Partner Migration Offshore: 309 & 100

Partner Visa Australia 309

If you have an Australian de facto spouse and want to be with your partner in Australia, you can apply for a subclass 309 partner visa offshore as your major first step to becoming a permanent Australian resident. The offshore partner visa 309 allows you to live in Australia temporarily while your permanent visa is processed.

A partner visa subclass 309 allows you to:

• Stay, live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely
• Explore and travel to Australia without restrictions while your visa is valid
• If eligible, Attend English classes for free
• Be granted access to the country’s healthcare program, Medicare
• Bring your other family members to Australia

Common Criteria for Temporary Visa Subclass 309

To qualify for partner visa subclass 309, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be offshore or outside Australia at the time of application.
• You and your partner must both be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
• Your Australian partner must sponsor you.
• You must be in a genuine and continuing relationship with your de facto Australian partner or spouse.
• You must pass health and character checks.
• You must have no debt owed to the AU government.
• You must adhere to Australian laws and sign its values statement.
• Your application must be for the protection and best interests of your child.

Partner Visa Subclass 100

After holding the 309 visa for at least two years, you can become eligible for the Subclass 100 Partner (Migrant) visa, granting you permanent residency in Australia. You don’t need to submit a separate application—your 309 visa application already covers both stages.

Partner Visa 100 Checklist of Requirements

• Hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309)
• Proof of a genuine and loving relationship
• Meet health and character requirements
• Have complied with Australian laws

Relationship Requirements for Partner 309 Visa

One of the most important eligibility requirements for this visa is proving you are in a genuine and serious relationship with your partner or spouse. You can be either married already or plan to in the future.

For Married Applicants

You can get a 408 visa in Australia if you are a professional sports player, coach, or instructor for an Australian team. You can also participate in structured training programs locally and internationally with this visa.

• Your marriage should be recognised as valid under Australian laws
• You must demonstrate mutual commitment with your partner
• You must prove that your relationship is authentic and continuing
• You must either be living together or be apart but not permanently
• You must by no means be related by family

For De Facto Partner Applicants

You can get a 408 visa in Australia if you are a professional sports player, coach, or instructor for an Australian team. You can also participate in structured training programs locally and internationally with this visa.

• You and your partner are not married.
• You must demonstrate mutual commitment with your partner.
• You must prove that your relationship is authentic and continuing.
• You must either be residing together or not be permanently apart.
• You must by no means be related by blood.
• You must be in a serious relationship for a minimum of 12 months.

However, it’s essential to note that the time you were dating or in an online relationship will not count. Meanwhile, you can bypass the 12-month relationship requirement If you can provide exceptional circumstances or compelling reasons that will convince the Department that you must be granted a provisional partner visa 309.

The 12-month relationship condition is also not applicable for the following circumstances:

• If your de facto partner currently holds or has held a permanent humanitarian visa;
• You’re already in a de facto relationship even before the humanitarian visa grant;
• Your de facto partner informed the Department about your relationship when applying for said visa.

Finally, the 12-month relationship length will not apply if:

• You’re in a de facto and genuine relationship with someone applying for a permanent humanitarian visa
• Your relationship is officially registered with an Australian State or Territory authority, like the registry of births, deaths, and marriages.

Supporting Evidence Requirements

When applying for a partner visa 309, you should provide strong evidence that your relationship is genuine and committed. More proof means smoother the process! Here’s what we should include in our offshore partner visa 309 checklist:

Relationship Evidence

• Joint bank account statements
• Lease or mortgage agreements with both names
• Travel photos together over time
• Call logs, chat history, and emails showing regular communication

Cultural & Social Evidence

• Statutory declarations from friends and family confirming our relationship
• Invitations to events as a couple
• Proof of joint memberships (gym, clubs, insurance)

Financial Evidence

• Shared bills or expenses (utilities, groceries, rent)
• Joint loan agreements or liabilities
• Receipts for shared purchases

Application Process for Australian Partner Visa 309

There are two things you must bear in mind when applying for a partner provisional visa subclass 309: lodgement must be done online and offshore (outside Australia). But you can be both onshore and offshore once a visa decision has been made. 

You can also apply for both temporary (subclass 309) and permanent (subclass 100) visas at the same time. You will first be assessed for the temporary partner visa and, two years after your 309 visa grant, you will be evaluated for the permanent partner visa. By then, you must remain in a committed and continuing relationship with your de facto partner. 

If you have been in a long-term relationship with your Australian partner for three (3) years, or two (2) years if you have a dependent child, chances are high that you will be granted both visas during your combined application and become a permanent Australian resident.

Check Eligibility

• Must have a genuine and ongoing relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Your partner is willing to sponsor us for the visa.
• Must meet the relationship length requirements (especially for direct permanent residency eligibility).

Gather Required Documents

• Joint bank statements, lease agreements, photos, and communication logs.
• Shared expenses, joint liabilities.
• Passports, birth certificates.
• Statements from family or friends confirming our relationship.

Then, create an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website and submit applications online, upload documents, and track progress. You must also pass health examinations and provide police clearance certificates from any country you’ve lived in for at least 12 months in the last 10 years.

Visa processing times can vary, but the Department of Home Affairs provides an estimate based on recent applications. If you applied for the offshore partner visa 309 checklist, we can help you check the processing time guide.

Partner Visa Subclass 309 vs Subclass 820 Comparison

Choosing between an offshore and an onshore partner visa depends on your current location, travel flexibility, and previous immigration history.

The 4 Pillars of Partner Visa Evidence (Subclass 309 & 100)

Under Regulation 1.15A of the Migration Regulations 1994, the Department assesses whether your relationship is genuine and continuing across four legal pillars:

• Financial Aspects: Joint bank accounts with regular daily transactions, shared leases or mortgages, joint utility bills, and mutual beneficiary nominations on superannuation or wills.
• Nature of the Household: Shared residential tenancy agreements, mail sent to the same address, documented division of domestic chores, and shared responsibility for any children.
• Social Aspects: Statutory declarations (Form 888) from family and friends, joint holiday bookings, travel tickets, joint event invitations, and dated photos together.
• Nature of Commitment: Personal statements covering your relationship history, continuous communication logs (calls and chat messages) during separation, and evidence of long-term joint plans.

Offshore Partner Visa 309 Processing Time & Cost

Current processing times for the Partner Visa (subclass 309) are as follows: 50% of applications are finalised within 17 months, and 90% within 25 months, based on October 2025 Department of Home Affairs data. Processing times can vary significantly depending on case complexity, the quality of evidence submitted, and whether an interview is required.

For the main applicant, the estimated application cost is AUD 9,365 (covers both visas). For the additional adult applicants over 18, the fee is AUD 4,685, and for the child who is below 18, the fee is AUD $2,345. Note that you may also pay for other fees for health examinations, character checks, and other requirements relevant to your application.

To reiterate, these processing times and costs are just approximations. Processing your application may take even longer if there is a high volume of applicants or if you submit missing or incorrect information. Costs are also subject to change at any time without prior notice.

For the most up-to-date information, visit the official website of the Department of Home Affairs or contact a visa professional from Parish Patience for proper recommendations.