Where do you apply for the 309 partner visa?

Online, and you must be outside Australia. The 309 is the offshore temporary partner visa; the 820 is the onshore one.

Is the 309 checklist different from the 820 checklist?

The document lists on the two Home Affairs pages are almost the same: identity, a written relationship history, relationship documents, the four areas of evidence including 2 Form 888s, former relationships and family, health, character and Form 80, and the sponsor's documents.

How many Form 888s do you need for a 309?

Home Affairs' partner and prospective marriage visa pages say: “You must provide statements from 2 witnesses”. The form tells the person making it: “You may be asked to submit up to 3 separate statements during the processing of the visa application.”

Does the 309 checklist cover the subclass 100?

No. The permanent offshore stage, subclass 100, has its own page that we haven't checked yet. Follow the Home Affairs subclass 100 page for that stage.

Do 309 documents need certifying?

No. The 309 page says you do not need to have any documents certified. Documents not in English need an English translation provided with the original; translators outside Australia add their full name, contact details, qualifications and experience.

Can you tell us if our 309 evidence is enough?

No. We don't assess anyone's evidence or give migration advice. For advice on your situation, talk to a registered migration agent or lawyer.

Partner visa 309 checklist (offshore)

What documents does the 309 visa need?

The list follows the “Gather and prepare your documents” and “After you apply” steps on the 309 page, including the sponsor view. Items marked if it applies are only for some couples, such as de facto partners or people with children.

0 of 29 ticked for the Partner visa 309 (offshore, stage 1). Saved in this browser only.

Identity documentsApplicant

Birth certificate showing the names of both parents

If you can't provide one: the identification page of a family book showing both parents, a government-issued identification document, a court-issued document that proves your identity, or a family census register.

Current passport: the pages showing your photo, personal details, and issue and expiry dates

National identity card, if you have oneif it applies

Proof of any change of nameif it applies

For example a marriage or divorce certificate, change of name documents, or documents showing other names you have been known by.

Your relationship in writingApplicant and sponsor

A written account of your relationship history

Home Affairs asks you to tell it in writing about: how, when and where you first met; how the relationship developed; when you moved in together, got engaged or married; what you do together; time you spent apart; significant events in the relationship; your plans for the future.

Write it with our statement tool

Statements from 2 witnesses on Form 888

Each witness is 18 or older and knows you, your partner and your relationship.

Collect your Form 888s

Evidence of citizenship or permanent residence for any witness who is an Australian citizen or permanent residentif it applies

Such as a passport or birth certificate.

Form 888 ID evidence

Relationship documentsApplicant

If you're married: your marriage certificate or other evidence your marriage is valid in Australiaif it applies

If you're de facto partners: evidence you were in the relationship for at least 12 months before you appliedif it applies

If it's less than 12 months, Home Affairs asks for evidence the relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory registry, or a written account of any compelling and compassionate circumstances.

Supporting evidence of the relationshipApplicant and sponsor

Finances: evidence you share financial matters

Home Affairs' examples: joint mortgage or lease documents, joint loans for major assets, joint bank account statements, household bills in both names.

The four areas explained

Household: evidence you share domestic matters

Home Affairs' examples: a statement about how you share housework, household bills in both names, mail or emails addressed to you both, documents showing joint responsibility for children, documents that prove your living arrangements.

Social matters: evidence others know about your relationship

Besides the Form 888s, Home Affairs' examples: joint invitations or going out together, friends in common, telling government, public or commercial bodies about your relationship, joint sporting, cultural or social activities, travelling together.

Commitment: evidence you're committed to a long-term relationship

Evidence must show you know each other's background, family situation or other personal details, have combined your personal matters, stay in touch when apart, and are not related by family. The terms of your wills can also be provided.

Former relationships and familyApplicant

If you were previously married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated: divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarationsif it applies

For each child under 18 applying with you: identity documents and evidence of your relationship, such as a birth certificateif it applies

Also health examinations, character documents if they are 16 or 17, and adoption papers, court orders, school enrolment or sole custody evidence if they apply.

Form 1229 consent from anyone who has a legal right to decide where a child under 18 lives and isn't coming to Australia with themif it applies

With an identity document showing that person's signature and photo, such as a passport or driver's licence. Alternatives: an Australian court order allowing the child to migrate, or evidence the laws of the child's home country allow them to leave permanently.

Form 1229 guide

For a dependent child 18 or over: Form 47a and evidence they depend on youif it applies

Health and characterApplicant

Health examinations

Results are valid for 12 months from the date you complete them.

Australian police certificate, if you've spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since turning 16if it applies

Only complete disclosure National Police Certificates from the Australian Federal Police are accepted, not state or territory police certificates. Police certificates are valid for 12 months.

A police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16if it applies

Military service records or discharge papers, if you served in the armed forces of any countryif it applies

Form 80 Personal particulars for assessment including character assessmentForm 80 guide

Sponsor documentsSponsor

Copy of your passport, copy of your birth certificate and a photo of your face

Evidence you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

If you're a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen: evidence you usually live in Australiaif it applies

For example documents showing you maintain a home, work, own property or a business, or have family ties where you live.

Australian police certificate (complete disclosure, Australian Federal Police) and overseas police certificates for countries where you spent 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16

Written consent for Home Affairs to disclose any convictions for relevant offences to the visa applicant

Sponsorship application lodged online in ImmiAccount

“Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia”, using the Transaction Reference Number (TRN) the applicant gives you after applying.

Preparing the filesApplicant and sponsor

English translations of every document that isn't in English, provided with the originalsif it applies

Translators in Australia must be NAATI accredited. Translators outside Australia include their full name, address and phone number, and their qualifications and experience in the language, in English.

Colour scans or photos of every document, clear enough to read, with multi-page documents saved as one file

Home Affairs says you do not need to have any documents certified.

What goes in the written relationship history?

The 309 page asks you to tell it in writing how, when and where you first met, how the relationship developed, when you moved in together, got engaged or married, what you do together, time you spent apart, significant events, and your plans for the future.

Our relationship statement tool takes you through these topics with prompt questions and lays your own words out as a PDF to sign.

What if you're de facto, not married?

The 309 page asks de facto partners to show they have been in the relationship for at least 12 months before applying. If not, it lists evidence of a registered relationship, or a written account of any compelling and compassionate circumstances. See partner visa evidence for the four areas.

Where do Form 888 statements fit?

Under social matters: Home Affairs' partner and prospective marriage visa pages say: “You must provide statements from 2 witnesses”. Each witness is 18 or older, knows you both and knows about your relationship. Our Form 888 tool sends each witness a private link, they answer in their own words, and your browser fills in the official form.

Applying for a different visa?

Applying in Australia? Use the partner visa checklist for the 820. Engaged and not yet married? See the Prospective Marriage visa checklist. Onshore stage 2 is on the 801 checklist.

Partner visa 309 checklist: offshore documents