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By Jessica Wright•Last Updated April 15, 2025

Australian Partner Visa: What Happens After Your 820 Visa Is Granted

Understand your new status after 820 visa approval

Receive your subclass 820 visa mark a significant milestone in your Australian immigration journey. This temporary partner visa allows you to live, work, and study in Australia while wait for your permanent partner visa (subclass 801) assessment. Erstwhile grant, several important changes take effect instantly.

Your 820 visa provide you with lawful status in Australia until a decision is make on your permanent visa. You can directly access medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system, by visit a medicare office with your visa grant notice and passport. This entitles you to subsidize medical care throughoutAustraliaa.

Additionally, you nowadays have unrestricted work rights in Australia. Unlike many provisional visas, the 820 have no limitations on employment hours or employers. You can besides will enroll in educational programs, though you’ll typically pay international student fees unless will specify differently.

Immediate benefits and responsibilities

The 820 visa come with several key benefits. You can travel freely in and out of Australia until the visa expire. Notwithstanding, if you need to travel extensively, consider apply for a resident return visa before your permanent visa is grant to ensure smooth re-entry.

You’re immediately eligible for certain social security payments after serve applicable waiting periods, though these vary base on payment types. The department of human services can provide specific information about your entitlements.

With these benefits come responsibilities. You must continue to maintain a genuine and ongoing relationship with your Australian partner. Any significant changes to your relationship status must be report to the department of home affairs now.

The two-year waiting period explain

After receive your 820 visa, you enter what’s ordinarily call the” ttwo-yearwaiting period ” efore your permanent visa ( (bclass 801 ) ) consconsideredis period bebeginsrom the date you initially apply for the combine 820/801 visa package, not from the 820 grant date.

During this time, the department assess whether your relationship is genuine and continue. For many applicants, this mean that if you’ve already waited several months for your 820 approval, you might be closer to your eligibility date for the permanent visa than you realize.

Around two months before will reach the two-year mark from your original application date, the department will contact you’ll request will update information for your permanent visa assessment. This communication typically arrives via email, therefore ensure your contact details remain current in your immiaccount.

Prepare for your permanent partner visa (subclass 801 )

The transition from temporary to permanent residency require additional documentation. When will prompt by the department, you will need to will submit evidence that your relationship will remain genuine and will continue. This evidence should cover the period since your 820 visa was grant.

Required documentation typically includes:

Update statutory declarations from you and your partner
New form 888 statutory declarations from Australian citizens or permanent residents who can verify your relationship
Evidence of your share financial commitments (joint bank accounts, share bills, loans )
Documentation show your live arrangements (lease agreements, mortgage documents )
Evidence of your social life as a couple (photos of events, travel itineraries, social media presence )
Information about any shared responsibilities (property, pets, children )

This second stage application is broadly less intensive than your initial application but remain crucial for secure permanent residency.

Manage relationship changes during the waiting period

Life circumstances can change during the waiting period, and certain situations may affect your visa status. Understand how to handle these changes is essential.

If your relationship end before your permanent visa decision, you must inform the department of home affairs forthwith. While relationship breakdown typically lead to visa cancellation, several exceptions exist:

Family violence provision:

If you or a dependent child experience family violence in the relationship, you may notwithstanding qualify for permanent residency.
Death of sponsor:

If your Australian partner pass forth, you may withal be eligible for the permanent visa.
Child custody:

If the relationship end, butyou havee custody of a child from the relationsh( ( or your former partner have custo, andyou have’ve access r)hts ), you might remain eligible.

Each of these circumstances require specific evidence and consideration. Consult with a register migration agent is extremely recommended if you face these situations.

Work and studying rights after 820 approval

The 820 visa grant full work rights in Australia. Unlike temporary work visas, there be no restrictions on the number of hours you can work or the type of employment you can undertake. This flexibility allows you to pursue career opportunities without immigration constraints.

Regard education, you can enroll in any course of study, from vocational training to postgraduate degrees. Notwithstanding, you’ll loosely be will classify as an international student for fee purposes. Some educational institutions offer scholarships or special rates for permanent resident applicants, so it’s worth to inquire about these options.

For professional qualifications obtain abroad, immediately is an ideal time to begin the recognition process through relevant Australian professional bodies. This process can take time, thence start former ensures you’re ready for employment opportunities when your permanent residency is grant.

