Subclass 309 / Apply outside Australia
Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) Across the distance. Towards a shared future.
Being apart can make planning feel harder. We help you understand the offshore partner pathway and present the life you share through a clear, well-supported application.
- Visa stage
- Provisional
- Where you apply
- Outside Australia
- Permanent stage
- Subclass 100
What this pathway offers
A pathway towards being together.
The 309 is the provisional stage of the offshore partner pathway. You lodge the 309 and 100 together, with the permanent stage considered separately.
Make a life in Australia
If granted, the 309 allows you to live, work and study in Australia while the permanent stage is being considered.
Keep travel in perspective
The granted 309 permits travel to and from Australia. A pending application does not itself give you a right to enter.
Prepare for both stages
Organise your documents with the permanent stage in mind, so you know what to maintain as your life develops.
The requirements in context
What needs to line up.
A relationship across countries needs a clear explanation of its history and your plans. The main checks include:
-
An eligible sponsoring partner
Your spouse or de facto partner must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and must be approved as your sponsor.
-
Where the application is lodged
You and accompanying applicants must be outside Australia when applying. Home Affairs can decide the 309 while you are in or outside Australia.
-
Your relationship history
Show that the relationship is genuine and continuing. De facto partners generally need at least 12 months in that relationship before applying, unless an exception applies.
-
Your wider circumstances
Review identity, sponsorship history, dependent children, health, character and any previous visa issues alongside the relationship evidence.
Time apart needs context.
Living in different countries does not tell the whole story of a relationship. Explain why you have been apart, how you stay connected and how your plans fit together.
We help you organise the chronology and evidence around your circumstances, including cultural, work, study or family commitments that shape your living arrangements.
A plan you can follow
From your story to the next step.
We help bring the relationship history, documents from different countries and practical plans into a clear application strategy.
-
Understand the starting point
Review both partners' circumstances, immigration history and relationship timeline before choosing the application approach.
-
Prepare the documents
Coordinate identity records, translations and relationship evidence. Check that names and dates are consistent.
-
Lodge the combined application
Apply for the 309 and 100 through ImmiAccount and complete the related sponsorship work.
-
Keep the story current
Respond to requests and report changes. After a temporary-stage grant, maintain evidence for the permanent assessment when eligible.
Preparation that makes sense
The evidence. With context.
Your checklist should reflect your circumstances and this stage of the process. Depending on your situation, it may include:
- Passports, identity records and documents about earlier marriages or relationships where relevant.
- Your sponsor's status and sponsorship information.
- A relationship chronology supported by finances, living arrangements, social recognition and commitment.
- Evidence of contact, visits and the reasons for time apart, where relevant.
- Dependent-child records, translations and health or character documents as required.
A little more clarity
Your 309 questions, made clearer.
Start with the essentials, then look at how the requirements apply to your circumstances.
Can I visit Australia while the 309 is processing?
A visit requires a visa that permits it, and you must meet that visa's requirements and conditions. A 309 application does not guarantee a visitor visa or permission to enter Australia.
Must I leave Australia for the 309 decision?
Current guidance allows a 309 decision while you are in or outside Australia. This does not change the requirement to be outside Australia when you apply, or the conditions of any visa used to visit.
When can the permanent stage be assessed?
Usually, eligibility for the 100 assessment is two years after the combined application date. Earlier consideration may be available in specified circumstances. The permanent visa requires its own decision.
Can my children be considered?
Dependent children may be included where they meet the applicable requirements. The timing matters, especially after a 309 grant. We check the child's circumstances and the correct process before adding them.
How long will it take and what will it cost?
Use the Home Affairs processing guide and current fee information for the relevant visa. Published processing times are guides, not a decision date for your case. We explain our professional fees and scope separately before you proceed.
Your next step starts with you
Let's bring your next step closer.
Tell us where you and your partner are now. We will help you understand the offshore pathway and the documents worth preparing first.