Partner Visa 309: Application Form and Document Checklist

To apply for a Partner visa (subclass 309), you must lodge your application online through ImmiAccount. There is no standalone PDF form to download and submit; the application is completed electronically, and the document checklist is generated within ImmiAccount based on the answers you provide. You should not submit a paper application unless the Department has specifically invited you to do so — an uninvited paper application is invalid and will not be processed. Before lodging, review the step-by-step tab on the subclass 309 visa page and use the ImmiAccount checklist to confirm you have attached all required information.

Lodging the Application Online

Partner visa applications are lodged electronically. The Department states that you must apply online via ImmiAccount, and that paper applications are accepted only in limited circumstances and only by invitation. If you submit a paper application without having been invited, the application will be invalid and will not be processed.

If you have trouble using ImmiAccount, you can submit the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form. The Department also notes that not all visa applications can be imported into an ImmiAccount; if you need assistance transferring a Partner visa application, you can use the Technical Support Form and select ‘Enquiry/Issue – Unable to import application’.

Finding the Correct Document Checklist

The Department does not publish a single static PDF checklist for the subclass 309 visa. Instead, the checklist is provided inside ImmiAccount when you are completing the application. For help making sure you include all required information, use the checklist provided in ImmiAccount.

You should also visit the web page for the visa you are applying for and select the step-by-step tab. The subclass 309 page under the Partner visa category is the relevant page. The step-by-step tab sets out the stages of the application, including what to do before you apply, how to lodge, and what to do after you apply.

Documents to Attach at Lodgement

The official guidance does not list every document required for a subclass 309 application. However, it is clear that attaching all supporting documents at the time of lodgement matters. The Department advises that processing times vary depending on whether applications have all necessary supporting documents, and that lodging a complete application helps avoid delays. For partner visas specifically, the Department says it will only consider requests for priority processing if all supporting documents and information are submitted with the application.

After you lodge, you can check the status of your visa application and whether you have provided all supporting documents through ImmiAccount. If the Department requests further information and you cannot provide it within the specified timeframe, you can request additional time using the Partner processing enquiry form. Your request must include evidence showing the steps you have taken to provide the requested information, such as a payment receipt or booking confirmation. The Department will only consider the request if it is made before the original timeframe expires, and it cannot guarantee that additional time will be given.

Health Examinations

You can complete your health examinations after you apply. The results of your health assessment are valid for 12 months from the time you complete the examinations. If the Department asks you to sign a health undertaking, that undertaking is valid for 6 months. The Department may ask you to provide health examination results again if they expire before your visa is decided. Before completing health examinations, you should refer to the visa processing times, because a longer processing time may mean your results expire before a decision is made.

Adding a Child or Withdrawing an Application

If you need to add a child to a Partner visa application after lodgement, the Department directs you to the web page of the visa you are applying for, select the step-by-step tab, go to ‘after you apply’, then ‘add family members’. The same instruction applies to subclass 309 and 100 applications.

If you need to withdraw your application, you can do so online using ImmiAccount. For a Partner visa application covering subclasses 309 and 100, you must withdraw both subclasses. Each applicant aged 18 years or over who is included in the withdrawal must provide their consent by attaching a signed statement.

Processing Times and Priorities

Partner visa applications are processed according to Ministerial Direction 117. Applications are generally assessed in the order in which they are received, with highest priority given to onshore Partner visa applications for subclasses 820 and 801. Lower priority is given to offshore applications, including the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) and Partner visas (subclasses 309 and 100). Applications with lower priority are likely to experience longer processing times.

The Department publishes median processing times by visa category. For the Partner (Provisional/Temporary) category, the median processing time shown for July 2026 is 23 months. This is a category-level median, not a guarantee for your specific application. Processing times vary for each Partner visa subclass, and the Department advises using the Visa processing time guide tool for an indication of processing times for recently decided applications. That tool is a guide only and not specific to your application.

The Department also advises that you should not contact them if your application is still within the standard processing time, as they cannot provide further updates on progress. You can check the status of your application and whether you have provided all supporting documents through ImmiAccount.

Priority Processing Requests

Under Ministerial Direction 117, the Department may prioritise a Partner visa application if you can show that it involves special circumstances of a compassionate nature and there are compelling reasons to depart from the order of priority. There is no guarantee that your application will be given higher priority, because other applicants might have equally or more compelling and compassionate circumstances. Most requests for priority processing cannot be approved.

The Department will only consider priority processing requests if all supporting documents and information are submitted with your application. You must also meet all relevant legislative requirements before a visa can be granted. If you hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309 or 820), two years must have passed since you applied for that visa before you are eligible for assessment of the permanent visa. If you are not yet eligible for the permanent visa, the Department cannot consider your request for priority processing.

What to Do Next

Before lodging, confirm the current requirements on the official subclass 309 visa page, select the step-by-step tab, and use the ImmiAccount checklist to verify that you have attached everything required. Lodge online through ImmiAccount, and do not submit a paper application unless the Department has invited you to do so. After lodgement, monitor your ImmiAccount for requests for further information, and use the Visa processing time guide tool to see recent processing times for the subclass. If you need to request additional time to provide documents, use the Partner processing enquiry form before the original timeframe expires.