Australia Spouse Visa from India 2026: Partner Visa 309/100 Steps, Evidence and Checklist for Punjab Couples
Short answer: If you live in India and are married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, the usual route is the offshore Partner visa: subclass 309 (temporary) followed by subclass 100 (permanent). You must be outside Australia when you apply, the application is made online through ImmiAccount, and the permanent stage can be assessed once two years have passed since you applied. Home Affairs gives offshore partner applications lower processing priority than onshore ones, so strong evidence from day one matters.
Every week, families in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur and across Doaba ask the same question after a wedding: how does the Australia spouse visa from India actually work? This guide explains the partner visa options, the two-stage process, the relationship evidence Home Affairs looks at, and a practical document checklist for Punjab couples, based on official Department of Home Affairs information.
Which Australian Partner Visa Fits Your Situation?
Australia has several partner and prospective spouse visas. According to Home Affairs' About partner visas page, where you are when you apply decides which one you use:
Visa | Where you must be when applying | What it does | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|---|
Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) | Outside Australia | Lets you come to Australia to marry, then apply for a Partner visa | Engaged couples planning to marry in Australia |
Partner (Provisional) (subclass 309) | Outside Australia | Temporary visa; first step to the permanent subclass 100 | Married or de facto couples where the applicant lives in India |
Partner (Migrant) (subclass 100) | Assessed after the 309 | Permanent residence | Subclass 309 holders once eligible |
Partner (subclass 820 and 801) | In Australia | Temporary, then permanent | Applicants already in Australia on a suitable visa |
For most Punjab couples where the husband or wife is still in India, the offshore 309/100 is the relevant visa. Be careful with plans to fly in on a visitor visa and switch to an onshore partner visa: visitor visas can carry a "No Further Stay" condition that blocks most onshore applications. Our guide to the Australia visitor visa No Further Stay rule explains how it works.
Who Can Apply: Basic Eligibility
Sponsor: your partner must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Relationship: you must be their spouse (married) or de facto partner, and the relationship must be genuine and continuing.
De facto couples: you generally need to have been in the de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before applying, unless an exception applies, such as a relationship registered with an Australian state or territory.
Sponsor limits: Home Affairs restricts how often a person can sponsor a partner. If your sponsor has sponsored a previous partner, or came to Australia on a partner visa themselves, check the sponsorship rules carefully before lodging.
Character and health: you must meet Australia's health and character requirements, and sponsors provide their own police certificates with the sponsorship.
How the Australia Spouse Visa from India Works: Step by Step
Collect identity, marriage and relationship evidence for both of you before you lodge.
The applicant lodges the combined subclass 309 and 100 application online in ImmiAccount while outside Australia, and pays the visa application charge.
The sponsor submits the "Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia" and provides police certificates, at lodgement or as soon as possible after.
Complete health examinations when appropriate. Home Affairs says results are valid for 12 months, so check processing times before booking.
Respond to any request for information by the deadline. Extra time can be requested through the Partner processing enquiry form, but only before the original deadline expires.
The subclass 309 is decided. Once granted, you can move to Australia.
When two years have passed since you applied, complete "Stage 2 - Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801)" in ImmiAccount with updated evidence.
Home Affairs decides the permanent subclass 100.
Costs and Processing Times
The visa application charge is paid once at lodgement and covers both the temporary 309 and the permanent 100 stage. It is one of Australia's highest visa charges, it is reviewed regularly, and extra charges apply for each family member you include. Check the exact current amount in the cost section of the official Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100) page before you apply. Also budget for medical examinations, police certificates, translations and any card payment surcharge.
On timing, the official Partner visa FAQs explain that applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 117. Onshore 820/801 applications get the highest priority, while offshore 309/100 and Prospective Marriage applications get lower priority and are likely to take longer. For current figures, use the Visa processing time guide. Requests for priority processing are only considered in compelling, compassionate cases, and Home Affairs says most cannot be approved.
