Partner Visa 820/801 for Australia: Document Translation Checklist

AUD 9,365 - that’s what you’ll pay just to lodge a Partner Visa 820/801 application in Australia. Not including translations, medical exams, or the stress of gathering evidence that your relationship is “genuine and continuing.” One wrongly formatted document, and you’re either waiting months for an additional information request or facing a refusal. Let’s break down exactly which documents you need, what needs translating, and how to avoid burning money on preventable mistakes.

If you’re already familiar with how NAATI-certified translation works for Australian immigration or you’ve looked into the free translation services through TIS - here we’re diving specifically into the Partner Visa.

What Is the Partner Visa 820/801 and How Does It Work¶

The Partner Visa is your path to permanent residency in Australia through a relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. You apply in two stages but pay in one lump sum.

Subclass 820 (Temporary Partner Visa) - this is the temporary visa. You apply while you’re in Australia, and you get the right to stay while your application is being processed. Processing takes 13 to 20 months.

Subclass 801 (Permanent Partner Visa) - the permanent visa. About 2 years after lodging your initial application, the Department of Home Affairs asks for updated evidence to verify your relationship is still genuine and ongoing. This stage takes another 6-16 months.

There’s an exception: if you’ve been together for more than 3 years (or 2 years with a child together), both visas can be granted simultaneously - no two-year waiting period.

After lodging your 820 application, you automatically receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This temporary visa lets you:

• Work - full work rights, no restrictions
• Study - access to education
• Get Medicare - health coverage becomes available once the Department of Home Affairs acknowledges your application

But here’s the catch: BVA doesn’t let you leave Australia. If you need to travel, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before departing, otherwise your BVA is cancelled.

Full Document Checklist for the Partner Visa¶

Here’s what the Department of Home Affairs expects from you, broken down by category.

Applicant’s documents¶

Document	Translation needed?	Notes
Passport	No (in English)	Copies of all pages with stamps
National ID card	Yes, NAATI	If applicable
Birth certificate	Yes, NAATI	Original + translation
Marriage certificate	Yes, NAATI	If relationship is registered
Divorce certificate (if applicable)	Yes, NAATI	From previous marriages
Change of name certificate (if applicable)	Yes, NAATI	If name was changed
Police clearance certificate	Yes, NAATI	From every country where you lived 12+ months in the last 10 years
Medical examination	No	Done by a panel physician, results go directly to the Department
Passport photos	No	Recent photos

Sponsor’s documents (Australian partner)¶

Document	Translation needed?	Notes
Passport or citizenship certificate	Usually no	In English
Birth certificate	Depends	If not in English
Proof of status (citizenship/PR)	No
Police clearance certificate	Depends on country	From all countries of residence
Form 40SP (Sponsorship for a partner)	No	Filled in English

Children’s documents (if applicable)¶

Document	Translation needed?	Notes
Child’s birth certificate	Yes, NAATI	For each child
Consent from other parent (Form 1229)	Yes, if not in English	Notarised
Court custody order	Yes, NAATI	If applicable

Relationship evidence documents¶

This is the most critical part. The Department of Home Affairs assesses your relationship across four pillars: financial ties, household arrangements, social recognition, and mutual commitment.

Financial ties: - Joint bank account (statements) - Shared utility bills - Joint loans or insurance - Evidence of shared expenses

Household arrangements: - Joint lease or mortgage - Bills addressed to the same address - Mail or correspondence to the same address

Social recognition: - Photos together (trips, holidays, with friends and family) - Invitations to joint events - Social media posts (not mandatory but helpful) - At least 2 completed Form 888 from people who know you as a couple

Mutual commitment: - Shared future plans (wedding planning, property purchase) - Will naming your partner as beneficiary - Superannuation nominee - Joint life insurance

If your relationship evidence isn’t in English (for example, text messages, SMS, messenger screenshots in Ukrainian or Russian) - those need translating too. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to translate every single message. Pick a representative sample across different time periods and translate those.

Translation Requirements: NAATI and Beyond¶

In Australia, the gold standard for immigration document translation is NAATI-certified translation. NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) is the organisation that accredits translators in Australia.

If you’re translating in Australia¶

The translation MUST be done by a NAATI-accredited translator. No exceptions. The translation must include:

• NAATI-certified translator’s stamp
• Translator’s full name
• NAATI number
• Date of translation
• Signature

If you’re translating outside Australia (e.g., in Ukraine)¶

The rules are slightly more flexible here. The translator doesn’t need NAATI accreditation, but the translation must be endorsed by the translator with:

• Full name
• Address
• Phone number
• Details of qualifications and experience in the language pair

As the Australian Embassy’s partner FAQ explains:

Translations provided by non-accredited translators outside Australia should be endorsed by the translator with their full name, address, telephone number, and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated.

So if you’re still in Ukraine - you can get translations from any qualified translator, but they need to properly endorse their work: full name, contact details, proof of qualifications.

