Australia · Spouse visas
Australia Spouse of a citizen (in-country)
Partner visa (Temporary) (subclass 820) and Partner visa (Permanent) (subclass 801) — apply in Australia
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen (in-country) is a spouse visas route for Australia. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- AUD 12k ≈ $8,150 · +2 more
Cost, time and long term
Government feesAUD 12k ≈ $8,150 · +2 more
- AUD 11,710 (≈ $8,150)Base visa application charge for most applicants; payable at the time of application, with nothing further due before grant.
- AUD 9,600 (≈ $6,680)Base application charge for applicants holding a passport of a Pacific-regional country, including Timor-Leste.
- AUD 5,860 (≈ $4,080)Additional applicant charge for each included applicant aged 18 or over; AUD 2,935 (≈ $2,040) for those under 18.
Permanent residenceAfter 2 years
The permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) is generally assessed once at least 2 years have passed since the application was made.
CitizenshipAfter 4 years of residence
Citizenship by conferral needs 4 years lawfully in Australia, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, with no more than 12 months' total absence in the 4 years and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply6
- Applicant is the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- A de facto couple must have lived in the relationship for at least 12 months before applying unless compelling circumstances apply or the relationship is registered.
- Both partners in a de facto relationship are at least 18.
- The sponsor is approved as a sponsor and sponsorship is in force; the sponsor is at least 18 or sponsored through a parent or guardian.
- A sponsor can have sponsored at most one other partner, with 5 years since that application, unless compelling circumstances affect the sponsor.
- Applicant meets the character, security and health criteria, and an applicant aged 18 or over meets the values criterion.
What you must show2
- Visa application charge: AUD 11,710 (≈ $8,150) base application charge, AUD 9,600 (≈ $6,680) for passports of Pacific-regional countries including Timor-Leste, paid at application.
- Additional applicant charge of AUD 5,860 (≈ $4,080) applies for each included applicant aged 18 or over and AUD 2,935 (≈ $2,040) for those under 18.
Documents2
- Application and documents are lodged online through ImmiAccount using the checklist for the visa.
- Sponsor police certificates are provided with the sponsorship form.
Steps3
- Temporary 820 and permanent 801 visas are applied for together as one application.
- Applicant is in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when applying.
- Onshore applications receive the highest processing priority under Ministerial Direction 117.
After you arrive1
- The permanent Partner visa 801 is processed from the date of eligibility, which is 2 years after applying.
When you become tax resident
How Australia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
Residence is determined by the resides, domicile, 183-day and Commonwealth superannuation tests.
- Foreign-source income
Temporary residents
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
- Special regime
Temporary resident exemption · Tax relief
All tax rules for Australia Tax records checked
Full official text
Two-stage partner visa for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, applied for while in Australia. 1 2 3 4 5
What you must show and pay
- A fee of AUD 11,710 (≈ $8,150) · Base visa application charge for most applicants; payable at the time of application, with nothing further due before grant. 4
- A fee of AUD 9,600 (≈ $6,680) · Base application charge for applicants holding a passport of a Pacific-regional country, including Timor-Leste. 4
- A fee of AUD 5,860 (≈ $4,080) · Additional applicant charge for each included applicant aged 18 or over; AUD 2,935 (≈ $2,040) for those under 18. 4
Requirements
- Applicant is the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. 1 2
- A de facto couple must have lived in the relationship for at least 12 months before applying unless compelling circumstances apply or the relationship is registered. 4
- Both partners in a de facto relationship are at least 18. 4
- The sponsor is approved as a sponsor and sponsorship is in force; the sponsor is at least 18 or sponsored through a parent or guardian. 1
- A sponsor can have sponsored at most one other partner, with 5 years since that application, unless compelling circumstances affect the sponsor. 4
- Applicant meets the character, security and health criteria, and an applicant aged 18 or over meets the values criterion. 1
- Visa application charge: AUD 11,710 (≈ $8,150) base application charge, AUD 9,600 (≈ $6,680) for passports of Pacific-regional countries including Timor-Leste, paid at application. 4
- Additional applicant charge of AUD 5,860 (≈ $4,080) applies for each included applicant aged 18 or over and AUD 2,935 (≈ $2,040) for those under 18. 4
- Application and documents are lodged online through ImmiAccount using the checklist for the visa. 3
- Sponsor police certificates are provided with the sponsorship form. 3
- Temporary 820 and permanent 801 visas are applied for together as one application. 1
- Applicant is in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when applying. 4
- Onshore applications receive the highest processing priority under Ministerial Direction 117. 3
- The permanent Partner visa 801 is processed from the date of eligibility, which is 2 years after applying. 1
Stay
- The temporary 820 visa lasts until the permanent 801 application is decided; the 801 is assessed from 2 years after the application.
