Subclass 309 / 100
Subclass 309 Visa – Offshore Temporary Partner visa
Subclass 309 visa is a provisional visa that allows the applicant to stay in Australia temporarily until eligible for permanent residency. Thus, it is the first step towards obtaining a Permanent partner Visa (Subclass 100).
Conditions:
- You must be outside of Australia at the time of applying and the decision of the visa.
- Your partner must be an Australian citizen/ Permanent Resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
- You and your partner must prove that you both have stayed together for at least 1 year before your application. Otherwise you have to register your relationship in Australia.
- You must meet character and health requirements.
- Must be free of debt to the Australian government.
- If you currently have a provisional 309 visa, you may be eligible to be assessed for a permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 100) around 24 months after the application is submitted. You must prove that you are still a continuing and genuine couple in order to receive the permanent visa. You will need to provide additional papers for this assessment.
Benefits:
- Live with your spouse in Australia while the Subclass 100 is being processed.
- Get multiple travels between your country and Australia.
- Have unlimited work hours in Australia.
- Study in Australia.
- Attend up to 510 hours of free English language lessons offered by the Adult Migrant English Program.
- Holders of subclass 309 partner visas may be eligible to apply for Centrelink for a limited range of benefits including Family Tax Benefit, Dad and Partner Pay, Parental Leave Pay, and Low Income Health Care Card.
Subclass 100- Offshore Permanent Partner Visa
Do you want to move to Australia and live there with your Australian spouse under a permanent visa? In such cases you could apply for a Partner subclass 100 visa if you are married to, in a de facto relationship with an eligible Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen. This visa enables you to live permanently and also enables you access to many of the advantages of being an Australian permanent resident.
Conditions:
- You must have a Partner visa 309.
- You must be married or be in a de facto relationship with your sponsor.
- Must have lived together with your partner during your relationship.
- Must meet character and health standards.
- You must not be in debt to the Australian government.
N/B: The processing time for this visa is usually two years after being granted a subclass 309 visa. However, if you and your partner have been married or in a de facto relationship for longer than 3 years and have a dependent child together, then you can directly apply for a permanent visa (subclass 100).
Benefits:
- You can study and work in Australia.
- An indefinite stay in Australia.
- Have multiple travels from and to Australia.
- You can get an Australian Medicare.
- You would be able to sponsor your relatives to Australia.
- Apply for an Australian citizenship if requirements met.
- Attend free English classes supported by the government.
N/B: If you firstly apply for offshore temporary visa (Subclass 309) then application charges during offshore permanent visa (Subclass 100) would be free of charge!
However, if applied directly for offshore permanent visa (Subclass 100) then charges would remain as it is.