Can I apply for an Australian partner visa from outside Australia?

Yes — the Subclass 309/100 is designed for applicants outside Australia. You lodge the application offshore and remain outside while it is assessed. The 309 (temporary) is granted first, and it converts to the permanent 100 approximately two years after the original lodgement date — not two years after the 309 grant.

Where do I need to be when the 309 is granted?

The applicant must be outside Australia at the time the Subclass 309 is granted. This is a genuine strategic point: if you travel to Australia and happen to be there when the 309 is decided, you will not meet the grant requirement. If you are nearing the expected decision window, stay offshore or plan returns carefully. Your agent should flag this timing.

When does the Subclass 100 stage start?

The two-year qualifying period for the Subclass 100 runs from the date the application was lodged, not from the 309 grant date. In practice this means the waiting time on the 309 is part of the qualifying period. Once the two years have elapsed, DHA will assess the 100 stage — and the applicant must still be in a genuine relationship at that point.

Do we lose evidence value because we live apart?

No — the four pillars (financial, social, commitment, household) all translate for distance relationships. Financial transfers and joint accounts, communication records, video call logs, social media and third-party declarations from people who know you as a couple all speak to genuineness across borders. The important thing is to document the arrangement: why you are living apart, how you maintain the relationship, and what your plans are to live together.

Can the applicant work in Australia on the 309 visa?

Yes — the Subclass 309 visa grants full work rights in Australia. The applicant can live and work anywhere in Australia with no restrictions on the type of employment or hours. Medicare access is also available on the 309, as Australia has reciprocal health agreements with many countries.

What happens if the sponsor and applicant separate before the 100 is granted?

If the relationship breaks down before the 100 is granted, the 100 will generally not be approved. However, there are exceptions: if there are children of the relationship, or if the Australian sponsor (or their family member) engaged in family violence against the applicant, the 100 may still be granted on those grounds. This is one reason why preserving evidence of the relationship throughout the processing period matters.

Is there a lower cost route than the 309/100?

The government fee for a partner visa (309/100) is set by DHA and is the same base fee regardless of how the application is lodged. The onshore route (820/801) costs the same government fee but has different location requirements. What varies is agent fees and the cost of obtaining evidence — there is no lower-fee DHA route to partner permanent residency.

How many photos do we need?

There is no prescribed number. In practice, 20–40 well-captioned photos spanning the history of the relationship perform best — covering early meetings, milestones (trips, family events, celebrations), and recent life together. Each photo should have a date, location, and a brief note of context. Quality and evidence of history matters more than volume.

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Subclass 309 / 100Offshore · One application · Two stages

Partner Visa
309 / 100
From Outside Australia

One application, two stages. The temporary 309 first — then the permanent 100, which becomes assessable two years from the date of lodgement.

The Short Answer

Yes — you can apply from outside Australia. The 309/100 is lodged offshore, one application with two stages. The permanent 100 becomes assessable two years from the lodgement date — so the waiting time doubles as the qualifying period. The applicant generally needs to be outside Australia when the 309 is granted, which makes travel timing around the decision a genuine part of the strategy.

Plan My Timeline Evidence Guide →

At a Glance

Subclass 309 / 100 Key Facts

Application typeOne application, two-stage grant

Where you lodgeOutside Australia

First stageSubclass 309 — Temporary Partner

Second stageSubclass 100 — Permanent Partner

Two-year clockStarts at lodgement, not 309 grant

At 309 grantApplicant must be outside Australia

Work rights (309)Unlimited — any job, any hours

Relationship typesMarried or genuine de facto (12+ months)

Govt fee (2024–25)AUD $9,095 primary applicant

Current processing18–36+ months (varies by case)

Children can be includedYes — as secondary applicants

Quick Answer

The partner visa offshore (subclass 309/100) is for applicants outside Australia sponsored by an eligible partner, as Nanak Migration Group, a registered migration agent (MARN 2619467), explains. The onshore alternative is partner visa onshore (subclass 820/801); some couples start with Prospective Marriage (subclass 300). Use the partner visa evidence guide and other partner and family visas resources when preparing partner visa evidence.

Reviewed by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2619467)

Last reviewed: July 2026

How the Visa Works

Two Stages — One Application

You lodge once. DHA assesses twice. The second assessment happens automatically — you don't re-apply.

LODGE· Day 0

Application & Bridging

Lodge Form 47SP + 40SP online via ImmiAccount

Pay government fee in full

Applicant must be outside Australia at lodgement

If in Australia on another visa, BVA activates automatically

Two-year qualifying period starts now

309· 18–36 months

Subclass 309 — Temporary

First assessment of relationship genuineness

Health and character must be satisfied

Applicant must be outside Australia at grant

Once granted: live, work, study in Australia freely

Medicare access (reciprocal agreement countries)

100· 2 yrs from lodgement

Subclass 100 — Permanent

Automatic re-assessment — you don't re-apply

Must still be in genuine relationship at this point

If relationship ended: children or DV grounds may still apply

Permanent residence granted — pathway to citizenship

Sponsor obligations cease

The Grant-Day Travel RuleThe applicant must be outside Australia when the Subclass 309 is granted. If the expected decision window is approaching and the applicant is in Australia, they risk being in the wrong location at the moment of grant. Navpreet monitors cases as they approach decision stage and advises on travel positioning — this is active case management, not paperwork.

