Australia Partner Visa Subclass 309 (Temporary, Offshore): Guide from the UK

The Partner (Provisional) visa subclass 309 is the temporary stage of the offshore partner visa. It is for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is outside Australia when they apply. When you lodge the offshore partner application you apply for two visas in one: the temporary subclass 309 and the permanent subclass 100. The Department of Home Affairs decides the 309 first, and usually assesses the permanent 100 about two years after you lodged. Note that although this page sits within our skilled migration section for historical reasons, subclass 309 is a partner visa and is not points tested. This guide explains who can apply from the UK, how the process works, what evidence matters and what to expect. It is general information, so always check the official website for current rules.

What the subclass 309 visa is

Subclass 309 is a provisional partner visa. If granted, it lets you travel to Australia and live there with your partner while the Department assesses the permanent visa. It normally allows you to work and study, and in many cases to enrol in Medicare, but you should read the conditions in your grant notice. Your sponsor, the Australian partner, takes on responsibilities connected to your application.

The 309 is the offshore counterpart of the onshore subclass 820. The two visas serve the same purpose but are used in different situations, depending on where you are when you apply. Our overview of the partner visa family explains all four visas side by side.

Who can apply from outside Australia

You may be able to apply for the offshore partner visa if these things apply.

• You are outside Australia when you lodge the application, and usually when the Department decides the temporary visa.
• You are married to your sponsor, or in a de facto relationship, or in a registered relationship that meets the rules.
• Your sponsor is an eligible Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who meets the sponsor requirements.
• You and your sponsor are both at least 18 and meet the relationship requirements.
• You meet health and character requirements.

If you are living in the UK with an Australian partner and plan to move together, this is often the route that applies. If you are already in Australia, you may be able to use the onshore route instead.

The Department’s view of the relationship

For all partner visas, the Department looks at whether the relationship is genuine and continuing. It considers four main areas: how you share finances, the nature of your household, your social life as a couple and your commitment to each other. In an offshore case, one important question is how you maintain the relationship if you live in different countries, or how you plan to build a shared life after the visa is granted.

If you live together in the UK, the evidence is similar to any couple: joint finances, a shared address, photos, joint plans and statements from friends and family. If you live apart, provide evidence of regular contact, visits, financial support and clear plans for living together. Explain the reasons for any time apart, for example work or study, and show that the relationship is real.

Sponsor requirements

The Australian sponsor must be eligible, must agree to sponsor you and must provide information. There are rules about previous sponsorships and about certain criminal convictions. The sponsor may need to provide evidence of identity, citizenship or residence, and statements about the relationship. The sponsor should read the Department’s guidance, because the responsibility is serious. If the sponsor withdraws or the relationship ends, tell the Department and take advice.

Step by step: lodging from the UK

1. Confirm eligibility. Check your relationship status, your sponsor’s status and your own health and character position.
2. Collect identity and relationship documents. Include passports, birth certificates, marriage certificate or de facto evidence and proof that earlier relationships have ended.
3. Build relationship evidence. Prepare financial, household, social and commitment evidence, together with statements and third party declarations.
4. Arrange police certificates. Obtain certificates for each country where you have lived for the required period, including the UK.
5. Lodge the application online. Create an account, complete the forms, upload documents and pay the charge.
6. Complete health checks. When requested, arrange your medical examination.
7. Respond to requests. Provide further information promptly.
8. Receive the decision. If granted, read the conditions and any date by which you must enter Australia.
9. Plan the move and the second stage. Keep collecting evidence for the permanent visa.

Police certificates and character

For character, you will normally need police certificates from countries where you have lived for a set period. In the UK this usually means requesting an ACRO police certificate or an equivalent, and you should check the Department’s instructions on which certificate is accepted. Apply early, because processing times vary. If you have any conviction, even an old one, declare it as the form asks and keep the court documents. The Department looks at the seriousness of the offence and your circumstances.

Health requirements

You and included family members may need health examinations through the Department’s online system. The doctor sends results to the Department. If a health issue is identified, the Department assesses whether the requirement is met. Talk to a professional if you have a serious condition, because early advice helps you prepare.

