You've lodged your partner visa application.
Now what?
Most people expect a confirmation email and then silence. What actually follows is a series of steps, checks, and a long wait that catches plenty of applicants off guard. Here's what happens after lodgement and what you need to stay on top of.
Your Bridging Visa Kicks In Automatically If You're Onshore
If you lodged an onshore partner visa, which is the subclass 820/801 pathway, a Bridging Visa A is automatically granted at the point of lodgement.
This is important. It means you can legally stay in Australia while your application is being processed, even if your current visa expires. You don't need to apply for the bridging visa separately. It just happens.
The bridging visa generally lets you work and study in Australia as well. But it's worth double-checking the conditions attached to your specific bridging visa, since these can vary depending on what visa you held before lodging.
If you lodged offshore, the subclass 309/100, this doesn't apply. You'd need to remain outside Australia until the temporary visa is granted.
| One important restriction: a Bridging Visa A does not allow you to leave and re-enter Australia. If you need to travel overseas while your application is pending, you'll need to apply for a Bridging Visa B before you depart. Leaving without one can affect your application status. |
The Acknowledgement
Shortly after lodgement, the Department of Home Affairs will send an acknowledgement letter or email. It will include your Transaction Reference Number (TRN) and, eventually, your ImmiAccount will show your application status.
Keep that TRN somewhere safe. You'll need it for every interaction with Home Affairs going forward.
At this stage, you won't be assigned a case officer yet. That comes later in the process.
Health Examinations Come Early
One of the first active steps you'll need to take is completing your health examination through a Home Affairs-approved panel doctor.
You'll receive a HAP ID (Health Advice Processing ID) which you use to book your medical. This usually covers a chest X-ray and a standard medical check. Some applicants may need further testing depending on their health history or country of origin.
Get this done promptly. Delays in health checks can slow down your whole application, and Home Affairs won't move forward without a cleared health result on file.
Panel doctors are listed on the Home Affairs website, and there are approved clinics in most major Australian cities.
Police Clearances Are Your Responsibility to Organise
You'll need to provide police clearances from every country you've lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years. That includes Australia.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) check is straightforward and can be done online. Overseas clearances depend entirely on the country, and some can take weeks or even months to arrive.
Start these early. Don't wait for a formal request from Home Affairs. The sooner you have them ready, the better.
The Realistic Processing Timeline
Processing times for partner visas in Australia have historically been long. As of 2026, 90% of onshore 820 applications are decided within 14 to 26 months. Offshore 309 applications run on a broadly similar timeline, though they tend to be marginally faster at the median.
Both figures shift regularly, so check the Home Affairs website for current estimates rather than relying on anything static.
These figures aren't guaranteed and shift regularly. The Home Affairs website publishes updated processing times, and it's worth checking periodically rather than relying on outdated estimates you might find elsewhere.
During this time, your application sits in a queue. A case officer is assigned at some point during processing, and they may contact you if further information is needed.
The Two-Stage Structure of Partner Visas
A lot of people don't realise that partner visas in Australia work in two stages.
Stage one is the temporary visa. For onshore applicants, that's the 820. For offshore, it's the 309. This is what's being assessed first.
Stage two is the permanent visa. That's the 801 (onshore) or 100 (offshore). You're assessed for the permanent stage after you've held the temporary visa for two years, provided your relationship is still genuine and ongoing.
The two-year wait for permanent residency begins from the date you lodged your application, not from when the temporary visa was granted. So lodging early matters.
What to Do While You Wait
Keep building your evidence of a genuine relationship throughout the waiting period.
Joint bank account statements, shared lease agreements, photos, travel history together, correspondence, statutory declarations from people who know you as a couple. All of this strengthens your case if questions arise later.
Also, notify Home Affairs through your ImmiAccount if your address or contact details change. Failing to do this can cause delays or missed correspondence.
If Home Affairs Asks for More Information
At some point you may receive a request for further information (often called an RFI or s56 request).
This isn't a red flag. It means a case officer is actively reviewing your file and needs something specific before they can continue.
Respond promptly and thoroughly. Missing deadlines on these requests can lead to your application being refused without further notice.
If you're unsure how to respond, or if the request feels complex or unexpected, getting proper legal advice at that point is genuinely worth it. A qualified partner visa lawyer in Sydney or wherever you're based can help you put together a response that actually addresses what Home Affairs is asking, rather than just sending a pile of documents and hoping for the best.
One Thing Most People Overlook
Your sponsor, the Australian citizen or permanent resident you're applying with, is assessed separately as part of this process.
Home Affairs looks at whether your sponsor is eligible to sponsor a partner. There are specific limitations: a sponsor can only sponsor a maximum of two partners in their lifetime, and if they have previously sponsored someone, a five-year waiting period applies from the date that earlier visa application was lodged.
Character history is also assessed. If any of these apply to your situation, get advice before lodging.
If your sponsor has sponsored a partner before, or if there are any complications in their history, that's something worth understanding before problems arise.
The partner visa process is long, and uncertainty is part of it. But knowing what's actually happening, and staying on top of your obligations throughout, gives your application the best chance of going through without unnecessary setbacks.
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