Partner visa (permanent, offshore)

What this visa is for#

The Partner visa (permanent) (subclass 100) is the permanent stage of a 309. It is for people in a partner migration process that started with the offshore temporary Partner visa, subclass 309.

This visa sits in the partner category and the second stage stream. It is part of a two-stage process where the Department of Home Affairs first considers the temporary stage, then later considers the permanent stage.

A subclass 100 visa lets the holder stay in Australia permanently if it is granted. In general terms, permanent residence can include ongoing residence rights, work rights, study rights and access to services according to Australian law and the visa conditions that apply at the time of grant.

Usually no further charge if lodged with the 309. In practice, the permanent stage is commonly linked to the original combined partner application and assessed later as the relationship evidence is updated.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who lodged, or were included in, an offshore partner application that included subclass 309 as the temporary stage and subclass 100 as the permanent stage.

This visa is for people who are married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, where the permanent stage is being considered after the temporary stage.

This visa is for people whose partner case is at the second stage of assessment. The permanent stage usually looks at whether the relationship is continuing and whether the application still meets the legal requirements at the time the Department decides the permanent visa.

In some cases, the permanent stage can involve changes since the first application, such as a new address, a new passport, children being born, relationship evidence becoming older, or police and health documents needing updates.

What it costs#

Government charge?#

No visa application charge is recorded for this item in our data. Usually no further charge if lodged with the 309.

The government charge is set by the Department, not by the person or business lodging the application. The government charge is the same no matter who lodges it, whether that is the applicant, a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

Government charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. If the Department updates a fee schedule, the current amount is the amount the Department requires at the relevant time.

Professional fees?#

A registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner may charge a separate professional fee for preparing documents, checking evidence, corresponding with the Department and managing the matter to decision.

These professional fees are not fixed by the government. They can vary based on the work involved, the complexity of the case, how much document follow-up is needed and whether extra requests from the Department need a response.

On VisaBid, applicants can describe their situation and receive itemised quotes from registered migration agents and Australian legal practitioners. That makes it easier to compare professional fees separately from the government charge.

How long it takes#

There is no single fixed processing time for the subclass 100. Timeframes can vary depending on Department workload, the completeness of the file, whether updated evidence is easy to assess and whether extra checks are needed.

The permanent stage is usually decided after the temporary stage, not at the same time. In many cases, the Department asks for updated relationship evidence closer to the permanent assessment point.

Delays can happen if documents are missing, if identity documents have changed and were not updated, or if police or health checks are requested again. Processing can also slow down if the Department needs to confirm details about family members, travel history or contact information.

The Department publishes processing information from time to time, but those figures can change. For current timing, the most reliable source is the Department's own processing page for partner visas.

What the process involves#

The process starts earlier, with the offshore partner application that includes subclass 309 and subclass 100. The subclass 100 is the second stage of that process.

After the temporary stage is granted, the Department later looks at the permanent stage. It commonly asks for updated material to show the relationship is still ongoing.

That updated material often includes identity documents, current passport details, recent photos, shared address evidence, joint financial records, travel records, communication records and documents about any children of the relationship. The exact documents requested can vary from case to case.

The Department may contact the applicant through ImmiAccount, email or other contact details on file. Because of that, it is important that contact details stay current throughout the life of the application.

If the applicant has a new passport, changes address, changes email address or has a child, those changes generally need to be updated with the Department. If the relationship ends before decision, that is also the kind of change that usually needs to be notified.

The Department may ask for new police certificates or health examinations if the earlier ones are no longer current or if circumstances have changed. Some documents have limited validity, so an old document from the original 309 stage may not still satisfy the later permanent stage.

If the Department is satisfied the legal requirements for the permanent stage are met, it can grant the subclass 100. If it needs more information first, it usually issues a request with a due date.

What commonly goes wrong#

A common problem is incomplete updated evidence. People often assume the Department will decide the permanent stage using only the documents uploaded years earlier for the 309, but the second stage often turns on current evidence that the relationship is continuing.

Another frequent issue is expired documents. Passports can expire, police certificates can become outdated for the Department's purposes and health examinations may need to be repeated, depending on timing and the Department's request.

Contact details also cause avoidable problems. If the Department sends a request to an old email address, or mail goes to an old residential address, a deadline can be missed without anyone realising it.

Identity changes can create confusion if they are not updated properly. A new passport number, a changed name, or a different country of residence can lead to mismatched records unless the Department is told and the relevant documents are uploaded.

Some applicants assume there is nothing to do after the 309 grant until the Department makes a decision. In practice, the permanent stage often needs active follow-up, especially when the Department asks for fresh evidence or new checks.

Relationship evidence can also be too general. Large batches of screenshots or photos without dates, context or a clear spread over time can be harder for the Department to assess than organised documents that show the history of the relationship across different periods.

Another problem is not reading requests carefully. A request might ask for a particular country's police certificate, a translated document, or evidence covering a specific period. If a different document is uploaded instead, that can lead to further delay.

Documents in a language other than English can also slow things down if they are not translated as required. Poor scans, cropped pages and unreadable uploads create the same problem.

For people who hold another visa while waiting, it is also easy to assume a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive one. Bridging visas can have different work rights, travel conditions and expiry rules, so they need to be checked by reference to the visa grant notice and Department records.

Travel can complicate timing as well. If the Department asks for information while the applicant is overseas, deadlines still apply unless the Department changes them. Long periods away can also make it harder to gather current evidence quickly.

Frequently asked questions#

What is the difference between the 309 and 100 partner visa?#

The subclass 309 is the temporary stage of an offshore partner application. The subclass 100 is the permanent stage of that same process. The permanent stage is usually considered later, after the temporary stage has already been granted.

Do I pay another government fee for the subclass 100?#

No visa application charge is recorded for this item in our data. Usually no further charge if lodged with the 309. If a registered migration agent or lawyer helps with the permanent stage, that professional fee is separate from any government charge.

How do I know when the Department is ready to look at my subclass 100?#

The Department often contacts the applicant when it is ready for updated information, usually through ImmiAccount or the contact details on file. In some cases, people also monitor their account and keep documents ready in advance. The exact timing varies from case to case.

What documents are usually updated for the permanent partner stage?#

Common updates include current passport details, recent relationship evidence, shared address documents, joint finances, travel evidence and documents about any children. The Department may also ask for new police certificates or health checks. The documents requested can differ depending on the file and how old the earlier evidence is.

Can a migration agent or lawyer change the government fee?#

No. The government charge is set by the Department and is the same no matter who lodges the application. A registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner can charge a separate professional fee for their own work, but that is not a government fee.

About this page. This is general information about how the Partner visa (permanent, offshore) (subclass 100) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.