Pro tip: even when translating outside Australia, choose a translator experienced with Australian immigration documents. They’ll know the format and terminology the Department expects. If you want to save time preparing a draft translation to check terminology before ordering the official one, you can use ChatsControl to get a quick preliminary version.

Ukrainian Police Clearance Certificate: Step-by-Step¶

The police clearance certificate is one of the documents where Ukrainians often run into trouble. Here’s how to get it right.

Step 1: Get the certificate¶

You can order a criminal record certificate online through the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs portal or through administrative service centres (TSNAP). The certificate is issued within 7-30 days.

Step 2: Get the apostille¶

Since Australia is a member of the Hague Convention, the certificate needs an apostille. The apostille is issued by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cost: about UAH 200-400, processing time: 5-20 business days.

Step 3: Translate¶

Translate the certificate + apostille. If in Australia - through a NAATI translator. If outside Australia - through a qualified translator with full credentials.

Important: the certificate must be “fresh.” Australia accepts certificates issued no more than 12 months before the application date. Don’t order too early - count backwards from your planned lodgement date.

If you lived in other countries (Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, for example) for 12+ months in the last 10 years, you need a police clearance from each of those countries too. Each one translated.

How Much Does It All Cost: Real Numbers¶

Let’s calculate the full budget of a Partner Visa for a Ukrainian applicant.

Visa application charge¶

Category	Amount (AUD)
Main applicant	9,365
Additional applicant 18+	4,685
Additional applicant under 18	2,345
Credit card surcharge (~1.4%)	~131

This fee covers both stages - 820 and 801. You don’t pay separately for the permanent visa.

Translations (NAATI-certified)¶

Document	Estimated pages	Price per page (AUD)	Total (AUD)
Birth certificate	1-2	60-80	60-160
Marriage certificate	1-2	60-80	60-160
Police clearance	1	60-80	60-80
Divorce certificate	1-2	60-80	60-160
National ID	2-4	60-80	120-320
Additional documents	varies	60-100	120-500+

Total translation costs: AUD 400-1,200+, depending on how many documents you have.

As Australian Translation Services notes:

NAATI translation cost in Australia starts from AUD 60 per page for standard 72-hour delivery. Express delivery is available from AUD 90 (24 hours) and AUD 120 (12 hours).

Other costs¶

Expense	Amount
Medical examination	AUD 350-500
Police clearance (Ukraine)	UAH 200-400 + apostille
Police clearances from other countries	Varies
Migration agent (optional)	AUD 3,000-7,000

Total budget without an agent: AUD 10,500-12,000+. With an agent, add another AUD 3,000-7,000.

Form 888: Who Fills It Out and Why¶

Form 888 is the Statutory Declaration by a Supporting Witness. It’s a written statement from someone who knows both you and your partner and can confirm your relationship is genuine.

Key requirements¶

• You need at least 2 completed Form 888s
• The witness must be over 18
• The witness must personally know both you and your partner
• The witness can be of any nationality (doesn’t have to be Australian)

What Form 888 should include¶

The witness should describe: - How and when they met you as a couple - Specific examples of your life together that they’ve witnessed - Their understanding of your relationship

One of the most common mistakes is witnesses writing vague statements like “they seem happy together.” The case officer wants specifics: “I attended their New Year’s party in 2024 and saw them cooking together…”, “They visited me together in March 2025 and told me about their plans to move to a new apartment.”

If the witness is outside Australia¶

If the person isn’t an Australian citizen/resident and is overseas, their statement isn’t considered a statutory declaration under Australian law. But it’s still accepted if it’s witnessed or certified according to the legal practices of the country where the witness is located (for example, notarised).

7 Common Mistakes That Lead to Refusal¶

The Department of Home Affairs refuses a significant number of partner visa applications every year. Here are the most common preventable reasons.

1. Weak financial evidence¶

Many couples think photos and messages are enough. They’re not. The case officer wants to see joint bank accounts, shared household bills, joint purchases. If you don’t have a joint account - open one as early as possible, even if you’re not applying for another six months.

2. Incomplete document translations¶

Partial translations aren’t accepted. If there’s a stamp, seal, or annotation in another language on a document, that needs translating too. As Speak Your Language notes:

All foreign supporting documents must be translated and stamped by an approved translator. Partial translations will not be accepted.

3. Template relationship statements¶

Don’t copy templates from the internet. Case officers review hundreds of applications and instantly recognise generic text. Be specific: dates, places, details. Instead of “we love spending time together” - “every Sunday we go to the Footscray market and cook borscht for the week.”

4. Inconsistencies between documents¶

If one document says you met in March 2023 and another says May 2023 - that’s a red flag. Before lodging, make a table of key dates and verify they match across all documents and statements.

5. Forgot about clearances from other countries¶

If you lived in Poland for 14 months, then moved to Australia - you need police clearances from both Poland and Ukraine. Many people “forget” about shorter periods of residence in third countries.

