Eligibility quiz
Is your partner an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, or was your sponsoring partner one when you applied for your offshore Partner visa?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Australia
Permanent residents can live in Australia indefinitely.
Temporary holders can live in Australia while their permanent application is processed.
Study in Australia
Permanent residents can study in Australia.
Temporary holders can generally study, but their permission and its conditions control what they can do; check your conditions.
Work in Australia
Permanent residents can work in any lawful job.
Temporary holders can generally work, but their permission and its conditions control what they can do; check your conditions.
Travel and return
Permanent residents can return to Australia from overseas while their travel permission is valid.
Sponsor eligible relatives
Permanent residents can sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence, but sponsorship does not guarantee they can move to Australia.
Get crisis help abroad
Permanent residents can generally get Australian consular help during an overseas crisis.
Seek property loans
Permanent residents can generally apply for bank loans to buy property.
Use public healthcare
Permanent residents can enrol in Medicare, Australia’s national health scheme.
Not every treatment is free.
Get government support
Permanent residents may qualify for government payments, depending on the payment, income, assets and residence.
Newly arrived residents may face waits of one to four years, with different rules or exemptions for some payments.
How to apply
From outside AustraliaFrom outside Australia
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your Partner visa application.
See required documentsFill in your application
Create or sign in to your individual ImmiAccount and fill in the combined Partner visa application for subclasses 309 and 100. You can ask someone to help, but keep control of your account and messages.
Start your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in an Australia Partner visa subclass 309 and 100 application in ImmiAccount?”
Complete the sponsorship
Ask your partner to complete the sponsorship part of the application and provide the requested sponsor documents. Any required sponsor police certificates should be provided with the sponsorship or as soon as possible after applying.
Complete the sponsorshipSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a sponsor complete an Australia Partner visa subclass 309 sponsorship in ImmiAccount?”
Upload your documents
Scan and upload your documents in ImmiAccount when the application tells you to. Keep copies of everything you upload, and do not email your documents.
Upload your documentsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I attach documents to an Australia Partner visa subclass 309 application in ImmiAccount?”
Submit your application
While outside Australia, pay the first visa application charge in the online application and submit it. Save your acknowledgement and application ID.
Submit your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay for and submit an Australia Partner visa subclass 309 and 100 application in ImmiAccount?”
Complete your health examinations
When instructed, complete your health examinations through an approved doctor. You may be asked to repeat them if the results expire before a decision.
Arrange your examinationsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange health examinations for an Australia Partner visa subclass 309 application?”
Wait for the decision
Check your ImmiAccount messages and respond to requests for documents, an interview or biometrics by the stated deadline. Pay a second visa charge before the visa is granted if the Department asks for it; you generally need to be outside Australia when subclass 309 is granted.
See how longSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does an Australia Partner visa subclass 309 decision take?”
Travel to Australia
If your subclass 309 visa is granted, travel to Australia in line with your grant notice and visa conditions.
See travel conditionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I find the travel conditions for my granted Australia Partner visa subclass 309?”
Once in AustraliaOnce in Australia
Check your visa conditions
After arriving in Australia, use VEVO to see your visa details and conditions.
Check your conditionsStart your permanent assessment
After the required waiting period, open ImmiAccount and choose New application, then Family, then Stage 2 – Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801). Use your original application ID and upload updated relationship information and any requested documents.
Start your assessmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I start an Australia Partner visa subclass 100 permanent stage assessment in ImmiAccount?”
Wait for the decision
Check your ImmiAccount messages and respond to any further requests about your permanent Partner visa assessment.
See how longSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does an Australia Partner visa subclass 100 permanent stage decision take?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Partner's residence records
Provide evidence that your sponsoring partner is an Australian permanent resident. If they are an Australian citizen or an eligible New Zealand citizen instead, provide evidence of that status.
Birth certificates *
Provide your birth certificate and any birth certificates requested for family members included in your application. Get them from the government registry or office that issued them.
* Only if the checklist asks for them.
May need translationName change records *
Provide records showing the name change requested by your checklist. Get them from the government registry or office that issued them.
* Only if the checklist asks for evidence of a name change.
May need translationMarriage certificates *
Provide your marriage certificate from the government registry or office that issued it. The evidence must show that your marriage is legally valid in Australia.
* Only if you are married.
May need translationPartner's death records *
Provide evidence that your sponsoring partner has died, such as a death certificate. Get the record from the office that issued it.
* Only if your sponsoring partner has died and you are applying for the permanent stage.
May need translationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Travel permission expiry
Permanent residents have no automatic right to return from overseas after their travel permission expires, even though permanent residence itself is indefinite.
Status can end
Temporary permission lasts while the permanent application is processed, so holders must avoid overstaying.
Breaking conditions, providing false information or documents, serious crimes, character problems or other legal grounds can lead to cancellation.
Cancellation can also lead to a ban on returning for up to three years or, in some cases, permanently.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Australia Visa and Migration Hub
English Facebook group for people living in Australia interested in Australian visas
Request to joinPartner Visa Australia
English Facebook group for people living in Australia interested in Australian visas
Join on FacebookPartner visa australia - 300, 309,100, 820, 801
English Facebook group for people living in Australia interested in Australian visas
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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