Costs

The combined partner application charge covers both the 309 and the 100. You should also plan for police certificates, medicals, translations, certified copies and, if you use one, an agent. Fees change, so check the Department’s fee table before you pay. Remember to budget for the move itself, such as flights, shipping and the first months in Australia.

Common mistakes

• Submitting little evidence of the relationship and relying on a marriage certificate alone.
• Using different dates for the same event across documents.
• Leaving out important evidence of time spent together.
• Forgetting to apply for police certificates early.
• Not keeping evidence after lodging, which makes the second stage harder.
• Travelling to Australia on a visitor visa and assuming this gives you a right to apply onshore.

How GIEC Global UK can help

We can explain whether the offshore partner visa fits your situation, discuss the evidence you may want to collect and talk through the process. We cannot guarantee a visa. To arrange a free consultation, contact GIEC Global UK, or return to the Australia migration hub to compare other routes.

Preparing relationship evidence when you live in the UK

If you and your partner currently live in the UK, you can gather evidence the same way as any couple, but pay attention to a few details that matter in an offshore application.

Evidence of a shared life in the UK

Gather leases or mortgage documents, council tax letters, utility bills, bank statements, employer letters showing a shared address and any joint insurance. Photos at home, at gatherings and on holidays help show daily life. Letters or emails sent to the shared address show that you both live there. If you share a car or a pet, include registration or vet records.

Evidence if one of you lives in Australia

If your partner lives in Australia, provide evidence of how you maintain the relationship: flight and passport stamps for visits, itineraries, call and message logs, money transfers and any plans to live together. Photos from visits and statements from people who met you together are very helpful. Explain clearly why you live apart and what you plan to do after the visa is granted.

Evidence from friends and family in both countries

Statements from people who know you as a couple are valuable. Ask friends and relatives to describe how they know you, how long, when they last saw you together and what they have observed. If some of them live in the UK and others in Australia, that can show that the relationship is accepted in both communities.

Planning the move to Australia

A visa grant is the start of a major life change. Plan in stages.

Before the grant

Do not resign from your job, end your lease or ship your belongings until the visa is granted. Use the waiting time to research areas, jobs, schools and housing. Check whether your profession needs Australian registration. Keep your passport valid and renewed if necessary, because the visa is linked to your passport details.

After the grant

Read the grant notice, note any date by which you must enter Australia and book flights with some flexibility. Arrange health insurance if needed and check what happens to your UK health entitlements, your pension and your tax residence. If you will be moving with pets or belongings, review Australia’s biosecurity requirements early.

First months in Australia

Apply for a Tax File Number, open a bank account, register with local services and look for work if you plan to work. Check whether you can drive on a UK licence and for how long. Keep building your relationship evidence, because the Department will look at it again at the permanent stage.

Money and budgeting

Besides the visa charge, plan for the costs of the move. These include flights, temporary accommodation, a rental bond, furniture, transport, health cover and living costs until you find work. If one partner will not work immediately, make sure that your savings cover the gap. It can also help to talk with your partner about how you will manage joint finances, since that is part of your life together and part of the evidence the Department looks at.

If you plan to sell a home, transfer a pension or move savings between countries, take advice from a qualified financial or tax professional. These issues are outside immigration advice, and mistakes can be costly.

Working with a migration agent

You do not have to use an agent. Some couples prefer one because the evidence is large or the case has complications, such as a previous refusal, a conviction or a long gap in the relationship. If you use an agent, check that they are registered, ask for a written service agreement and a clear fee breakdown and remember that the final responsibility for the truth of your application is yours. No agent can guarantee a visa.

Special circumstances in offshore partner cases

Previous marriages or relationships

If you or your partner were previously married or in a de facto relationship, provide evidence that the earlier relationship ended, such as a divorce certificate or a death certificate. If the divorce took place abroad, check whether it is recognised in Australia and keep certified translations. If either of you has children from a past relationship, keep documents about custody and contact.

Significant age gaps or short relationships

The Department does not refuse a relationship because of age gaps or its length alone, but it may look more closely. Provide extra detail about how you met, how the relationship developed and what you have done together. Offer strong evidence of your commitment and your shared plans.

