You have received your temporary partner visa and are planning the next stage. Does the two-year period start again when the subclass 820 visa is granted? This is a common source of confusion. The important date is generally the lodgement date of the original combined partner visa application.
How the 820 and 801 stages fit together
The onshore partner pathway usually begins with a combined application for the temporary subclass 820 and permanent subclass 801 visas. The permanent stage is assessed later. Receiving the temporary visa does not mean that the permanent visa has already been approved.
The applicant’s visa application and the Australian partner’s sponsorship are separate parts of the process. Sponsorship supports the application, but it does not replace the applicant’s evidence or guarantee a grant. See our 820 and 801 partner visa guide for the application stages.
The two-year period starts from the original application
In the usual case, eligibility for permanent-stage assessment arises two years after the original combined application was lodged. It is not generally calculated from the date the temporary visa was granted.
For example, suppose a combined application was lodged on 1 March 2024 and the 820 visa was granted on 1 October 2025. The usual two-year point is 1 March 2026, rather than 1 October 2027. This example illustrates the calculation only; reaching that date does not promise an immediate decision.
Two years is not an automatic permanent visa grant
The Department still needs to assess the applicable requirements. There may be further evidence to provide, and processing can continue beyond the two-year point. A calendar reminder is useful, but it should prompt preparation rather than an assumption that permanent residence has begun.
Some applicants in a qualifying long-term relationship can be considered for the permanent stage earlier. Whether that exception applies requires checking the relationship circumstances at the relevant time. Do not assume that time spent waiting after lodgement automatically establishes an exception that did not apply originally.
What evidence should you keep for the permanent stage?
Build an ongoing record of your shared life. Depending on your circumstances, this may include joint financial arrangements, household commitments, social recognition and evidence of your commitment to each other. Explain changes in your circumstances instead of leaving the Department to infer their meaning.
Periods apart, a move, changes in employment or a new child may affect how you present the relationship history. Keep documents dated and organised. Evidence should reflect your actual arrangements; it is more useful to explain a genuine difference in how you manage finances than to manufacture a particular picture.
What if the relationship changes or ends?
A relationship breakdown should not be dealt with by automatically withdrawing the application. Provisions involving family violence, a child or the sponsor’s death may be relevant in particular circumstances. They have specific legal requirements and need individual assessment.
Get advice promptly about what must be notified and which evidence may be needed. If safety is an immediate concern, seek urgent support. The migration implications should be assessed alongside your circumstances rather than treated as a reason to remain in an unsafe relationship.
Plan the next stage with clear dates
Locate the original lodgement acknowledgement, the temporary visa grant and any Department requests. Record the dates and check your current visa conditions before making travel plans. An application acknowledgement should not be used as a substitute for checking actual travel and work rights.
Regal Migration Services can review the permanent-stage requirements and your evidence. Book a partner visa consultation to discuss your timeline.
Official sources and further reading
Home Affairs: permanent partner visa 801
Home Affairs: partner visa frequently asked questions
Home Affairs: onshore partner visas
Information checked on 5 October 2026. This article provides general information. Your visa history, circumstances and the current law need to be considered before you act.