You are married to, or living with, an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Now you have to pick between two sets of numbers: 820 and 801, or 309 and 100.
The onshore vs offshore partner visa question comes down to one fact: where you are on the day you lodge. If you are in Australia, you apply for the 820/801; if you are outside, the 309/100. Both cost AUD 11,710, and as at 2 November 2026 both had a 21-month median for the temporary visa.
Both pathways also use the same relationship test and end in permanent residence. What changes is where you wait, whether you can work while you wait, and how you travel.
The Home Affairs figures have also shifted, so offshore is no longer the faster route.
This guide compares both pathways side by side, with current fees, processing times and the rules that catch people out. If your situation is unusual, a partner visa consultation can confirm the right pathway before you pay.
What is a partner visa in Australia?
A partner visa lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live, work and study in Australia, first temporarily and then permanently.
The Department of Home Affairs groups partner visas into three options:
- Onshore partner visas: the temporary subclass 820 and permanent subclass 801.
- Offshore partner visas: the provisional subclass 309 and permanent subclass 100.
- The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300), for couples who are engaged and plan to marry in Australia.
In each pathway, you lodge one combined application online in ImmiAccount and pay one fee. Home Affairs decides the temporary visa first and the permanent visa later.
What is an onshore partner visa (subclass 820 and 801)?
An onshore partner visa is the pathway for applicants who are in Australia when they apply. You must be in Australia on the day you lodge, and any family members applying with you must be too.
Stage 1: Subclass 820 (temporary)
- The 820 lets you live, work and study in Australia while Home Affairs processes the permanent stage.
- When you lodge, you usually receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA). It starts when your current visa ends, so you can stay lawfully while you wait.
- Most partner applicants’ BVAs allow work. See Bridging Visa A work rights for the details.
- You can be in or outside Australia when the 820 is decided.
Stage 2: Subclass 801 (permanent)
- You become eligible for assessment for the 801 two years after you first lodged the combined 820/801 application.
- Home Affairs then asks for updated evidence that the relationship is still genuine and continuing.
- The 801 may come sooner if you were in a long-term partner relationship when you applied. That generally means 3 years, or 2 years with a dependent child.
Travel while your onshore application is processed
- A BVA ends if you leave Australia, so apply for a Bridging Visa B before you travel.
- A BVB costs AUD 575 (Home Affairs, as at 10 November 2026) and covers a set travel period.
- Once the 820 is granted, you can travel in and out of Australia on it.
What is an offshore partner visa (subclass 309 and 100)?
An offshore partner visa is the pathway for applicants who are outside Australia when they apply. You and any family applying with you must be outside Australia on the day you lodge.
Stage 1: Subclass 309 (provisional)
- The 309 lets you travel to Australia and live, work and study there while the permanent stage is processed.
- There is no bridging visa because you apply from outside Australia.
- You can visit Australia on a visitor visa while you wait, but a visitor visa is not guaranteed and does not let you work.
- Home Affairs now says you can be in or outside Australia when the 309 is decided.
Stage 2: Subclass 100 (permanent)
- Two years after you lodged the combined 309/100 application, Home Affairs asks for updated relationship evidence.
- Once the 100 is granted, you are a permanent resident.
- As with the 801, a long-term partner relationship at the time of applying can bring the permanent grant forward.
Onshore vs offshore partner visa: what is the difference?
The main difference is where you wait. The relationship test, the fee and the end result are the same for both pathways.
|
Feature |
Onshore (820 then 801) |
Offshore (309 then 100) |
|
Where you must be when you apply |
In Australia |
Outside Australia |
|
Where you can be when the temporary visa is decided |
In or outside Australia |
In or outside Australia |
|
Bridging visa |
Usually a BVA, which takes effect when your current visa ends |
None |
|
Work while waiting |
Usually yes, on the BVA |
No, unless another visa allows it |
|
Medicare while waiting |
Usually eligible once you lodge |
From arrival on the granted 309 |
|
Fee, main applicant (both stages) Expert Australian Migration GuidanceNavigating the complexities of your visa journey is easier with professionals. Start your Australian dream today. Book Consultation |
AUD 11,710 |
AUD 11,710 |
|
Temporary visa, 50% / 90% decided |
21 / 30 months |
21 / 35 months |
|
Permanent visa, 50% / 90% decided |
6 / 19 months (801) |
9 / 18 months (100) |
Fees are from the Home Affairs visa pricing estimator as at 6 November 2026. Additional applicants pay AUD 5,860 (18 and over) or AUD 2,935 (under 18). Processing times are from the global visa processing times page, updated 2 November 2026. Medicare eligibility is set by Services Australia.
Your location at lodgement fixes your pathway. You cannot switch an offshore application to onshore, or the other way round, once it is lodged. For a cost breakdown, see what the partner visa fee covers.
Not sure which pathway your current visa allows? A MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738) at The Migration can check your visa conditions before you lodge. Book a partner visa consultation.
Rules that can block the onshore pathway
These rules are set out on the Home Affairs subclass 820 eligibility page.
- Condition 8503 (no further stay): if your current or last visa has it, you need an approved waiver before you can lodge onshore.
- No substantive visa: if you are on a bridging visa or unlawful when you apply, and you never held a subclass 300, you must show compelling reasons for the grant.
- Without a substantive visa, your application must also include your sponsor’s online Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia form and at least two statutory declarations made in the last six weeks, or it may be invalid.
- Certain regional visa holders must hold their visa for a set time before they can apply. For 491 and 494 holders, it is three years.
Onshore vs offshore partner visa: which is best for you?
The best pathway is usually the one your current location and visa conditions allow. If both are open, the choice comes down to work, travel and time together.
Onshore usually suits you if:
- You are already in Australia on a visa without condition 8503.
- You want to keep living with your partner while the application is processed.
- You need to work, or you want Medicare access, during the wait.
- You are comfortable applying for a BVB each time you travel overseas.
Offshore usually suits you if:
- You live outside Australia and have no visa that lets you lodge onshore.
- You have work, study or family commitments to finish at home first.
- Your current Australian visa has condition 8503 and a waiver is unlikely.
- You would rather move once, after the 309 is granted.
If you are engaged rather than married or de facto, neither of these is the right start. The subclass 300 is the visa for intended marriage, and the 300 vs partner visa comparison explains when it fits.
How The Migration Helps You Choose a Partner Visa Pathway
The Migration’s MARA-registered migration agents (MARN 2518738) check your location, your current visa conditions and your relationship evidence before you choose onshore or offshore. You can confirm registration on the MARA register.
- A check for condition 8503, substantive visa status and any past refusals before you lodge.
- A plan for evidence across the four areas Home Affairs assesses, using the partner visa evidence guide.
- Help with the sponsor’s form and the order of lodgement.
Conclusion
The onshore vs offshore partner visa decision is mostly decided by where you are when you lodge. Onshore keeps you together in Australia, usually with work rights, while offshore means waiting outside Australia until the 309 is decided.
Both pathways now cost AUD 11,710 and take about the same time at the 50% mark. Check your visa conditions first, then choose the pathway that fits your work, travel and family plans.
Want your pathway confirmed before you pay the fee? Book a partner visa consultation with a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738) at The Migration.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not migration advice. Visa rules, fees and processing times change often, so get advice on your own circumstances from a registered migration agent before you apply.
Related articles
- Partner visa processing time in 2026
- De facto vs married: which is better for a partner visa?
- Step-by-step guide to the partner visa 309
