If your husband, wife or de facto partner is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, you may be able to apply for an Australian Partner Visa from Thailand.
For most applicants applying from Thailand, the relevant route is the Partner (Provisional) visa subclass 309, followed by the permanent Partner (Migrant) visa subclass 100.
The application is evidence-heavy and requires much more than simply proving that you are married. The Department of Home Affairs will want to see that the relationship is genuine, continuing and supported by appropriate evidence.
Thai Visa Express assists Thai applicants and their Australian partners with the preparation of Partner Visa applications from Thailand.
Need Help With an Australian Partner Visa?
We can review your circumstances, organise the evidence and prepare your Partner Visa application from Thailand.
WhatsApp Thai Visa ExpressWhat Is an Australian Partner Visa?
The Australian Partner Visa allows the spouse or de facto partner of an eligible Australian sponsor to live in Australia.
For applicants applying from outside Australia, the process normally involves two linked visa subclasses:
- Subclass 309 Partner (Provisional) Visa – the temporary stage
- Subclass 100 Partner (Migrant) Visa – the permanent stage
The subclass 309 visa allows the applicant to live in Australia temporarily while the permanent subclass 100 stage is considered.
Who Can Sponsor a Partner Visa?
The sponsor will normally need to be:
- An Australian citizen
- An Australian permanent resident
- An eligible New Zealand citizen
The sponsor must also meet the applicable sponsorship requirements.
Previous sponsorships, previous relationships and certain character issues can affect eligibility, so these matters should be checked before the application is lodged.
Can a Thai Wife Apply for an Australian Partner Visa?
Yes. A Thai citizen who is legally married to an eligible Australian sponsor may be able to apply for the offshore Partner Visa from Thailand.
However, the marriage certificate alone is not enough.
The application still needs to demonstrate that the relationship is genuine and continuing.
This usually means providing evidence of how the relationship developed, how the couple manage their lives together, their financial arrangements and their commitment to each other.
What About De Facto Partners?
Australian Partner Visas are not limited to married couples.
De facto partners may also qualify where the relevant relationship requirements are met.
The evidence for a de facto application can be particularly important because the couple may not have a marriage certificate to rely on.
Applicants should be prepared to provide clear evidence showing the nature and history of the relationship.
Relationship Evidence
Relationship evidence is one of the most important parts of an Australian Partner Visa application.
The Department may consider different aspects of the relationship, including:
- Financial arrangements
- The nature of the household
- Social aspects of the relationship
- The couple's commitment to each other
A strong application should normally provide evidence across these areas rather than relying on photographs alone.
Financial Evidence
Financial evidence can help show how the couple manage their lives together.
Depending on the circumstances, useful documents may include:
- Joint bank accounts
- Money transfers
- Shared household expenses
- Evidence of financial support
- Joint property or assets
- Insurance or financial commitments
Not every couple will have the same financial arrangements, so the evidence should reflect the reality of the relationship.
Household Evidence
Evidence relating to the household may help demonstrate how the couple live together or manage domestic responsibilities.
This may include:
- Joint tenancy agreements
- Property ownership
- Utility bills
- Correspondence sent to the same address
- Evidence of shared household responsibilities
Couples who spend periods living apart may need to explain why and provide other evidence showing that the relationship continues despite the distance.
Social Evidence
Social evidence helps demonstrate that the relationship is recognised by friends, relatives and the wider community.
This may include:
- Photographs together
- Travel together
- Family events
- Social occasions
- Statements from friends and relatives
- Evidence of contact with each other's families
Photos can be useful, but they should form part of a wider evidence package rather than being the entire case.
Commitment to Each Other
The application should also show the couple's mutual commitment to a shared life.
Evidence may include:
- Length of the relationship
- Communication records
- Travel history
- Plans for the future
- Periods spent living together
- Support during periods of separation
The overall aim is to present a clear and consistent history of the relationship.
Previous Marriages and Relationships
Previous relationships do not automatically prevent a Partner Visa application, but they need to be disclosed accurately.
If either person has previously been married, the application may require evidence showing how that relationship ended.
This may include:
- Divorce certificates
- Death certificates
- Other evidence confirming the previous relationship has ended
Inconsistent dates or incomplete information can cause unnecessary problems, so previous relationship history should be handled carefully.
Children and Partner Visa Applications
Children may sometimes be included in or connected with a Partner Visa application, depending on their circumstances.
