Offshore Partner Visa Australia: Complete Guide for 2026

An offshore partner visa is the pathway for a spouse or de facto partner who is outside Australia and wants to live in Australia with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and it is generally lodged as one combined application for the temporary Subclass 309 visa and the permanent Subclass 100 visa. The 309 is decided first. The 100 is assessed later, once the Department of Home Affairs considers you eligible for the permanent stage.

This guide explains who can apply, what the requirements are, what the current charge is, how long it may take, and how the application process works. It is written for people who plan to apply for an offshore partner visa from overseas.

What Is the Subclass 309/100 Partner Visa?

The Subclass 309/100 pathway is made up of two visas, and you apply for both at the same time.

You pay one application charge at the start. Home Affairs first assesses the 309 stage. If it is granted, you become eligible for the permanent stage assessment about two years after you lodged the original application.

For couples who were together for a long time before applying, the Department may decide the 100 straight after the 309. That depends on the circumstances of each case.

If you are already in Australia, a different pathway applies (Subclasses 820 and 801). This article covers the partner visa Australia from overseas option only.

Who Can Apply for an Offshore Partner Visa?

You can generally apply if you are outside Australia, you are the spouse or de facto partner of an eligible sponsor, and your partner is willing to sponsor you.

An eligible sponsor is usually one of these:

• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent resident
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

This means you can apply for an offshore partner visa if your partner is a permanent resident, not only a citizen. Same-sex couples are treated in the same way as opposite-sex couples.

If you are engaged but not yet married, the Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) may be a better fit. It is a separate visa with its own rules.

Offshore Partner Visa Requirements in Australia

The offshore partner visa requirements are split between the applicant and the sponsor. They are not identical, and your evidence will not look exactly like someone else’s.

Applicant requirements

• A genuine and continuing relationship. You must be the spouse or de facto partner of your sponsor.
• Outside Australia. You, and any family members applying with you, must be outside Australia when you apply.
• An approved sponsor. Your partner must sponsor you, and the Department must approve that sponsorship.
• Health requirement. You and any family members included must meet it.
• Character requirement. This applies to you and any family members included, and usually involves police certificates.
• No debt to the Australian Government.
• Visa history. The Department looks at whether you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused.

Marriage and de facto requirements

If you are married, you generally need to show the marriage is valid under Australian law, along with evidence that the relationship is genuine and ongoing.

If you are in a de facto relationship, the rules usually expect you to have lived together as a couple for a set period, unless an exception such as a registered relationship applies. Check the Department’s current wording for your situation.

Sponsor requirements

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be the spouse or de facto partner of the applicant
• Submit the sponsorship form and meet the character requirements, which usually means providing police certificates

There can also be limits on who can sponsor. For example, restrictions may apply if the sponsor was previously sponsored as a partner, has sponsored someone before, or has certain criminal history. A sponsor’s own circumstances can affect the whole application.

Offshore Partner Visa Processing Time in 2026

The offshore partner visa processing time is longer than many people expect, and Home Affairs does not give a fixed decision date. Its processing times guide shows how long recently decided applications took. The Department says it is a guide only and is not specific to your application.

Here is what the official sources show at the time of writing:

• Under the Department’s current priority order (Ministerial Direction 117), onshore partner applications get the highest priority. Offshore applications, including the 309 and 100, receive lower priority and are likely to take longer.
• Home Affairs’ processing times summary showed a median of 23 months for the Partner (Provisional/Temporary) category in August 2026. That category covers temporary partner visas generally, not only the 309.
• Partner applications can be allocated to any Home Affairs office, in or outside Australia, so the processing location tells you little about your progress.

Some migration websites that read the guide for the 309 specifically report a wide spread, with half of applications finished in roughly 16 to 17 months and nine in ten in roughly 25 to 30 months. These readings differ from site to site and change monthly, so treat them as a rough picture and not as a promise.

How to check the latest estimate

1. Open the Home Affairs visa processing times guide.
2. Select Partner (Provisional) (subclass 309) as the visa type.
3. Choose your stream and enter your application date.

What can slow things down

• Missing documents or unclear evidence
• Requests for further information that take time to answer
• Health or character checks, including waiting for police certificates
• Relationship evidence that needs closer assessment
• Changes to government processing priorities

The Department asks applicants not to contact it while an application is still inside the standard processing time. You can check your application status and see which documents you have provided through ImmiAccount.

How Much Does an Offshore Partner Visa Cost?

The base visa application charge for the main applicant is A$11,710 for applications from 1 July 2026. This was checked on 13 October 2026.

