By Arnela Tolic, Principal Solicitor, Tolic Lawyers, Parramatta · Current as at 25 September 2026
There is no fixed partner visa processing time. Home Affairs publishes how long recent applications took (the 50% and 90% marks) and updates those figures regularly. Since 25 July 2026, Ministerial Direction 117 sets the order in which family visas are processed, and it applies to applications already lodged. The factor you control most is lodging a decision-ready application and answering any request on time.
| Key facts: partner visa processing time (as at 25 September 2026) Official figures: Home Affairs “Global visa processing times” page, by subclass (820, 801, 309, 100). Check it on the day. Processing order: Ministerial Direction 117, commenced 25 July 2026, replacing Direction 102. It applies to undecided applications already on hand. Two stages: temporary visa first (820 or 309), then permanent (801 or 100), assessed about two years after the original application. Long-term relationship exception: couples together 3 years or more (or 2 years with a child of the relationship) can be granted both stages together. Base charge: $11,710 from 1 July 2026, covering both stages. |
Why there is no single partner visa processing time
Partner visas are processed within a planning level set each program year, and within the priority order the Minister sets by direction. On top of that, each file moves at its own pace depending on identity, health, character and relationship evidence. The published figures describe how long finished cases took.
They are a guide, not a promise.
That is also why third-party websites disagree so widely. Many quote figures that are months out of date. For any planning decision, use the Home Affairs page, note the date it was updated, and treat the 90% figure as the realistic planning number.
What Direction 117 changed for partner visa processing
Ministerial Direction 117 commenced on 25 July 2026 and replaced Direction 102. It governs the order in which family visa applications, including partner visas, are considered. Under Direction 117, onshore family visa applications are now processed ahead of offshore applications, and the direction applies to applications already lodged and undecided, not only new ones.
For couples, the practical effect depends on which side of the border the applicant was on when the visa was lodged:
- Onshore (820/801): these applications sit higher in the queue than before.
- Offshore (309/100): these may wait longer relative to onshore files, even where they were lodged earlier.
Read that alongside the 17 September 2026 announcement about visitor visas. The Government has flagged that the onshore route will close for future visitors, so the onshore priority mainly benefits people already in the system.
What a “decision-ready” partner visa application means
Through 2026 the Department has repeatedly said that partner visa applications should be decision-ready when lodged. It has also warned that incomplete or incorrect applications take longer, and that where requested information is not provided, a decision may be made on what is already on file.
In practice, a decision-ready application has:
- Identity and civil documents for both partners, with certified translations where needed.
- Relationship evidence across all four categories in reg 1.15A: financial, household, social and commitment, spread across the whole relationship, not bunched into the month before lodgement.
- Statements from both partners that are specific, consistent with the documents and consistent with each other.
- Form 888 statutory declarations from people who genuinely know the couple.
- Police certificates and health examinations arranged at the right time, so they are current when the case officer opens the file.
- A cover submission that explains anything unusual (periods apart, a prior sponsorship, a previous visa refusal) before the case officer has to ask.
The second stage: 820 to 801 and 309 to 100
A partner visa is one application with two stages. The temporary visa (820 or 309) is decided first. The permanent visa (801 or 100) is assessed about two years after the original application was lodged. At that point the Department asks for updated evidence that the relationship is still genuine and continuing.
The exception is the long-term relationship. If, when the application is made, the couple has been in the relationship for at least three years, or at least two years with a dependent child of the relationship, both stages can be granted together ( first temporary visa and shortly after PR).
The second-stage request is a common point of failure. Keep collecting evidence during the wait rather than starting again from scratch when the request arrives.
What slows a partner visa down
The delays we see most often are avoidable:
- “Add it later” lodgements that force a request for information.
- Template statements that do not match the documents.
- Change of circumstances not reported. Section 104 of the Migration Act 1958 requires the applicant to notify the Department of certain changes, such as a new address or a child being born.
- Health or character issues raised late, such as PIC 4007 health waivers or character matters.
- Sponsor issues such as reg 1.20J sponsorship limitations that were not addressed up front.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current partner visa processing time?
Home Affairs publishes current figures by subclass on its global visa processing times page. They change regularly, so check the page on the day rather than relying on a figure from an article.
Does Direction 117 apply to my application if I lodged before 25 July 2026?
Yes. Direction 117 applies to undecided applications already on hand, as well as new ones.
Can I pay to speed up a partner visa?
No. There is no priority processing fee for partner visas.
Can I work while my 820 is being processed?
An onshore applicant usually holds a bridging visa A once their substantive visa expires, and bridging visas granted with a partner application generally carry work rights. Check the grant notice.
Does a long-term relationship make the process faster?
It can remove a stage. If the long-term relationship exception applies, the temporary and permanent visas can be granted together.
Read more about Partner visa at our Partner VIsa Australia” A practical 2026 guide
Talk to us before you lodge
Tolic Lawyers prepares decision-ready partner visa applications from Parramatta for clients across Australia. Call (02) 8077 2562 to book a consultation.
About the author: Arnela Tolic is the Principal Solicitor of Tolic Lawyers, a migration and employment law firm in Parramatta, and NSW Representative of Migration Alliance.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal advice. It reflects the law as at 25 September 2026.
