Understand the two visa stages

The Subclass 309 Partner (Provisional) visa is the temporary stage of the offshore partner pathway. The Subclass 100 Partner (Migrant) visa is the permanent stage. It is a pathway for eligible spouses or de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens.

The 309 application is made while the applicant is outside Australia. Application and decision location rules should be checked against current requirements. Permanent residence is not automatic. Do not assume that two years of waiting guarantees a decision or grant.

Build your relationship history before uploading documents

Start with the sequence of your relationship: first meeting, commitment, time living together, important travel, periods apart and plans for a shared future. Record dates accurately and flag uncertainty. A coherent chronology helps identify what each document demonstrates.

Photographs may show time spent together, while tenancy records and financial documents may explain practical commitments. Neither should be used to imply a living arrangement or financial position that did not exist.

Prepare evidence with context

We help couples consider evidence about finances, household arrangements, social recognition and commitment. Appropriate material depends on the relationship. Living apart for work or family reasons should be explained with the relevant facts and records.

A large upload is not necessarily an informative upload. Clear filenames, readable documents and short explanations can make the evidence easier to follow. Inconsistent dates, unexplained transfers and conflicting addresses deserve attention before lodgement.

Check sponsorship and visa history early

Tell us about previous relationships, earlier sponsorships, dependent children, any visa refusal or cancellation, and relevant health or character matters. These issues should not be left until the application is nearly complete.

Relationship breakdown, family violence, a child of the relationship or the death of a partner may require individual advice. General website information cannot determine the effect on an application.

How TILSAVV supports your application

The agreed service may include pathway assessment, an evidence checklist, review of relationship statements and supporting records, sponsorship preparation, lodgement assistance and responses to requests within scope. We explain professional fees and third-party costs separately.

Bring passports, visa history, a relationship timeline and an outline of your available evidence. You do not need a perfectly assembled folder before the first discussion. Identifying gaps early is part of useful preparation.

Common questions