If you're in a relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and you're planning a partner visa, where you are when you apply now matters more than it used to. Partner visa waiting times have come back into the news over the past fortnight, after the issue was raised in evidence to a Senate committee and picked up across migration industry news. Here's a plain-English look at how the Department of Home Affairs currently orders partner applications, and what it could mean for your plans.
What changed
On 25 July 2026, Ministerial Direction No. 117 replaced Direction 102. It's the instruction that tells the Department the order in which to consider family visa applications.
Under Direction 117, the highest priority goes to applications made while the main applicant is in Australia, for a visa that can be granted in Australia. Applications where the applicant is outside Australia when they apply, or must be outside Australia when the visa is granted, are given lower priority.
For partner visas, that means onshore applications (subclasses 820 and 801) are generally processed ahead of offshore ones, including the Partner visa (subclasses 309 and 100) and the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300). The Department's own partner visa FAQs say lower-priority applications are likely to experience longer processing times.
Within the wider family program, partner and dependent child applications sit near the top of the list, behind only matters subject to ministerial intervention. Parent and other family visas come further down.
Why it's in the news again
Partner visas aren't capped and queued the way parent visas are, but the Government sets a planning level each year. For 2026–27, the Department estimates 41,500 partner visas for planning purposes. When more people apply than the planning level allows for, applications wait longer, and under Direction 117 offshore applicants are the most likely to feel that.
Evidence to a Senate committee, as reported in migration news at the end of October, suggests the number of partner applications on hand is well above a single year's planning level. The Department has said offshore applications will still be processed and granted in line with planning levels and the Government's priorities. They're lower in the order, not closed.
Can you ask for priority?
Direction 117 lets the Department prioritise an application where there are special circumstances of a compassionate nature and compelling reasons to depart from the usual order. The Department is clear that there's no guarantee, that most requests can't be approved, and that a request is only considered once all supporting documents have been provided. If you think your situation might qualify, it's worth getting the evidence right the first time.
What this means for you
If you're already in Australia on a visa that allows an onshore partner application, that pathway is currently in the higher priority group. Check carefully that your current visa doesn't carry conditions, such as a 'No Further Stay' condition, that would stop you applying here.
If you're applying from overseas, plan for a longer wait than you might have expected a year or two ago. Treat the Department's processing time guide as a guide only, not a promise.
Don't travel to Australia just to lodge onshore without getting advice first. Visitor visa conditions, the genuine visitor requirement and bridging visa rules can all cause problems if the steps happen in the wrong order.
Lodge a complete, decision-ready application. Gaps in relationship evidence, police certificates or health checks slow things down whatever priority group you're in.
If your circumstances change, for example a pregnancy, a serious illness or a change in your sponsor's situation, tell the Department and consider whether a priority request is appropriate.
Talk to us
Every couple's situation is different. The right pathway depends on where you both are, the visas you hold now and your relationship history. If you're weighing up an onshore or offshore partner visa, or you've already applied and want to understand your options, get in touch with Bondi Migration at 39 Gould Street, Bondi Beach, to book a consultation.
Brendan Muldoon, Registered Migration Agent MARN 0742052 | Bondi Migration Pty Ltd, 39 Gould Street, Bondi Beach NSW
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not migration advice. Migration law and policy change often, and no visa outcome or processing time can be guaranteed. Please seek advice about your own circumstances before acting.
