When you make an application from outside of Australia, the application is known as the subclass 309/100 visa application. This is a combined application, made up of two stages. You will make a payment to the Department of Home Affairs once but you will typically follow a two-stage process before you acquire permanent residency.
The first-stage partner visa (subclass 309) is granted only when the applicant is outside Australia. 2 years following the grant of your first-stage partner visa, you will become eligible to apply for your second-stage partner visa (subclass 100), i.e. Australian permanent residence.
Eligibility
If you are a visa applicant and you:
- are from (what the Department of Home Affairs consider to be) "high-risk" countries to migrate to Australia;
- had your refused in Australia and could not apply for another visa onshore (note that exceptions apply if you had a partner visa application refused in the last 2 years);
- had overstayed their visa when in Australia and left the country on a bridging visa E; or
- had an 8503 No Further Stay condition on their last Australian visa;
you may be eligible to apply for a partner visa from outside of Australia.
High-risk countries
Any country/region that does not fall under this list would be considered to be "high-risk" presently in the eyes of the Department.
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Brunei
- Canada
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (PRC)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Republic of Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Monaco
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of San Marino
- Romania
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America Vatican City
When you make an application from outside of Australia, the application is known as the subclass 309/100 visa application. This is a combined application (link FAQ) , made up of two stages. The first-stage partner visa (subclass 309) can only be granted when the applicant is outside Australia.
You can include dependent children as additional applicants for this visa application. All applicants of this visa must satisfy health and character requirements.
Visa Application charge
Visa application charges are paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
The visa application charge for the main visa applicant is $8,850.
Dependents applicants over 18 incur an additional visa application charge of $$4,430.
Dependents applicants under 18 incur an additional visa application charge of $2,215.
Note that although this application charge is for a combined subclass 309/100 visa application, you may still be expected to submit further application forms and updated evidence once you qualify for your second-stage subclass 100 partner visa.
Critical requirements
You and your partner will need to be in a "genuine and continuing" relationship in the eyes of Australian immigration law. We have discussed this at length here.
The 12-month minimum relationship period requirement
If you are in a de facto relationship, you must prove to the Department that your relationship has continued for at least 12 months.
When you register their relationship in the following states and territories, this criterion could be waived:
- Victoria
- Tasmania
- New South Wales
- Australian Capital Territory
- Queensland
Every state stipulates their own requirements for registration of relationship. Some states require that at least one of the partners show evidence that he/she usually lives in the state that the relationship is being registered in.
When you are able to successfully register your relationship with the relevant state or territory in Australia, you must bear in mind that you are still required to show that you are in a "genuine and continuing" relationship through submitting other forms of evidence. The certificate alone cannot suffice as evidence to ensure a grant of your partner visa.
Where relationship registration is not possible and compelling and compassionate circumstances exist, the 12-month requirement may be waived. This does not include pregnancy.
Examples of compelling and compassionate circumstances include but are not limited to where:
- the visa applicant has a dependent child from the relationship;
- de facto relationships are illegal in the country where the visa applicant or both the visa applicant and Australian partner sponsor reside.
Long-term partner relationship
If you and your partner are in what the Department considers to be "a long-term partner relationship", you may be eligible to receive permanent residence straight away.
A "long term partner relationship" is defined to mean the de facto relationship has continued for two years when you have a child of the relationship or three years otherwise.
Simultaneous grant of both visas is not automatically considered by the case officer. You or your legal representative will need to provide substantial supporting evidence and formal written request to the Department and seek their advice on whether this can be granted. Have a chat with us to formulate an evidentiary plan early.
Temporarily living apart?
Long-distance relationships are difficult most couples. The Department sets out additional requirements for couples who have spent time away from living with their partner. Where your physical separation is temporary, it is often possible to show through phone and electronic communication records covering the financial, social, household and commitment aspects of your relationship.
How good is your evidence in the eyes of the Department?
The both of you will know your relationship better than anyone else. The challenge is with proving to Departmental case officers who do not know the both of you or your relationship personally "on paper".
The Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 are the two critical legislations that case officers must refer to when making a decision on your partner visa application. All evidence and answers to the forms that you provide must satisfy requirements of the legislations.
