Who Is Eligible for the Partner Visa Subclass 100 in 2026?

Updated 2026-10-11 · General information, not migration advice · Run by the Arrivau team

You can be considered for the Partner (Migrant) visa (Subclass 100) only if you already hold a Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) or a Dependent Child visa (subclass 445), two years have passed since you applied for the subclass 309 and 100 visas, you are still the spouse or de facto partner of the same sponsor, and you continue to meet the health requirement and owe no money to the Australian Government. That summary comes from the Department of Home Affairs' Partner (Migrant) visa (Subclass 100) official page, as of the October 2026 official page. This article is general information drawn from that page — it is not an assessment of any individual case, and the Department's current official wording remains the authority for your own situation.

The subclass 100 is the permanent stage of the offshore partner route. It is not a visa you apply for on its own from the start; it is assessed after the temporary stage.

What visa do I have to be holding already?

You must hold either a Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) or a Dependent Child visa (subclass 445). Both are named as the qualifying holding on the official page. That condition is the gate: without one of those two visas, there is nothing to assess for the permanent grant.

The 309 route is the common one — it is the temporary partner visa granted to applicants who applied from outside Australia. The 445 route matters for dependent children, who reach the permanent stage through the same subclass 100 application.

Do I have to wait two years?

Two years must have passed since you applied for the subclass 309 and 100 visas before you can be assessed for the permanent subclass 100 visa. The count runs from the date you submitted the application, not from the date the 309 was granted. The Department points to ImmiAccount as the place to check the date you submitted.

So, if your 309 was granted quickly but your application was lodged 14 months ago, you are not yet at the two-year mark.

Can the two-year wait be shortened?

Yes, in two situations described on the official page. The Department may grant the permanent subclass 100 visa in less than two years if either:

you were in a long-term partner relationship with your sponsor when you applied for the subclass 309 and 100 visas
your sponsor is, or was, the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa, and before that permanent visa was granted was in a married or de facto relationship with you — and you had informed the Department about your relationship before that permanent visa was granted

Both limbs depend on facts that existed at the time of the original application, which is why the long-term relationship evidence lodged with the 309 matters later.

Does my relationship still have to be continuing?

Yes. You must continue to be the spouse or de facto partner of the same person who sponsored you for the temporary Partner visa. The official overview describes this as continuing, in most cases, a genuine and ongoing relationship with your sponsor. Switching to a different partner does not carry the application forward.

What if the relationship ends before the grant?

You might still be eligible for the permanent visa if your relationship ends or your partner dies before the permanent visa is granted. The official page directs applicants to its guidance on a change in relationship circumstances for the detail.

What if I have experienced family violence?

If you are experiencing domestic and family violence, the Department states it may be able to help, and you may still be eligible for the grant of your permanent visa. The family violence provisions are a separate pathway within the same application, not a fresh application.

Do I have to meet the health requirement again?

You, and any members of the family unit including dependent children who apply for the visa with you, must continue to meet the health requirement. Family members who do not come with you to Australia might also need to meet it.

If you already had health examinations for your subclass 309 visa, the Department will let you know if you need to undertake them again or if more health checks are needed. Health assessment also covers risks to public health in the Australian community.

Does an unpaid debt to the Australian Government block the visa?

Yes, unless it is dealt with. If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must pay it back or arrange to pay it back. This may include family members who do not come with you to Australia.

What if an applicant is under 18?

The Department might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18. That is a separate consideration applied on top of the other criteria, and it is assessed by the Department rather than chosen by the applicant.

What does the subclass 100 change once it is granted?

The visa is permanent. On top of what the subclass 309 allows, you can:

live, work and study in Australia indefinitely
sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
apply for Australian citizenship if eligible

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for subclass 100 if I have never held a 309 or 445?

No. The official eligibility criteria require you to hold either a subclass 309 or a subclass 445 visa. The subclass 100 is the permanent second stage, not a standalone first application.

Is the two years counted from the date my 309 was granted?

No. Two years must have passed since you applied for the subclass 309 and 100 visas, and the Department says you can check the submission date in ImmiAccount.

Can I be granted the permanent visa earlier than two years?

Only in the two situations listed by the Department: a long-term partner relationship with your sponsor at the time you applied, or a sponsor who holds or held a permanent humanitarian visa where your relationship was declared before that visa was granted.

Does the sponsor have to be the same person?

Yes. You must continue to be the spouse or de facto partner of the same person who sponsored you for the temporary Partner visa.

What happens if we separate or my partner dies before the decision?

You might still be eligible for the permanent visa. The Department's guidance covers both a change in relationship circumstances and the family violence provisions, each of which can preserve eligibility.

Who has to meet the health requirement?

You and any members of the family unit applying with you, including dependent children. Family members who are not travelling to Australia might also have to meet it.