Relationship Evidence: What Home Affairs Looks At
Australian migration law looks at the relationship across four broad aspects. No single document proves a genuine relationship, so build a file that covers all four:
Aspect | Examples Punjab couples can provide |
|---|---|
Financial | Joint bank account, transfers between you, shared expenses, nominations on insurance or bank accounts |
Household | Proof of living together, shared address on documents, how household responsibilities are shared, and an explanation if you live apart because the sponsor works in Australia |
Social | Registered marriage certificate, wedding invitation cards, photos with both families over time, joint travel, and statements from people who know you as a couple |
Commitment | Call and chat history over time, visits, plans to live together in Australia, and personal relationship statements from both partners |
Many couples also include statements from supporting witnesses on Form 888. Whatever you include, make sure names, dates and places match across every document.
Document Checklist for Indian Applicants
Identity: passport, birth certificate and evidence of any change of name.
Marriage: registered marriage certificate, plus records of the ceremony (for example, an Anand Karaj or Hindu wedding) and photographs.
Relationship evidence: documents across all four aspects in the table above.
Police certificates: an Indian police clearance certificate, plus certificates from any other country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. See our guide to getting a police clearance certificate from Punjab.
Health: medical examinations with a panel physician approved by Home Affairs, when appropriate.
Biometrics: Indian applicants may need to give biometrics. Read our explainer on Australia visa biometrics for Indians.
Sponsor documents: proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residence, identity documents and the sponsor's police certificates.
Translations: English translations of any document that is not in English.
Common Mistakes Punjab Couples Make
Relying mainly on wedding photos instead of evidence across all four aspects.
Spelling differences in names (for example, Kaur or Singh used inconsistently) and mismatched dates between passports, the marriage certificate and statements.
Missing a deadline to respond to a request for information.
Planning to travel on a visitor visa and switch to an onshore partner visa without checking visa conditions.
Not updating relationship evidence before the permanent stage assessment.
Taking advice from someone who is not allowed to give it. Check Home Affairs' Who can help with your application page before you pay anyone.
What If the Relationship Ends or There Is Family Violence?
Home Affairs says a Partner visa application can continue in some situations even if the relationship with the sponsor ends, including when the sponsor has died, when you or a family member on the application have experienced domestic and family violence by the sponsor, or when you and the sponsor have a child and share parental responsibility. You must notify Home Affairs, usually through ImmiAccount. Support is explained on the official family violence provisions page.
Get Help with Your Australia Partner Visa
A partner visa is a long, expensive application, and a weak first lodgement can cost months. If you are preparing an Australia spouse visa from India, book a consultation with World Immigration Terminal in Jalandhar and our team will help you choose the right subclass, organise your relationship evidence, and prepare your PCC, medical and sponsor documents before you lodge.
Last verified: November 2026, using official Department of Home Affairs partner visa pages and FAQs. Immigration rules, charges and processing times change often. Always confirm the latest requirements on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au or consult World Immigration Terminal before applying. No consultant can guarantee a visa outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for an Australian spouse visa from India?
Yes. The offshore Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100) is for applicants outside Australia who are the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. You must be outside Australia when you apply.
How long does an Australia spouse visa take from India?
Processing times vary. Under Ministerial Direction 117, offshore 309/100 applications get lower priority than onshore 820/801 applications and are likely to take longer. Check the Home Affairs visa processing time guide for current figures.
When do I get permanent residence on an Australian partner visa?
You become eligible for assessment of the permanent subclass 100 once two years have passed since you applied for the subclass 309. You then complete the Stage 2 permanent partner visa assessment in ImmiAccount.
Do we need to be married to apply for an Australian partner visa?
No. Both spouses and de facto partners can apply. De facto couples generally need to show the relationship existed for at least 12 months immediately before applying, unless an exception such as a registered relationship applies.
How long is a partner visa medical exam valid?
Home Affairs says health assessment results are valid for 12 months from when you complete the examinations. It may ask you to repeat them if they expire before a decision is made.
What happens if my marriage breaks down after I apply?
In some situations the application can continue, such as when the sponsor has died, when there has been domestic and family violence by the sponsor, or when you share a child and parental responsibility. You must tell Home Affairs about the change.
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