The 309 Partner visa, officially the Partner (Provisional) visa (Subclass 309), is an offshore pathway for eligible spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens.
For couples applying from the UK, preparation involves more than proving that the relationship exists. You need to identify the correct application pathway, arrange sponsorship and present evidence that explains your shared life and future plans.
Quick Answer
The Partner (Provisional) visa (Subclass 309) allows an eligible partner to live in Australia temporarily while the permanent Partner (Migrant) visa (Subclass 100) application is considered.
You apply for both stages together. You must be outside Australia when lodging the initial application, but you may be inside or outside Australia when Subclass 309 is granted, provided you are not in immigration clearance.
Why This Matters
An offshore Partner Visa application and a temporary visit to Australia serve different purposes.
If your goal is to establish a shared home in Australia, compare the relevant Partner visa pathways before making travel or relocation commitments.
Being married does not guarantee approval, and submitting an application does not provide immediate permission to enter Australia. Plan the application, any visits and the eventual move as separate stages.
Who Can Apply for a Subclass 309 Partner Visa From the UK?
The pathway is for eligible spouses or de facto partners sponsored by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Your relationship must be genuine and continuing. Both the relationship and sponsorship need to meet the applicable requirements.
Applying from the UK does not necessarily mean you must be a British citizen. The important questions include your relationship, your sponsor’s eligibility and your location when applying.
Married Applicants and the Subclass 309 Partner Visa
Provide your marriage certificate or other evidence that the marriage is valid under Australian law.
The certificate establishes the marriage, but your application should also explain your life together. Include relevant evidence of shared responsibilities, commitments and the relationship’s development.
De Facto Applicants and the Subclass 309 Partner Visa
De facto applicants generally need to demonstrate a qualifying relationship lasting at least 12 months immediately before applying.
Exceptions can apply, including qualifying registered relationships and compelling and compassionate circumstances. Do not assume that dating for 12 months establishes a de facto relationship or that an exception removes the need to prove the relationship itself.
Check your circumstances before choosing an application date.
Sponsorship for a Subclass 309 Partner Visa
Your sponsoring partner has a separate role in the application process.
Confirm their citizenship or immigration status and review the sponsorship requirements, including any relevant previous sponsorships and character matters.
The sponsor completes the online sponsorship process and provides supporting documents. Home Affairs also requires sponsor police certificates when submitting the sponsorship or as soon as possible afterwards.
Prepare the sponsor’s information alongside the applicant’s evidence. Leaving it until later can make it harder to identify missing records or inconsistent dates before submission.
Relationship Evidence for a Subclass 309 Partner Visa
A useful application shows how your relationship works in practice.
Home Affairs considers financial matters, household arrangements, social recognition and commitment. Choose evidence that relates to your circumstances rather than trying to create documents solely to match a generic checklist.
| Relationship area | Examples to consider | What your explanation should clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Finances | Shared accounts, bills, expenses or transfers | How you manage money and support one another. |
| Household | Living arrangements and shared responsibilities | Where you have lived and how you organise daily life. |
| Social recognition | Shared activities, travel and invitations | How other people recognise you as a couple. |
| Commitment | Communication, significant decisions and future plans | How you maintain the relationship and plan a shared future. |
Write a clear relationship history covering important dates and any periods apart. Cross-check it against your application answers and documentary evidence.
Witness Evidence for Your Subclass 309 Partner Visa
Arrange the required witness statements from people who know you and your relationship.
Witnesses should describe what they personally know. Their accounts should support your evidence without replacing your own explanation of the relationship.
Explaining Time Apart During a Subclass 309 Application
UK–Australia couples may have spent periods apart because of employment, family commitments or immigration arrangements.
Explain the reason, dates and how you stayed involved in each other’s lives. Relevant records might include visits, communication and shared planning.
For example, if one partner returned to Australia for work while the other completed a UK contract, explain that sequence. Make sure the dates agree with travel records and the addresses given in your application.
Documents for a Subclass 309 Partner Visa Application
Use the current Home Affairs instructions and the checklist in ImmiAccount to prepare the documents relevant to your application.
Organise records into clear groups, such as identity, relationship evidence, sponsorship and any accompanying family members.
Check that names, dates, previous relationships and addresses are consistent. Explain differences where necessary rather than leaving the decision-maker to work out whether two records concern the same person.
Police Certificates and Health Checks
Check which police certificates are required for your residence history and your sponsor’s circumstances.
Follow the relevant country-specific instructions. Do not assume a general employment background check is the correct immigration document.
You must also meet the applicable health requirements. Follow the instructions about arranging examinations and responding to requests. Home Affairs may ask for examinations again if earlier results expire before the application is decided.
How to Apply for a Subclass 309 Partner Visa From the UK
The initial application is normally submitted online through ImmiAccount.