Which Route?

309 / 100 vs 820 / 801

Same end destination. The only real difference is where you are when you apply — and where you must be at the first grant.

Feature	Subclass 309/100 (Offshore)	Subclass 820/801 (Onshore)
Who applies?	Applicant outside Australia	Applicant inside Australia
Where at lodgement?	Offshore	Onshore
Where at 309/820 grant?	Must be outside Australia	Can be anywhere
First stage visa	Subclass 309 (temporary)	Subclass 820 (temporary)
Permanent stage	Subclass 100	Subclass 801
2-year clock starts	Date of lodgement	Date of lodgement
Work rights on temp visa	Yes — unlimited	Yes — unlimited
Medicare	Yes (where reciprocal agreement)	Yes
Govt fee (2024–25)	AUD $9,095 (primary)	AUD $9,095 (primary)
Processing (current)	18–36+ months (75th percentile)	20–36+ months (75th percentile)

Proving Your Relationship

The Four Evidence Pillars

DHA assesses genuineness across four domains. Select each pillar to see what qualifies — including evidence that works for couples living apart.

Pillar 1 of 4

Financial Evidence

Joint bank accounts or transfers between you

Co-ownership of property or vehicle

Joint financial obligations (rent, bills, loans)

Named as financial beneficiary (insurance, super)

Evidence of supporting each other financially while apart

For Couples Living Apart

Bank transfers, remittances, joint financial decisions made remotely all count.

Application Preparation

Document Checklist

Select each category to expand the list. This is indicative — your specific case may require additional documents.

Sponsor's Australian passport or citizenship certificate

Applicant's passport (all pages)

Marriage certificate (if married) — translated to English

De facto statutory declaration (if not married)

Birth certificates for any children

Questions

309 / 100 FAQ

Separated by borders.
United by process.

Navpreet Aulakh (MARN 2619467) manages partner visa cases from lodgement through the 100 grant — including evidence structuring, the grant-day travel rule, and keeping cases moving through DHA's queue.

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Free initial assessment · MARN 2619467

General information only — not immigration advice

About this information

This information is general in nature and does not constitute immigration assistance or legal advice for any individual situation. Requirements including occupation lists, fees and processing criteria change without notice.

No outcome representation

Nanak Migration Group Pty Ltd makes no representation that information on this site is complete, current or applicable to your circumstances. Nothing here guarantees, implies or represents any visa outcome, approval likelihood or processing time.

Get personal advice

Obtain advice tailored to your situation from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

Information current as at July 2026. Verify all requirements with the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) before lodging any application.

Partner Visa
309 / 100
From Outside Australia

One application, two stages. The temporary 309 first — then the permanent 100, which becomes assessable two years from the date of lodgement.

The Short Answer

Feature

Subclass 309/100 (Offshore)

Subclass 820/801 (Onshore)

Who applies?

Applicant outside Australia

Applicant inside Australia

Where at lodgement?

Offshore

Onshore

Where at 309/820 grant?

Must be outside Australia

Can be anywhere

First stage visa

Subclass 309 (temporary)

Subclass 820 (temporary)

Permanent stage

Subclass 100

Subclass 801

2-year clock starts

Date of lodgement

Work rights on temp visa

Yes — unlimited

Medicare

Yes (where reciprocal agreement)

Yes

Govt fee (2024–25)

AUD $9,095 (primary)

Processing (current)

18–36+ months (75th percentile)

20–36+ months (75th percentile)

Partner Visa
309 / 100
From Outside Australia

Two Stages — One Application

Your 309/100 Timeline

309 / 100 vs 820 / 801

The Four Evidence Pillars

Document Checklist

309 / 100 FAQ

Separated by borders.
United by process.

Partner Visa
309 / 100
From Outside Australia

Two Stages — One Application

Your 309/100 Timeline

309 / 100 vs 820 / 801

The Four Evidence Pillars

Document Checklist

309 / 100 FAQ

Separated by borders.
United by process.

Partner Visa309 / 100From Outside Australia

Two Stages — One Application

Your 309/100 Timeline

309 / 100 vs 820 / 801

The Four Evidence Pillars

Document Checklist

309 / 100 FAQ

Separated by borders.United by process.

Partner Visa309 / 100From Outside Australia

Two Stages — One Application

Your 309/100 Timeline

309 / 100 vs 820 / 801

The Four Evidence Pillars

Document Checklist

309 / 100 FAQ

Separated by borders.United by process.

Partner Visa
309 / 100
From Outside Australia

Separated by borders.
United by process.

Partner Visa
309 / 100
From Outside Australia

Separated by borders.
United by process.