The partner visa lets the partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia permanently. It is also one of the most evidence-heavy visas the Department issues — which is why so many applicants weigh up whether to use a registered migration agent. Here is what it actually involves.

One application, two stages

If you are in Australia, you apply for the Subclass 820 (temporary) and Subclass 801 (permanent) together. You are granted the 820 first; roughly two years later the 801 permanent visa is assessed. If you are outside Australia, the equivalent pair is the Subclass 309 and Subclass 100. Crucially, it is one application and one fee covering both stages — you do not pay again when the permanent stage is assessed.

What it costs the government

The main Department of Home Affairs charge for a partner visa is around AUD $9,000–$9,400 for the primary applicant in 2026. It is one of the most expensive visa charges Australia levies, and it indexes every 1 July, so confirm the exact figure on the Home Affairs website before you budget. On top of the government charge, expect:
  • Health examinations — roughly $300–$500 per person
  • Police clearances — around $50–$200 per country you've lived in
  • Additional charges for a dependent child included in the application

How long it takes

Processing for the onshore Subclass 820 currently runs about 16–24 months (around half are decided within ~16 months, most within ~24). While you wait onshore, a bridging visa keeps you lawfully in Australia, usually with work rights.

Do you actually need a migration agent?

You can lodge a partner visa yourself, and many people do successfully. The visa is not won on legal argument — it is won on evidence of a genuine, continuing relationship, assessed across four pillars: financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects of the relationship, and the nature of your commitment to each other. An agent tends to earn their fee when:
  • You have a short relationship history or thin documentary evidence
  • There has been a previous visa refusal or a complex immigration history
  • There are character or health complications
  • English or documentation barriers make the paperwork daunting
  • You simply cannot afford to get a $9,000-plus application wrong
For a straightforward, well-documented relationship, a careful applicant can do it alone. For anything with a wrinkle, professional help is often worth it.

What an agent charges

A registered migration agent typically charges $3,500–$7,500 for a partner visa — this is the agent's professional fee and is separate from the government charge above. By law, the agent must give you a written costs disclosure statement before you engage them. If they won't put the fee in writing, walk away.

Before you pay anyone

No one — no agent, no lawyer — can guarantee a partner visa; anyone who does is either unregistered or lying. Always confirm your agent's MARN (Migration Agent Registration Number) on the register, and never pay into a personal bank account. --- Compare MARA-registered migration agents on CompareMyAgents →, see typical migration agent fees, and read the partner-visa red flags in our scam alerts before you commit.