Arranged or family-introduced marriages

If your marriage was arranged or introduced by family, explain how it came about, how you got to know each other and how the relationship has developed. Provide evidence of the wedding and of your life as a couple since. The Department accepts that arranged marriages can be genuine.

Previous visa refusals or cancellations

If either of you has previously had a visa refused or cancelled, declare it as asked and keep the documents. Obtain advice before you lodge, because the earlier decision may affect the new application.

Health conditions

If you or a family member has a health condition, the Department will assess whether the health requirement is met. Early advice from a professional helps you prepare medical reports and understand your options.

What happens to your UK life

Moving to Australia affects many parts of your life in the UK. Consider your job, your accommodation, your tax residency, your bank accounts, your pension, your healthcare and any family responsibilities. Notify the right organisations in time, and keep copies of important documents such as qualifications, references, medical records and school records. If you have children, plan the timing of school moves. If you own property, think about whether to sell or let it, and take advice about the tax consequences in both countries.

How the second stage works

When you lodged your application, you also applied for the permanent visa. About two years after lodging, the Department assesses the permanent stage. You will usually provide updated evidence that the relationship is continuing. This is why it is wise to keep joint bills, photos, travel records and statements from friends and family after you arrive in Australia. If you are still together, and the other requirements are met, the Department can grant the permanent visa. Our guide to the subclass 100 explains what to expect.

Frequently misunderstood points

• “I can enter Australia before the visa is granted.” You cannot enter on the basis of the application alone. You need a visa that allows you to travel.
• “A tourist visa is a shortcut.” Visiting your partner is fine if you meet the visitor visa requirements, but a visitor visa is not a shortcut to a partner visa, and the intentions you declare must be honest.
• “The visa is automatic if we are married.” The Department assesses the whole relationship and other requirements. Marriage alone does not guarantee a grant.
• “I do not need to keep records after lodging.” You will need updated evidence at the second stage.

Final thoughts

An offshore partner application can feel long because the visa decision, the move and the second stage all take time. Preparation reduces stress. Start your evidence folder early, apply for police certificates in good time, keep your statements honest and consistent, and plan your move in stages. If you would like help understanding the options, you can contact GIEC Global UK for a free consultation, and always check the Department’s website for the latest information.

A closer look at statements and declarations

Written statements are a central part of many partner applications. A good statement is honest, specific and consistent with the documents. It should be written in your own words and should tell the story of your relationship in a way that a stranger can follow.

The applicant’s and sponsor’s own statements

Each of you can write a statement covering how and when you met, how the relationship developed, key milestones such as moving in or getting engaged, how you share money and responsibilities, how friends and family see you as a couple and your plans for the future. Use dates, places and specific events. Avoid slogans such as “we are very much in love” without examples. Describe what you do together, what you have faced together and what you intend to do.

Declarations from friends and relatives

A third party declaration works best when it comes from someone who has seen you together. It should state who the writer is, how and when they met you, how often they see you and what they have observed about the relationship. The writer should include their contact details and sign the declaration in the form that the Department accepts. Declarations that copy each other word for word carry less weight, so encourage writers to use their own words.

Consistency

Keep your timeline in front of you when you write. The date you met, the date you moved in and the date of the wedding should be the same in every document. If a date is uncertain, say so, for example “in early 2023”, and use the same wording consistently. Differences are not always a problem, but unexplained differences can raise doubts.

Typical evidence checklist by category

Use the lists below to check that you have covered the four areas.

Financial aspects

• Joint bank account statements or evidence of regular transfers.
• Shared bills, subscriptions or loans.
• Evidence that each partner supports the other, for example during study or illness.
• Insurance policies, wills or powers of attorney that name each other.

Nature of the household

• A shared lease, mortgage or rental agreement.
• Utility bills, council tax letters and other mail addressed to both.
• Evidence of how you divide household tasks.
• Photos of your home and daily life.

Social context

• Photos with friends and family over time.
• Invitations and cards addressed to both of you.
• Evidence of attending events together.
• Statements from friends and relatives.