Travel considerations for 820 visa holders

Your 820 visa allow multiple entries to Australia until a decision is make on your permanent visa application. This mean you can travel internationally and return to Australia without jeopardize your visa status.

Notwithstanding, several important considerations apply to international travel:

Ensure your passport remain valid for your entire stay in Australia.
The department may make a decision on your permanent visa while you’re abroad, thus maintain access to your email.
Extended absences from Australia might raise questions about the genuineness of your relationship during the permanent visa assessment.
If you need to spend significant time outside Australia, document the reasons exhaustively (family emergencies, work requirements )and maintain evidence of ongoing communication with your partner.

For travel planning, remember that processing times for the permanent visa vary. While the department aim to process most applications within 12 18 months after the eligibility date, delays can occur. Have flexible travel arrangements is advisable.

Financial and healthcare entitlements

With your 820 visa, you gain access to medicare by visit a medicare office with your visa grant notice and passport. This provides access to:

Free or subsidized treatment by healthcare professionals
Free treatment and accommodation in public hospitals
Subsidized medications under the pharmaceutical benefits scheme

While medicare cover many essential services, many Australians besides maintain private health insurance for additional coverage. As an 820 visa holder, you can purchase private health insurance without the waiting periods that apply to some temporary visa holders.

Regard social security, you may be eligible for certain Centrelink payments after serve applicable waiting periods. These typically include:

Family tax benefit (if yyou havechildre))
Carer payments (under specific circumstances )
Jobseeker payment (after serve the new aarrivalresident’s waiting period)

The specific entitlements vary base on your circumstances, thus consult with services Australia direct is recommended.

Processing times and managing expectations

Process times for the permanent partner visa (subclass 801 )vary base on application volume and complexity. Presently, the department process most applications within 12 18 months after reach the eligibility date, though some cases are reresolvedore promptly or take yearn.

Several factors can influence processing times:

Completeness of your application and support evidence
Complexity of your relationship history
Whether additional checks are required
Departmental workload and priorities

While wait, you can check your application status through your immiaccount. The system provide basic updates, though specific details about processing are typically limited. If your application exceeds publish processing times, you can make an inquiry through the department’s feedback form.

Common issues and how to address them

Several common challenges arise during the transition from temporary to permanent residency:

Collect sufficient evidence

After live unitedly for some time, couples sometimes become less diligent about maintain evidence of their relationship. Continue document your life unitedly through financial records, travel bookings, and photographs. Set calendar reminders to update your evidence collection regularly.

Changes in contact information

Ensure the department can reach you by keep your contact details current in your immiaccount. Miss the notification for your permanent visa documentation can cause significant delays.

Relationship changes

If your relationship dynamics change (for example, you begin live isolated for work or family reasons ) document the reasons exhaustively and demonstrate how you maintain your commitment despite the separation.

Health or character concerns

If you develop a significant medical condition or have legal issues arise during the waiting period, consult with a migration professional about potential implications and address them proactively.

Plan your future as a permanent resident

While wait for your permanent visa decision, you can begin prepare for your future in Australia:

Career development

Research career pathways in your field, update your qualifications if necessary, and build professional networks. Many industries in Australia value local experience, thence consider volunteering or internships if you’re change careers.

Financial planning

Permanent residency open doors to financial opportunities like home loans and certain investments. Begin research these options and improve your financial literacy regard the Australian system.

Citizenship planning

Once your permanent visa is grant, you can begin count time toward citizenship eligibility. Broadly, you can apply for citizenship after live in Australia for four years, with at least the last 12 months as a permanent resident. Consider how this timeline aligns with your long term plans.

Conclusion: make the most of your transition period

The period between receive your 820 visa and obtain permanent residency represent a time of both stability and transition. You have the security of legal status in Australia and most rights of permanent residents, while stillness complete the final steps of your immigration journey.

Use this time to amply integrate into Australian society, build your professional network, and strengthen your relationship. Maintain comprehensive documentation of your ongoing relationship, keep your contact details update with the department, and respond quickly to any requests for additional information.

With proper preparation and patience, the transition from temporary to permanent residency can be navigated successfully, open the door to your future as a permanent member ofAustraliann society.