Location 01
Applicant must be offshore
The applicant must be outside Australia at time of lodgement and at time of the 309 decision.
Details
Visa Partner Visa Overseas
Partner Visa Overseas
Subclass 309 and 100.
Offshore partner visa for spouses and de facto partners applying from outside Australia, granted in two stages.
- Registered migration agents
- 150+ CRICOS partner institutions
- Offices in Adelaide & Perth
Reuniting from Abroad, Then Settling for Good.
The offshore Partner Visa is a single combined application. Subclass 309 grants provisional entry while the permanent Subclass 100 is being assessed. The applicant must be outside Australia when the 309 is decided.
Once the 309 is granted, the partner enters Australia on the provisional visa and begins the two-year cohabitation window that supports the permanent 100 grant. Existing children can be added as secondary applicants at any point up to decision.
Choosing offshore over onshore
- Applicant lives outside Australia at time of lodgement.
- Bridging visa arrangements are not available offshore, so travel planning matters.
- Processing times for the 309 stage often move faster than the onshore 820.
Offshore-Specific Requirements.
The offshore stream shares the same statutory tests as onshore but adds four operational differences worth planning around.
Grant 02
Provisional then permanent
Subclass 309 is provisional. The permanent Subclass 100 is assessed roughly two years later.
Details
Relationship 03
Married or de facto
Married couples or de facto partners in a genuine relationship for at least 12 months (with limited exceptions).
Details
Documents 04
Foreign civil records
Marriage certificates, birth records and police clearances from every country of long residence must be translated and certified.
Details
Coordination Across Two Countries.
We coordinate document collection across jurisdictions: apostille or DFAT authentication, sworn translations, and panel physician bookings that match the applicant's home country. Sponsor documents are prepared in parallel in Australia so nothing sits idle.
We plan the applicant's travel around the 309 decision window to avoid the offshore requirement being breached at the wrong moment.
By the Numbers.
- Combined 309/100 fee (from)
- AUD 9,095
- 309 processing (median)
- 11 to 24 months
- Relationship threshold
- 12 months de facto
Frequently Asked Questions.
Who is eligible for the offshore 309/100 Partner visa?
The married or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The applicant must be outside Australia at both lodgement and grant of the 309, and the relationship must be genuine, continuing and mutually exclusive.
How long does the 309 typically take?
Global processing for the provisional 309 currently ranges from 11 to 24 months at the median. The permanent 100 is normally decided around two years after the initial lodgement date, once refreshed relationship evidence is provided.
How much does the offshore Partner visa cost?
The combined 309/100 base charge is around AUD 9,095 for the primary applicant, with additional-applicant fees for included children. Only one government charge applies across both stages. Health, biometric and translation costs are separate.
Can we apply as a de facto couple without being married?
Yes, provided the de facto relationship has existed for at least twelve months before lodgement. This threshold can be waived where the relationship is registered on an Australian state or territory register, or where compelling and compassionate circumstances apply.
Can I travel to Australia while the 309 is being processed?
Offshore Partner visa applicants do not receive a bridging visa. A separate visitor visa is needed to travel to Australia in the interim, and you must be outside Australia when the 309 is decided.
Do you provide MARA-registered assistance across both countries?
Yes. We coordinate document authentication, translations and panel physician bookings in the applicant's home country, prepare sponsor documents in Australia in parallel, and plan travel around the offshore decision window to protect the grant.
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