Nationality
Open to all nationalities.
Work
The subclass 820 visa carries no conditions, so no work restriction is attached.
Family
Dependent children can be included on the application with an additional applicant charge.
Official sources
- Partner visa (apply in Australia) (subclass 820 and 801) · Department of Home Affairs, Australia · checked 2026-10-11
- Family Migration program: About partner visas · Department of Home Affairs, Australia · checked 2026-10-12
- Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions · Department of Home Affairs, Australia · checked 2026-10-12
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-07-01
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Spouse of a citizen (in-country) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen (in-country) | – | – | No |
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a permanent resident Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a stay permit holder Indonesia | – | – | No |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen (in-country)?
A fee of AUD 11,710 (≈ $8,150). Base visa application charge for most applicants; payable at the time of application, with nothing further due before grant. A fee of AUD 9,600 (≈ $6,680). Base application charge for applicants holding a passport of a Pacific-regional country, including Timor-Leste. A fee of AUD 5,860 (≈ $4,080). Additional applicant charge for each included applicant aged 18 or over; AUD 2,935 (≈ $2,040) for those under 18.
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen (in-country)?
The temporary 820 visa lasts until the permanent 801 application is decided; the 801 is assessed from 2 years after the application.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen (in-country)?
No. The subclass 820 visa carries no conditions, so no work restriction is attached.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen (in-country)?
Dependent children can be included on the application with an additional applicant charge.
Does the Spouse of a citizen (in-country) lead to permanent residence in Australia?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen (in-country) counts toward permanent residence in Australia, which the rules allow after 2 years. Time on the Spouse of a citizen (in-country) counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 4 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Spouse of a citizen (in-country) holders in Australia?
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income: Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Most foreign-source income (exempt)
- Who: Hold a temporary visa
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
Taxed on
Most foreign-source income (exempt); Australian-source income and capital gains on taxable Australian property remain taxable.
Who it applies to
- Hold a temporary visa.
- Neither the individual nor their spouse (if any) is an Australian resident under the Social Security Act 1991 (not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or protected Special Category visa holder).
Exclusions
- Income from employment or services performed overseas while a temporary resident can still be taxed in Australia, depending on facts and any tax treaty.
- Not available to someone who has at any time after 6 April 2006 been an Australian resident without a temporary visa and with an Australian-resident spouse.
Tax residence
A temporary resident can be an Australian resident or a foreign resident for tax purposes; the four statutory residency tests (resides, domicile, 183-day, Commonwealth superannuation) decide residence separately.
Visas
Requires a temporary visa; no particular subclass carries the exemption itself.
Other taxes
Foreign tax paid on income declared may qualify for a foreign-source income tax offset; foreign-source income and deductions are converted to AUD.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Australia
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Partner visa (apply in Australia) (subclass 820 and 801) · Department of Home Affairs, Australia · checked 2026-10-11
- Family Migration program: About partner visas · Department of Home Affairs, Australia · checked 2026-10-12
- Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions · Department of Home Affairs, Australia · checked 2026-10-12
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.