Written by Immigrad · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1805710 · Last updated September 2026
You become eligible for assessment of the permanent Partner visa once two years have passed since you applied for your temporary subclass 820 or 309 visa. At that point you lodge the Stage 2 form in ImmiAccount. Eligibility to be assessed is not the same as a decision being made.
The two-year mark runs from when you applied, not when you were granted
This is the point most people get wrong. The Department of Home Affairs measures the two years from the date you lodged the temporary Partner visa application, not from the date the subclass 820 or 309 was granted. Because temporary Partner visas can take many months to decide, the gap between grant and permanent-stage eligibility is often much shorter than applicants expect, and sometimes the two years have already passed by the time the temporary visa is granted.
Until that two years has passed, the Department cannot assess the permanent visa.
How to lodge the permanent stage
- Log in to ImmiAccount and select New application, then Family.
- Select Stage 2 – Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801).
- Complete the online form using your application ID, which appears in your acknowledgement letter or grant notification.
- Attach evidence covering the period since you lodged the temporary application, not just the evidence you filed originally.
If you did not use ImmiAccount for the original application, you will need to create an account. Partner applications must be lodged online; applying on paper without an invitation makes the application invalid.
What the Department looks at
The permanent stage tests whether the relationship is still genuine and continuing. Evidence from the two years since lodgement carries the most weight: shared finances, shared accommodation, the social recognition of the relationship, and the nature of your commitment to each other. Relying on the documents you filed at Stage 1 is a common reason for delay.
Processing times vary and are published by the Department. Nobody can promise you a decision date, and any adviser who does should be treated with caution.
Related questions
Do I have to lodge a second application for the subclass 801 or 100?
You do not pay a second visa application charge, but you do need to complete a Stage 2 form. In ImmiAccount you select New application, then Family, then Stage 2 – Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801), and complete it using your application ID. Your application ID appears in your acknowledgement or grant correspondence.
How are partner visa applications prioritised?
Partner visa applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 117 and are generally assessed in the order received. Highest priority goes to onshore subclass 820 and 801 applications. Lower priority is given to offshore Prospective Marriage subclass 300 and Partner subclass 309 and 100 applications, which are likely to experience longer processing times.
Can I ask for my partner visa to be processed faster?
Under Ministerial Direction 117 the Department may prioritise an application involving special circumstances of a compassionate nature where there are compelling reasons to depart from the order of priority. There is no guarantee, and the Department states that most requests for priority processing cannot be approved. All supporting documents must already be submitted.
What happens if my relationship ends before the permanent stage?
You must tell the Department, usually through the Notification of Relationship Cessation form in ImmiAccount or Form 1022. In some circumstances a permanent visa may still be granted, including under the family violence provisions. If you are experiencing family violence, support is available and your visa options should be discussed with a registered migration agent.
Related reading: Partner visa evidence: what actually matters · Partner visa cost and timelines · Partner visas
If you are approaching your two-year mark and are not sure what evidence to file, book a consultation with Immigrad.
This page is general information only and is not personal migration advice. Requirements and processing arrangements change; the details above were checked against the Department of Home Affairs in September 2026. Complex cases need personal advice from a registered migration agent.