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Australia Partner Visa 309 vs 820: Offshore, Onshore and Subclass 300

Published by LovHQ · Content and source check: 12 October 2026. No individual author or professional reviewer is claimed.

The main difference between Australian partner visas 309 and 820 is where the applicant must be when applying. Home Affairs describes subclass 309 as the temporary stage of an offshore 309/100 partner route, and says the applicant must be outside Australia at application. Subclass 820 is the temporary stage of an onshore 820/801 route, and the applicant must be in Australia at application. Subclass 300 is different again: it is a Prospective Marriage visa for someone who plans to marry in Australia and then may apply for a Partner visa. These route labels are not a ranking of speed, cost or suitability.

What the subclass numbers do and do not tell you

Home Affairs presents the 309/100 and 820/801 visas as paired temporary and permanent partner stages. In each pair, the first number names the temporary visa and the second the permanent visa. The department says applicants apply for the temporary and permanent partner visas together. That does not mean both stages are decided at once. The 820 page describes the temporary visa as the first step toward 801, while the 309 page describes the temporary visa as the first step toward 100. Read the current subclass page for each stage rather than assuming every number represents a separate form or a separate route.

Subclasses 309 and 820 are both temporary partner visas, but they belong to different application-location pathways. The numbers are labels, not a score for which route is easier. A person's current country, plans to travel, relationship category and other visa circumstances may matter. This guide compares the published route structure. It does not determine the category that fits an individual or advise anyone to move countries before applying.

The current Home Affairs pages describe these partner routes for a spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The official eligibility criteria and evidence instructions are broader than the short comparison here. Start with the relevant onshore page or offshore page, then read the linked application instructions for the facts of the case.

Subclass 309 and 100: the offshore partner pathway

Home Affairs calls 309/100 the Partner visa pathway for people applying overseas. The page says the temporary and permanent partner applications are lodged together and identifies subclass 309 as the temporary first step toward subclass 100. For the 309 application, it states that the applicant must be outside Australia when applying. That is a route-specific location rule, not a general instruction to travel or a conclusion about a person's full eligibility.

The 309 stage lets the eligible partner live in Australia temporarily while the permanent partner application is considered. The department describes subclass 100 as the permanent visa and says it is usually granted to people who hold the temporary 309. “Usually” matters: a general article should not promise a particular stage or result. Check the live Home Affairs page and the case-specific notices for the process the department will use.

Home Affairs also explains how it frames the permanent-stage processing-time estimate. The 309/100 page says that estimate begins from the date of eligibility, which it places two years after the combined temporary and permanent partner application. This is not a promise that a decision will arrive two years after filing. The department says processing times vary and its guide reflects recently decided cases, not an individual application. Do not use a forum post or a single couple's timeline as a forecast.

For a couple living in different countries, the practical planning question is not simply “How long does 309 take?” Make a checklist of official steps that could affect both people: identity and civil documents, translations if required, any appointment or travel need, and which page gives the current instruction. Keep the source and its last-checked date beside the note. That helps you notice a changed requirement without assuming that another applicant's file is the correct checklist for you.

Subclass 820 and 801: the onshore partner pathway

Home Affairs calls 820/801 the Partner visa pathway for applying in Australia. Its page says to apply for the temporary and permanent partner visas together, identifies 820 as the temporary first step, and states that an applicant must be in Australia when applying for subclass 820. The page describes subclass 801 as the permanent stage and says it is usually for people who currently hold the temporary 820. It also says the applicant must hold a temporary 820 for the 801 stage.

The fact that a person is in Australia does not by itself answer every route question. Visa conditions, current status, relationship facts and the detailed eligibility requirements may matter. This page does not assess whether someone can remain in Australia, change status, work or travel while an application is pending. Check the current Home Affairs instructions for that person's exact situation before making plans that depend on continued stay or permission to work.

The 820/801 and 309/100 descriptions share the paired temporary/permanent structure, but their application-location labels differ. The official 820 page says “in Australia” when applying for 820, while the 309 page says “outside Australia” when applying for 309. These statements are about the respective subclass application. Do not extend one route's location wording to another route or assume the location rule at decision without checking the live page. In particular, the Prospective Marriage subclass 300 page has its own separate decision-location rule.

Subclass 300: a separate route for a planned marriage

The Prospective Marriage visa, subclass 300, is not another name for a 309 or 820 partner application. Home Affairs says it lets a person come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse and then apply for a Partner visa. That makes the relationship stage different: the subclass 300 page is about a prospective marriage, while the partner visa pages describe a spouse or de facto partner. The live source page sets out the full requirements. A couple should not infer that an engagement alone establishes eligibility.

The current Home Affairs page says a 300 applicant must be outside Australia when applying, but may be in or outside Australia when the temporary visa application is decided. The same page currently describes a stay of 9 to 15 months from the grant date and says the visa permits work and study in Australia. Those are time-sensitive route details checked on 12 October 2026. The visa grant notice and the current official page control; do not rely on an old saved copy of this article for a future application.

