Partner visas: AUD 11,710 charge, two stages, new processing order

What changed

• Charge: the first-instalment base application charge is AUD 11,710 for a Partner (Residence) application made on or after 1 July 2026 by an applicant with no Pacific-regional passport and no reduced-rate case. The offshore Partner (Migrant) pathway is also AUD 11,710. Each additional applicant pays AUD 5,860 if aged 18 or over and AUD 2,935 if under 18. Partner applicants with a Pacific-regional passport pay AUD 9,600, AUD 4,805 and AUD 2,405.
• The rise is part of the 25 per cent increase to the first instalment that applied from 1 July 2026 to most visas.
• Processing order: Ministerial Direction 117 replaced Direction 102 on 25 July 2026. A family visa application ranks highest when the main applicant lodged it from inside Australia and the visa can be granted onshore. It ranks lower when the main applicant was outside Australia at lodgement or has to be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
• Within each priority group, Direction 117 orders family applications as: ministerial intervention cases, then partner or dependent child, orphan relative, contributory parent or contributory aged parent, carer, and finally parent, aged parent, remaining relative and aged dependent relative.
• The 2026-27 family program has a planning level of 52,460 places, with about 41,500 Partner visas and 3,500 Child visas estimated for planning purposes.

The two stages

• Onshore, the Partner (Temporary) 820 is applied for at the same time and place as the Partner (Residence) 801. It has no charge of its own because the charge is paid on the combined 801 application.
• Offshore, the Partner (Provisional) 309 must be applied for at the same time and place as the Partner (Migrant) 100, and the AUD 11,710 charge above is the Partner (Migrant) charge.
• In the standard route the permanent visa can be granted only once at least 2 years have passed since the combined application was made. The wait does not apply to couples in a long-term partner relationship when they applied, meaning at least 3 years, or at least 2 years if they have a dependent child of both partners.
• To start the permanent stage, the temporary visa holder logs in to ImmiAccount and selects Stage 2 Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801). Partner applications must be lodged online, and paper applications are accepted only by invitation.
• A de facto partner must generally show the relationship lasted at least 12 months immediately before the application, unless compelling and compassionate circumstances exist.
• The visa application charge is not refunded if the Partner application is refused.

Who it affects

Couples applying for the 820/801 or the 309/100, and the Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens who sponsor them.

What to check

• Where the main applicant is on the lodgement date and where they must be when the visa is granted, because Direction 117 ranks applications on both.
• Which charge row applies to your passport. For your own case, ask a registered migration agent (MARA) or an Australian legal practitioner.