Australia | Spouse & Partner Visas (820, 801, 309, 100)
Spouse Visa Consultants in Chandigarh
We Vision You Two, Living and Blooming Together! Whether your spouse is in Australia or you are applying from India, our MARA-registered team guides you through the right Australian partner visa – from relationship evidence to final grant.
Quick answer: The Australian “spouse visa” is officially called the Partner visa. If you are in Australia, you apply for the onshore subclass 820 (temporary) and 801 (permanent). If you are outside Australia, you apply for the offshore subclass 309 (temporary) and 100 (permanent). You must be in a genuine and continuing relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Auscan Consultants in Chandigarh helps you choose the right subclass and lodge a strong application.
Onshore vs offshore partner visa at a glance
| Feature | Onshore – Subclass 820 / 801 | Offshore – Subclass 309 / 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply from | Inside Australia | Outside Australia (e.g. India) |
| Where you must be at decision | In Australia | Usually outside Australia |
| Temporary stage | Subclass 820 – Partner (Temporary) | Subclass 309 – Partner (Provisional) |
| Permanent stage | Subclass 801 – Partner (Permanent) | Subclass 100 – Partner (Migrant) |
| When PR is assessed | About 2 years after you lodge | About 2 years after you lodge |
| Application fee | One combined fee covers both the temporary and permanent stages | |
| Work, study & Medicare | Yes | Yes, once the 309 is granted |
Who can sponsor you: your spouse or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Onshore partner visa – subclass 820 and 801
The Partner (Temporary) visa subclass 820 is for spouses and de facto partners who are already in Australia. It is a temporary visa that lets you stay while your permanent Partner visa subclass 801 is processed.
Basic eligibility for the 820 visa
- Be in a genuine and continuing relationship with your spouse or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Be in Australia when you apply, and in Australia when the application reaches the decision stage.
- Meet health, character and other visa conditions.
With the 820 visa you can
- Live, work and study in Australia.
- Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want.
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare scheme.
- Attend free English language classes through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
Subclass 801 – the permanent stage
You pay for the temporary and permanent visa at the same time. About 2 years after you lodge, if your relationship is ongoing, you become eligible for the permanent subclass 801 visa. You will need to provide updated evidence of your relationship at that stage.
Offshore partner visa – subclass 309 and 100
The Partner (Provisional) visa subclass 309 lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia temporarily. It is the first step towards the permanent Partner (Migrant) visa subclass 100.
Eligibility for the 309 visa
- Married applicants must usually be 18 or older when they apply, as you must generally be 18 or older to be married under Australian law.
- Applicants in de facto relationships must be 18 or older when they apply.
- You must usually be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted.
- You and your family members must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
With the 309 visa you can
- Stay in Australia until your permanent subclass 100 visa is decided or the application is withdrawn.
- Work in Australia.
- Study in Australia (you will not receive government study support).
- Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want.
- Attend free English classes through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare scheme.
Subclass 100 – permanent partner visa
The 309 is a 2-year temporary stage. After about two years of a continuing relationship, you can be granted the permanent subclass 100 visa – you will need to provide relationship evidence again at that time.
Remember: to get the permanent Partner visa (subclass 100), you must hold the subclass 309 visa. If you are granted any other visa, it will replace your 309 visa and you can’t be granted the subclass 100 visa.
How to prove a genuine relationship
Most partner visa refusals come down to weak relationship evidence. The Department of Home Affairs looks at four areas of your relationship – our spouse visa consultants help you document each one clearly.
Financial
Joint bank accounts, shared bills, money transfers, joint assets or loans.
Household
Shared address, lease or property papers, how you share household duties.
Social
Wedding photos, joint travel, invitations, Form 888 statements from friends and family.
Commitment
Call and chat history, time spent together, future plans and knowledge of each other.
Looking for another family pathway? See our parent visa, visitor visa and student visa (with spouse dependant) services. Visa refused? Our AAT / ART appeal team can help.
How our spouse visa consultants in Chandigarh help you
- Free online assessment – we check your relationship, your partner’s status and where you are, and confirm whether the 820/801 or 309/100 pathway suits you.
- Document checklist – you get a personalised checklist for identity, marriage or de facto proof, police certificates and sponsor documents.
- Relationship evidence – we help you organise financial, household, social and commitment evidence, plus relationship statements and Form 888 declarations.
- Lodgement – our MARA-registered agents prepare and lodge your partner visa and sponsorship application.
- Health & character – we guide you through medicals, biometrics and police checks on time.
- Follow-up to grant – we handle department requests and prepare you for the permanent 801 or 100 stage.
Spouse visa testimonials
What our spouse visa clients say about Auscan Consultants.
My Name is Jagjeet Singh. I have applied my dependent visa through Auscan after visiting 6-7 agents in Punjab. Most of them were saying that high commission will take 10-12 months. I took advise of Meenakshi Mam in Auscan helped me to get my dependent Visa in less than 2 months (50 days). Auscan MD Mr Sunil Jaggi Ms Divya Jaggi are member of MARA and are expert in giving migration advise and with there Ms Meenakshi’s help today i am in Australia with my spouse. I am really thankful and appreciate Auscan services… Bravo!!!
I really have to say that I was an impatient individual and made many mistakes in visa filing. I applied for Visitor visa for Australia through some other agent and got refused 2 times. But I was surprised to get my student dependant visa within 2 months through Auscan Consultants as the regular process was about 10-12 months. I am amazed at the fact that the entire file process was hassle free through Auscan Consultants as they are quite experienced.
Spouse visa FAQs
What is a spouse visa for Australia?
Australia does not have a separate "spouse visa". Married spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens apply for a Partner visa – subclass 820/801 if they are in Australia, or subclass 309/100 if they are outside Australia.
What is the difference between the 820 and 309 partner visa?
The subclass 820 is the onshore temporary partner visa – you must be in Australia when you apply and when it is decided. The subclass 309 is the offshore temporary partner visa – you must usually be outside Australia when you apply and when it is granted. Each leads to a permanent partner visa: 801 (onshore) or 100 (offshore).
How long until I get permanent residency on a partner visa?
The permanent stage (subclass 801 or 100) is usually assessed about 2 years after you lodge the combined partner visa application, provided your relationship is still genuine and continuing. If you have been in the relationship for 3 years or more (or 2 years with a dependent child of the relationship), the permanent visa may be granted straight away.
Do I need to pay twice for the temporary and permanent partner visa?
No. You pay one combined application fee that covers both the temporary (820 or 309) and permanent (801 or 100) stages. Visa fees are set by the Australian Government and are reviewed every 1 July, so check the current fee with us before you lodge.
Can de facto partners apply for the Australian partner visa?
Yes. De facto partners can apply, but generally you must have lived together for at least 12 months before applying, unless your relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory or there are compelling circumstances. Both partners must be 18 or older.
Can I work and study in Australia on a partner visa?
Yes. Both the 820 and 309 partner visas let you live, work and study in Australia, travel in and out as many times as you want, enrol in Medicare and attend free English classes through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
Why choose Auscan as spouse visa consultants in Chandigarh?
Auscan Consultants has offices in Chandigarh and Melbourne, and our directors Mr Sunil Jaggi and Ms Divya Jaggi are registered migration agents (MARA). We check your eligibility, build strong relationship evidence and manage your partner visa application from lodgement to grant.
Free online assessment for your spouse visa
Find out whether the onshore 820/801 or offshore 309/100 partner visa is right for you. Talk to our spouse visa consultants in Chandigarh and Melbourne — or online.
- Chandigarh: S.C.O. No 11, Sector 17-E, Above Tejees, Chandigarh – +91 172 500 2055, +91 172 500 2088
Melbourne: SE 601, Level 6, 343 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 – +61 3 9670 9124
- Email: info@auscanimmigration.com
