The Australia family visa options are the partner visas (309/100 offshore and 820/801 onshore), the child visas (101 and 802), the parent visas (103, 143 and the temporary 870) and the Prospective Marriage visa (300) for engaged couples. For partners, the application charge is A$11,710 for both stages, and sources put processing at roughly 15 to 32 months, depending on the source and route.
If you are looking at an Australia family visa, you probably want to know which visa fits your family member, who can sponsor, what the stages are and what it costs. This guide covers the main routes, the sponsorship rules, the fees and the long waits for parent visas. It uses a LifeinAus partner visa guide updated on 8 October 2026 with fees checked on 11 October 2026, an AustralianVisaOnline family guide published on 25 March 2026 and updated on 16 August 2026, and a Widen partner visa guide reviewed in August 2026. These are migration agency pages and not the Department of Home Affairs, the fees and times are partly dated and the dates inside them do not line up, and the official Home Affairs pages could not be opened from our tools, so we flag the conflicts and you should confirm every fee and processing time on the Home Affairs site. For permanent residence through skills, see our Australia PR guide.
Which Australia Family Visa Fits Your Situation?
Match the visa to the relationship and to where the applicant is. AustralianVisaOnline sets out the options.
AustralianVisaOnline describes its figures as current as of early 2026, so they may be older than the page’s August 2026 update, and it gives no explanation for the Prospective Marriage fee matching the partner charge. Widen says 50 percent of 820 applications are decided within 18 months and 90 percent within 32 months, while LifeinAus says about 75 percent of partner applications are finalised within 26 months and 90 percent within 30 months. Use these as a guide only.
Who Can Sponsor a Partner?
An Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. LifeinAus lists the rules.
- The sponsor must be 18 or over and consent to police checks being disclosed.
- A sponsor can support at most two partners in a lifetime, at least five years apart.
- A former partner visa holder is normally barred from sponsoring for five years, with waivers only in compelling circumstances.
- De facto couples generally need 12 months together before applying, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory or compelling circumstances apply.
Widen applies the 12 month rule to de facto couples in its table and FAQ but also to married couples in one section, which conflicts with itself. Check the Home Affairs criteria for your case.
How Do the Two Stages Work?
A temporary visa first, then a permanent one. LifeinAus and Widen describe the same structure.
- Stage 1: the temporary 820 if you apply onshore, or the provisional 309 if you apply offshore.
- Stage 2: the permanent 801 or 100, normally assessed about two years after lodgement, with no separate charge (Widen).
LifeinAus says couples in a long-term relationship of three years, or two years with a dependent child, may receive the permanent visa at the same time. The 820 and 309 both allow work and Medicare once granted, per LifeinAus and Widen, though Widen says the 309 benefits begin once the holder enters Australia. LifeinAus says a Bridging Visa A does not allow travel, so you would need a Bridging Visa B first.
What Evidence Do You Need?
Evidence of a genuine, continuing relationship across four areas. Both LifeinAus and Widen cite the same four.
- Financial aspects.
- The nature of the household.
- Social aspects.
- Commitment to each other.
LifeinAus says consistency across all four matters more than volume in any one. Widen lists the common refusal reasons: insufficient evidence the relationship is genuine, inconsistent statements between applicant and sponsor, failing health or character requirements, a relationship that ended before a decision and previous fraud or misrepresentation.
What Is the Prospective Marriage Visa?
A visa for engaged couples who intend to marry. LifeinAus says the holder must marry within 9 to 15 months of the grant and then apply onshore for the 820/801, and Widen gives a 9 month deadline. The two sources disagree on the deadline, so check Home Affairs. LifeinAus gives a reduced charge of A$1,955 for the later partner application if you hold the 300, and Widen gives no figure. Widen says the 300 does not itself lead to permanent residence.
How Much Does a Partner Visa Cost?
A$11,710 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026. Widen says this is up from A$9,365, and the LifeinAus partner guide and fee table list the same figure.
LifeinAus gives A$5,860 for each additional adult applicant. Its own page describes the figure as indicative, so use the Home Affairs pricing estimator. Widen lists health exams at about A$400 to A$700 per adult without a source, plus police checks, translations and agent fees. Both pages say police clearances are needed for every country lived in for 12 months or more in the last ten years.
What About Child and Parent Visas?
Child visas are cheaper and faster, and parent visas are expensive and slow. AustralianVisaOnline gives the figures in the table above.
- Child visas: the parent must be a citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and the child is under 18 or under 25 if dependent. The page’s text only allows over 18 dependents who are full time students or have a disability, so check the age rule.
- Parent visas 103 and 143: an Assurance of Support is required, with a bond of about A$10,000 to A$14,000 for the 103, and a balance of family test applies.
- Sponsored parent 870: temporary, with no permanent residency, Medicare or work rights, renewable once for a maximum of 10 years, and private health insurance is mandatory.
LifeinAus says the 2026 to 2027 Migration Program sets aside 41,500 partner places. AustralianVisaOnline does not cover carer, aged parent or orphan relative visas, so ask Home Affairs about those.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Thin evidence and counting on a fast parent visa cause most problems. Check each point first.
- Submitting evidence for only one or two of the four areas.
- Giving inconsistent statements in the application and the interview.
- Planning around an old fee or old processing time.
- Assuming a bridging visa allows travel.
- Waiting for a 103 parent visa without a backup plan.
- Ignoring the sponsor limits.
- Forgetting police certificates for every country lived in.
- Marrying outside the Prospective Marriage visa deadline.
FAQs
How much is the Australia family visa for a partner?
A$11,710 for both stages from 1 July 2026, per Widen and LifeinAus.
How long does a partner visa take?
Sources give about 15 to 32 months for the temporary stage, depending on the visa and the source.
Can I work on a partner visa?
Yes, once the temporary visa is granted, per LifeinAus and Widen.
Can I bring my parents?
Through the 103, the 143 or the temporary 870, with very different waits and costs.
Can an engaged partner come?
Yes, on the Prospective Marriage visa, then the partner visa after marrying.
Do I need police certificates?
Yes, for every country lived in for 12 months or more in the past ten years.
Conclusion
The Australia family visa you need depends on the relationship: partners use the two stage 820/801 or 309/100, children use the 101 or 802, and parents face high fees and long queues unless the temporary 870 suits. Check the sponsor rules, build evidence across all four areas and confirm fees and times on the Home Affairs site.
