Commonwealth of Australia · Processing time
Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100): how long does it take?
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Partner visa (subclass 309/100 and 820/801) processing is among the slowest in the system: 15–30 months is typical.
How long does the Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100) take to process in Australia?
The typical published decision window is 15 months – 2.5 years from a complete application. Partner visa (subclass 309/100 and 820/801) processing is among the slowest in the system: 15–30 months is typical.
Verified against Home Affairs — Partner visa on 1 June 2026.
Typical wait
15 months – 2.5 years
from complete application
Government fees
AUD 9,365+ — among the most expensive partner visas globally.
Last checked
1 June 2026
Reality vs official timing
- Official clock
- Official window only
- Delay trigger
- After 2.5 years
- Source checked
- 1 June 2026
Use 15 months – 2.5 years as the published decision window; delays usually start after the upper end if the source has not issued a newer figure.
What is the Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)?
Residence visa for spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
Partner visas involve a two-stage process: a temporary visa (subclass 820 onshore / 309 offshore) and a permanent visa (801 / 100) typically 2 years later. De facto partners need 12 months of cohabitation or registered relationship evidence.
- Sponsorship: No job offer or employer sponsor is required.
- Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residence.
- Typical permit length: Initial provisional to permanent residence.
- Indicative government fees: AUD 9,365+ — among the most expensive partner visas globally.
How to read this estimate
The 15 months – 2.5 years window is the time Home Affairs — Partner visa typically associates with the Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100) — measured from a complete, correctly-lodged application through to a decision, not from when you start gathering documents.
- Collecting documents, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the clock starts.
- If the authority requests more information, the clock pauses until you reply — so a fast, complete response keeps your place in the queue.
- Processing times shift with application volumes and policy changes. The Home Affairs — Partner visa page linked below is the only figure that is current on the day you apply.
Official source
Home Affairs — Partner visa
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100) processing time dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/australia/partner-visa-au. Last verified 1 June 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times
Primary source (1)
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100) take to process?+
The typical wait is 15 months – 2.5 years from submitting a complete application. Partner visa (subclass 309/100 and 820/801) processing is among the slowest in the system: 15–30 months is typical. These figures come from Home Affairs — Partner visa and were last verified on 2026-06-01. Always confirm on the primary source before you apply.
When does the 15 months – 2.5 years clock start?+
The clock starts when Home Affairs — Partner visa receives a complete, valid application — not when you begin collecting documents. Gathering evidence, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the window starts.
Is there a way to speed up the decision?+
Some Australia routes offer a priority or premium service for an additional fee. Check the linked primary source for current options — availability changes and varies by consular post.
What makes an application take longer than expected?+
The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.
When should I treat my Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100) application as delayed?+
Wait until you have passed the upper end of the published window (15 months – 2.5 years) before treating it as delayed. At that point, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Do not chase repeatedly, as this tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, fees, and FAQs for the Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100).
All Australia processing times
Compare decision windows across every Australia visa route.
Government fees breakdown
Full itemised fee schedule for the Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100).
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.