality of Life

187/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Partner (Permanent) Visa — Onshore.

The Partner (Permanent) visa (subclass 801) is the permanent stage of Australia's onshore partner migration pathway, granted to subclass 820 holders once the Department of Home Affairs confirms the relationship remains genuine — typically two years after the combined 820/801 application was lodged.

The 801 grants the right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely, access Medicare, and apply for citizenship. The application fee — paid upfront at the 820/801 lodgement stage — is AUD 11,710 for most applicants. Once qualifying, the 801 stage typically takes 16 to 22 months to finalise.

This visa is ideal for foreign nationals already in Australia on a subclass 820 who have maintained a genuine, continuing relationship with their Australian sponsor.

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Cost Breakdown

Primary applicant (most cases)AUD $11,710

Primary applicant (Prospective Marriage visa 300 holders)AUD $1,955

TotalAUD $1,955–$11,710

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 820).

Must still be in a genuine and ongoing relationship with the original sponsor (unless specific exceptions like domestic violence or death of the sponsor apply).

Must continue to meet health and character requirements.

Must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government.

Generally, at least two years must have passed since the initial 820/801 application was lodged.

Must be in the best interests of any children involved.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Updated evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship since the 820 grant

Current passport biodata page

New Australian Federal Police check

Updated Form 888 statutory declarations (if requested)

Evidence of shared financial commitments and household responsibilities

Updated sponsorship statement/form

Any relevant changes in circumstances (e.g., birth of children, change of address)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Permission to live in Australia indefinitely.
Full rights to work and study in Australia.
Access to Medicare (Australia's public healthcare system).
Ability to sponsor qualifying family members for permanent residency.
Pathway to apply for Australian citizenship.

Worth Knowing

Relationship must remain genuine, committed, and continuing throughout the waiting period.
The 2-year waiting period between the subclass 820 application and the subclass 801 assessment is standard, though early grant may be possible in specific long-term relationship cases.
If the relationship ends, you must notify the Department of Home Affairs, though permanent residency may still be possible under specific circumstances like family violence.

Application Process

Lodge a combined online application for both the subclass 820 and 801 visas.

Wait for the assessment of the subclass 820 visa.

Maintain the relationship and continue to meet sponsor and visa requirements for approximately 2 years.

Provide updated evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship when invited by the Department of Home Affairs (usually 2 years after the initial application).

Await the final decision for the permanent subclass 801 visa.

Application Forms

Go to application portal

Application is managed primarily through the Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount portal.	—
Specific assessment forms for the permanent stage are completed via ImmiAccount upon invitation.	—

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