Getting your temporary Partner Visa granted is a huge milestone. After months (or years) of collecting evidence, waiting for processing, and checking your ImmiAccount far too often, you’ve finally reached the point where you can start building your life together in Australia. But if you’re expecting the next couple of years to be a simple waiting game, think again.
The period between your temporary and permanent Partner Visa stages isn’t just time passing, it’s an important part of your visa journey. The Department of Home Affairs expects to see that your relationship has continued to grow and develop since you first applied.
In this blog, I’ll talk you through exactly what you should be doing the Partner Visa two year wait, whether you’ve been granted the subclass 820 and are waiting for the subclass 801, or you’ve received the subclass 309 and are working towards the subclass 100.
When does the clock start for the Partner Visa two year wait?
I see a lot of couples make the same mistake around timing, so I’m here to set it all out straight for you so you don’t make the same mistake.
Your eligibility for the permanent stage is calculated from the date you lodged your original Partner Visa application, not from the date your temporary visa was granted. For example, if you lodged your subclass 820 visa application on 15 January 2025, then you’re eligible to apply for your subclass 801 on 15 January 2027.
Many couples accidentally count from the grant date and assume they have much longer than they actually do.
Another common misconception that I see people talk about online is that the Department will always remind you when it’s time to apply for your second stage. Sometimes they do, but often they don’t. You should never rely on receiving an invitation. It is your responsibility to know when you’re eligible and to lodge the second stage application as soon as you can.
If you’ve already lodged your subclass 820 or 309, then take out your phone and mark your second stage eligibility in your calendar now.
Your temporary Partner Visa grant
First of all… don’t forget to take a minute and celebrate! Whether you’ve applied for the onshore or offshore Partner Visa, receiving the grant of your temporary Partner Visa is a huge milestone. Take the time with your partner to recognise all of your hard work and the first chapter of your Partner Visa journey.
If you’ve moved to Australia after a subclass 309 grant, spend time settling into your new routines. I’ve written about building community in life after your Partner Visa journey, but this doesn’t have to wait until you’re a permanent resident.
What is the Department actually looking for in your second stage application?
I know a lot of couples aren’t overly excited by having to lodge another application for the second stage as part of the Partner Visa process, but it helps to know why you have to do it and what the Department actually wants to see.
Before giving you that permanent residency visa, they need to be satisfied that you and your partner continue to be in a genuine and continuing de facto or spousal relationship.
The Department already has your original application.
What they’re interested in now is whether your relationship has remained genuine and continuing since then.
That means continuing to build evidence across the same four relationship pillars:
I’ve written an entire post about the second stage Partner Visa and how to apply, so I recommend giving it a read if you haven’t already. This post will focus on what to do during the two year wait.
My best tip is for you to create a simple folder on your computer or in cloud storage where you can save documents every month. Spending five minutes organising evidence regularly is much easier than trying to reconstruct two years of your life later.
Approaching the two year mark
Once you’re nearing the two year mark, it’s time to prepare your permanent stage application. Again, specifics about each of these documents can be found in my second stage guide.
You’ll need:
- A new Form 47SP through your ImmiAccount for the permanent stage
- Updated relationship statements from the applicant and sponsor
- New Form 888s
- Your updated evidence across the four pillars
- A new police clearance for the visa applicant (where required)
Preparing these documents early can make the process much smoother and reduce delays once you’re eligible to apply.
If you’d like help planning your evidence, we provide an evidence planning session as part of the Academy.
What if your circumstances change?
Sometimes things change, and that’s perfectly okay. Some changes will affect how your application is prepared. For example, you may spend extended periods living apart due to work or family commitments.
These types of situations don’t automatically mean your application is in trouble, but they often require more careful preparation and explanation than a straightforward application. If your circumstances become more complex during the Partner Visa two year wait, this is where many couples benefit from engaging a registered migration agent rather than handling the second stage themselves.
If your relationship breaks down, or your sponsor passes away during the waiting period, different legal provisions may apply. Those situations are beyond the scope of the Partner Visa Academy and we strongly recommend seeking personalised advice from Freedom Migration as soon as possible.
Can you skip the Partner Visa two year wait?
In some cases, yes. You might have seen the term ‘double grant’ floating around. This is where the applicant is granted both the temporary and permanent Partner Visas together. I’ve covered the specifics in my guide to Partner Visa double grants.
A double grant may be possible if, when you applied, you had already been in your de facto or spousal relationship for at least:
- Three years; or
- Two years if you and your partner shared a dependent child.
However, this isn’t an easy shortcut. The evidentiary threshold is significantly higher because you need to demonstrate a lengthy, well-established relationship from the outset.
How long does the permanent stage take?
Once you’ve lodged your permanent-stage application, there is still another waiting period.
Based on our own Academy caseload, decision-ready permanent-stage applications are averaging around 8–9 months from lodgement to decision as of September 2026. At the time of writing this blog, we’ve seen a shift with second stage processing times, and I’ve seen a few in the last couple of months take only weeks.
Processing times do change over time, so it’s always worth checking the Department of Home Affairs’ current published processing times for the latest information.
What do I need to do now?
Being proactive throughout the Partner Visa two year wait is the best way to make your permanent stage as smooth as possible. Here are my tips:
- Mark your second stage eligibility date now
- Don’t wait for an invitation from the Department
- Lodge your second stage application as soon as you’re eligible
- Stay organised
You know what you need to do for your second stage, so get the ball rolling from now.
IMPORTANT: Please note, this does not constitute Immigration advice. Always seek advice from a Registered Migration Agent before applying for an Australian Visa. Migration Law is constantly changing. This information is accurate only at the time of publication.
