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Partner Visa Cost Australia: A Complete Guide to Fees and Budgeting

Understanding all the different financial obligations associated with obtaining an Australian partner visa is essential to understand the potential expenses that may arise during your application process.

A large amount of money is required to obtain permanent residency through an Australian partner visa, and therefore, it is extremely important that you have a budget in place before submitting your application so that if there are any additional unforeseen expenses you do not experience any undue delays or problems.

This Guide will detail and outline all the different fees charged by the Australian Government for both on-shore and off-shore partner visas, including all Dependent Charges and mandatory Third-Party Disbursement Costs.

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Understanding the Visa Application Charge

The primary cost associated with applying for an Australian partner visa is the visa application charge (VAC) levied by the Department of Home Affairs. This is a statutory fee paid directly to the Australian Government at the time of lodging your application.

Crucially, the partner visa process is structured as a two-stage process combined into a single application. Whether you apply in Australia or overseas, your initial visa application charge covers both the temporary visa stage and the subsequent permanent stage.

Applicant Type / Visa Subclass Pathway	Government Visa Application Charge (AUD)
Primary Applicant (Subclass 820/801 Onshore or Subclass 309/100 Offshore)	$11,710
Secondary Applicant (Dependants aged 18 and over)	$5,860
Secondary Applicant (Dependants aged under 18)	$2,935
Subclass 820 Primary Applicant (Holding a valid Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa)	$1,955

Primary Applicant (Subclass 820/801 Onshore or Subclass 309/100 Offshore)

Charge (AUD)$11,710

Secondary Applicant (Dependants aged 18 and over)

Charge (AUD)$5,860

Secondary Applicant (Dependants aged under 18)

Charge (AUD)$2,935

Subclass 820 Primary Applicant (Holding a valid Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa)

Charge (AUD)$1,955

The amount of the overall visa application fee will vary greatly based upon whether you are including dependents in your visa application, or if you already have a current temporary visa type (such as a subclass 300 prospective marriage visa). The primary applicant base fee for the application includes the costs associated with applying for either the combined onshore pathway Subclass 820 Temporary/and Subclass 801 Permanent visas, or the combined off-shore pathway Subclass 309 Provisional /Subclass 100 Permanent visas.

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What Are The Additional Costs Involved?

The government's charge for processing an applicant's visa application will represent the majority of costs associated with obtaining a visa, however, applicants must also consider a number of other mandatory costs that are associated with the visa. Each of the listed fees are mandated by various independent entities and will not include the Department of Home Affairs' application fee.

Health Examinations: All primary and secondary applicants must complete medical evaluations with approved panel physicians. The cost of these medical checks varies depending on your location, age, and any required specialist follow-ups or additional screening tests.

Character Clearances and Police Checks: Applicants and sponsors must provide national police certificates from every country in which they have lived for 12 months or more over the past ten years since turning 16. Processing fees for these checks depend entirely on the issuing authorities in each individual jurisdiction.

Document Translations: Any foreign language evidentiary document, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, military discharge papers, or financial statements, must be translated into English by an accredited practitioner. In Australia, translations must be executed by a National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) certified translator.

Legal and Migration Lawyer Fees: Engaging professional legal representation ensures your application is thoroughly prepared, legally compliant, and structured to avoid unnecessary delays or refusals. Legal fees vary depending on the complexity of your case, such as addressing prior visa refusals, character concerns, complex relationship histories, or including dependent family members.

What's The Difference Between Government Charges and Variable Expenses?

It is very important to know who pays what and what costs will remain constant while others will vary with regards to planning financially effectively.

Government Charges

The government charges that apply to the partnership visa — sponsorship fees plus the visa application fees — are all fixed statutory obligations. These must be paid in their entirety at the time of submission through ImmiAccount.

The Department of Home Affairs does not provide payment arrangements, and failing to pay the appropriate amount at the time of submission will invalidate your application.

Variable Expenses

Variable expenses are generally contingent upon many factors related to the applicant, including:

Translation Costs: Vary based on the volume of foreign-language evidence submitted.
Health and Police Checks: Vary depending on medical history and the number of overseas countries where you have resided.
Legal Representation Fees: Depend on the complexity of your file, whether you are lodging onshore or offshore, and the level of professional management required.

Common Budgeting Mistakes

A failure to accurately calculate total expenses often leads to financial stress during the application process. Some of the most frequent budgeting mistakes include:

Underestimating Dependent Applicant Costs

Including dependent children or adult dependants substantially increases the total visa application charge, as well as doubling up on individual medical and police clearance fees.

Overlooking Currency Conversion Costs

From 1 October 2026, the Department of Home Affairs no longer applies a payment surcharge at the point of payment. For international applicants, currency conversion rates and banking transfer fees can add noticeable costs.

Ignoring Document Renewal and Expiry

Medical assessments and police checks generally carry a 12-month validity period. If processing is extended due to incomplete submissions, applicants may be required to undertake and pay for updated checks.

