Moving Back to Australia With Your Overseas Spouse: 2026 Guide
You met your partner abroad, built a life together and now you want to come home. Moving back to Australia with your overseas spouse is exciting, but the visa side can feel like a maze. Which visa does your partner need? Can you apply while you both still live overseas? How long will you be apart, if at all?
- Most returning Australians use the offshore Partner visa (subclass 309/100). Your spouse applies from outside Australia and must also be outside Australia when the 309 visa is decided.
- You can sponsor while you still live overseas if you are an Australian citizen. Show that you both plan to live in Australia.
- The 2026 cost is AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, plus AUD 5,860 per adult dependant and AUD 2,935 per child under 18.
- Plan for a long wait. The 309 visa often takes more than a year, so apply before you pack up your life.
- Long relationships can skip a step. Three years together, or two years with a child, can mean the permanent 100 visa is granted with the 309.
- Kids born overseas to an Australian citizen can usually get citizenship by descent instead of a visa.
- A New Zealand citizen spouse usually needs no partner visa at all.
Which Visa Does Your Overseas Spouse Need to Move to Australia?
The right visa depends on your relationship and where your spouse is when you apply. Here is a quick comparison.
| Your situation | Usual visa | Where to apply | Leads to PR? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married or de facto, spouse is overseas | Partner visa subclass 309 then 100 | Outside Australia | Yes |
| Married or de facto, spouse is already in Australia on a visa | Partner visa subclass 820 then 801 | Inside Australia | Yes |
| Engaged and planning to marry in Australia | Prospective Marriage visa subclass 300 | Outside Australia | Yes, after marriage through the 820/801 |
| Spouse is a New Zealand citizen | Special Category visa (subclass 444) on arrival | At the border | Separate pathways later |
For most people moving back to Australia with a foreign spouse, the Partner visa Australia offshore stream is the natural fit. You lodge one application, pay one fee and your spouse is assessed for both the temporary 309 and the permanent Subclass 100 visa.
Can an Australian Citizen Living Overseas Sponsor a Spouse?
Yes. An Australian citizen can sponsor a spouse or de facto partner while both of you still live abroad. You do not need to move home first.
What matters is showing that you plan to live together in Australia. Useful evidence includes:
- A job offer or job applications in Australia
- A lease, property purchase or a letter from family you will stay with
- Proof of shipping quotes, school enrolments or a resignation date
- A short statement explaining when and why you are moving back
If you are a permanent resident, not a citizen
The rules are tighter. A permanent resident sponsor generally needs to show they usually live in Australia. If you have been away for years, your PR travel facility may also have expired. In that case you may need a Resident Return Visa before you can come back and sponsor. Our Sydney migration team can check whether you need one first.
Sponsor limits to know
- You can generally sponsor no more than two partners in your lifetime.
- You usually need at least five years between sponsorship applications.
- You promise to support your partner with housing and money, as reasonably needed, for their first two years in Australia.
- If children under 18 are part of the application, extra character checks can apply to the sponsor.
Offshore Partner Visa 309: Step by Step for Returning Australians
Here is how the offshore partner visa process usually runs when the sponsor is moving back too.
- Check eligibility. You must be married, or in a de facto relationship that meets the legal test, which usually means living together for at least 12 months or registering the relationship.
- Gather relationship evidence. Collect proof across finances, household, social life and commitment. More on this below.
- Book police checks early. Your spouse needs checks from each country they lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. Some countries take months.
- Lodge the sponsorship and visa application in ImmiAccount. The sponsor submits their part and the applicant submits the 309/100 application.
- Complete health checks. Your spouse attends a medical with a Home Affairs panel physician when asked, or earlier if you want to speed things up.
- Stay outside Australia for the decision. Your spouse can visit Australia on a visitor visa but must be outside Australia when the 309 visa is granted.
- Enter Australia on the 309. Your spouse can then live, work and study here.
- Move to the permanent 100 stage. Around two years after you applied, Home Affairs asks for updated evidence and assesses the 100 visa.
309 or 820: Should Your Spouse Apply Offshore or Onshore?
