Partner Visa Processing Times: What to Expect and How to Prepare for the Wait

You've gathered your documents, written your relationship statements and submitted your partner visa application. Now comes the part nobody warns you about: the wait.

For a lot of couples, the time between lodging a partner visa and receiving a decision is one of the most stressful periods of the journey. Processing times can stretch from several months to more than two years, and refreshing your ImmiAccount every morning without getting any update can be frustrating.

But the situation is often much easier to manage if you understand the process. In this guide, you’ll find out how to access the latest partner visa processing times for Australia, discover the factors that can speed things up or slow things down, learn your rights if you’re on a bridging visa and get some practical ways to stay prepared while you wait.

Checking Partner Visa Processing Time Estimates

The Department of Home Affairs publishes processing time estimates through its Global Visa Processing Times tool, which is updated monthly. These are reported as 50th and 90th percentile figures based on recently decided applications.

In simple terms, the 50th percentile means half of all applications were decided within that timeframe. The 90th percentile means nine out of 10 were decided within it. Your application could fall anywhere in that range, or occasionally beyond it, depending on your circumstances.

Always check the tool for the latest data.

Offshore Visa (309) Processing Times

If you’re applying for an Australian partner visa from offshore, published figures for subclass 309 are a global average, but individual offshore processing offices have their own timelines. Offices in regions like London and Berlin may process applications in as little as six to nine months, while offices in other regions can take significantly longer.

If you've applied offshore, the country where your application is being processed matters greatly to your actual 309 visa processing times.

Onshore Visa (820) Processing Times

If you're applying from within Australia, the subclass 820 is your temporary partner visa. Processing times for the 820 visa tend to be slightly longer than offshore applications, mainly because of the higher volume of onshore applicants.

Your 820 visa processing time will depend on several factors, including how complete your application is at lodgement, whether you've already completed health and character checks and how quickly you respond to any requests for additional information.

The good news is that once you've lodged a valid onshore application, you'll typically receive a Bridging Visa A. This means you can remain in Australia lawfully, with full work rights and Medicare eligibility, while your 820 visa is being assessed.

Permanent Visa (Subclass 801 and 100) Processing Times

If you’re applying for a permanent visa, the subclass 801 and 100 processing times start from the date you become eligible. This is typically two years after your initial application for the temporary and permanent partner visas were lodged. So the total journey from first lodgement to permanent residency will most often be two years or more.

What Affects Your Partner Visa Processing Time in Australia?

No two applications move through the system at the same speed. Several factors influence how long yours might take.

Application Completeness

The single biggest factor within your control is submitting a complete application so the case officer has everything they need to make a decision without going back and forth. That means including strong relationship evidence across all four pillars, submitting correctly formatted documents and supplying complete health and character checks.

Missing documents, incomplete evidence or poorly structured attachments are among the most common causes of avoidable delays. For a detailed walkthrough of what makes an application decision-ready, see our step-by-step partner visa application guide.

Health and Character Checks

Every partner visa applicant needs to undergo a medical examination and provide police clearances from each country they've lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

Delays in obtaining police clearances, particularly from countries with slower bureaucratic processes, can hold up your application. If a health concern is flagged or your case is referred to the Character Unit, processing can take even longer.

Country of Origin

Processing times can vary significantly depending on your country of citizenship. A review by the Australian National Audit Office found stark differences in average processing times between nationalities, partly driven by the complexity of identity verification and security assessments needed for applicants from certain regions.

Requests for Additional Information

If Home Affairs contacts you requesting additional information, your application is paused until you respond. The longer you take to provide the requested documents, the longer your processing time will take. Responding quickly and completely is critical.

Department of Home Affairs Workload

The volume of applications being processed by Home Affairs plays a major role. According to the 2024–25 Migration Program Report, the number of first-stage partner visa applications reached 96,839 as at 30 June 2025, an increase of 29 per cent compared to the previous year.

