Onshore Partner Visa Vs Offshore Partner Visa

Couples researching onshore partner visa vs offshore partner visa usually expect one option to be the clear winner. It isn't. The right pathway comes down almost entirely to one fact: where the applicant is physically located when the application is lodged and decided. Here's how Subclass 820 vs Subclass 309 actually compares in 2026, and how to work out which one applies to you.

Can I Apply for a Partner Visa Onshore or Offshore?

Both pathways lead to the same outcome — permanent residency through the partner visa program — but they're not interchangeable by choice alone. Do I need to be in Australia to apply for a partner visa? Only if you're going onshore. Subclass 820 requires you to be physically in Australia at both lodgement and decision. Subclass 309 requires the opposite: you must be outside Australia when you apply.

Subclass 820 vs Subclass 309: The Core Difference

Subclass 820 is the onshore temporary partner visa, leading to permanent residency through Subclass 801. Subclass 309 is its offshore equivalent, leading to permanent residency through Subclass 100. Both assess the same relationship evidence — financial, household, social, and commitment — and both grant the permanent stage roughly two years after the original combined application.

Onshore Partner Visa Processing Time

Subclass 820 processing has been running at roughly 50% of applications decided within 16–20 months, and around 90% within 24–26 months, based on current Department of Home Affairs data. The onshore route's biggest practical advantage: lodging an 820 application generally triggers a Bridging Visa A, letting you legally live and work in Australia while your case is assessed.

Offshore Partner Visa Processing Time

Subclass 309 has generally tracked slightly faster on the median, often around 14–16 months for 50% of applications, with 90% decided within roughly 23–26 months. There's a trade-off, though — offshore applicants have no bridging visa and no Australian work rights while waiting; you remain outside the country until the 309 is granted.

Can I Apply Offshore If My Partner Is in Australia?

Yes. Your partner's location doesn't determine your pathway — yours does. It's common for the sponsoring partner to already be living and working in Australia while the applicant lodges a Subclass 309 from overseas and waits there until the visa is granted.