This is one of the biggest decisions for returning couples. Some couples fly home together, with the spouse on a visitor visa, and then apply onshore for the 820. Others lodge the 309 from overseas and wait.
| Factor | Offshore 309/100 | Onshore 820/801 |
|---|---|---|
| Where your spouse must be | Outside Australia at lodgement and at 309 decision | Inside Australia at lodgement, on a valid visa |
| Living together during processing | Only if your spouse visits or you stay overseas | Yes, on a Bridging Visa A |
| Work rights while waiting | None in Australia until the 309 is granted | Usually full work rights on the bridging visa |
| Main risk | Time apart if you move home first | Visitor visa condition 8503 can block an onshore application |
| Government fee | AUD 11,710 | AUD 11,710 |
A word of caution on the tourist visa route. A visitor visa is granted for a genuine visit. If your spouse's visitor visa carries condition 8503 (No Further Stay), they cannot apply for a partner visa inside Australia. Always get advice before using a visitor visa as a bridge to an onshore application. Read more about the onshore option on our Subclass 820 visa page.
Partner Visa Australia Cost in 2026
Partner visa fees rose sharply on 1 July 2026. The fee is set by the date Home Affairs receives your application.
| Applicant | Government fee from 1 July 2026 (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Main applicant (your spouse) | 11,710 |
| Each dependant aged 18 or over | 5,860 |
| Each dependant child under 18 | 2,935 |
The fee covers both the temporary and permanent stages. Budget separately for medicals, police checks, certified translations, flights and any professional fees. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused, which is one more reason to lodge a complete, well evidenced case the first time.
309 Visa Processing Time and How to Plan Your Move
The 309 visa processing time changes every month. Recent Home Affairs data has shown many applications taking more than a year, and a meaningful share taking two years or longer. Always check the Home Affairs global processing times tool for the latest figures.
Three common ways couples plan the move
- Stay together overseas until the grant. Lodge the 309, keep your jobs abroad and move together once it is granted. This is the least stressful option for many families.
- Sponsor moves first. The Australian partner returns to set up work and housing while the spouse waits abroad and visits on a visitor visa.
- Move together and apply onshore. Possible in some cases, but only after checking visitor visa conditions and eligibility.
Can you skip the two year wait for PR?
Often, yes. If you have been in the relationship for at least three years when you apply, or at least two years and you have a child together, your spouse may be granted the 309 and the permanent 100 visa at the same time. Many returning expats who have been married for years qualify for this.
Partner Visa Documents Checklist for Couples Living Overseas
Home Affairs looks at four parts of your relationship. Aim for evidence in every one of them.
| Area | Good evidence for couples abroad |
|---|---|
| Financial | Joint bank accounts, shared bills, joint lease or property, money transfers between you |
| Household | Shared address records, how you split chores and costs, statements from both partners |
| Social | Wedding photos, travel together, statements from friends and family, invitations addressed to you both |
| Commitment | Marriage certificate, wills, insurance naming each other, plans to move to Australia together |
Documents not in English need a certified translation. Keep your relationship statements honest and consistent. Small differences in dates between the two statements are a common reason for extra questions.
Moving Back to Australia With Kids Born Overseas
If you were an Australian citizen when your child was born, your child can usually apply for Australian citizenship by descent. They can then travel on an Australian passport and need no visa at all. If you became a citizen by descent yourself, extra rules can apply, including time you must have spent living in Australia.
Your spouse's children from a previous relationship can usually be included in the partner visa application as dependants. The other biological parent may need to give consent for the child to move.
What Your Spouse Can Do on a 309 Visa
- Live in Australia while the permanent 100 visa is processed
- Work with no hour limits and study
- Travel in and out of Australia as often as they like while the visa is valid
- Enrol in Medicare from the date they arrive to live, according to Services Australia
- Join free English classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible
Once the 100 visa is granted, your spouse is a permanent resident. They can later work towards citizenship. See our guide to the easiest ways to get PR in Australia for how the partner route compares.
