Onshore partner visa · Subclass 801
Subclass 801 Partner Visa — the permanent stage of the onshore partner visa
The 801 partner visa is the permanent visa you reach after the temporary Subclass 820. It is the permanent visa subclass 801, and it is not a new application: you applied for it at the same time as the 820, and it is decided later. This guide covers when the partner visa subclass 801 is decided, what it costs, what happens if the relationship ends, and how the 801 visa leads to citizenship.
What is the subclass 801 partner visa?
The Subclass 801 is the permanent stage of Australia's onshore partner visa. You apply for it together with the temporary 820, and it is usually decided two years after you applied. If you still hold the 820, are still sponsored and are still in the relationship, it gives you permanent residence.
Key facts
- The 801 is a permanent visa with a five-year travel facility. It carries no visa conditions.
- It is usually decided once two years have passed since you applied. The two years run from the date of the application, not the date the 820 was granted.
- The two-year wait does not apply to a long-term relationship. That means three years together when you applied, or two years if you have a dependent child together.
- There is no separate charge for the 801. The combined partner charge, AUD 11,710 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026, is paid when you lodge.
- The 801 can still be granted if the relationship ended because your sponsor died, or because of family violence by your sponsor, or where you share responsibility for a child of the relationship.
- You can be in or outside Australia when the 801 is granted. You cannot be in immigration clearance.
Is an 801 visa permanent residency?
Yes. The 801 visa Australia grants at the permanent stage is a permanent visa. From the day it is granted you are an Australian permanent resident. The visa itself never expires, but its travel facility lasts five years from grant. After that, you need a resident return visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident, unless you have become a citizen.
What is the difference between partner visa 820 and 801?
They are two stages of one onshore application, lodged and paid for together. The 820 temporary partner visa is decided first and lets you live, work and study in Australia. The 801 permanent partner visa is decided later, once the Department is satisfied the relationship is still genuine and continuing.
| Feature | Subclass 820 | Subclass 801 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Temporary | Permanent |
| When decided | First | Usually two years after you applied |
| Visa conditions | None | None |
| Travel | While the 820 is in force | Five-year travel facility from grant |
| Charge | Covered by the combined charge | Covered by the combined charge |
The first stage is covered in our Subclass 820 partner visa guide, including applying without a substantive visa, bridging visas and the sponsorship limits.
Who is eligible for the 801 partner visa?
The 801 partner visa requirements, also called the partner visa 801 requirements, are tested when the Department decides the permanent stage. In the usual case you must:
- hold the Subclass 820;
- still be sponsored by the same partner;
- still be your sponsor's spouse or de facto partner; and
- have waited two years since you applied, unless the long-term relationship rule applies.
You and any family members in the application must also still meet the health and character requirements.
Can the 801 be granted straight away?
Yes, if you were already in a long-term partner relationship when you applied. The law defines that as a relationship that had lasted at least three years, or at least two years if you and your partner have a dependent child together (not a step-child). In that case the two-year wait does not apply.
How much does a 801 visa cost?
There is no separate 801 charge. One charge covers the 820 and the 801, and it is paid when you lodge the combined application. From 1 July 2026 it is AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, AUD 5,860 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and AUD 2,935 for each additional applicant under 18, with no second instalment. Some applicants pay less, including holders of a Pacific-regional passport and people who married after holding a prospective marriage visa. Government charges rise each 1 July. Our professional fee is quoted separately.
What happens if the relationship ends before the 801?
You must tell the Department. Without an exception, the permanent stage fails, because the 801 needs you to still be your sponsor's partner. The law allows the 801 to be granted in these cases:
- Your sponsor died, the relationship would have continued, and you have close business, cultural or personal ties in Australia.
- You experienced family violence by your sponsor. This can be shown by a court injunction, a protection order, a conviction, or a statutory declaration with supporting evidence.
- You share a child with your former partner. You have custody of, access to, or a Family Law order about the child, and your former partner has joint custody, access, a Family Law order or a formal child maintenance obligation for that child.
These cases turn on evidence. If you are unsafe, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
How long after getting 801 can you get citizenship?
