Skip to content

Partner visa 820/801: building an evidence pack

Partner visa (Subclass 820 onshore, 801 onshore-permanent, 309 offshore, 100 offshore-permanent) is the family-migration pathway for spouses or de facto partners of Australian citizens or permanent residents. The visa process hinges entirely on one thing: evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing. Building the evidence pack methodically is the single most important pre-lodgement activity.

The four categories Home Affairs assesses

Every partner visa application is assessed against four relationship dimensions:

  1. Financial aspects: joint ownership of assets, joint bank accounts, shared financial responsibilities
  2. Nature of household: shared residence, shared utilities, division of household duties
  3. Social aspects: acknowledgment of relationship by family and community, participation in joint activities
  4. Nature of commitment: long-term intent, knowledge of each other’s lives, emotional commitment

A genuine relationship generates evidence across all four. A weak application typically has strong evidence on one or two but gaps in others.

Building the financial evidence

  • Joint bank accounts: opened at least 12-18 months before application, with regular joint activity
  • Shared bills: utilities, internet, mobile phones in joint names or shared payment
  • Joint property: lease agreements with both names, or joint property ownership
  • Financial interdependence: loans in joint names, one partner named as beneficiary of the other’s super, joint credit cards

Weakest applications: two people who have “shared one bill for 6 months” without the underlying pattern of joint financial management.

Building the household evidence

  • Residential history: rental leases showing both names for extended periods
  • Utility accounts: gas, electricity, internet, council rates with both names or at the same address
  • Home and contents insurance: policy listing both residents
  • Household items and furniture: receipts and invoices showing joint purchases
  • Mail addressed to both at the same address: cross-referenced across services

Building the social evidence

  • Statutory declarations from friends and family: Form 888 declarations (Australian citizens/PRs) and statutory declarations (non-residents) confirming the relationship
  • Photos across different life events: weddings, holidays, birthdays, family gatherings, with time-stamped metadata
  • Joint event attendance evidence: concert tickets, event tickets with both names
  • Social media history: relationship status, tagged photos, public acknowledgment
  • Wedding or engagement announcements (if applicable)

Building the commitment evidence

  • Relationship timeline narrative: how you met, key milestones, progression
  • Communications archive: messages, emails over time, showing depth and continuity
  • Travel together: shared flight itineraries, accommodation bookings, visas for joint travel
  • Future plans documented: joint lease extensions, joint financial plans, wedding planning
  • Family integration: evidence of integration with each other’s families

The de facto threshold

For de facto partner applications (unmarried couples), the evidence must demonstrate at least 12 months of committed relationship prior to application, unless specific exceptions apply:

  • Exception 1: registration of the relationship under Australian state/territory law (same-sex relationships can register in most states; opposite-sex relationships can register in some)
  • Exception 2: child of the relationship
  • Exception 3: one partner is sponsoring a humanitarian visa

A registered relationship (via state register) bypasses the 12-month requirement entirely and is increasingly the efficient path for de facto applications where the couple has lived together for less than 12 months.

The Character and Health components

Beyond the relationship evidence, every applicant must clear:

  • Penal clearance from every country of residence over 10+ years
  • Medical examination at approved panel physician
  • Language requirements (minimal, non-IELTS)

These are procedural but non-trivial. Police clearances from some countries take 6-12 weeks.

The sponsorship

The Australian sponsor (citizen or PR) must:

  • Be eligible to sponsor (no prior sponsor breaches, no character issues)
  • Meet income/support requirements
  • Not have sponsored another partner in the last 5 years (with specific exceptions)
  • Apply for sponsorship alongside the visa application

Timing

820 (onshore provisional partner): usually 12-24 months processing 801 (permanent partner): 2 years after 820 grant, automatic progression if relationship continues 309 (offshore provisional partner): 10-16 months 100 (offshore permanent): 2 years after 309

Building the evidence pack methodically

12 months before application:

  • Open joint bank account
  • Move in together or formalise residence
  • Add each other to lease
  • Set up joint utilities
  • Register relationship (where applicable)

6-9 months before:

  • Plan joint activities with documented evidence (trips, events)
  • Obtain 888 declarations from friends who have known you both over time
  • Collect photographs systematically (dated, ideally with context)

At application:

  • Organise all evidence chronologically
  • Write a clear relationship statement
  • Complete Form 40SP (sponsorship), Form 47SP (relationship application)
  • Include as much supporting evidence as reasonable

What commonly fails

  • Applications with very little post-separation evidence (couples who were together overseas, separated briefly for visa, but couldn’t easily document the overseas time)
  • Applications relying heavily on photos without the household and financial evidence
  • Applications where the relationship has been less than 12 months without registered relationship protection
  • Applications where sponsor has recent prior sponsorships

Lending during partner visa

820 holders typically have full work rights. Many lenders treat 820 holders favourably:

  • 80% LVR standard; 90% with LMI accessible at some lenders
  • Rates comparable to PR treatment
  • FIRB may still apply (confirmed based on specific visa conditions)

Once 801 PR is granted, full lending access. The 820 period can be used to build Australian credit history and deposit ahead of 801-PR lending.

Partner visa is an intensive paperwork exercise. Success correlates with meticulous preparation more than any other single factor.