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Subclass 309 / 100
Partner visa (offshore)
For the married or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who applies from outside Australia.
Who this visa is for
Partners living outside Australia. The temporary 309 visa lets you travel to and live in Australia while the permanent 100 visa is assessed.
- Visa type
- Temporary → permanent
- Where you apply
- Outside Australia
- Length of stay
- Temporary visa until the permanent stage, then permanently
- Work
- Full work and study rights
- Next step
- Permanent 100 visa, usually assessed about 2 years after you apply
Key requirements
- Your sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, aged 18 or over
- You are married to, or in a de facto relationship with, your sponsor
- Your relationship is genuine and continuing, and you live together or are not permanently apart
- De facto partners usually need 12 months of living together before applying, unless the relationship is registered or there are compelling circumstances
- You and your sponsor meet the character requirements, and you meet the health requirement
- Your sponsor has not sponsored two partners before, or another partner within the last five years, unless there are compelling circumstances
- You are outside Australia when you apply and when the 309 visa is decided
What this visa lets you do
- Travel to Australia and live, work and study there once the 309 is granted
- Enrol in Medicare once you arrive
- Travel in and out of Australia while the visa is in effect
- Family violence and death-of-sponsor provisions may still allow permanent residence
How it works
Applying for the 309 / 100 visa
We handle each step and keep you informed, from the first assessment to the decision.
Check eligibility
We check the relationship and the sponsor's eligibility.
Prepare evidence
Relationship evidence, statements and declarations, and health and police checks.
Lodge from outside Australia
You lodge the combined 309/100 application online while outside Australia.
Temporary visa decision
You must be outside Australia when the 309 is decided.
Permanent stage
About two years after you applied, updated evidence is provided for the 100.
Documents you'll usually need
- Passports and birth certificates for both partners
- Marriage certificate, or evidence of your de facto relationship or relationship registration
- Evidence of shared finances, such as joint accounts and shared bills
- Evidence of living together, such as a lease or mortgage and mail to the same address
- Photos together over time, and evidence of travel and social life as a couple
- Statements from both partners about your relationship history
- Statutory declarations from friends and family who know you as a couple
- Police certificates, and evidence that any previous relationships have ended
Documents not in English need accredited translations. The Department may ask for others depending on your circumstances.
Questions
309 / 100 visa questions
Can I visit Australia while I wait?
You can apply for a visitor visa, but it may be refused if the Department is not satisfied you will leave, and you must be outside Australia when the 309 is decided.
Is processing faster offshore?
Processing times change and depend on your circumstances. We give you the current estimate when you apply.
General information only, current at November 2026. Visa criteria, fees and processing change often, including each 1 July. Book a consultation for advice on your situation.
Thinking about the 309 / 100?
Book a consultation and we'll check whether you meet every criterion before you apply.