6. Applying from a tourist visa with intent¶

This is serious. As one experienced blogger explains:

If the Australian government discovers you got a tourist visa with the intention of entering the country and then applying for a partner visa, it considers it grounds to cancel your visa.

If you entered on a tourist visa specifically to apply for a partner visa - that can be grounds for cancellation. Be honest with immigration officers.

7. Ignoring file upload limits¶

The online application through ImmiAccount has limits: 60 files per partner, plus file size restrictions. Advice from people who’ve been through the process:

Keep all documents compressed while maintaining the quality. You can upload 60 files for 1 partner, and 60 files for the other.

Compress PDFs, optimise photos, merge small documents into single files.

Step-by-Step Application Guide for Ukrainians¶

Step 1: Gather documents in Ukraine (2-3 months before lodging)¶

• Order police clearance certificate
• Get apostille on the certificate
• Collect civil status certificates (birth, marriage/divorce)
• Apostille documents that require it

Step 2: Translate documents¶

• If in Ukraine - through a qualified translator with full credentials
• If in Australia - through a NAATI translator
• Verify translations are complete (including stamps and seals)

Step 3: Gather relationship evidence¶

• Bank statements, bills, receipts - everything confirming financial ties
• Lease agreement or shared address
• Photos together (at least 20-30 across different periods)
• Message screenshots (sample across different months)
• Find 2+ witnesses for Form 888

Step 4: Complete the medical examination¶

The exam is done only by an accredited panel physician. Find one on the Department of Home Affairs website. Results go directly into the system.

Step 5: Lodge through ImmiAccount¶

• Create an account on ImmiAccount
• Fill in the forms
• Upload all documents
• Pay the visa application charge (AUD 9,365)

Step 6: Receive Bridging Visa A¶

Automatic after lodgement. Gives you the right to work and access Medicare.

Step 7: Wait and be ready for requests¶

The case officer may request additional documents. You typically get 28 days to respond. Keep everything organised.

Step 8: Stage 801 (after ~2 years)¶

The Department will notify you when you can submit updated evidence for the 801 stage. You’ll need to show the relationship is continuing: new photos, new shared finances, updated Form 888s.

Comparison: Online Translation vs NAATI Translator in Australia vs Translation in Ukraine¶

Parameter	NAATI translator (Australia)	Translator in Ukraine	Online services
Price per page	AUD 60-100	AUD 20-40 (equivalent)	From AUD 10
Accepted for visa	Fully	Yes, with endorsement requirements	No (for official documents)
Turnaround	1-5 business days	1-3 business days	Minutes
Best for	Official documents	Official documents (from overseas)	Drafts, terminology checks

If you’ve got a stack of documents and want to check the content first, upload them to ChatsControl for a quick draft, then order the official NAATI translation.

What to Do If You Get an Additional Information Request (s56 Request)¶

A Section 56 request is when the case officer asks for additional documents or clarification. It doesn’t mean refusal, but it means something in your application needs more support.

Common requests: - Additional evidence of living together - Explanation of gaps in the relationship (periods living in different countries, for example) - Additional Form 888s - Re-translated documents if the original translation didn’t meet requirements

Pro tip: respond on time (usually 28 days) and give more than they ask for. If they request additional financial evidence - provide 5-6 documents, not 2. Show you’re serious.

FAQ¶

How much does the Partner Visa 820/801 cost in Australia in 2026?¶

The visa application charge is AUD 9,365 for the main applicant. Budget an additional AUD 400-1,200 for translations, AUD 350-500 for the medical exam, and AUD 200-800 for police clearances from all countries. Total budget without a migration agent: AUD 10,500-12,000+.

Do I have to use a NAATI translator for my documents?¶

If documents are being translated in Australia - yes, mandatory. If outside Australia - NAATI isn’t required, but the translator must endorse the translation with their full name, contact details, qualifications, and experience. Read more in our NAATI translation guide.

How long does Partner Visa processing take?¶

Stage 820 (temporary): 13-20 months. Stage 801 (permanent): lodged about 2 years after 820, processed in another 6-16 months. If you’ve been together 3+ years or have a child together - both visas can be granted at once.

Can I work in Australia while waiting for the Partner Visa?¶

Yes. After lodging, you get a Bridging Visa A with full work rights. You can also study and access Medicare. But you can’t leave the country without a Bridging Visa B.

What documents need translating for stage 801 (permanent visa)?¶

At stage 801, you submit updated relationship evidence: new shared financial documents, new photos, updated Form 888s from witnesses. If new personal documents have appeared (like a child’s birth certificate), those need translating too.

Does Australia accept police clearance certificates from Ukraine?¶

Yes, but it must have an apostille and be translated into English. You can order it online through the MIA portal. The certificate must be issued no more than 12 months before the application date. If you also lived in other countries, you’ll need clearances from those too.