"How much does a partner visa actually cost?" — not just the headline government charge, but everything: the medicals, the police checks, the translations, the what-ifs. Here is the complete 2026 itemisation for the onshore 820/801 and offshore 309/100, every figure verified against the source that charges it, as at 18 August 2026.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Main applicant (820/801 or 309/100) | $11,710 |
| Additional applicant 18+ (e.g. dependent adult) | $5,860 |
| Additional applicant under 18 | $2,935 |
Paid once at lodgement — the permanent stage (801/100) costs nothing more. The charge rose ~25% on 1 July 2026 (from $9,365), and the fee that applies is the one current on the day you lodge.
The Prospective Marriage (300) discounts
If you hold a subclass 300 fiancé visa and apply for the 820/801 after marrying while the 300 is still in effect, the charge drops to $1,955 (additional 18+: $980; under 18: 485)—becauseyoupaidthefullrateatthe300stage.Ifyour300has * *ceased * *, thereducedchargeis * *2,475** ($1,235 / $625). Timing the application inside the 300's validity is worth real money.
Health examinations (Bupa Medical Visa Services, from 1 Jul 2026)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Medical examination (501) + chest x-ray (502), adult | $392.00 combined |
| Medical examination alone | $283.00 |
| Chest x-ray alone | $146.20 |
Per applicant, GST inclusive; card payments carry a ~0.5% surcharge, and supplementary tests (HIV $60.90, hepatitis, IGRA) are extra if requested. Offshore applicants pay the panel-physician rates in their country, which vary.
Police certificates
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| AFP National Police Check | **56 * *(113 if fingerprints required) |
| Overseas police certificates | Varies by country — one for each country you've lived in 12+ months in the last 10 years |
Translations (non-English documents)
NAATI-certified translation typically runs 60–150 per standard document depending on provider and language — NAATI itself does not set prices. A partner file with overseas certificates, statements and evidence commonly needs several.
Queensland relationship registration (de facto couples)
Registering your relationship with QLD Births, Deaths and Marriages — which removes the 12-month de facto requirement — costs 170 * *, plus * *58.10 for the official certificate you'll submit. (Older articles say registration is free; that is out of date.)
The contingency column: if things go wrong
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| ART review of a refusal | $3,727 (50% reduction for financial hardship; 50% refunded if you win) |
Nobody budgets to be refused — but a refusal wastes the full $11,710, which is the real argument for lodging a decision-ready application the first time.
A realistic all-in picture (couple, onshore, no dependants)
| Government charge | $11,710 |
| Medicals (applicant) | ~$392 |
| AFP check ×2 (applicant + sponsor) | ~$112 |
| Overseas police certificate | varies (~$50–150) |
| Translations (if needed, say 4 docs) | ~$240–600 |
| QLD relationship registration + certificate (if used) | ~$228 |
| Government + third-party total | ~12, 500–13,200 |
Professional fees are on top if you engage an agent — at Migration Vision they are fixed and agreed in a written fee agreement before any work begins, as the Code of Conduct requires, and quoted at consultation because complexity varies (a Schedule 3 waiver case is not a straightforward lodgement). Our full fee framework and all current government charges: fees page.
Where the money gets wasted
Lodging near a fee-year boundary without checking — charges index on 1 July; lodging 30 June vs 2 July 2026 was a $2,345 difference
The 300-timing miss — marrying then letting the 300 lapse before applying costs an extra $520
Refusal on a preventable evidence gap — the entire $11,710, plus $3,727 if you fight it
Paying twice for panicked top-up applications instead of one decision-ready file
Full eligibility, evidence and processing details in our verified guides: onshore 820/801 · offshore 309/100 · relationship statement structure.
Reviewed by Dr Asad Muhammad Khan, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2619525. Updated 18 August 2026 — figures verified against the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing table (1 July 2026), Bupa Medical Visa Services fee schedule, the Australian Federal Police, Queensland BDM and the Administrative Review Tribunal. This article is general information, not migration advice for your circumstances.
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