Holding the 801 starts your permanent residence, and permanent residence is one part of the citizenship residence requirement. Under the general residence requirement you must have:
- been present in Australia for four years, with no more than 12 months away in total;
- held permanent residence for the 12 months immediately before you apply, with no more than 90 days away in that year; and
- not been an unlawful non-citizen during the four years.
Time spent in Australia on the 820 before the 801 was granted can count toward the four years. So for many people, the 801 visa to citizenship step comes 12 months after the 801 is granted, if the four-year total is already met.
Can a New Zealand citizen sponsor the 801?
The sponsor for the 801 is the same partner who sponsored the 820. A New Zealand citizen sponsor must be an eligible New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Who counts as an eligible New Zealand citizen, and the routes open to those who do not, are set out in our Subclass 820 partner visa guide.
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Subclass 801 partner visa — frequently asked questions
Is an 801 visa permanent residency?
Yes. The Subclass 801 is a permanent visa, so you become an Australian permanent resident on the day it is granted. It carries no visa conditions. The visa does not expire, but its travel facility lasts five years from grant, so after that you need a resident return visa to come back to Australia as a permanent resident, unless you have become an Australian citizen.
What is the difference between partner visa 820 and 801?
The 820 and 801 are two stages of one onshore partner visa application, lodged and paid for together. The 820 is temporary and decided first, letting you live, work and study in Australia. The 801 is permanent and usually decided two years after you applied, once the Department is satisfied the relationship is still genuine and continuing. A long-term relationship can mean both are granted together.
How much does a 801 visa cost?
There is no separate charge for the 801. The combined partner visa charge covers both stages and is paid when you lodge. From 1 July 2026 it is AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, AUD 5,860 for each additional applicant 18 or over and AUD 2,935 for each additional applicant under 18. There is no second instalment, and some applicants pay a lower charge.
How long after getting 801 can you get citizenship?
You need four years present in Australia, with no more than 12 months away in total, including 12 months as a permanent resident immediately before you apply, with no more than 90 days away in that year. You must not have been unlawful during the four years. Time on the 820 can count toward the four years, so many people can apply 12 months after the 801 is granted.
Can the 801 be granted without waiting two years?
Yes, if you were in a long-term partner relationship when you applied. The law defines that as a relationship that had lasted at least three years, or at least two years if you and your partner have a dependent child together who is not a step-child. In that case the two-year wait does not apply, and the 820 and 801 can be granted at the same time.
Do I lodge a separate application for the 801?
No. You applied for the 801 at the same time as the 820, as one combined application with one charge. When the permanent stage is assessed, you provide updated evidence that the relationship is still genuine and continuing, and updated health and character documents if asked. Keep collecting evidence of your life together from the day you lodge, so it is ready when the Department asks.
What happens if my relationship ends before the 801 is granted?
You must tell the Department. The 801 can still be granted if your sponsor died and you have close ties in Australia, if you experienced family violence by your sponsor, or if you and your former partner both have custody, access, a Family Law order or a maintenance obligation for a child. Otherwise the permanent stage will usually fail. If you are unsafe, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Can I be outside Australia when the 801 is granted?
Yes. The 801 can be granted while you are in Australia or outside Australia, as long as you are not in immigration clearance. If you are travelling while the permanent stage is being decided, make sure your 820 is still in force for your return and that you can respond to any request from the Department while you are away.
Related partner visa guides
Get the permanent stage right the first time.
A free eligibility check tells you whether you may qualify for the 801 without the two-year wait, and what to prepare.
Visa Advisor is a MARA-registered visa agent in Sydney, NSW, advising onshore and offshore partner visa applicants across Australia.
Sources and last checked dates
- Migration Regulations 1994 — Schedule 2 Part 801 (criteria, grant location, travel facility, conditions), Schedule 1 item 1124B (charge from 1 July 2026), regulation 1.03 (long-term partner relationship) and Division 1.5 (family violence), Compilation No. 288, 1 July 2026 (F2026C00667) read 23 September 2026 open ↗
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007 — general residence requirement, and Australian Citizenship Procedural Instruction 8 read 23 September 2026 open ↗
- 1800RESPECT — national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling service checked 23 September 2026 open ↗
Information is general only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.