Failing to Prepare for Two Stages of Documentation

Although the primary statutory charge covers both stages, gathering updated evidence for the permanent stage (Subclass 801 or Subclass 100) after two years requires ongoing administrative preparation.

How We Can Support Your Partner Visa Journey

Navigating the financial requirements and strict legal criteria of an Australian partner visa requires careful preparation and expert guidance. Preparing a comprehensive, decision-ready application helps protect your investment by mitigating the risk of processing delays or costly refusals.

That’s where we come in. We provide tailored legal advice to ensure your application meets all statutory requirements established by the Department of Home Affairs and the Migration Regulations 1994. Our team assists in reviewing your relationship evidence, identifying potential compliance risks, and managing the complete application process from initial lodgement through to permanent residency.

Contact our team at Australian Migration Lawyers today to schedule an initial consultation and receive clear advice on your partner visa pathway.

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Doyle's Guide

Leading Immigration Law

Perry Q. Wood is ranked as a Leading Immigration Lawyer in Victoria in Doyle's Guide 2026. Four consecutive years of inclusion in Doyle's Guide establishes a verified, long-term record of excellence and peer recognition in Australian immigration law.

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Australian Migration Lawyers is ranked in the 2027 Best Law Firms - Australia edition by Best Lawyers. Firm rankings are determined through client feedback, peer nominations, and overall market reputation. Inclusion confirms the firm delivers top-tier legal services in immigration law at a national level.

2027

Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers in Australia™ Immigration Law

Perry Q. Wood is recognised in the 2027 Best Lawyers in Australia™ edition for Immigration Law. This ranking is awarded exclusively through confidential peer review by senior lawyers in the same practice area. It is the leading global legal directory benchmark.

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We have experience working with LGBTIQ+ visas acorss Australia

Our Success Stories

Schedule 3 Overcome: Double Partner Visa

Partner Visa (820/801)

Melbourne

Schedule 3 Overcome: Double Partner Visa

Timeline: 2 years and 11 months

Cindy Zhao 趙青

3 months ago

Visitor Visa (600)

Sydney

Visitor Visa: Nepal to AU for Christmas

Timeline: 3 months

Benjamin Magill

1 year ago

Skills in Demand (482)

Sydney

Complex Skills in Demand Visa Case

Timeline: 9 months

Cindy Zhao 趙青

1 year ago

View all success stories

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary applicant's government application charge for a Subclass 820/801 onshore or Subclass 309/100 offshore partner visa is $11,710 AUD. All additional costs relating to medical examinations, police checks, document translations & legal representation should also be included in your overall budget.

No. Your initial primary visa application charge that you pay when you lodge your application will cover both stages of your process. This includes the temporary stage (Subclass 820 or Subclass 309) and permanent stage (Subclass 801 or Subclass 100). Therefore you do not pay a second full application charge when your permanent visa stage is assessed.

Generally no. The Department of Home Affairs views the application charge as a processing fee. There are extremely limited statutory circumstances under which this fee is refundable, whether the application is withdrawn or refused.

The statutory base visa application charge set by the Department of Home Affairs is identical for both the Subclass 820/801 (onshore) and Subclass 309/100 (offshore) pathways. However, total variable costs, such as medical checks, local police clearances, and NAATI translation requirements, may vary depending on the country from which you apply.

Important Information Regarding the Use of the Term 'Partner'

We are an incorporated legal practice which is a corporation for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001. The use of the title ‘Partner’ by a lawyer in this practice is used to denote seniority and does not and is not intended to signify that the practice is contracting otherwise than as a corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, any such title does not and is not intended to signify that a partnership within the definition of the Partnership Act exists at law.

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Partner Visa Cost Australia: A Complete Guide to Fees and Budgeting

Book your free 30 minute consultation

Book your free 30 minute consultation

Understanding the Visa Application Charge

Primary Applicant (Subclass 820/801 Onshore or Subclass 309/100 Offshore)

Secondary Applicant (Dependants aged 18 and over)

Secondary Applicant (Dependants aged under 18)

Subclass 820 Primary Applicant (Holding a valid Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa)

The Australian Migration Lawyers difference

Fixed price

Deal directly with a lawyer

Clear communication

Satisfaction guaranteed

Installments available

50+ years

100% success rate

Experienced

Award winning

What Are The Additional Costs Involved?

What's The Difference Between Government Charges and Variable Expenses?

Government Charges

Variable Expenses

Underestimating Dependent Applicant Costs

Overlooking Currency Conversion Costs

Ignoring Document Renewal and Expiry

Failing to Prepare for Two Stages of Documentation

How We Can Support Your Partner Visa Journey

Award-winning Immigration Lawyers

Leading Immigration Law

Best Law Firms Australia

Best Lawyers in Australia™ Immigration Law

We have experience working with LGBTIQ+ visas acorss Australia

Our Success Stories

Schedule 3 Overcome: Double Partner Visa

Visitor Visa: Nepal to AU for Christmas

Complex Skills in Demand Visa Case

Frequently Asked Questions

Claim your free consultation

Leaving without permanent residency?