The offshore Partner visa (subclasses 309 and 100) is the equivalent two-stage pathway for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is outside Australia when the application is lodged.
It follows broadly the same structure as the onshore pathway — a temporary visa followed by a permanent one — but the applicant applies, and is generally expected to be, offshore rather than in Australia.
To be eligible, you generally need to be:
As with the onshore pathway, a de facto relationship generally needs to have run for at least 12 months before applying, unless the relationship is registered or another exception applies.
The subclass 309 is the temporary stage — once granted, you're generally expected to be outside Australia when it's granted, after which you can travel to Australia and live with your partner. The subclass 100, the permanent stage, is usually assessed around two years after the original application was lodged, and generally requires updated evidence that the relationship is continuing.
Once the temporary visa is granted, you can generally:
Your Australian-based partner needs to be approved as your sponsor. As with the onshore pathway, sponsorship isn't unlimited over a lifetime, though exceptions can apply for circumstances like the death of a previous partner, a long relationship, family violence, or dependent children.
The same categories of evidence matter here as for the onshore visa: your finances together, your household, your social life as a couple, and the history and commitment behind the relationship — marriage or de facto certificates, joint bank statements, communication records, and similar documentation. Anything not in English needs to be translated, and the application is generally lodged online.
Health and character requirements apply in the same way as for onshore applicants, including medical examinations and police checks covering Australia and any country you've lived in. Visa application charges for this pathway are substantial and vary with the number and age of people included, so confirm the current figures before you plan around them.
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The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances.
Partner visa requirements, fees and Departmental processes can change. Meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee that a visa application will be approved.
Professional advice should be obtained based on your individual circumstances before lodging an application.
