Partner visa Subclass 100 (Off-Shore)

Partner Visa Subclass 100 (Offshore) — The Permanent Offshore Partner Visa 

After the temporary Partner Visa Subclass 309 is granted and you have been living in Australia, the next and final stage of the offshore partner visa pathway is the Partner Visa Subclass 100 — the permanent visa that allows you to remain in Australia indefinitely. 

Like the onshore pathway (Subclass 820 leading to 801), the offshore partner visa involves two stages in a single combined application. When you lodged your Subclass 309, your Subclass 100 application was submitted at the same time. The permanent visa is then assessed after a period of time has elapsed — generally two years from the original application date — provided your relationship with your Australian sponsor remains genuine and ongoing. 

Understanding how the Partner Visa Subclass 100 assessment works, what triggers the review, and what evidence is required at that stage is important well before you reach the two-year mark. 

What Is the Partner Visa Subclass 100? 

The Partner Visa Subclass 100 is the permanent visa granted to spouses and de facto partners of eligible Australian sponsors who applied for their partner visa from outside Australia. It is the permanent counterpart to the temporary Subclass 309 and is included in the same combined application lodged at the offshore stage. 

Once granted, the Subclass 100 provides: 

• The right to live in Australia permanently 
• Unrestricted work rights 
• Study rights in Australia 
• Unrestricted travel to and from Australia 
• The ability to sponsor eligible family members for Australian residency 
• Eligibility to apply for Australian citizenship once criteria are met 

Key Facts at a Glance 

Detail	Information
Visa Type	Permanent (offshore)
Cost	Included in the original 309/100 combined application fee
When Assessed	Generally two years after the original application date
Processing Time (75%)	Approximately 18 months from eligibility date
Processing Time (90%)	Approximately 23 months from eligibility date
Pathway From	Partner Visa Subclass 309 or Dependent Child Visa 445
Leads To	Eligibility for Australian citizenship

Eligibility for the Partner Visa Subclass 100 

To receive the permanent Partner Visa Subclass 100, you generally need to: 

Hold a valid temporary Partner Visa Subclass 309 (or Dependent Child Visa 445) at the time the permanent visa is assessed. If your 309 has expired or been cancelled, the 100 cannot be granted. 

Be in a genuine and ongoing relationship with your Australian sponsor at the time of the permanent assessment. The Department re-evaluates the relationship at this stage — it does not rely solely on the evidence provided at lodgement. 

Have a sponsor who continues to be eligible and has not been barred from sponsoring. 

Continue to meet health and character requirements that remain current at the time of the permanent assessment. 

The two-year waiting period may be waived in certain circumstances — for example, if you held a registered relationship at the time of application, or had been in the relationship for three or more years (or two or more years with a dependent child). If you believe an exemption may apply, seek professional advice before the two-year mark. 

What the Two-Year Review Involves 

When the Partner Visa Subclass 100 assessment is triggered, the Department of Home Affairs will typically contact both the applicant and the sponsor requesting updated evidence of the relationship. 

This is not a repeat of the original evidence file — the Department wants to see how the relationship has developed since the application was lodged. Updated evidence should cover: 

Financial — continued joint financial activity, shared accounts, expenses or commitments made during the period since the 309 was granted. 

Household — evidence of shared living in Australia or a clear explanation if the couple is not cohabiting at the time of the review. 

Social — recent photographs, records of activities and events together, updated statements from family members or friends who can attest to the ongoing relationship. 

Personal commitment — updated statements from both partners describing the current state of the relationship, future plans, and shared life in Australia. 

Statutory declarations from supporting witnesses who know the couple currently — not just at the time of original application — carry weight in the permanent assessment. 

What If the Relationship Has Ended Before the Subclass 100 Is Granted? 

If the relationship with your sponsor has ended before the Partner Visa Subclass 100 is granted, the permanent visa will generally not be approved. There is an exception in cases involving family violence during the relationship — if this applies, specific provisions allow the permanent visa to be considered even where the relationship has ended. 

This is one of the more sensitive and legally complex areas of partner visa law. If your circumstances have changed in this way, seeking advice from FTS Visa Services or another MARA-registered agent before any departmental contact is strongly recommended. 

How FTS Visa Services Supports Your Subclass 100 Assessment 

The permanent stage of the offshore partner visa is one that many applicants underestimate in terms of evidence preparation. Having received the temporary 309 and settled into life in Australia, it’s easy to assume the permanent grant is straightforward — but the evidence review at the two-year mark is a genuine assessment, not a formality. 

FTS Visa Services helps applicants navigate the Partner Visa Subclass 100 assessment by: 

• Advising when the two-year review is likely to be triggered 
• Reviewing and advising on the strength of updated relationship evidence 
• Preparing updated personal statements and evidence files 
• Responding to any departmental requests during the permanent assessment 
• Advising on the family violence provisions where relevant 

Our MARA-registered migration agents are available from our offices in Parramatta, Sydney, and Melbourne, and by phone or video appointment for clients based elsewhere. 

Related Visa Pathways 

• Partner Visa Subclass 309 (Temporary — Offshore) 
• Partner Visa Subclass 820 (Temporary — Onshore) 
• Partner Visa Subclass 801 (Permanent — Onshore) 
• Family Visa Overview 
• Registered Migration Agent Sydney 

 Frequently Asked Questions — Partner Visa Subclass 100