Additional documents, identity evidence, medical examinations and other requirements may apply.
Where children from previous relationships are involved, custody and parental responsibility issues may also need to be considered.
Australian Partner Visa Cost
The Australian Government visa application charge for an offshore Partner Visa is currently substantial.
The main applicant fee starts from approximately AUD 11,710.
There may also be additional costs for:
- Medical examinations
- Police certificates
- Biometrics
- Translations
- Professional assistance
- Additional family members
Government fees can change, so applicants should always check the current charge before submission.
Biometrics for Australian Partner Visas
Applicants in Thailand may be asked to provide biometrics after the visa application is lodged.
Biometrics normally involve a digital photograph and fingerprints.
If biometrics are required, the applicant will receive instructions explaining what to do next.
Read our Australian visa biometrics guide for more information.
Medical Examination
Partner Visa applicants may also be required to complete an Australian immigration medical examination.
The exact health requirements depend on the applicant's circumstances.
If a medical is required, the Department will normally issue instructions explaining what examinations are needed.
Our Australian visa medical examination guide explains the process in Thailand.
Police Certificates and Character Requirements
Applicants may need to provide police certificates from countries where they have lived for relevant periods.
The Australian sponsor may also need to provide character information as part of the sponsorship process.
If either party has a complicated criminal or immigration history, it is sensible to identify the issue before submission rather than waiting for it to be raised later.
How Long Does an Australian Partner Visa Take?
Partner Visa processing times vary considerably.
There is no single processing time that applies to every application.
Factors that can affect the timeframe include:
- Completeness of the application
- Relationship evidence
- Health checks
- Police certificates
- Requests for further information
- Complex immigration or relationship history
Applicants should be cautious about anyone promising a guaranteed decision within a particular number of weeks or months.
What Happens After the Subclass 309 Visa Is Granted?
The subclass 309 visa is the provisional stage of the offshore Partner Visa process.
Once granted, it allows the visa holder to live in Australia while the permanent subclass 100 stage is considered.
The permanent stage is not simply a completely unrelated second visa application. The subclass 309 and subclass 100 process is linked from the beginning.
The Permanent Subclass 100 Partner Visa
The subclass 100 visa allows the applicant to remain in Australia permanently.
For many applicants, eligibility for permanent-stage assessment arises around two years after the original Partner Visa application was lodged.
Further evidence may be required to show that the relationship remains genuine and continuing.
Common Problems With Partner Visa Applications
Partner Visa applications can become difficult where the evidence is weak, inconsistent or incomplete.
Common issues include:
- Very limited relationship evidence
- Conflicting dates
- Long periods apart without explanation
- Previous relationships not properly disclosed
- Weak financial evidence
- Little evidence of shared life
- Inconsistent statements from the applicant and sponsor
- Previous visa refusals
- Adverse immigration history
The application should tell a consistent story and be supported by documentary evidence wherever possible.
Do You Need to Be Married?
No. Marriage is not the only basis for an Australian Partner Visa.
Eligible de facto partners may also apply.
However, the evidence required will depend on the couple's circumstances and the basis on which the relationship is being presented.
What If You Are Not Yet Married?
If you are engaged but do not yet meet the requirements for a Partner Visa, the Prospective Marriage Visa subclass 300 may be another option.
This is a different visa route and should not be confused with the subclass 309/100 Partner Visa.
You can read our Australian Prospective Marriage Visa guide for more information.
How Thai Visa Express Can Help
Australian Partner Visas involve a large amount of relationship and supporting evidence.
Thai Visa Express can assist with:
- Initial case assessment
- Reviewing relationship history
- Preparing the application
- Organising supporting documents
- Preparing relationship evidence
- Reviewing sponsor information
- Biometrics guidance
- Medical examination guidance
- Responding to requests for further evidence
We can also identify weaknesses in the case before submission and explain what additional evidence may be useful.
Useful Australian Visa Guides
Australian Partner Visa Help From Thailand
Contact Thai Visa Express if you would like us to review your relationship and help prepare your Australian Partner Visa application.
WhatsApp UsFinal Thoughts
An Australian Partner Visa from Thailand is a major application and normally involves far more evidence than a visitor visa.
The strongest applications provide a clear, consistent account of the relationship supported by evidence covering finances, household arrangements, social recognition and long-term commitment.
Preparing the evidence properly before submission can reduce avoidable problems and make it easier for the decision-maker to understand the relationship.