Two visas, one application
You apply once. Pay the fee once. The 309 is granted first while the applicant is outside Australia. Around 2 years later, the 100 permanent visa is granted.
Offshore Partner Visa · 309 Then 100
Subclass 309/100, for cross-border couples.
Long-distance relationships are normal now. One partner in Australia, one partner overseas. A life together planned across time zones. The Subclass 309 is the visa that closes that distance. It lets the overseas partner join the Australian one, with a clear pathway to permanent residency through the 100.
Key facts about the 309/100
What makes this different from the onshore 820/801.
Structurally similar. Practically different. The big difference is where you are at the time of application and what evidence you can produce.
Applicant must be offshore at application
At the time of lodgement, the applicant must be outside Australia. After the 309 is granted, the applicant travels to Australia.
Full rights on arrival
Once the 309 is granted, the applicant travels to Australia with full work rights, study rights, and Medicare access from arrival.
Not restricted to country of origin
The applicant does not have to apply from their country of birth. Any country where they are lawfully present usually works, though some countries have processing restrictions.
Offshore evidence, adapted
Why offshore evidence is harder. And how to fix it.
Offshore couples usually have less of the standard partner visa evidence. Less shared housing. Less shared banking. Less day-to-day domestic life. The Department knows this. They look for substitutes. Here is what works.
Communication recordsWhatsApp chat exports. Email threads. Video call records. Phone bills showing international calls across time.
Visit recordsPassport stamps. Flight bookings. Photos with date stamps from each visit. Evidence that you have spent time together in person, not just online.
Financial support across bordersInternational money transfer records showing one partner supporting the other. Joint online accounts. Shared financial commitments.
Family introductionsPhotos, video calls, and statements from both families confirming they know the relationship and accept it.
Joint planningEmails and messages discussing marriage, moving to Australia, financial planning, and the future together. Commitment in writing.
Offshore partner visas get extra Departmental scrutiny.
The Department treats all offshore partner visa applications with extra scrutiny because the cross-border nature of the relationship makes certain types of fraud more common. This is not a comment on you. It means your application needs to be especially careful and well-documented. A strong offshore partner visa application looks nothing like a weak one.
How the 309/100 process works
Seven stages from lodgement to permanent.
Similar structure to the onshore 820/801, with the key difference that the applicant enters Australia after the 309 is granted, not before.
1
Preparation
4 to 8 weeks. Gathering evidence across borders. Drafting statements. Preparing sponsor documents.
2
Lodgement
Submitted online through ImmiAccount. Sponsor application lodged at the same time.
3
Processing
Department processes the 309. Times vary significantly by country, complexity, workload.
4
309 grant
Temporary visa granted. Applicant can now travel to Australia.
5
Life in Australia
Couple lives together in Australia. Fresh evidence of the ongoing relationship is built.
6
100 assessment
Around 2 years after the 309 application, the Department assesses the 100.
7
100 grant
Permanent visa granted. Pathway to citizenship begins.
Special situations we see often
Cases that look complicated. Usually not deal-breakers.
None of these automatically suggest the relationship is not genuine. But each one triggers extra Department scrutiny that needs careful framing.
Partner in a third country
The applicant does not have to apply from their country of citizenship. As long as they are lawfully in a country where the Department processes applications, the 309 can be lodged from there.
Rapid relationship to marriage
Some couples marry quickly when they realise one partner's visa will not let them stay. The Department sometimes views this as suspicious. We help frame the relationship and marriage decision so it reads as genuine.
Age gap, culture, language
Large age gap, cultural difference, or language barrier. None of these automatically suggest the relationship is not genuine. But the Department will look harder. We help you document the communication and understanding that makes it work.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.