For many couples, the subclass 820 partner visa marks the onset of a new chapter – lives legally together in Australia and builds a life as partners. But for those wishing to secure a more stable and long -term future, the next big step lesson is partner visa 801. This visa provides a permanent residence and opens the door to many rights and opportunities, including the final Australian citizenship.
In this blog post, we will find out what is the subclass 801 visa, who is it, how to apply, and the steps you can take to ensure a smooth and successful transition from temporary to permanent residence.
What is partner visa subclass 801?
Partner Visa Subclass 801 is a permanent visa in Australia’s onshore partner visa route. It is provided to individuals who already have a subclass 820 temporary partner visa and are still in a real and running relationship with their sponsor partner – who must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
This visa allows you to live indefinitely in Australia, enjoys full rights of a permanent resident, and once the character applies to Australian citizenship once.
Major benefits of subclass 801 visa
Once given, 801 visa allows you:
Live in Australia permanently
Work and study without restrictions
Access Medicare (Australia’s public healthcare system)
Sponsor eligible relatives for Australian visas
Travel for five years and Australia (Akshay through a resident return visa)
Apply for Australian citizenship after meeting the Residency requirements
Who is eligible for the lesson 801 visa?
To qualify for 801 visas, you need:
Hold a Subclass 820 visa
Have lodged a combined 820/801 application (you do this at the beginning — there is no separate application for 801 later)
The required two years have been in a real and continuous relationship with their sponsors for a period of two years
Continue to meet health and character requirements
Respond to the Department of Home Affairs’ request for further information, usually around two years after your initial application
The Two-Year Rule
The subclass 801 visa is usually evaluated two years after your initial partner visa application. This means that even though you are living in Australia on 820 visas, your permanent visa will only be considered as two years from the date of your original 820/801 logant.
If your relationship continues even after this period, and you provide the necessary evidence, the department can give 801 visas.
Long-Term Relationship Exception
In some cases, you may not have to wait two years. You could be granted the 801 visa soon after the 820, if:
You and your partner have been in a long-term relationship (usually 3 years or more), or
You and your partner have a child together, and your relationship is at least 2 years old
If you fall into one of these categories, you may be assessed for the 801 visa at the same time your 820 visa is granted.
What the Department Looks For
To approve your Subclass 801 visa, the Department of Home Affairs will want to see that your relationship is still genuine and committed. You’ll be asked to provide updated evidence across four key areas:
Financial aspects
Joint bank accounts
Shared expenses or investments
Evidence of financial interdependence
Household aspects
Shared bills or lease agreements
Correspondence addressed to both of you
Statements about your domestic arrangements
Social aspects
Photos of you as a couple over time
Social invitations, travel, and holidays together
Statutory declarations from friends or family
Nature of the commitment
Future plans
Emotional support
Evidence of your relationship’s stability
The Application Process for Subclass 801
You don’t lodge a new visa application for the 801 visa. Instead, around two years after your original Subclass 820/801 application, the Department will contact you via ImmiAccount and ask you to provide:
Updated relationship evidence
New police clearance certificates
Statutory announcement (Form 888)
Updated Form 80 (personal particulars)
All documents should be uploaded to your existing visa application in ImmiAccount.
Processing Time
Once you submit your additional documents, processing time for 801 visas can be different. By 2025, most cases are finalized within 6 to 12 months following a response to the department’s request.
If your proof is strong and consistent, and there is no problem with your relationship or background check, you can soon get your visa grant notification.
What if the relationship ends?
If your relationship breaks down before giving 801 visas, your case becomes more complicated – but you can still be eligible for permanent visa if:
You experienced domestic violence
You share custody of a child with your former partner
Your partner has passed away
In such cases, legal and immigration advice is strongly recommended.
After You Get the 801 Visa
Congratulations! Once you receive your 801 visa:
You are a permanent resident of Australia
You can live indefinitely in Australia
After having a permanent residence for at least 12 months, and lived in Australia for a total of 4 years, you can apply for citizenship
If you are planning to apply for citizenship in the future, be sure to keep an eye on the history of your journey and continue to meet the needs of the residence.
final thoughts
The subclass 801 partner visa is more than just paperwork – this is your commitment, patience and reward for a life made together in Australia. While this process can feel long and bureaucratic, the result is well worth it: freedom and safety to live with your loved one in the opportunity -filled country.