Settling In: Medicare, Centrelink and Tax for Returning Families
As a returning citizen, you can usually enrol in Medicare again once you are living in Australia again. Bring your passport and proof that you have moved back.
Your spouse should not plan the move around welfare. Newly arrived residents usually face waiting periods before they can get most Centrelink payments. Check with Services Australia before you rely on any payment.
Tax residency also changes when you return. Speak to a registered tax agent about income earned overseas in the year you move.
Common Mistakes When Moving Back With a Foreign Spouse
- Selling everything and booking flights before the 309 is granted
- Being inside Australia on the day the 309 is ready to be decided
- Using a visitor visa with condition 8503 and then trying to apply onshore
- Leaving police checks until the last minute
- Forgetting that a PR sponsor with an expired travel facility may need a Resident Return Visa
- Not applying for citizenship by descent for children before the move
- Relationship statements that do not match on key dates
Moving Back to Australia With Your Overseas Spouse FAQs
Can I sponsor my spouse if I am an Australian citizen living overseas?
Yes. An Australian citizen can sponsor a spouse or de facto partner while both of you still live overseas. You should show that you plan to return and live in Australia together, for example with a job offer, a lease or proof of plans to move.
Which visa does my overseas spouse need to move to Australia with me?
Most couples use the offshore Partner visa (subclass 309/100). Your spouse applies from outside Australia, gets the temporary 309 visa first and is then assessed for the permanent 100 visa. Engaged couples can use the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300). A New Zealand citizen spouse usually needs no partner visa at all.
How much does a partner visa cost in Australia in 2026?
From 1 July 2026 the base application charge for the Partner visa (309/100 or 820/801) is AUD 11,710 for the main applicant. Each dependant aged 18 or over costs AUD 5,860 and each child under 18 costs AUD 2,935. Medicals, police checks and translations are extra.
How long does the 309 partner visa take?
Recent Home Affairs data shows the 309 visa often takes well over a year, and some cases take more than two years. Check the Home Affairs global processing times tool before you book flights or give notice at work.
Can my spouse visit Australia while the 309 visa is being processed?
Yes, your spouse can apply for a visitor visa to visit you. They must meet all visitor visa rules and must be outside Australia when the 309 visa is decided.
Is it better to come on a tourist visa and apply for the 820 visa onshore?
Sometimes, but it carries risk. If the visitor visa has a No Further Stay condition (8503), your spouse cannot apply for a partner visa in Australia. A visitor visa is also granted for a genuine visit, so get advice before choosing this route.
We have been married for years overseas. Do we still wait two years for PR?
Maybe not. If you have been in the relationship for at least three years when you apply, or at least two years with a child of the relationship, your spouse may be granted the 309 and the permanent 100 visa at the same time.
Do I need a job in Australia before I can sponsor my spouse?
There is no set income test for partner visa sponsors. You do promise to support your partner with housing and money for their first two years in Australia, and proof of work or savings helps show you can do that.
Do my children born overseas need a visa to move to Australia?
If you were an Australian citizen when your child was born, the child can usually apply for Australian citizenship by descent and travel on an Australian passport. Your spouse's children from another relationship can be included in the partner visa application as dependants.
Can my spouse work as soon as the 309 visa is granted?
Yes. A 309 visa holder can live, work and study in Australia while the permanent 100 visa is processed. They can also travel in and out of Australia.
Can my spouse get Medicare after moving to Australia?
Usually yes. Services Australia allows people who have applied for the 309/100 partner visa to enrol in Medicare from the date they arrive in Australia to live.
Can I sponsor my spouse if I am an Australian permanent resident living overseas?
It is harder. A permanent resident sponsor generally needs to show they usually live in Australia. If your PR travel facility has expired, you may first need a Resident Return Visa to come back. Speak to a registered agent before you lodge.
Final Word
Moving back to Australia with your overseas spouse is very achievable. For most couples the offshore 309/100 partner visa is the right path, it can be lodged while you both still live abroad and long relationships may skip straight to PR. The keys are good timing, strong evidence and honest statements. If you are still weighing your options, our Australia PR requirements guide explains the other pathways too.