The partner-visa timeline — what to expect at each stage.
One application, two grants, and a wait in between that varies a great deal between applicants. This guide walks the onshore 820/801 timeline stage by stage — lodgement, bridging visa, the temporary 820, the two-year point, and the permanent 801 — and is honest about which parts are fixed, which vary, and which you can influence.
The structure is fixed; the durations are not.
The shape of the partner-visa journey is consistent: you lodge once, usually receive a bridging visa, are granted the temporary 820, and around two years from lodgement are invited to provide updated evidence for the permanent 801. That sequence is reliable.
The durations between those steps are not. Processing time for the 820 varies widely between applicants and shifts over time with the Department’s caseload, so we deliberately avoid quoting a single number here. For current figures, check the Department’s published visa processing times, which are updated regularly.
Retrieved May 2026. Processing-time ranges change frequently — always confirm the live figure before relying on it.
From lodgement to permanent residency.
The “when” column marks where each step sits relative to the others — not a promised duration. The only firm timing is structural: the permanent stage opens around two years from your original lodgement date.
- 01
Lodge the combined 820/801 application
Day 0You lodge a single online application through ImmiAccount covering both subclasses, with the sponsorship application alongside it. The lodgement date is the anchor for everything that follows — most notably the two-year point at which the permanent stage opens.
- 02
Bridging visa granted
Around lodgementIf you held a substantive visa when you lodged, the Department typically grants a Bridging Visa A, letting you remain lawfully in Australia while the 820 is assessed. The bridging visa generally comes into effect only when your previous visa ends.
- 03
Assessment of the temporary 820
Varies widelyThe Department assesses your relationship, health, and character. Processing time for the 820 varies considerably between applicants and changes over time depending on caseload and the completeness of the application. The Department publishes current global processing-time ranges, which are the figure to check rather than any fixed promise.
- 04
Subclass 820 (temporary) granted
On a positive assessmentOnce the Department is satisfied, the 820 is granted with full work and study rights. You remain on the 820 until the permanent stage is decided.
- 05
The two-year point — 801 stage opens
~2 years from lodgementAround two years after the original lodgement date, the Department contacts you in ImmiAccount to request updated relationship evidence for the permanent stage. Submitting that evidence before you are invited does not speed things up.
- 06
Subclass 801 (permanent) granted
After the 801 assessmentAfter reviewing the updated evidence, the Department decides the permanent 801. Some applicants are eligible for the 801 to be assessed without the two-year wait; those exceptions are narrow and worth checking with a registered migration agent.
Some factors are yours; some are the Department’s.
You cannot control the Department’s caseload, but you can control how decision-ready your application is — and that is the factor most often within reach.
- Completeness of the bundle at lodgement — a “decision-ready” application with even evidence across all four pillars avoids the back-and-forth of requests for more information.
- Health and character clearances — delays obtaining panel-doctor examinations or overseas police certificates flow straight into the overall timeline.
- Requests for further information — every round of questions adds time; well-organised evidence reduces how many are needed.
- Departmental caseload and policy changes — processing-time ranges shift over time and are outside any applicant’s control.
- Whether you are eligible for immediate 801 assessment — a narrow set of circumstances can shorten the path to permanent residency.
Partner-visa timeline — common questions.
- How long does the Australian partner visa take?
- There is no single fixed answer — processing time for the subclass 820/801 varies widely between applicants and changes over time with the Department’s caseload. The Department of Home Affairs publishes current global processing-time ranges for the partner visa, and those published figures are the right thing to check rather than any guarantee. As a structural matter, the permanent 801 stage generally opens around two years after your original lodgement date.
- What is the two-year point in a partner visa?
- Approximately two years after you lodge the combined 820/801 application, the Department contacts you to request updated relationship evidence for the permanent subclass 801. The two-year point is measured from the original lodgement date, not from when the temporary 820 was granted.
- Can I speed up my partner-visa processing?
- You cannot pay to jump the queue, but you can avoid self-inflicted delays: lodge a complete, well-organised application, obtain health and police clearances promptly when asked, and respond quickly to any request for more information. Submitting 801-stage evidence before the Department invites it does not speed anything up.
- Can I travel or work while I wait?
- A Bridging Visa A, commonly granted with an onshore partner application, generally lets you live and work in Australia while you wait, but it does not by itself permit travel — re-entry usually requires a Bridging Visa B applied for separately. The temporary 820, once granted, carries full work and study rights. Confirm the conditions on your specific bridging or substantive visa with the Department or a registered migration agent.
The one part of the timeline you control.
Processing times are the Department’s to set — but a complete, even bundle at lodgement is yours. ReRooted tracks every requirement so you lodge decision-ready instead of triggering rounds of follow-up. Free to start.