A higher case load means case officers are managing more applications, which directly impacts both 309 and 801 visa processing times across the board.

The Bridging Visa Situation for Onshore Applicants

If you've lodged an onshore partner visa application (subclass 820/801), you'll typically be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). Rather than activating immediately, it kicks in when your current substantive visa expires.

Once active, a BVA provides important rights that allow you to continue building your life in Australia while your application is assessed.

What Does a Bridging Visa A Allow?

• Full work rights, meaning you can work for any employer in any role
• Study rights, allowing you to enrol in courses, although you typically won't be eligible for government-subsidised study fees
• Medicare eligibility once your bridging visa becomes active. You can enrol through Services Australia using your visa grant letter and proof of your partner visa application.

Need to Travel? You’ll Need a Bridging Visa B

A BVA doesn’t include travel rights. If you leave Australia on a BVA, the visa ceases and you might not be able to re-enter the country.

If you need to travel overseas during processing, apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you depart. A BVB allows you to leave and re-enter Australia within a specified period. Make sure you apply before booking any travel and allow processing time for the BVB itself.

Offshore applicants (subclass 309/100) are not granted a bridging visa, as they’re expected to remain outside Australia until their visa is decided or they obtain a separate visa to visit.

What You May Need to Do During the Wait

After you’ve applied for your visa, the application will enter a queue for assessment. However, there are several tasks that Home Affairs might ask you to complete in the meantime. 

Book for a Medical Examination

If you haven't already completed your medical, you'll need to book an appointment at an approved panel clinic. A health appointment ID (HAP ID) is generated through your ImmiAccount, and results are linked to your application automatically.

Provide Biometrics if Necessary

Depending on your country of citizenship, you may be asked to provide biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph).

Answer Requests for Additional information (RFIs)

A case officer might ask for further documents or clarification during assessment. This could include updated police clearances, additional relationship evidence or identity documents.

Take Part in an Interview 

It’s rare but in some cases, the department might request an interview with you, your partner or both. Interviews can happen if the case officer needs additional verification.

Try to Be Patient

Long periods of silence between these touchpoints are completely normal. It doesn’t necessarily mean there's a problem with your application. Your case simply may not have reached the front of the queue yet.

When a decision is made, you'll be notified through your ImmiAccount and typically via email. If your visa is granted, you'll receive a grant letter outlining your new visa conditions.

Tips for Managing the Waiting Period

The wait can be long, but it doesn't have to be passive. Here are practical steps to stay prepared.

Keep Your Documents Current

Some documents have expiry dates. Medical examinations and police clearances are usually valid for 12 months, and passports need to remain current throughout the process. If your processing time extends beyond these windows, you'll need to arrange updated versions. Set reminders for document expiry dates so you're not caught off guard.

Notify Home Affairs of Any Changes

You’re legally required to inform the department of any changes to your circumstances. This includes changes of address, changes in your relationship status, the birth of a child, changes to your passport or any new criminal charges. Failing to notify Home Affairs can result in your visa being refused. 

Continue Building Your Evidence

You can upload additional supporting documents to your ImmiAccount while your application is being processed.

If your initial application was light on evidence in any of the four pillars (financial aspects, nature of household, social aspects or nature of commitment) use the waiting period to strengthen your case. New joint bank statements, lease renewals, photos from holidays and milestones and travel bookings all add value.

Connect With Others

Online communities of partner visa applicants can be a great source of support. Hearing from other people who are going through the same wait can help normalise the experience, and you'll often pick up practical tips. Just be cautious about taking legal advice from forums, as every application is different.

How to Check Your Application Status

There are two main tools for monitoring where your application is at.

ImmiAccount

Your ImmiAccount is the primary portal for managing your visa application. You can use it to check your application status, upload additional documents, view correspondence from Home Affairs and see any actions that are required from you. The status of your application will typically show as "Received", "In Progress", or "Finalised".

VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online)

VEVO lets you check the details and conditions of your current visa, including your bridging visa. It's useful for confirming your work rights, travel conditions and visa expiry dates, but it won't give you specific information about where your application is in the assessment queue.

Be realistic about what these tools can tell you. Neither ImmiAccount nor VEVO will provide an estimated decision date or indicate how close your application is to being assessed. The status might stay the same for months at a time, which is normal.

How Matilda Supports You After Lodgement

Many migration agents focus on getting your application lodged and leave you to navigate the post-lodgement period alone. At Matilda, our support doesn't stop at submission.

Our post-lodgement service includes tracking your application status, coordinating medical examinations and police clearance renewals, responding to Home Affairs requests for additional information on your behalf and keeping you informed at every stage.

If something changes in your circumstances or the department reaches out, you’ve got a team ready to act, rather than having to scramble to figure out the next step on your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay to fast-track my partner visa application?

No. Australia does not offer a paid priority processing service for partner visas. The best way to minimise delays is to submit a complete, well-organised application from the outset.

What happens if my relationship ends during processing?

You will need to notify Home Affairs immediately. In most cases, the application will be refused, although there are some exceptions. For example, if family violence has occurred or there is a dependent child involved, you may still be able to  obtain a visa. Seek legal advice as soon as you can if this situation arises.

Will using a migration agent speed up my processing time?

A migration agent can’t fast-track your visa or influence the department's processing queue. However, they can significantly reduce the risk of delays by ensuring your application is complete, well-organised and decision-ready. This will mean less back-and-forth with Home Affairs during assessment.

Can I travel overseas while my partner visa is being processed?

If you're on a Bridging Visa A, you need to apply for a Bridging Visa B before leaving Australia, or your BVA will cease. If you hold a subclass 820 visa, check your specific travel conditions. Offshore applicants (subclass 309) are generally not in Australia during processing and don’t hold a bridging visa.

How many places are allocated for partner visas each year?

For 2024–25, the Australian Government allocated an estimated 40,500 places for partner visas within the Family stream of the Migration Program. The partner visa category is demand-driven, meaning places are based on the volume of eligible applications rather than a hard cap. The 2025–26 program maintains the same settings.

Why are 309 visa processing times so different between offices?

Subclass 309 applications are processed by the offshore office responsible for your country of residence. Each office has its own caseload and staffing levels, which creates significant variation.

Offices in London or Berlin may process applications within six to nine months, while offices handling higher volumes in other regions can take considerably longer.

The published 309 visa processing times on the Home Affairs website are a global average, so they may not reflect your specific office's timeline.

Can I reduce my 801 visa processing time if I've been in a long relationship?

Yes. If you've been in a de facto relationship or marriage for at least three years (or two years if you share a dependent child), you may be eligible for combined assessment, meaning your temporary and permanent visa can be granted at the same time.

This effectively eliminates the separate 801 visa processing time altogether, significantly shortening the overall timeline to permanent residency. For more detail, see our guide to partner visas.

Take the Next Step

Waiting for a partner visa decision is never easy, but it's a manageable part of the journey when you know what to expect.

The key takeaways: 

• 309 visa processing times currently range from 16 to 23 months for the temporary stage
• For the 100 permanent visa stage, processing time is 10 to 21 months
• For the 820 temporary stage, processing times are 17 to 24 months
• 801 visa processing time sits between 7 and 13 months for the permanent stage
• Your partner visa processing time in Australia will depend on your individual circumstances, but a complete application is the best way to avoid unnecessary delays. 
• Onshore applicants have meaningful rights through their bridging visa
• Staying proactive — keeping documents current, responding to requests promptly, and continuing to build your evidence — keeps you in the strongest possible position.

If you want expert support throughout the entire process,  from lodgement through to decision, get in touch with the Matilda team. We'll handle the complexity so you can focus on what matters: building your life together in Australia.