Subclass 309/100 Offshore Partner Visa
Two-stage offshore partner visa for those outside Australia with an Australian citizen or permanent resident spouse.
The Subclass 309/100 Offshore Partner Visa is designed for those outside Australia in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. This visa operates in two stages: first obtaining the Subclass 309 provisional partner visa, then applying for the Subclass 100 permanent visa two years after the initial application date.
Applicants must demonstrate they have met in person, maintain an exclusive relationship, and do not live apart on a permanent basis. De facto relationships require 12 months of evidence or registration with a relevant state or territory. Once the provisional visa is granted, you can immediately travel to Australia as a temporary resident.
Visa Streams
Subclass 309 (Provisional)
Subclass 100 (Permanent)
Eligibility Requirements
- Must apply while outside Australia
- Must be married or in de facto relationship (12+ months evidence required)
- Must have met partner in person and relationship must be genuine
- Relationship must be exclusive and not permanently separated
- Must meet health and character requirements
- Must be Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Must not have sponsored more than one partner previously
- Must not have sponsored a partner within the last five years
- Must not have relevant criminal convictions
Application Process
Step 1: Gather Documentation
Collect evidence of genuine relationship, meet in person requirements, health and character documents including police certificates and medical examinations.
Step 2: Sponsor Assessment
Ensure your sponsor meets eligibility criteria including citizenship status and sponsorship history requirements.
Step 3: Lodge Subclass 309 Application
Submit provisional partner visa application with all required documentation while outside Australia.
Step 4: Travel to Australia
Once provisional visa is granted, travel to Australia immediately as a temporary resident.
Step 5: Apply for Subclass 100
Two years after Subclass 309 application date, lodge permanent partner visa application and apply for Medicare.
Step 6: Obtain Permanent Residency
Once Subclass 100 is processed and granted, achieve permanent resident status in Australia.
Costs & Processing Time
Processing Time
Processing times not specified. Once permanent application is lodged, generally no further health checks or police certificates required.
About the Subclass 309/100 Offshore Partner Visa
Two-stage offshore partner visa for those outside Australia with an Australian citizen or permanent resident spouse.
Explore by Your Situation
3 articles · 33 questions
- Australia Partner Visa Complete Guide: 820/801, 309/100, 300 — Onshore vs Offshore & How to Choose16 questions
- Partner Visa Pathway Comparison
- What are the different partner visa pathways (820/801, 309/100, 300, de facto), and which one should I choose?Your location at the time of lodgement is the single most important factor in ch…
- Should I apply onshore (820) or offshore (309)? What is the difference?If you are lawfully in Australia and your relationship meets the criteria, the 8…
- How do de facto partners prove the relationship, and how is the 12-month cohabitation counted?The 12-month continuous cohabitation requirement must be satisfied before the da…
- What does the sponsor need to qualify, and what are the sponsorship limits?The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eli…
- How does the 820 to 801 two-stage process work, and how long to permanent residency?The 820/801 is a single application with two decision points, not two separate l…
- Can I travel out of Australia on the partner visa bridging stage?Travelling on a Bridging Visa A without the correct travel permission will resul…
- How long does a partner visa take to process?Processing times are the single most-discussed aspect of partner visas in 2025–2…
- How much does a partner visa cost in total?The government application fee for the 820/801 onshore and 309/100 offshore is a…
- Can my children be included in the partner visa application?Yes — dependent children of either the applicant or the sponsor can be included …
- What is the subclass 300 prospective marriage visa, and who is it for?The Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa is for couples who are genuinely enga…
- What happens to the partner visa if the relationship breaks down while waiting?A relationship breakdown during the waiting period does not automatically cancel…
- Can I work and study while holding a partner visa or its bridging visa?Full work and study rights apply to both the 820 temporary visa and the Bridging…
- If the main applicant is onshore and the partner is offshore, can they apply separately?This is one of the most misunderstood logistics questions in partner migration, …
- What relationship evidence is most convincing for a partner visa?The Department assesses partner visa applications against four pillars of relati…
- Work with VJ Consulting on Your Partner VisaPartner visas are among Australia's most evidence-intensive applications, and th…
- Partner Visa Eligibility: Requirements for 820, 309 & 3007 questions
- Who is eligible for 820 partner visa?The Subclass 820 visa is the onshore temporary partner visa — you must be physic…
- Who is eligible for 309 visa?The Subclass 309 visa mirrors the 820 in eligibility criteria but applies when t…
- How long do you need to be in a relationship for partner visa?For married couples, there is no minimum relationship duration — if you are lega…
- Can de facto couples apply for partner visa?Yes — de facto couples are fully eligible for Australian partner visas under the…
- What documents do I need for partner visa?Every partner visa application — whether 820, 309, or 300 — is assessed against …
- Can I apply partner visa if my partner is on student visa?The sponsor — not the applicant — must be an Australian citizen, permanent resid…
- Ready to assess your eligibility?Partner visa eligibility is straightforward on paper but the evidentiary require…
- Partner Visa Options: 820/801 vs 309/100 vs 300 — Which One?10 questions
- What is the difference between 820 and 801?The 820 and 801 are not two separate visas — they are the two stages of a single…
- What is the difference between 300 and 309?These are two distinct offshore visas with fundamentally different eligibility r…
- Should I apply onshore or offshore partner visa?Your location at the time of lodgement is the determining factor — not preferenc…
- Can I work on a partner visa?Yes — all three partner visa pathways include full work rights, but the timing d…
- Which partner visa is fastest?The 820 temporary stage is typically the fastest grant, but "fastest" is relativ…
- Can I travel while waiting for partner visa?It depends on which stage you are at and which document you hold.
- What evidence do I need for partner visa?The Department assesses partner visa applications against four categories — comm…
- How long do I need to be in a relationship?The requirement depends on the visa type and the nature of your relationship.
- Can de facto partners apply?Yes — de facto partners have equal standing with married couples across all part…
- Ready to Apply for a Partner Visa?Partner visa applications involve significant documentation requirements, multi-…
No articles match this filter. Try removing some filters or browse all articles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Subclass 309 and 100?
Subclass 309 is the offshore provisional partner visa allowing temporary residency. Subclass 100 is the permanent partner visa available two years after the Subclass 309 application date.
When can I apply for the permanent visa?
You are entitled to apply for Subclass 100 two years from the date of application for the Subclass 309 visa.
Can I access Medicare while on the provisional visa?
No, but once your Subclass 100 application is lodged, you may apply for Medicare access.
What if I don't have enough evidence yet?
An alternative is the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) for those not quite ready with sufficient relationship evidence.
Ready to start your Subclass 309/100 Offshore Partner Visa application?
Book a private strategy session with our MARA-registered migration agents.
Book a Consultation →Honest assessment, clear next steps.