One type of evidence that you provide would be most helpful if other types of evidence can corroborate with the former type of evidence. For example, when you are proving that you and your partner had a wedding ceremony, your can provide photos of the ceremony itself. Case officers may also look at payment for the venue (if applicable), wedding invitations issued to friends and family, and statements from your witnesses who have attended the ceremony that the ceremony did take place. Marriage or relationship registration certificate is also one obvious piece of evidence, but evidencing is much more than providing a certificate.
Why do offshore partner visa applications get refused?
Many couples set out on the partner visa journey thinking as long as their relationship is genuine in their eyes, that their evidence will surely prove that.
Evidencing your relationship can be challenging. More people have their visas refused due to inconsistency of information than having insufficient evidence provided.
We find that most people tend to overlook some of the following:
- inconsistent description of relationship between the visa applicant and Australian partner sponsor in statutory declaration
- mistakes in dates or facts in witness statements that do not align with evidence presented by the couple
- inconsistent information submitted in application forms and evidence
- inconsistent declarations or information in visa applicant's previously submitted visa applications or incoming passenger cards
Any inconsistency can potentially trigger the application of Public Interest Criterion 4020 within the migration regulations, which mandates refusal of visa application or even cancellation of visa (of the Australian partner sponsor's visa).
So check your application carefully over and over again! Even if you have engaged a registered migration agent or lawyer to look after your application for you, the responsibility still lies with you to ensure the information that you have provided to your agent or lawyer is 100% accurate.
What are my chances?
Have a look at the following quick list for you to examine whether your relationship has a good chance of meeting the requirements:
It will be helpful if you and your partner can show that you:
- Have a certain level of contact and know each other well
- Your family and friends are aware of your relationship
- See the relationship as a long-term one
- Pool your financial arrangements
- Have lived together for at least 12 months
If you and your partner are not able to show one or more of the above, it does not automatically mean that the partner visa application is out of the question.
Both the applicant and sponsor must also meet independent character requirements. The applicant must also meet health requirements.
Applying from outside of Australia might work better strategically in situations where you have been refused a visa (other than a partner visa) while in Australia, which imposes additional schedule 3 requirements on you in order to receive a grant. It may also be more feasible for couples who primarily reside overseas.
To check your eligibility requirements in detail and find our your chances of receiving a visa grant, we recommend you seek tailored advice from an experienced registered migration agent who regularly checks against the latest immigration policies and legislative provisions.
Applicants from high-risk countries
If you’re currently waiting for your subclass 309/100 visa to be processed and would like to visit Australia and your country is not on the list above, you may also consider applying for a subclass 600 visitor visa.
Unable to make your first entry into Australia due to Covid concerns?
When you are granted the offshore partner visa, you are typically given a date on the visa grant letter that states the date you must enter Australia by.
We have received questions from several applicants on whether they can apply to extend this date.
The first entry date condition is a legislative requirement and is attached to permanent and provisional visas granted offshore. It is not possible to waive the condition or vary the date.
However, in the majority of cases, visa holders who are unable to make their first entry by the required date may be allowed to enter Australia at a later date.
When you are able to travel to Australia, you could contact the Department of Home Affairs with a copy of your travel booking and you will be assisted with additional advice at that time.
Once you have provided your travel booking details a Travel Facilitation Letter will be issued 14 days prior to your travel date.
If your flight is cancelled, you could contact the Department and a replacement Travel Facilitation Letter will be issued with the new travel details.
Possibility of having your offshore partner visa granted onshore?
Update on 12 February 2021: Prospective marriage visas typically can only be granted when the applicant is offshore. However, in view of the impacts caused by the border closures due to covid, the Department of Home Affairs has announced that temporary concessions may be made for prospective visa applicants who are in Australia and are unable to travel offshore to have their visa application granted while they are onshore. This concession will be implemented on 27 February 2021.
To clarify or plan ahead before these legislative requirements apply to partner and prospective marriage visas, seek professional advice now with a registered migration agent.
At Kin Migration, we are centred on providing timely and tailored support. Book your Strategy Session for:
- Detailed advice from an experienced Registered Migration Agent on the critical requirements applicable to you and your significant other
- Expert guidance on how to make the best of your evidence
- Discover short-term and long-term risks with each option available to you
- A strict focus on the most straightforward pathway to permanent residency
Gentle reminder: The content on this page is general advice only, and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, please book a Strategy Session here to speak to our Australian-registered migration consultant.
