Partner Visa (Offshore)
For partners applying from outside Australia — the same two-stage pathway, assessed overseas.
Overview
The offshore equivalent of the 820/801 pathway — same two-stage structure, lodged together, but you'll generally need to be outside Australia when the temporary visa is decided. A single government charge covers both the 309 and the 100 stage; there's no separate fee to pay when the permanent stage is later assessed.
Who it's for
- The partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Applicants applying from outside Australia
Key requirements
- A genuine and continuing relationship — married or de facto — with your partner
- Your partner is an eligible sponsor and passes a character check
- Generally outside Australia at the time the temporary visa is decided
- Solid evidence of your relationship — financial, social and household
The visa application charge rose about 25% on 1 July 2026, from $9,365 to $11,710 — the fee that applies is whichever is in force on the date you lodge, not the date it's decided. Additional applicants cost roughly $5,860 for an adult and $2,935 for a child.
Applicants holding a passport from certain Pacific nations (including Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Tonga and several others) qualify for a reduced charge of around $9,600 under a concession introduced from 1 July 2026 — worth checking if this applies to your situation.
Once the 309 is granted, you can travel to and live in Australia while the permanent 100 stage is assessed. The Department's own published median for the combined temporary/provisional partner category was around 20 months as of mid-2026 — a program-wide figure, not a guarantee for any individual case, so treat it as a general guide rather than a countdown.
Not sure if this is the right visa for you?
Tell us your situation and we'll confirm whether the Partner Visa (Offshore) fits, or point you to the one that does.
Book a free visa assessmentVisa subclasses, eligibility criteria, streams, queues and fees are set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and change periodically, often each 1 July. The figures above reflect published guidance as of August 2026 — your Rigpa House adviser will confirm current figures and eligibility before you apply.