After an 820 or 309 grant, keeping evidence for the permanent Partner stage can become a manageable routine rather than a last-minute search. Your shared life continues, and the records should help explain what has happened since the earlier application.
For the usual pathways, 820 leads to assessment for 801 and 309 leads to assessment for 100. The temporary grant is an important milestone, but it is not an automatic permanent grant.
Check the original application date first
Home Affairs’ 801 and 100 instructions ordinarily place permanent-stage eligibility two years after the original combined application. The clock does not ordinarily restart on the temporary visa grant date.
Record that original date, your application ID and the temporary grant details. Keep the grant notice and make sure you can access your application and current contact details.
There are exceptions, including qualifying long-term relationships at the time of application. Do not assume an exception applies because the relationship is long-term now. Check the rule and your application history before choosing a submission date.
Keep a steady record of ordinary shared life
You do not need to turn every weekend into a photo opportunity. Keep useful records as they arise, with enough detail to make their context clear later.
| Area | Records you might keep | Context worth noting |
|---|---|---|
| Financial arrangements | Shared expenses, transfers, liabilities or ownership records | Changes in work, income or the way costs are shared |
| Household | Address records, lease renewals, shared responsibilities | Moves, temporary separate addresses and who manages what |
| Social life | Invitations, selected photographs, travel or community activities | Who was involved, when and what the occasion shows |
| Commitment | Shared plans, mutual support and significant decisions | How your relationship has continued through changes |
These are examples to select from, not a prescribed quantity. Our relationship evidence guide explains how statements and supporting records work together.
Set aside a private folder by year or period. Add a short index instead of renaming a hundred files the night before submission. A brief periodic check can identify gaps while records are still easy to obtain. This is an organisational suggestion, not a Department filing timetable.
Explain what has changed
A new address, different work hours or time apart does not have to make your evidence confusing. Keep the relevant records and explain the actual arrangement. A lease in one name, for example, should be understood alongside the way you share the home and costs.
If you spend time apart, record the reason, dates, contact and visits where relevant. Avoid presenting separate periods as continuous cohabitation. The purpose is a truthful account of the continuing relationship, not a perfectly uniform set of documents.
When preparing an updated relationship statement, explain developments since the earlier application. Do not simply change the date on an old statement. Each partner should write from their own perspective and cross-check shared facts against records.
If a witness statement is needed under the current instructions, ask someone who can give a current, personal account. Do not assume an old Form 888 remains the best description of your life now, or that every stage has an identical checklist.
Prepare now, submit at the correct stage
The current official instructions ordinarily say to submit permanent-stage documents once two years have passed since the original application, not before. Keep preparing in the meantime. Follow a specific Department request and check any exceptional circumstances separately.
Home Affairs’ Partner program FAQs explain the permanent-stage process in ImmiAccount, including the Stage 2 Permanent Partner Visa Assessment for subclasses 100 and 801. Use the current instructions and your application ID; do not assume you must wait indefinitely for a reminder email.
Before submitting, check the current applicant and sponsor requirements. Relationship evidence is one part of the assessment. Updated identity, declarations, character or health material may also be relevant according to your circumstances and the Department’s instructions.
If you would like professional help checking the prepared bundle, ask about an application review. State that this is the permanent Partner stage so we can confirm suitability, scope, fee and timing rather than assume the initial-stage review covers new work automatically.
If the relationship or circumstances change
Do not keep uploading material that describes a relationship as continuing if it has ended. Notify Home Affairs as required and seek advice about the provisions that apply.
There are particular provisions for circumstances such as a sponsor’s death, family violence and specified child-related situations. Their criteria differ; separation alone does not guarantee the permanent visa remains available. Seek individual advice promptly rather than trying to fit a changed situation into an ordinary continuing-relationship checklist.
For couples continuing together, the practical goal is simpler: keep records, explain changes and prepare an up-to-date picture of your shared life. If you would like help with your next step, contact WiseKangaroo with your stage, original application date and main question. The published service scopes provide a starting point; the appropriate engagement is confirmed before work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Does the two-year period start when my 820 or 309 is granted?
Ordinarily it runs from the original combined temporary and permanent Partner application, not the temporary grant. Check your original application date and the rules for your circumstances.
Should I upload permanent-stage evidence as soon as I receive the temporary visa?
Prepare and keep records, but follow the current permanent-stage submission instructions. Home Affairs ordinarily says to submit those documents once two years have passed since the original application, not before. A specific request or exceptional pathway needs its own check.
Will I automatically receive the permanent Partner visa?
No. The permanent stage still requires assessment. Continue to meet the relevant requirements, provide the requested current evidence and report changes that affect the application.
Can WiseKangaroo review my permanent-stage documents?
Tell us your subclass, stage, dates and prepared material. We will confirm whether a review is suitable and agree the scope, fee and timing; this article does not promise a separate fixed-price permanent-stage package.
General information, checked 28 October 2026. Requirements and advice depend on your circumstances. Check current Home Affairs instructions before acting.
