Introduction: A Changing Operational Landscape
Australia’s partner-visa framework remains legally unchanged, yet the Department of Home Affairs continues to refine how applications are processed.
In 2025, couples will encounter updated fees, enhanced ImmiAccount functionality, and stronger emphasis on complete, verifiable documentation.
These developments reflect the Department’s goal of improving efficiency while safeguarding program integrity — making it vital for applicants to understand the current operational environment.
The Combined Partner-Visa Structure
Both partner-visa streams remain combined applications:
- Onshore: Subclass 820 (temporary) + Subclass 801 (permanent)
- Offshore: Subclass 309 (temporary) + Subclass 100 (permanent)
You lodge one combined application; the temporary stage is assessed first.
Roughly two years after lodgement, the Department reviews the permanent stage (801 or 100) to confirm the relationship is still genuine and continuing.
This is a decision-time assessment, not a new application, under Reg 801.22 and Reg 100.22 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
Key 2025 Focus Areas
Area | Departmental Focus |
Visa Fees | From 1 July 2025, combined 820/801 and 309/100 VAC = AUD 9,095 (Reg 2.12F). |
Digital Lodgement | All applications must be submitted through ImmiAccount (Reg 2.07) with document-tracking and automated validation. |
Planning Framework | Ministerial Direction No. 105 introduced a four-year migration-planning cycle, improving resource stability. |
Evidence Integrity | Greater emphasis on consistent, decision-ready evidence across all relationship pillars. |
Current Processing Times
Subclass | Stream | Typical Processing Time (2025) |
309 | Offshore Temporary | 9 – 13 months |
100 | Offshore Permanent (after 309) | 13 – 32 months |
820 | Onshore Temporary | 12 – 26 months |
801 | Onshore Permanent (after 820) | 11 – 30 months |
Median processing sits near 10 – 11 months for the temporary stage.
The permanent-stage review typically occurs around two years after lodgement, depending on evidence quality and program workload.
Digital Processing and Real-Time Tracking
The ImmiAccount system now anchors the entire partner-visa process, enabling:
- automated document verification (Reg 2.21 and 2.23);
- instant alerts for missing uploads;
- real-time status tracking for applicants and sponsors;
- reduced manual error and faster internal routing.
Applicants who follow upload standards and maintain organised evidence benefit most from these efficiencies.
Partner-Visa Fees and Associated Costs
A valid application exists only once the Visa Application Charge (VAC) is paid in full (Sch 1 Item 1129A).
As at 1 July 2025:
- Base VAC — AUD 9,095 for 820/801 and 309/100 combined applications.
- Secondary applicant, medical, police, and translation costs are separate.
Refunds are available only in limited circumstances under Reg 2.12F(3).
Why Applications Are Delayed
Common factors extending partner-visa timelines include:
- incomplete or inconsistent evidence;
- delayed health or police clearances;
- failure to update address or contact details;
- unclear evidence under Reg 1.09A (four relationship factors);
- surges in program-year lodgements.
A Request for Further Information (RFI) pauses processing until the response is received (Reg 2.23).
Keeping Your Application on Track
- Submit a complete, decision-ready application addressing all relationship pillars.
- Upload files under correct evidence categories in ImmiAccount.
- Maintain ongoing evidence to support the two-year permanent-stage review.
- Respond promptly to Department correspondence.
- Remain lawfully in Australia during processing (Reg 820.211(2)(d)).
Evidence Standards and Relationship Assessment
Relationship assessment criteria remain grounded in:
- Migration Act 1958 s 5F (spouse); and
- Reg 1.09A (de facto relationship).
Case officers evaluate:
- Financial – shared accounts, bills, or major purchases;
- Household – joint lease, daily responsibilities;
- Social – recognition by family / community, joint events;
- Commitment – future plans, wills, superannuation nominations.
Sponsors continue to undergo checks under the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2018.
Considerations for Different Applicant Types
- Onshore (820/801): Must hold or have held a substantive visa, or satisfy Schedule 3 if unlawful.
- Offshore (309/100): Since 13 November 2023, under the Migration Amendment (Location Requirements for Grant of Partner and Other Visas) Regulations 2023, applicants who lodged offshore no longer need to be outside Australia at grant — a permanent change offering greater flexibility.
- De facto couples: Must generally show 12 months’ co-habitation unless exempt (Reg 2.03A).
- Applicants with prior refusals or cancellations: May be subject to the s 48 bar and should seek legal advice before re-lodging
Legal and Strategic Framework
Partner-visa decisions require satisfaction of both:
- Application-time criteria (valid lodgement, sponsorship, relationship evidence at application); and
- Decision-time criteria (relationship still genuine and continuing at decision).
Permanent-stage assessments (801 or 100) usually occur about two years post-lodgement (Reg 801.22 / 100.22).
If refused, applicants may seek merits review in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) under Part 5 of the Migration Act 1958.
Looking Ahead: 2025 – 2026
The Department is expected to expand AI-assisted document verification and strengthen identity analytics for sponsors, while maintaining the four-year migration-planning model.
Although legislative foundations remain stable, operational improvements aim to shorten timelines for well-prepared, genuine couples.
Partner-Visa Guidance You Can Trust
At Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers, we prepare comprehensive, decision-ready partner-visa applications that fully comply with the Migration Regulations 1994.
Our legal team assists with:
- onshore and offshore partner-visa lodgements;
- two-year permanent-stage assessments (801/100); and
- strategic advice to avoid delays or refusals.
📞 Book your partner-visa assessment to understand how 2025 operational priorities may affect your timeline.
👉 Contact Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers
Lighting the way to your Australian dream.
Legislative References
- Migration Act 1958 s 5F — Definition of spouse relationship
- Migration Regulations 1994 Sch 2 cl 820.211 – 820.224 / 309.211 – 309.224 — Temporary criteria
- Migration Regulations 1994 Sch 2 cl 801.211 – 801.224 / 100.211 – 100.224 — Permanent criteria
- Reg 801.22 / 100.22 — Decision-time (two-year) criteria
- Reg 2.07 — Digital lodgement via ImmiAccount
- Reg 2.12F — Visa Application Charge indexation
- PIC 4005 – 4007 — Health and character requirements
- Ministerial Direction No. 105 — Four-year migration-planning framework
- Migration Amendment (Location Requirements for Grant of Partner and Other Visas) Regulations 2023 — Commenced 13 Nov 2023; removed offshore grant requirement
- Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2018 — Sponsor vetting
Author
Calvin Augustine is the founding solicitor of Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers. He graduated with Honors from the University of London law school, before being admitted to practice in Malaysia and Australia (admitted in SA, appears in all Victorian Courts and Tribunals, at trial and appellate levels).
