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What Is the Partner Visa Subclass 100?
The Partner visa (Subclass 100) is the permanent stage of Australia’s offshore partner visa pathway. It allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia permanently.
The Subclass 100 is not a standalone application. It is lodged together with the temporary Partner visa (Subclass 309) as a single combined application. You pay one government fee at lodgement, and if your Subclass 309 is granted, the permanent Subclass 100 stage is assessed later, at least two years after the original lodgement date.
The Subclass 309 allows you to enter and live in Australia while you wait for the permanent stage to be decided. The Subclass 100 grants permanent residency.
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Book a Consultation
If you are interested in getting more information about a visa, get in touch with Australian Migration Agents for a consultation.
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How the Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 Work Together
The offshore partner visa is a two-stage process that starts with a single application.
When you lodge, you apply for both the Subclass 309 and the Subclass 100 at the same time. The Subclass 309 (temporary) is assessed first. If granted, it allows you to enter Australia and live there while the Department of Home Affairs continues to assess your case. The Subclass 100 (permanent) is assessed after you have held the temporary visa for at least two years from your original lodgement date.
There is no separate government fee for the permanent stage. The combined fee paid at lodgement covers both the Subclass 309 and the Subclass 100.
If you were in a well-established relationship at the time of lodgement and your circumstances already satisfy the requirements for permanent residency, the Department may grant both the Subclass 309 and the Subclass 100 at the same time. This is known as a double grant. Eligibility depends on the individual circumstances of each case and is not available to all applicants.
Who Can Apply for the Subclass 100 Partner Visa?
To be eligible for the Partner Visa (Subclass 100), you must meet requirements across several areas.
Relationship Requirements
You must be in a genuine, continuing relationship with your sponsor. This can be a married relationship or a de facto relationship, including same-sex relationships. De facto couples generally need to show they have lived together for at least 12 months before applying, unless exceptions apply, such as having a child together.
Location Requirements
The offshore partner visa has specific location requirements at each stage.
At lodgement, you must be outside Australia. When the Department decides the Subclass 309 (temporary stage), you must also be outside Australia. When the Department decides the Subclass 100 (permanent stage), you can be inside or outside Australia.
If you are in Australia when you want to apply for a partner visa, the relevant pathway is the onshore Partner visa (Subclass 820/801), not the Subclass 309/100.
Sponsorship Requirements
Your Australian partner must sponsor your application. The sponsor must:
- Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Meet the Department of Home Affairs character requirements
- Not be subject to any sponsorship bar or restriction
The Department limits how many times and how frequently a person can sponsor a partner visa applicant. Confirming your sponsor’s eligibility before lodgement is important.
Health and Character Requirements
You will need to complete health examinations through a Department-approved panel physician, and provide police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Two-Year Waiting Period for the Permanent Stage
To be assessed for the Subclass 100, at least two years must have passed since the date you lodged your combined application. You must also continue to meet the relationship requirements at the time the permanent stage is assessed. The Department may request fresh evidence of your ongoing relationship at that point.
What Documents Do You Need?
Every application is different, but the following are typically required.
For the applicant:
- Valid passport and any previous passports
- Birth certificate
- Police clearances from all relevant countries
- Health examination results from a Department-approved panel physician
- Relationship evidence across all four categories (financial, social, household, commitment)
- Statutory declarations from people who know you as a couple
- Photos together across different times and locations
For the sponsor:
- Completed sponsorship form
- Evidence of Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible New Zealand citizen status
- Character documents if required
How Much Does the Partner Visa 100 Cost?
The government application fee for the combined partner visa 100 and 309 application is $11,710 for the primary applicant (effective 1 July 2026).
Additional applicants included in the same application attract further charges:
- $5,860 per additional applicant aged 18 or over
- $2,935 per additional applicant under 18
This fee is paid once at lodgement. There is no separate government fee when the permanent Subclass 100 stage is assessed.
These figures are government fees only. You may also incur costs for health examinations, police clearances, certified translations of non-English documents, and professional fees charged by a registered migration agent.
