Family and Partner Visa News Australia

Latest Family and Partner Visa Updates

Ministerial Direction 117 Replaces Direction 102

A significant recent change occurred on 25 July 2026, when the Australian Government replaced Ministerial Direction 102 with Ministerial Direction 117 for Family visa processing.

Under Direction 117, the highest priority is generally given to eligible Family visa applications made while the primary applicant is in Australia where the visa can be granted in Australia. Applications where the primary applicant is outside Australia, or must be outside Australia at the time of grant, receive a lower priority.

Within the applicable priority groups, Partner and dependent Child visa applications are among the family visa applications given priority.

Partner Visa Processing Updates

Home Affairs currently publishes processing information for the Partner visa category. The latest published median shown on the Department's processing-times page is 23 months for Partner (Provisional/Temporary) visas, based on July 2026 data.

This figure is a median for the visa category and should not be treated as a guaranteed processing period for an individual application. Processing can vary depending on the visa subclass, application completeness, required checks, individual circumstances and government processing priorities.

Applicants should use the official visa processing-time guide for the most relevant current indication for their particular visa.

Partner Visa News

Our Partner Visa updates may cover important information relating to:

• Partner visa subclass 820 and 801
• Partner visa subclass 309 and 100
• Prospective Marriage visa subclass 300
• Spouse and de facto partner applications
• Permanent Partner visa stage
• Partner visa processing priorities
• Changes to supporting evidence requirements
• Relationship evidence
• Health and character requirements
• Family violence provisions
• Visa application charges
• Processing-time updates
• Ministerial Directions
• Policy and legislative changes
• Requests for further information
• Changes affecting visa applicants and sponsors

Subclass 820 and 801 Updates

The Partner visa subclass 820/801 pathway is available to eligible applicants who apply in Australia.

The temporary subclass 820 stage is followed by consideration for the permanent subclass 801 stage, subject to the applicable requirements.

Home Affairs currently advises that holders of subclass 820 who have reached the relevant two-year point since applying can submit information for the permanent stage. Applicants should ensure that required information and supporting documents are provided through the appropriate process.

Subclass 309 and 100 Updates

The Partner visa subclass 309/100 pathway is designed for eligible applicants applying from outside Australia.

The subclass 309 is the provisional stage, followed by consideration of the permanent subclass 100 stage when the relevant requirements are met.

Processing priority for offshore Partner visa applications can differ from eligible onshore applications under the current Family visa processing framework.

Prospective Marriage Visa News – Subclass 300

The Prospective Marriage visa subclass 300 allows an eligible person to come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse and then potentially apply for a Partner visa.

Updates affecting subclass 300 applicants may include:

• Processing arrangements
• Application requirements
• Relationship evidence
• Health and character requirements
• Visa application charges
• Sponsor requirements
• Changes to Partner visa pathways after marriage

Home Affairs currently confirms that subclass 300 applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 117 and that applicants may experience longer processing times than expected.

Family Migration Program Updates

Australia's Family Migration Program includes several categories:

Partner Visas

For spouses, de facto partners and prospective spouses of eligible Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens.

Parent Visas

Parent visa pathways include contributory and non-contributory options, subject to eligibility, balance-of-family requirements where applicable, capping and queuing arrangements.

Child Visas

Child migration pathways can apply to eligible dependent children, adopted children and certain orphan relatives.

Other Family Visas

Other family migration pathways can include Carer, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative visas.

Home Affairs identifies Partner, Parent, Child and Other Family visas as the four broad categories within the Family Migration Program.

2026–27 Family Migration Program

For the 2026–27 program year, the Australian Government has set a planning level of 52,460 places for the Family stream.

The planning figures include:

• 41,500 Partner visas
• 3,500 Child visas

These are program planning levels rather than a guarantee that an individual applicant will receive a visa within a particular period.

What Can Cause Family Visa Processing Delays?

Family and Partner visa applications can take different amounts of time depending on individual circumstances.

Common factors can include:

Incomplete Applications

Missing documents or information may result in requests for additional information and can delay processing.

Relationship Evidence

Partner visa applicants need to provide evidence that addresses the relevant aspects of their relationship, such as financial arrangements, household arrangements, social aspects and the nature of their commitment.

Health and Character Checks

Applicants and relevant family members may need to complete health examinations and provide police certificates or other character documents.

Further Information Requests

The Department may request additional documents or information during assessment.

Processing Priorities

Family visa applications are processed according to applicable Ministerial Directions and government policy priorities.

Can a Partner Visa Be Prioritised?

In limited circumstances, a Partner visa application may be considered for priority processing where the requirements under the applicable Ministerial Direction are met.

Home Affairs states that special circumstances of a compassionate nature and compelling reasons may be considered when determining whether to depart from the normal processing order.

Priority processing is not automatic and there is no guarantee that a request will result in higher priority.

How to Stay Updated

Applicants should regularly check:

• Australian Department of Home Affairs announcements
• Partner visa processing information
• Family visa processing priorities
• Changes to Ministerial Directions
• Visa application requirements
• Visa application charges
• ImmiAccount messages and requests
• Relevant legislative and policy changes

Because Australian immigration requirements can change, information published on older websites or social media may no longer reflect the current rules.

Family and Partner Visa News from The Visa

At The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd, we help clients understand Australian family and partner migration pathways and prepare applications based on their individual circumstances.

Our information and news updates may cover:

• Partner visas
• De facto partner visas
• Spouse visas
• Prospective Marriage visas
• Parent visas
• Child visas
• Other Family visas
• Family visa processing updates
• Relationship evidence
• Visa refusals and review options
• Family violence provisions
• Migration policy updates
• Australian immigration announcements

Every visa application is different. Eligibility depends on the legislation, applicable policy and the applicant's individual circumstances at the time of application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the latest Partner visa processing time?

The latest published Home Affairs median for the Partner (Provisional/Temporary) category is 23 months based on July 2026 data. This is a category-level median and is not a guaranteed timeframe for an individual application.

What replaced Ministerial Direction 102?

Ministerial Direction 117 replaced Ministerial Direction 102 on 25 July 2026 for the processing of Family visa applications under the relevant provisions of the Migration Act.

Are onshore Partner visas prioritised?

Under the current Family visa processing framework, eligible Family visa applications made while the primary applicant is in Australia for a visa that can be granted in Australia receive the highest broad priority category. Partner and dependent Child applications are also identified within the processing order.

Can processing times change?

Yes. Visa processing times can change as application volumes, government priorities, completeness and other factors change. Home Affairs advises that processing-time figures are a guide rather than a guarantee.

When can I provide information for the permanent Partner visa stage?

For eligible subclass 309 and 820 visa holders, Home Affairs currently states that information for the permanent stage can be submitted once two years have passed since the initial Partner visa application.

Does every Family visa have the same processing time?

No. Processing arrangements vary between different Family visa categories. Partner and Child visas have processing-time information available through the Department's processing-time tools, while some Parent and Other Family visas are subject to capping and queuing.

Get Professional Guidance

Australian Family and Partner visa requirements can be complex, particularly where there are previous visa refusals, complicated relationship histories, health or character issues, family violence circumstances, previous relationships, sponsorship concerns or other immigration matters.

If you are considering a Partner or Family visa, professional advice can help you understand the applicable pathway, evidence requirements and potential issues before lodging your application.

The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd

Registered Migration Agent: Navneet Kaur – MARN 2318181

Contact The Visa to discuss your Australian Family or Partner visa circumstances.

Important: Immigration requirements, processing priorities, fees and government policies can change. Always check the latest Department of Home Affairs information before relying on a published update.