Home Affairs' page also lists current conditions such as being at least 18, having an eligible sponsor, intending to marry the prospective spouse before the visa period ends, and having met face to face as adults since turning 18 and being known to each other personally when applying. These are summaries of the official page, not a complete checklist or a prediction. The department's current forms, evidence rules and individual assessment control.

After marriage, the 300 page says the visa holder can then apply for a Partner visa. A future application is a distinct step, with its own requirements and decision. The word “then” should not be read as an automatic conversion or guarantee that a later application will be granted. Plan with the current subclass 300 and partner-visa pages rather than treating the first visa as permanent status.

Compare the route facts that actually change the plan

Begin with two separate questions: what is the relationship category under the current Home Affairs instructions, and where will the applicant be at the relevant application stage? Then look at the visa purpose. An existing spouse or de facto partner may be reading one of the partner routes. A person planning to travel to marry in Australia should also read the distinct subclass 300 page. These are comparison prompts, not an individual route recommendation.

  • For the 309/100 page: check the offshore label and the stated requirement to be outside Australia when applying for 309.
  • For the 820/801 page: check the onshore label and the stated requirement to be in Australia when applying for 820.
  • For the 300 page: check the planned-marriage purpose, its own application and decision locations, visa period and what the page says can happen after marriage.

Do not infer a route from these three summary bullets. Home Affairs publishes more detailed eligibility criteria, supporting document instructions and rules for people with different situations. If a person already holds another visa, has children included, or faces a travel or status complication, the short comparison may not cover their question. Read the official page or get advice from a qualified Australian migration professional about the individual facts.

Costs and processing times: avoid stale comparisons

Home Affairs fees change, and the total amount can depend on the application and the people included. The official Visa Pricing Estimator is the appropriate starting point for a current estimate. Home Affairs says the estimator does not take account of every other cost related to a visa. Medical examinations, translations, document procurement, travel and other case-specific expenses can therefore sit outside a simple government-charge comparison. This guide does not publish a static price for subclasses 300, 309, 100, 820 or 801.

Processing-time indicators also describe past decisions, not a guaranteed time for a new file. Home Affairs says partner-visa processing times vary and may be longer than expected. Its pages direct applicants to a processing-time guide based on recently decided applications and state that the guide is not specific to the person's case. Use that tool only as the department describes it, and recheck the page around the time you apply.

Plan the couple's logistics without turning a checklist into advice

For each possible route page, save the exact URL, the date checked and the question it answers. Keep the actual relationship chronology factual and store records securely. A visa category is not a test of whether a relationship is genuine, and LovHQ does not score or judge anyone's relationship. Our relationship timeline guide explains a private way to organize dates and source references without inventing evidence or treating examples as official requirements.

Travel budgeting is another separate task. If you are planning an in-person visit while discussing a possible move, LovHQ's Long-Distance Budget Calculator can help estimate costs from your own prices. It does not calculate visa charges or decide whether a person can enter Australia. For a broader household discussion, see questions to discuss before living together.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Australian partner visas 309 and 820?

Subclass 309 is the temporary stage in the offshore 309/100 route. The Home Affairs page says the applicant must be outside Australia when applying for 309. Subclass 820 is the temporary stage in the onshore 820/801 route, and the applicant must be in Australia when applying for 820. Read the current page before relying on either location rule.

Are subclasses 309 and 100 separate applications?

Home Affairs says the temporary and permanent partner applications are made together. Subclass 309 is temporary and subclass 100 is permanent. A combined application does not mean the permanent stage is decided at the same time. The current page describes the later stage and its eligibility point.

Is subclass 300 the same as a partner visa?

No. Home Affairs describes subclass 300 as a Prospective Marriage visa. It lets a person come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse and then apply for a Partner visa. The route has different requirements from the 309/100 and 820/801 partner pathways.

Can a subclass 300 applicant be in Australia when a decision is made?

Home Affairs says subclass 300 applicants must be outside Australia when applying and may be in or outside Australia when the temporary visa application is decided. This rule belongs to subclass 300; do not assume it applies to the other partner subclasses.

How long can someone stay on subclass 300?

The Home Affairs page checked on 12 October 2026 lists a stay of 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date. Confirm the current page and the individual grant notice because immigration requirements and visa conditions can change.

Which Australian partner route is faster or better?

This guide cannot rank the routes for an individual. Home Affairs says processing times vary and its processing guide describes recently decided applications, not one person's expected result. Compare the route pages and do not treat a generalized timeline or another person's experience as a promise.

Can this guide tell us whether we qualify?

No. It is general planning information, not legal advice or an eligibility assessment. Home Affairs publishes current requirements and decides individual applications.

Official sources checked for this guide

Source-check date: 12 October 2026. Requirements, fees, forms and processing guidance can change. Recheck the linked Australian government pages before acting. This guide is general information only, not legal or immigration advice.

For more practical planning, browse all LovHQ guides or use the free relationship-planning tools.