Partner Visa Australia Processing Time: 2025 Guide

Posted by admin on October 17, 2024

Getting a partner visa Australia is not easy. There are many complications to consider, especially if you are unsure about what type of visa to apply for, how to be eligible for a visa, and how long the processing time will take. In this guide, we hope to provide an easy overview of how long it will take to hear about your partner visa timelines in 2025, and what factors can affect these timelines.

Partner Visa Australia Types

Many partner visas are available to Australian residents (partner visas), although each has different requirements and processing times. Here’s a breakdown:

Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300

This visa is for those who intend to marry their Australian partner. The Partner visa allows you to enter Australia to get married and then apply afterwards.

Processing Time:

• 12-month applications: 50% processed.
• 90% processed in 27 months.

Provisional Partner Visa Subclass 309

The subclass 309 visa Australia allows the spouse or partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia while the Partner visa (Subclass 100) is in process. 

Processing Time:

• The spouse visa Australia processing time is eleven months for 50% of applications processed.
• 90% processed in 15 months.

Permanent Partner Visa 100

This is a permanent visa for people who have held the Provisional Partner visa (Subclass 309) for at least 2 years.

Processing Time:

• In 20 months, we achieved 50% of applications processed.
• 90% processed in 23 months.

Read More: 9 Tips for Successfully Lodging a Partner Visa Australia Application!

Partner Visa Subclass 820 (Temporary) 

Spouses of Australian citizens or permanent residents may live in Australia temporarily, awaiting a decision on the permanent partner visa (Subclass 801).

Processing Time:

• Partner visa Australia processing time is  18 months, 50% of applications.
• 90% processed in 47 months.

Partner Visa Subclass 801(Permanent) 

This visa allows permanent residency to people who have held the Subclass 820 visa for two years or more.

Processing Time:

• Applications processed in 6 months 50%.
• 90% processed in 10 months.

New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (subclass 461)

This visa is available for persons in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen who wish to live and work in Australia for a time. It doesn’t lead to permanent residency but is valid for five years.

Processing Time:

• 86 Days to process 50% of apps.
• 90% processed in 4 months.

Partner Visa Processing Time Factors

While the Department of Home Affairs gives estimates on processing times, several factors can influence how long your visa takes to be processed:

Completeness of Your Application

Delay can be caused by missing documents or by providing incorrect information. You must submit the complete partner visa Australia application with all the required documentation—that’s, proof of ID, proof of relationship, and financial support. 

Information Requests

The Department may sometimes ask for more information, for example, more evidence of your relationship or most up-to-date health or police checks. Processing times can be delayed if response to these requests is delayed.

External Factors

Other things that can post processing times include things beyond your control like how long it takes to have your health checks done or police clearance from other countries.

For instance, health examinations carried out by panels of physicians or checks from a variety of authorities can slow down this overall process.

Verification of Documents

Depending on the situation (to prove a relationship is genuine, etc.), the Department of Home Affairs may have to verify the documents you submit with your application.

Volume of Applications

Processing times can be longer during peak times, such as before a policy change or the end of the financial year, as more applications are processed through the department.

Read more: 6 Easy Steps to Convert Your Visitor Visa to a Partner Visa in Australia

Partner Visa Eligibility Requirements

To make sure you’re meeting the eligibility criteria for an Australian partner visa, to ensure a smooth process it’s important to do that to ensure a smooth process. Key requirements include:

• There must be a real ongoing relationship between you and your partner.
• If you’re living together or planning to live together permanently, you must.
• You must have been in a relationship for at least 12 months if you are not legally married to de facto partners.
• You and your partner must be over 18 years old.
• Health and character standards must be met and are checked out using medical and police checks.

Documents Needed for the Application

To make a successful partner visa application, you have to have a bunch of documents to prove your relationship is legitimate. And that you are eligible for the visa. The most common documents include:

• Proof of Identity: All can present: passport bio pages, birth certificates, and national IDs.
• Relationship Evidence: Folder with joint bank account statements, joint property ownership documentation, joint utility bills, or joint travel documents (a folder with hotel reservations, airline tickets, etc. indicating that the two of you took a trip together).
• Health Checks: Medical examination reports.
• Character Checks: Police clearance certificates from any country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.

Latest Post: Roadmap to Permanent Residency With Subclass 190 Visa!

Speeding Up Your Application

While some aspects of the visa process are beyond your control, there are a few steps you can take to help expedite your application:

• Submit a Complete Application: Make sure you have all necessary documents and information when you submit in order to avoid delays.
• Respond Quickly to Requests: You should try to give additional information if asked by the Department of Home Affairs.
• Prepare for Health and Character Checks Early: Do your medical examinations and police clearances quickly, as this will help speed up the process later on.

Conclusion

In 2025, if you want to apply for a partner visa in Australia, you will need to plan and pay attention to all the details. However, by learning about the different visas, processing times and the factors that can delay the application you can better prepare for the process. For expert assistance and guidance, consider consulting a Migration Agent in Adelaide to navigate the complexities and increase your chances of a successful application.

Read: 8 Reasons Why Do People Migrate to Australia?

FAQs

1. How long does it take to get a partner visa for Australia?

There is in general a processing time for partner visa applications, dependent on the type of visa involved. It takes about 11 to 15 months, on average.

2. What can delay the processing of a partner visa?

This could be due to incomplete or incorrect information, missing documents, extra requests by the Department of Home Affairs. The smoother the process, the quicker you respond to the department’s requests.

3. How quickly can I get my partner visa processed?

Unfortunately, there is no way to speed up the processing. If you have promptly provided any additional documents or information requested by the department, then there will not be any unnecessary delays.

4. Is a relationship needed to prove a partner visa?

Yes, it is very important to have an actual relationship between two partners. 

5. How much does a partner visa Australia cost?

The Partner Visa Australia costs around AUD 8,850