Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has updated the application process for the partner subclass 309 and 820 visas and the temporary graduate 485 subclass visa.

Key Points:

• Partner subclass 309 and 820 applicants can now be in or outside Australia when their temporary visa application is granted.
• Temporary graduate subclass 485 visa applicants can now be in or outside Australia at the time their visa is granted, but they still need to be in the country at the time of lodgment. Visas will be granted to applicants located in or outside the country except in immigration clearance circumstances.
• Partner subclass 309 applicants were previously required to be outside Australia when their visas were granted, and partner subclass 820 and temporary graduate subclass 485 applicants were previously required to be inside Australia when their visas were granted.

BAL Analysis: Partner subclass 309 visa applicants are still required to be outside Australia when applying for the visa, while partner subclass 820 visa applicants are still required to be in Australia when applying. The government of Australia is expanding options for applicants at the time visas are granted but maintaining locational requirements when applications are filed.