AustraliaMigrate, a registered migration agency established in 2000, has published updated 2026 guidance on Australia's partner visa pathways, aimed at couples and families deciding how to apply. The guidance compares the main partner visa subclasses side by side so applicants can match their situation to the right pathway before they lodge.

Partner and family migration remains one of the most significant and document-heavy areas of the visa system. The guidance sets out the onshore Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801) for partners already in Australia, the offshore Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100) for partners overseas, and the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) for engaged couples planning to marry in Australia, and explains in plain English what each pathway asks for.

"The single most common partner visa problem we see is couples applying under the wrong subclass for their situation," said Ian Singer, Director and Principal Registered Migration Agent at AustraliaMigrate. "Where a person is at the time they apply, and where they need to be when the visa is granted, both shape which pathway fits. A clear decision at the start can save months of stress, and in some cases a good deal of money, further down the line."

The guidance also covers the role of relationship evidence, which it groups into the financial, social, household and commitment aspects of a relationship that assessors look to, and the part played by supporting documents such as the Form 888 statutory declaration completed by family and friends who can attest to the relationship.

"A strong partner visa application is built on evidence," Mr Singer said. "Our role is to help couples set out the genuine story of their relationship in the form the Department needs to see, and to make sure nothing that matters is left out. Every case is assessed on its own circumstances, and no agent can promise an outcome or a processing time, but a complete and well-organised application is always in a stronger position than a thin one."

The guidance notes that partner visa processing follows the Department of Home Affairs' family visa priorities, under which onshore Partner applications are generally given higher priority than offshore applications, and that processing times vary and are updated by the Department. It is part of AustraliaMigrate's continuing effort to make complex visa decisions easier to understand for families, whether they are onshore, offshore or preparing to marry.

AustraliaMigrate advises couples to confirm which subclass suits their circumstances before lodging, and to check current fees, requirements and processing time estimates with the Department of Home Affairs, which updates this information regularly.

Australia Migrate is based in Chatswood, Sydney, and has assisted individuals, families and businesses with Australian visa applications for more than 25 years. The firm's agents are registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority and provide advice across partner, family, skilled, employer-sponsored and student visa categories. For more information about partner visa options, the onshore Partner visa or offshore and prospective marriage pathways, visit the website: https://www.australiamigrate.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKhqAqcBPyc

Registered migration agency AustraliaMigrate has published 2026 guidance comparing Australia's main partner visa pathways — the onshore subclass 820/801, the offshore subclass 309/100 and the subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa — to help couples choose the correct subclass and avoid the delays that come from lodging the wrong application.

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For more information about Australia Migrate Pty Ltd, contact the company here:

Australia Migrate Pty Ltd
Ian Singer
0294116000
ian@australiamigrate.com
Suite 601, 10 Help Street, Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia