309 Visa Australia

What Is the 309 Visa?

Quick answer: The 309 visa is Australia’s offshore temporary partner visa. It lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia from overseas and live, work and study there while the permanent partner visa (subclass 100) is assessed. You apply for the 309 and 100 together from outside Australia and pay one fee of AUD 11,710.

The 309 is part of the wider partner visa Australia programme. If you are already in Australia, the onshore equivalent is the 820 visa followed by the 801.

What Does “UF/309” Mean?

Australian visas have a class (letters) and a subclass (numbers). The temporary offshore partner visa appears as “UF/309” – Class UF, Partner (Provisional), subclass 309. The permanent stage appears as “BC/100”. If your grant notice says UF/309, you hold the Australian offshore partner visa.

Is the 309 Visa Permanent Residency?

No. The subclass 309 is a temporary (provisional) visa. It stays valid until a decision is made on your permanent subclass 100 visa. You become an Australian permanent resident when the 100 is granted, usually about two years after you applied. If you had been together for at least three years – or two years with a child of the relationship – when you applied, you may receive the 309 and 100 at the same time.

Partner Visa 309 Requirements

Applicant requirements

• Location: be outside Australia when you apply and when the 309 is granted.
• Relationship: be married to, or in a de facto relationship with, your sponsor.
• De facto partners: usually 12 months of living together. This can be waived if your relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory, or in compelling circumstances.
• Genuine relationship: show a mutual commitment to a shared life, to the exclusion of all others.
• Health and character: medicals with a panel physician and police certificates.

Sponsor requirements

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Meet character requirements, including police checks.
• Generally sponsor no more than two partners in a lifetime, at least five years apart.
• If the sponsor came to Australia on a partner visa, they generally must wait five years from that grant before sponsoring a new partner.

Partner visa 309 checklist

• Financial: joint accounts, shared bills, money transfers, joint assets.
• Household: shared lease or mortgage, or evidence of how you share a home when together.
• Social: photos over time, travel together, invitations, Form 888 declarations.
• Commitment: personal statements, communication history while apart, future plans.

Offshore Partner Visa 309 Processing Time (2026)

Source: Home Affairs processing-time data, checked October 2026. Times change monthly and vary by the office processing your application.

What does “further assessment” mean?

“Further assessment” in ImmiAccount means a case officer is actively checking your application, often after health checks or additional documents are received. It is a normal stage, not a sign of refusal. The 309 visa processing time after medicals can still vary, as security and character checks may be ongoing.

309 Visa Fee (2026–27)

The fee rose from AUD 9,365 on 1 July 2026. It covers both the 309 and 100 stages and is not refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn. Confirm current charges with the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging.

309 Visa Conditions, Work Rights and Medicare

• Work and study: once granted, the 309 allows full work and study in Australia.
• Travel: you can travel in and out of Australia as often as you like while the 309 is valid.
• Medicare: Services Australia says applicants for the combined 309/100 can usually enrol in Medicare once they are in Australia to live.
• No bridging visa: because the 309 is an offshore visa, there is no bridging visa while you wait. You can visit Australia on a visitor visa, but must be outside Australia when the 309 is granted.
• Report changes: tell Home Affairs about new addresses, a new baby or the end of your relationship.

Partner Visa 309 vs 820

If you are engaged and plan to marry in Australia, the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) is another offshore option.

Moving to Australia from the UK on a 309 Visa

Many of our clients are UK residents with an Australian partner. You lodge the 309/100 from the UK, provide an ACRO police certificate and complete medicals with an approved UK panel physician. While you wait, UK passport holders can usually visit Australia on the eVisitor visa (651) – just make sure you are outside Australia when the 309 is decided. There is no English test for Australian partner visas.

What Happens After the 309 Is Granted?

• Move to Australia and live, work and study with no restrictions.
• Enrol in Medicare once you are living in Australia.
• Keep building evidence of your relationship – joint bills, lease, photos.
• About two years after you applied, submit updated evidence for the permanent subclass 100.
• After the 100 is granted, plan your path to Australian permanent residency and citizenship.

If the relationship ends

You must tell Home Affairs. In limited cases you may still be granted the permanent visa – for example, if you have a child with your sponsor, your sponsor dies, or you experienced family violence by your sponsor. Get advice early.

How GIEC Global’s Partner Visa Consultants Help

With a non-refundable AUD 11,710 fee and a wait of up to two years or more, your first application needs to be right. As an Australia immigration consultant supporting couples in the UK and Australia, GIEC Global’s immigration consultants:

• check your relationship evidence and sponsor eligibility before you pay;
• build a decision-ready 309 checklist and evidence pack;
• review personal statements and Form 888 declarations;
• plan visits to Australia while you wait without risking the grant; and
• prepare your updated evidence for the permanent 100 stage.

Explore more on our Migrate to Australia page or read our Australia immigration FAQs.

Reviewed by the GIEC Global Australia immigration team. Fees reflect 2026–27 visa charges; processing times reflect Home Affairs data checked in October 2026; Medicare information reflects Services Australia guidance. Last reviewed 30 October 2026. Visa rules and charges change regularly – always confirm details on official government websites before applying.