Offshore Partner Visa Processing Times Have Increased

Offshore Partner visa applicants are facing longer processing times following changes to the Department of Home Affairs’ family visa processing priorities.

Ministerial Direction 117, which commenced on 25 July 2026, gives the highest processing priority to eligible family visa applications lodged by applicants in Australia. As a result, offshore Partner visa applications, including the Subclass 309/100, generally receive a lower processing priority than onshore Subclass 820/801 applications.

Current processing time data indicates that 90% of recently decided Subclass 309 applications were finalised within 39 months, compared with approximately 29 months for Subclass 820 applications.

These figures are a guide based on recently finalised applications and do not mean every new application will take the same amount of time.

What Ministerial Direction 117 Changed

Ministerial Direction 117 introduced a location-based priority structure for Family visa processing, with eligible onshore applications receiving higher priority.

The Department has confirmed that offshore Partner visa applications will continue to be processed in accordance with applicable visa criteria, government planning levels and processing priorities.

The change has raised concerns among Australian sponsors and their partners who remain separated overseas. Some affected couples have made submissions to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke calling for the offshore processing arrangements to be reconsidered.

Who May Be Most Affected

Longer offshore processing times may have a significant impact on couples who cannot easily live together while waiting for a decision.

This may include applicants affected by medical circumstances, pregnancy, family responsibilities or conflict overseas, as well as couples who have already spent extended periods apart.

For some applicants, a Visitor visa (Subclass 600) may be considered as an interim option to spend time with their partner in Australia. However, a Visitor visa is a separate application with its own eligibility requirements and must be assessed on the individual circumstances.

The government has also announced planned changes involving broader use of No Further Stay conditions on Visitor visas. The detailed implementation of these changes should be monitored carefully.

Practical Steps for Offshore Partner Visa Applicants

1. Check your application is decision-ready. Ensure requested documents, biometrics and supporting evidence have been provided, as missing information may delay assessment.
2. Keep relationship evidence updated. Longer processing periods may mean updated evidence is required before a decision is made.
3. Consider interim visa options carefully. A Visitor visa may be appropriate in some circumstances, but eligibility should be assessed separately.
4. Review whether priority processing may be available. The Department may consider requests involving special circumstances of a compassionate nature where there are compelling reasons to depart from the usual processing priority. Approval is not guaranteed and supporting evidence is required.
5. Monitor processing times and policy changes. Processing estimates and government priorities can change over time.

What Should You Do Now?

If you have a Subclass 309/100 Partner visa application pending offshore, or you are deciding whether to lodge your Partner visa onshore or offshore, the processing location can now have a significant impact on your visa strategy and expected timeline.

Our migration lawyers can review your circumstances, assess available visa options and advise whether an interim visa or priority processing request may be appropriate.

Speak with the Riverwood Migration legal team to review your Partner visa strategy and next steps.

The content of this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and subject to change. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a registered Australian migration lawyer. For full terms governing use of this website and its content, please refer to our Website Terms and Conditions.

Speak with a Riverwood Migration Lawyer

For partner and family visa matters, we recommend speaking with Shirly Wang, our lawyer specialising in partner and family migration pathways. Book a consultation to discuss your circumstances.

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