Partner visa — offshore (subclasses 309/100)

Who it's for

Spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or other eligible sponsors , applying from outside Australia — typically the India-side partner of a couple, often with the Australia-side partner sponsoring and funding the application. Two stages in one application: provisional 309, then permanent 100.

Key requirements

• A genuine and continuing spousal or de facto relationship — for de facto, generally 12 months together or a registered relationship
• Applicant outside Australia at lodgement (and, historically, at 309 grant — check current settings )
• Sponsorship by the Australian partner, with sponsor limitations if they have sponsored before
• Health and character requirements for the applicant; character checks for the sponsor

Points/criteria table

Not points-tested. Evidence is weighed across the same four pillars as the onshore visa:

Pillar	Offshore-specific notes
Financial	Remittances, joint savings, wedding expenses — documented, not asserted
Household	Periods of cohabitation and visits, with travel records
Social	Wedding evidence, family knowledge on both sides
Commitment	Communication history across the distance, future plans in Australia

Process & timeline

1. Application lodged online from outside Australia
2. 309 (provisional) assessed — processing commonly runs one to two years ; travel to Australia is possible on other visas while waiting, with care
3. 100 (permanent) assessed from two years after original lodgement; long-standing relationships may be granted 100 directly

Costs

Item	Paid to	Indicative amount
Visa application charge (covers both the 309 and 100 stages)	Department of Home Affairs	AUD 11,710 (from 1 July 2026)
Health examination	Panel clinic in India (eMedical)	₹5,000–8,000
Police clearance certificate — India	Passport Seva Kendra	₹500
Police certificates — other countries	Relevant authority	Required for each country of significant residence ; costs vary
Police check — Australia (AFP), sponsor	Australian Federal Police	~AUD 50–60
Document translations (marriage certificate and supporting documents)	Certified translator	Per document; varies

Amounts payable to Australian authorities and assessing bodies are in Australian dollars; costs incurred in India are shown in rupees. Figures are indicative, change periodically, and should be treated as a planning guide rather than a quote. Our advisory fees are separate — see Services & fees.

Common pitfalls

• Arranged-marriage timelines documented thinly — where courtship was short, the evidence of ongoing commitment after marriage carries the weight, and it needs building deliberately
• The sponsor's history not checked first: prior sponsorships and certain convictions restrict or bar sponsorship
• Applying onshore/offshore against your travel reality — being in the wrong place at lodgement or grant stage has hard consequences
• Long-distance periods with no documented communication trail
• Treating the two-year 100 stage as automatic — changed circumstances must be disclosed and are assessed

FAQ

Can my partner visit me in Australia while the 309 processes? Usually yes, on a visitor visa, but intent and departure conditions need care .

We married in India — does Australia recognise the marriage? A marriage valid where performed is generally recognised, with exceptions .

309 or 820 — which do we choose? It follows from where the applicant is and can lawfully be at lodgement and grant. This is a fact-specific question a consultation resolves quickly.

Related visas

• Partner visa — onshore (subclasses 820/801)