How Long Does the Subclass 100 Take?
Processing times for the offshore partner visa vary depending on the complexity of your application and the Department’s current caseload. The Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 are processed separately, at different points in time.
Based on Department of Home Affairs processing time data verified on 12 October 2026:
Subclass 309 (temporary stage)
Most applications are decided within 21 months of lodgement. Applications at the longer end of the processing range can take up to 32 months.
Subclass 100 (permanent stage)
The permanent stage cannot be assessed until at least two years after the original lodgement date. After that two-year point, most permanent stage applications are decided within a further 9 months. At the longer end, this can take up to 21 months from that same point.
In practical terms, most applicants can expect the full process from lodgement to permanent residency to take around three years or more.
These figures are based on recently decided applications and are not a guarantee. The Department of Home Affairs updates processing times monthly. You can check current figures directly on the Department of Home Affairs Global Visa Processing Times tool, or contact our registered migration agents for guidance on your specific situation.
Can Processing Be Prioritised?
In limited circumstances, the Department of Home Affairs may prioritise a family visa application ahead of others. Under Ministerial Direction No. 117, priority processing is available where an application involves special circumstances of a compassionate nature and there are compelling reasons to depart from the standard order of priority.
Priority processing decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. There is no automatic entitlement to priority processing. If you believe your circumstances may warrant priority consideration, seek advice from a registered migration agent on whether and how to make a request.
What Happens After the Subclass 100 Is Granted?
Once the Subclass 100 partner visa is granted, you become a permanent resident of Australia. As a permanent resident you can:
- Live and work in Australia indefinitely
- Access Medicare
- Study in Australia, with access to domestic student fee rates at Australian education institutions
- Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia
- Travel in and out of Australia on the visa for five years from the date of grant
After five years, the travel facility on the Subclass 100 expires. If you wish to continue travelling internationally and returning to Australia as a permanent resident, you will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155) or apply for Australian citizenship.
Once you meet the general residency requirements, you may apply for Australian citizenship, which provides additional rights and benefits including the ability to hold an Australian passport.
What Happens If the Relationship Ends Before the Subclass 100 Is Granted?
If your relationship ends after you have lodged the combined Subclass 309/100 application but before the permanent stage is decided, your eligibility for the Subclass 100 may be affected. In most cases, the permanent visa cannot be granted if the relationship has broken down.
However, specific provisions exist for applicants who have experienced family violence, or where the sponsor has passed away. If your relationship has ended and one of these circumstances applies, seek advice from a registered migration agent as soon as possible.
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How Australian Migration Agents Can Help
The offshore partner visa process involves careful preparation, detailed evidence gathering, and a clear understanding of the requirements at both the temporary and permanent stages. The government application fee is not refunded if an application is refused, which makes thorough preparation from the outset worthwhile.
Our registered migration agents (MARN 2217744) have experience with offshore partner visa applications across a wide range of circumstances, including complex relationship histories, previous visa refusals, and applications involving family violence provisions.
We can help you:
- Assess your eligibility and identify any complications before you apply
- Gather and organise relationship evidence across all four categories
- Prepare your application forms and written submissions
- Lodge your application through ImmiAccount on your behalf
- Respond to any requests for information from the Department of Home Affairs
- Advise you on your rights and obligations while the permanent stage is processed
To speak with a registered migration agent about your offshore partner visa, contact Australian Migration Agents today.
Summary
The Partner visa (Subclass 100) is the permanent stage of Australia’s offshore partner visa pathway. It is lodged together with the temporary Subclass 309 as a single combined application, with one government fee of $11,710 for the primary applicant (effective 1 July 2026).
You must be outside Australia when you lodge and when the temporary Subclass 309 is decided. The permanent Subclass 100 can be assessed after at least two years from the lodgement date, and you can be inside or outside Australia at that point. Median processing time for the permanent stage is currently 9 months from eligibility, with some applications taking up to 21 months.
The offshore partner visa process involves significant documentation and strict evidentiary requirements. Working with a registered migration agent helps you prepare a thorough application and understand the process at every stage.
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