A practical preparation sequence is:
- Confirm that the offshore pathway fits your circumstances.
- Check relationship and sponsorship eligibility.
- Prepare the application answers and supporting evidence.
- Confirm the applicant and accompanying applicants are outside Australia when lodging.
- Submit the combined Subclass 309/100 application and pay the applicable charge.
- Complete the sponsor’s online sponsorship process.
- Monitor ImmiAccount and respond to requests within the stated timeframe.
Keep a copy of the submitted application and organise later documents so that you can explain what has changed.
If Home Affairs requests information you cannot obtain within the deadline, request extra time before that deadline and provide evidence of the steps you have taken. An extension is not automatic.
Subclass 309 Partner Visa Costs and Processing Times
As of 4 November 2026, Home Affairs lists the offshore Partner Visa application charge from AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, with concessions in limited circumstances.
The initial charge covers the Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 visa stages. Additional applicant charges and expenses such as health examinations, police certificates, translations or professional assistance may apply.
Check the current Home Affairs pricing information for your family’s circumstances before paying.
For processing estimates, use the guide for the relevant subclass. A combined Partner Visa category figure is not a personalised forecast for an application from the UK.
Preparation quality, further checks, requests for information and processing priorities can affect timing. Avoid treating another couple’s grant date as a reliable prediction of yours.
Can You Visit Australia While Your Subclass 309 Partner Visa Is Processing?
You may be able to visit on a separate visa while the offshore application is being assessed.
Eligible travellers might consider an eVisitor, but the visitor application is assessed against its own requirements. You must intend a genuine temporary visit and comply with the conditions of the visa you hold.
The offshore Partner Visa application does not itself provide a bridging visa or permission to remain beyond your visitor stay. Visitor permission also does not allow ordinary employment while you wait.
Your Location When Subclass 309 Is Granted
The requirement to apply offshore does not mean you must remain overseas throughout processing.
Current rules allow Subclass 309 to be granted while you are inside or outside Australia, excluding immigration clearance. Keep your travel plans consistent with your existing permission and check your status if another visa is granted.
Marrying Before an Offshore Partner Visa Application
If you intend to marry during a temporary Australian visit, check the wedding requirements alongside your travel arrangements.
A wedding does not automatically change your immigration status. If you choose the Subclass 309 pathway, plan to be outside Australia when lodging the application.
From the 309 Partner Visa to Subclass 100
The Partner (Migrant) visa (Subclass 100) is the permanent stage of the offshore pathway.
Assessment is generally available two years after the original combined application date. This is not normally measured from the date Subclass 309 was granted.
Some applicants can qualify for earlier assessment, including certain applicants who were already in a qualifying long-term relationship when they applied.
Prepare for the permanent Partner stage by keeping evidence of your continuing relationship and current circumstances.
Follow the Stage 2 instructions in ImmiAccount when eligible. Reaching the two-year point does not mean permanent residence is automatically granted.
Common Subclass 309 Partner Visa Mistakes
- Applying from inside Australia when using the offshore pathway.
- Treating a marriage certificate as the entire relationship case.
- Confusing time spent dating with the qualifying de facto relationship period.
- Providing conflicting dates across statements, forms and documents.
- Leaving sponsorship evidence incomplete.
- Assuming an offshore application provides visitor or work rights while pending.
- Measuring permanent-stage eligibility from the Subclass 309 grant date.
- Treating the permanent stage as automatic.
Where to Go Next
FAQs
No. Subclass 309 is the provisional stage. Subclass 100 is the permanent stage, subject to meeting its requirements.
No. Eligible de facto partners can apply. You must meet the relevant relationship requirements and provide evidence supporting your circumstances.
The initial Subclass 309 application must be lodged outside Australia. Being in Australia with your partner does not remove that location requirement.
A job offer is not the basis of this pathway. Eligibility centres on the relationship, an eligible sponsor and the other applicable requirements.
Generally, the two-year eligibility period runs from the original combined application date. Exceptions allowing earlier assessment apply in some circumstances.
Conclusion
The 309 Partner visa provides an offshore pathway for eligible partners who want to establish their shared life in Australia and progress towards permanent residence through Subclass 100.
Applicants need to consider more than their relationship status. Sponsorship, evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship, application location, health and character requirements, visa charges and plans during processing all matter.
Timing is particularly important because visitor permission, the Subclass 309 decision and permanent-stage assessment are separate considerations. Use current Home Affairs guidance and keep your evidence up to date rather than assuming either stage will be granted automatically.
If you’re unsure whether the offshore Partner Visa pathway suits your relationship and plans from the UK, book a consultation with IC Australia to discuss your options.
Claire Dawson
Australian visa content specialist focused on skilled migration, employer sponsorship, partner visas, student pathways, and long-term options for moving to Australia.
