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Partner Visa 309/100 Australia 2026: Offshore Partner Visa Guide
The subclass 309 and 100 pathway is Australia's offshore Partner visa route for eligible spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens. The provisional subclass 309 is the first stage and the subclass 100 is the permanent stage.
For the broader visa framework, see the Australian Visa Subclass Database.
Subclass 309: the provisional stage
The subclass 309 allows an eligible spouse or de facto partner to live in Australia temporarily while progressing toward permanent residence through the subclass 100 pathway. Applicants apply for the provisional and permanent Partner visas together.
Subclass 100: the permanent stage
The subclass 100 is a permanent visa. Home Affairs states that permanent-stage eligibility is generally reached two years after the combined subclass 309 and 100 application was lodged. Certain long-term relationship and humanitarian-linked circumstances can allow earlier permanent assessment.
Home Affairs also states that a subclass 100 applicant will generally need to continue to satisfy the relevant relationship requirements with the same sponsor, subject to recognised exceptions where the relationship has ended or the sponsor has died.
Relationship evidence
The Department looks at the substance of the relationship. Evidence can include joint finances, living arrangements, household responsibilities, social recognition of the relationship, travel, communication while apart and evidence of long-term commitment.
Use our Partner Visa Relationship Evidence guide to understand the main evidence categories.
What if circumstances change after lodgement?
Applicants should notify Home Affairs of material changes. A relationship ending can materially affect the application, but the result depends on the facts and the applicable exceptions. Domestic and family violence provisions may allow some Partner visa applicants to remain eligible for permanent residence even after the relationship ends.
See our family violence provisions guide.
Where this pathway sits in the Family stream
Our Partner Visa Statistics Australia 2026 page tracks the Family stream planning figures and explains how Partner visa numbers should be interpreted.
Official sources
This article is general information only. Location requirements, relationship criteria, health and character requirements, sponsorship issues and transitional rules can affect individual cases.