Here is how the charge works:

• The charge covers both the 309 and the 100. There is no second application charge for the permanent stage.
• Extra charges apply for additional applicants, such as dependent children, so the total depends on your family.
• The charge is generally not refunded if the application is refused. Refunds are only possible in limited cases.
• Charges are usually updated each year on 1 July.

Other costs may sit on top of the application charge:

• Health examinations
• Police certificates from each relevant country
• Document translations
• Professional help, if you choose to use it

Because these extras vary, no single total fits everyone. Use the Department’s fees and charges information and its Visa Pricing Estimator to confirm the figure on the day you plan to lodge.

Documents Required for an Offshore Partner Visa

The checklist inside ImmiAccount is the final word on what to attach. In general, documents fall into these groups.

For the applicant

• Passport identity page and other identity documents
• Birth certificate, if required
• Passport-style photos, if requested
• Evidence of any change of name, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll
• Police certificates from countries where you have lived for 12 months or more

For the sponsor

• Evidence of identity
• Proof of citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand status
• Police certificates, as required
• The completed sponsorship form

For the relationship

• Marriage certificate, if you are married
• Evidence for the four areas covered in the relationship section below
• Two Form 888 statutory declarations from people who know about your relationship
• Statements from you and your partner about how the relationship developed

Health examinations can be arranged after you lodge. The results are valid for 12 months, and the Department may ask you to repeat them if they expire before a decision. Documents not in English need translating.

How to Apply for an Offshore Partner Visa

To apply for an offshore partner visa, you lodge online through ImmiAccount. Paper applications are accepted only if the Department invites you to use one.

1. Check eligibility and sponsorship. Confirm that you and your partner meet the requirements above.
2. Gather your documents. Collect identity, relationship and character documents before you start.
3. Prepare the application and sponsorship. Complete the application form and the sponsorship information with matching details.
4. Lodge in ImmiAccount. Submit the combined 309/100 application and pay the charge.
5. Respond to the Department. If it asks for more information, answer within the deadline.
6. Complete health and character checks. Arrange examinations and police certificates when requested.
7. Wait for the decision. The 309 is assessed first.
8. Move to the permanent stage. After a 309 grant, the 100 is assessed once you become eligible.

If you cannot meet a deadline, you can ask for more time through the Department’s Partner processing enquiry form. Send the request before the original deadline passes, with evidence that you are working on it. More time is not guaranteed.

How to Prove a Genuine and Continuing Relationship

The Department looks at the relationship as a whole. There is no magic number of documents, and a large pile of papers does not guarantee approval. What matters is that your evidence tells a consistent, believable story.

Evidence is usually grouped into four areas:

• Financial arrangements. Joint bank accounts, shared bills or loans, one partner supporting the other, or shared ownership of assets.
• Shared household. Joint tenancy or mortgage, mail addressed to you both at one address, and how you split daily responsibilities. If you live in different countries, explain why and how you handle shared life from a distance.
• Social recognition. Photos together at events, messages or invitations addressed to you as a couple, and statements from family and friends who know you as partners.
• Commitment. Evidence of long-term plans, how you share major decisions, and your intention to be together in Australia.

If you live apart, show how you keep in touch. Call logs, message history, travel records, boarding passes and photos from visits can all help.

Choose evidence that fits your relationship. Someone married for years will have different records from a couple who met online and have only visited each other a few times.

Can You Include Dependent Children?

Yes, dependent children can be included in the application. Any child who applies with you must be outside Australia, and must meet the health and character requirements.

A few points to keep in mind:

• An extra application charge applies for each child.
• For children under 18, the Department considers whether the move is in the child’s best interests.
• If the child’s other parent is not migrating, you may need to show custody arrangements or consent.
• If a child is added later, the Department has separate steps for that, including the Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445) for children of temporary partner visa holders.

Children’s circumstances vary widely. Check what applies to yours before you lodge.

Can You Visit Australia While Your Offshore Partner Visa Is Being Processed?

Sometimes, but it needs care. You must be outside Australia when you apply for the 309, and a short visit on another visa does not change that rule.

If you want to visit on a visitor visa while you wait, keep these points in mind:

• The visitor visa has its own requirements, including that your stay is temporary.
• Your visa conditions may limit what you can do or how long you can stay.
• The Department may ask about your plans and your pending partner application.
• Make sure the timing does not leave you in Australia when a decision on the partner visa is made.

Because a mistake here can cause real problems, it is worth getting advice before booking flights.

What Happens After Subclass 309 Is Granted?

Once your 309 is granted, you can come to Australia and live here as the holder of a temporary visa. You can generally live, work and study, but your grant letter sets out your exact conditions, so read it closely. Your grant letter also gives a first entry date.