Commitment

• Evidence of engagement or marriage.
• Joint plans, such as bookings, property searches and discussions about children.
• Evidence of sacrifices or decisions made for the relationship, such as moving cities.
• Regular contact records during separations.

Timelines and patience

Offshore partner applications can take a long time. The Department publishes processing times that you should check regularly. During the wait, avoid making irreversible decisions based on guesses about when the visa will be granted. Keep your life flexible, keep your evidence updated and answer any request on time. If your circumstances change, for example if your passport is renewed or you move house, update your details in your online account.

It is also wise to talk with your partner about what you will do if the process takes longer than expected. Some couples plan visits, some plan temporary living arrangements and some adjust their work plans. Being flexible reduces stress.

Using official information

Because partner visa rules and fees change, always cross-check what you read, including this guide, with the Department of Home Affairs website. Look at the visa pages for the subclass 309 and the subclass 100, the checklists for each stage and the current fee and processing time information. If you use a registered agent, ask them to explain how their advice matches the official sources.

Final reminder

Whatever route you choose, the best partner visa applications are built on truthful evidence, clear explanations and good organisation. If you are not sure whether the offshore route fits your situation, speak with a registered professional before you lodge. You can also begin with a conversation with our team through the contact page, where we can explain the options in plain language and help you decide what to prepare first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Australia partner visa subclass 309?

It is the temporary stage of the offshore partner visa. You apply for it from outside Australia together with the permanent subclass 100 in one combined application.

Is subclass 309 part of skilled migration?

No. It is a partner visa. It is not points tested and does not depend on your occupation, even though it appears in our skilled migration section for historical reasons.

What is the difference between subclass 309 and subclass 820?

The 309 is the offshore temporary partner visa and the 820 is the onshore temporary partner visa. Where you are when you apply decides which applies.

Can I apply for the 309 from the UK?

Yes. If you are outside Australia, you can apply for the offshore partner visa if you meet the requirements and your sponsor is eligible.

How long does the 309 take?

Processing times change often. Check the Department's processing guide. The permanent subclass 100 is normally assessed about two years after lodging.

Can I work in Australia on a 309 visa?

Generally yes once you are granted the visa and enter Australia, but check the conditions in your grant notice.

Do I have to be married to apply?

No. You can apply as a de facto partner if you have a genuine and continuing relationship, usually with at least twelve months of living together, subject to exceptions.

What evidence do I need for the 309?

You need evidence of financial, household, social and commitment aspects, plus identity documents, police certificates and health checks.

Do we have to live together before applying?

For de facto couples, living together for twelve months is normally required unless an exception applies. For married couples there is no fixed cohabitation period, but the relationship must still be genuine.

What if we live in different countries?

Many couples do. Show regular contact, visits, financial support and clear plans to live together, and explain why you are apart.

Do I need a medical examination?

Usually yes. You and any included family members may be asked to complete health checks when the Department requests them.

Do I need a UK police certificate?

If you have lived in the UK for the required period, you will normally need one. Check the Department's instructions on the accepted type and apply early.

Can my children be included?

Dependent children can often be included, and each must meet health and character requirements. The rules differ depending on whose children they are.

How much does the partner visa cost?

The combined application charge is among the higher visa charges, plus costs for medicals, police certificates and translations. Check the current fee table.

Can I visit Australia while my 309 application is processed?

You may be able to apply for a visitor visa, but a visitor visa is separate and you must meet its requirements. Check conditions and be honest about your plans.

Does my sponsor have to be in Australia?

The sponsor must be eligible, but they can live outside Australia in some situations. Check the Department's rules for your circumstances.

What happens if the relationship ends before the decision?

Tell the Department and seek advice. The outcome depends on the stage and circumstances.

Is there an entry deadline after the 309 is granted?

Some grants include a date by which you must first enter Australia. Check your grant notice and plan travel accordingly.

What comes after the 309?

The Department assesses the permanent subclass 100 about two years after you lodged, usually asking for updated evidence of the relationship.

How can GIEC Global UK help with the 309?

We can explain the process, discuss the evidence you may want to collect and guide you through the stages. We cannot guarantee a visa decision.