Subclass 820 — Partner visa (temporary)
Statutory definition
Subclass 820 is prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994 as an onshore partner visa. The applicant must be in Australia at grant. The criteria require proof of a genuine ongoing relationship with the sponsoring partner, who must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen. Upon grant of Subclass 820, the permanent Subclass 801 application (lodged concurrently) is deferred for 2 years.
Explanation
The Subclass 820/801 partner visa is a combined application: applicants lodge for both the temporary 820 and the permanent 801 at the same time. The 820 is granted first; after 2 years (or immediately if the relationship has been ongoing for 3 or more years), the Department considers the 801 permanent stage. The primary criterion at both stages is that the relationship is genuine. Evidence should document shared financial, social, household, and emotional aspects of the relationship.