The 309 stays in place until the Department decides your permanent 100 visa, or you withdraw the application.

When two years have passed since you lodged the original application, you become eligible for the permanent stage assessment:

1. Log in to ImmiAccount and start a new family application.
2. Choose the Stage 2 permanent partner assessment (100 and 801).
3. Enter your application ID and complete the form.
4. Provide updated evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing.

If your relationship changes, or ends, before the permanent stage is decided, you must tell the Department. Special provisions can apply in some situations, including family violence. Seek advice if this affects you.

Common Mistakes That May Delay an Application

• Lodging with thin relationship evidence. A few photos and a marriage certificate may not be enough on their own.
• Inconsistent details. Dates, addresses and timelines that do not match across forms and statements raise questions.
• Forgetting the Form 888 declarations or using people who cannot speak to your relationship.
• Missing police certificates from countries where either of you lived for long periods.
• Doing health checks too early. Results expire after 12 months, and you may need to repeat them.
• Missing a response deadline when the Department asks for more information.
• Ignoring sponsor limits. Past sponsorships or other restrictions can affect eligibility.
• Contacting the Department too early. It asks applicants not to enquire while the application is still within the standard time.
• Not reporting changes in contact details, passport details or relationship status.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an offshore partner visa in Australia?

It is the partner visa pathway for people outside Australia. You generally apply for the temporary Subclass 309 and permanent Subclass 100 together, with the 309 decided first.

What is the difference between subclass 309 and subclass 100?

The subclass 309 visa is temporary and lets you live in Australia while the permanent stage is decided. The Subclass 100 is the permanent partner visa. You can only hold the 100 after being granted the 309, except where the Department decides both in quick succession.

How long does an offshore partner visa take to process in 2026?

The Department does not promise a fixed period. Its summary showed a median of 23 months for the Partner (Provisional/Temporary) category in August 2026, and offshore applications get lower priority. Use the official processing times guide for the current estimate.

How much does an offshore partner visa cost?

The base charge for the main applicant is A$11,710 for applications from 1 July 2026 (checked 13 October 2026). It covers both the 309 and the 100. Extra charges apply for added applicants, plus costs such as health checks, police certificates and translations.

Can I apply for an offshore partner visa if I am in a de facto relationship?

Yes. De facto partners can apply. The rules generally expect proof that you have lived together as a couple for a set period, unless an exception applies. Whether you qualify depends on your circumstances.

Can I visit Australia while waiting for my offshore partner visa?

Possibly, using a visa that allows it, such as a visitor visa. That visa has its own requirements, and you must be outside Australia when you apply for the 309. Get advice before you book travel.

Can I include my dependent children in my application?

Yes. Dependent children can be included, and an additional charge applies for each. They must meet health and character requirements, and children under 18 are assessed against their best interests.

What documents are required for an offshore partner visa?

You will usually need identity documents, police certificates, relationship evidence, two Form 888 declarations and the sponsor’s documents. The checklist in ImmiAccount is the authority, and evidence differs from couple to couple.

Can I work in Australia after my subclass 309 visa is granted?

The 309 generally allows you to live, work and study in Australia. Check the conditions in your grant letter, as they set out exactly what you can do.

Can I apply for an offshore partner visa if my partner is an Australian permanent resident?

Yes. An Australian permanent resident can sponsor their spouse or de facto partner. The sponsor must still meet the sponsorship requirements.

What happens if the Department requests more documents?

Send what it asks for before the deadline. If you cannot, you can request more time through the Partner processing enquiry form before the original deadline expires. Extra time is not guaranteed.

Can I apply for a subclass 100 visa directly?

No. You first need to hold a temporary Partner visa. Offshore applicants lodge the combined 309/100 application and then become eligible for the 100 assessment two years after lodging.

Conclusion: Getting Guidance for Your Partner Visa

An offshore partner visa takes careful preparation. You need a sponsor who meets the rules, a relationship you can show with honest and consistent evidence, and patience for a process that can run well beyond a year. No one can promise a decision date or an outcome.

It helps to start with the official information, prepare your documents early and keep your details consistent from the first form to the last.

Asia Pacific Group (APG) provides education and migration consultancy services. Planning to join your partner in Australia? Contact Asia Pacific Group to discuss your circumstances and understand the offshore Partner visa process.

You can also read more about our Partner visa subclass 309/100 service.

Disclaimer

Important: This article provides general information only. Visa requirements, charges and processing times change, and your eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always check the latest information on the official Department of Home Affairs website before you make a visa application. For advice about your situation, consider speaking with a registered migration agent or qualified legal professional.