Blog / Partner visas
How long does a partner visa take in Australia in 2026?
Short answer
As of 9 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 90% of onshore partner visa applications (subclass 820) were decided within 30 months, and half within 21 months. Offshore applications (subclass 309) took up to 35 months for 90%. The permanent stage (801 or 100) is assessed later, usually about two years after you applied.
Key facts
- 90% of subclass 820 partner visa applications were decided within 30 months; 50% within 21 months (Home Affairs figures published 9 November 2026, for applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026).
- 90% of subclass 309 applications, lodged from outside Australia, were decided within 35 months; 50% within 21 months.
- For the permanent stage, 90% of subclass 801 decisions took 19 months and 90% of subclass 100 decisions took 18 months.
- The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) took 31 months for 90% of applications.
Checked against Home Affairs every day. Last checked 11 November 2026.
Cite this page
AusVisaClock. “How long does a partner visa take in Australia in 2026?.” Updated 9 November 2026. https://ausvisaclock.com/blog/how-long-does-a-partner-visa-take-australia/
The figures come from the Department of Home Affairs. You may quote them with a link to this page.
Partner visa processing times
| Visa | 50% decided within | 75% | 90% decided within |
|---|---|---|---|
| 820 Partner visa | 21 months | 26 months | 30 months |
| 801 Partner visa | 6 months | 11 months | 19 months |
| 309 Partner (Provisional) visa | 21 months | 27 months | 35 months |
| 100 Partner visa | 9 months | 13 months | 18 months |
| 300 Prospective Marriage visa | 18 months | 22 months | 31 months |
Why there are two numbers for one partner visa
A partner visa is one application that is decided in two stages. Onshore, you apply for the 820 (temporary) and 801 (permanent) together; offshore, the 309 and 100. The first stage is decided first. The department then usually assesses the permanent stage about two years after the combined application was lodged, so the total time to permanent residence is longer than either figure on its own.
Onshore or offshore: which is faster?
On current figures the onshore 820 is decided a little faster at the 90th percentile (30 months) than the offshore 309 (35 months). Onshore applicants usually hold a bridging visa while they wait; offshore applicants wait outside Australia. Which one you can apply for depends on where you are when you lodge, not on which is quicker.
How the processing time is counted
The department measures from the date a complete application is lodged to the date it is decided, and publishes the time within which 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% of recently decided applications were finalised. The figures describe applications already decided, so they lag behind changes in the queue. See the percentiles explainer.