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With Australian Immigration, you have a variety of visa application options. Partner visas are one of many visa options, and they can be further divided into offshore and onshore visas. It can be challenging to determine which visa application is best for you, so we have provided a brief overview of offshore and onshore visa applications.

Onshore and Offshore visa application process in Australia

Simply, an Australian Partner visa allows a spouse or de facto partner of an Australian to live and work there. The two ways to apply for an Australian partner visa are through an onshore partner visa application (subclass 820/801) or an offshore partner visa application (subclass 309/100). Here, we will examine the distinctions between these types of applications and provide some crucial advice for submitting a visa application.

Onshore Partner Visa – Subclass 820/801

Obtaining an onshore partner visa involves two steps:

Stage 1:

Combined application for both partner visa, temporary (subclass 820) and permanent (subclass 801).

Stage 2:

Lodged 2 years after stage 1 to demonstrate that the relationship is still active.

In order to apply for a permanent Partner visa (subclass 801), you must first be granted a temporary Partner visa (subclass 820). To proceed, you must first fulfill the prerequisite conditions, which include:

Being the married or de facto spouse of:

• an Australian national
• eligible New Zealand citizen
• an Australian permanent resident

If the aforementioned requirements are satisfied, stage 1 must be submitted and the subclass 820 visa must be approved while you are physically present in Australia. You can be in or out of Australia when stage 2 is submitted and the subclass 801 visa is issued.

Benefits

If you apply for an onshore partner visa, you will have access to Medicare while your application is being processed. The majority of stage 1 applications currently take 21 months to process for this visa. You will be put on a Bridging visa A (BVA), which enables you to work and study both full-time, as soon as the visa you were in at the time of application expires. You can also apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB), which will enable you to travel outside of Australia and back again.

Offshore Partner Visa – Subclass 309/100

Offshore partner visa also consists of two phases:

Stage 1:

Combined application for both partner visa, temporary (subclass 309) and permanent (subclass 100).

Stage 2:

Lodged 2 years after stage 1 to demonstrate that the relationship is still ongoing which should be mentioned in a Relationship Statement.

In order to apply for a permanent Partner visa (subclass 100), you must first be granted a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309). You must initially meet the following criteria, just like for an onshore partner visa:

• Australian citizen
• Eligible New Zealand citizen or
• A permanent resident of Australia

Stage 1 of the application must be submitted outside of Australia, and the subclass 309 must also be approved outside of Australia. This is the main difference in the application process. Another difference is that you can apply for an offshore partner on the basis of an "intended" marriage if you are already married when your application is approved. You may be in or out of Australia when stage 2 is submitted and the subclass 100 visa is issued.

Benefits

Even after applying for an offshore partner visa, you can still travel while your application is being processed with a temporary visa, such as a visitor visa. The benefit of applying for an offshore Partner is that you will probably experience quicker stage 1 visa processing times, which are typically around 13 months for a decision. The disadvantage of this is that you might have to live apart from your partner for at least a year. Having said that, if you can't find another way to enter Australia, an offshore Partner visa may be your best choice.

When this visa is approved, you will have access to advantages like Medicare, the freedom to work and study full-time, unlimited travel to and from Australia, and no-cost English lessons.

What’s the difference between the Onshore and Offshore visa application process?

The relationship requirements for an onshore or offshore partner visa application are the same, as was already mentioned. The cost of applying for a visa is also the same (and very large).

The main distinction between the Subclass 820 and 309 visas is fairly straightforward: A Bridging Visa, which permits you to remain in Australia while your partner visa application is being processed, will be issued to you if you apply for a Subclass 820 visa in Australia. You will likely be granted a Bridging Visa A, which includes the ability to work and enroll in Medicare, unless you are ineligible or possess a Bridging Visa C, D, or E. You can also travel if you have permission (in the form of a free Bridging Visa B application).

On the other hand, if you apply for a Subclass 309 Partner Visa from abroad, you won't be given a bridging visa and must be traveling outside of Australia when your visa is approved. You will require a different kind of visa if you intend to visit Australia while it is being processed (e.g. a visitor visa).

The processing time is the other key distinction. The benchmark processing time for an onshore application (Subclass 820) is 18 months at the time of writing, which is 5 months longer than the benchmark for an offshore application, despite being constantly in flux (Subclass 309).

While that does seem significant, keep in mind that an onshore applicant can live, work, and access Medicare for those five months, so perhaps it's only a minor inconvenience.

Are there any health examinations required?

Before entering Australia, you must pass a health examination and adhere to the moral standards outlined by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Contact Us for free consultation about the partner visa application process.

Do I need to supply a Police Clearance Certificate?

In order to enter any country where you have lived for more than a year in the previous ten, you must present a police clearance certificate.

Do we have to have lived together to apply for a Partner visa?

You must have been in a relationship with your partner for at least a year in order to be eligible to apply for a De-facto Partner visa.

How can we assist you?

A thorough guide for both onshore and offshore visa applications has been made available by us at CDR Writer Australia. Each application type has been carefully examined by our team of knowledgeable experts, who have taken the time to explain their differences and offer suggestions on how to successfully complete each one. We have simplified and streamlined the difficult process of applying for a visa, including regional provisional visas, tourist visas, temporary activity visas, and others, with our Step-by-Step Guide.