How much money do I need to apply for an Australia Spouse Visa from Bangladesh?

As of July 2026, the main Australian Government fee for this visa is AUD 11,710, roughly 9.3 to 9.6 Lakh BDT depending on the daily exchange rate. You should also budget for official English translations of Bengali documents such as your Nikahnama, medical check-ups at approved clinics in Dhaka or Sylhet, police clearance certificates, and the biometrics fee at VFS Global.

How long will it take to get my visa from Bangladesh?

Applications from Bangladesh fall under the offshore Subclass 309 category, which currently takes about 15 to 25 months to process. Submitting all documents, marriage proofs, and police clearances correctly on day one helps avoid delays.

Where and how do I submit my visa papers in Bangladesh?

The entire application is submitted online through ImmiAccount, so no embassy visit is required. The one in-person step is biometrics, booked at a VFS Global (AVAC) center in Dhaka or Sylhet after the online application is submitted.

Can I go to Australia while waiting for my visa approval?

No. Offshore applicants from Bangladesh do not receive a bridging visa or work rights while the application is processed. You must remain in Bangladesh until the Subclass 309 visa is approved and you land in Australia.

We are living in a long-distance relationship. Are we still eligible?

Yes, this is common when the Australian sponsor has to return for work or study. Applicants should provide evidence such as chat logs, video calls, money transfers, and flight records showing visits to demonstrate the relationship continues despite the distance.

Is there a rule about how many years we must be married before applying?

There is no minimum time limit for legally married couples. However, applying soon after marriage means visa officers will scrutinize the relationship evidence more closely, so strong proof of how the relationship formed and developed is important.

Can I apply for a visitor visa while my application is in progress?

It is possible but risky. Visitor visa applications lodged after a Subclass 309 application are often refused, especially without a strong prior travel history to Australia. It is generally safer to wait until the Subclass 309 is granted.

Is a Kabin Nama enough proof, or do we need more evidence for a genuine relationship?

The Kabin Nama only proves the marriage is legally registered; it does not prove the relationship is genuine to the Department of Home Affairs. Couples, especially those married through family arrangement, should also submit wedding photos, guest lists, invitation cards, and statutory declarations from close family confirming the relationship is real.

My marriage was arranged by our families. Will this hurt my visa application?

No, arranged marriages are common in Bangladeshi culture and are fully accepted by Australian immigration, as long as you can show the relationship has genuinely developed since the wedding. Communication records, joint decisions, and family recognition on both sides help strengthen the case.

Do I need a joint bank account even though we live in different countries?

A fully joint account is not mandatory, but showing some financial interdependence, such as regular money transfers, shared bills, or joint savings goals, helps meet the financial evidence category even if only partial.

What happens if my sponsor's visa or citizenship status changes while my application is being processed?

Your sponsor must remain an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen throughout the process. Any change in their status should be reported to your migration agent immediately, since it can affect your case timeline.

Can my child from Bangladesh be included in my Subclass 309 application?

Yes, dependent children can usually be included as secondary applicants on the same application, provided they meet health and character requirements, which is often more cost-effective than filing a separate application later.

Will my visa be refused if my partner and I have a big age gap?

An age gap alone does not cause refusal. Case officers look at the overall relationship story, though a larger age gap may draw more scrutiny, making strong and consistent evidence more important.

Do bank loan or property documents in my partner's name in Australia help my case?

Yes. Showing your sponsor is settled with stable income or assets is not a formal requirement, but it supports the idea of a shared future together and strengthens the household and commitment categories of evidence.

Spouse Visa

Australia Partner Visa subclass 309

Helping Bangladeshi couples navigate the complex spouse visa application process

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Australia Partner Visa

The Australian Spouse Visa, officially called the Partner Visa, is for married partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It lets you move to Australia and live together with your spouse legally.

Partner Visas – Compared

The Australian immigration department has designed 5 types of spouse visas to suit individual situations and needs.

Visa Subclass	Where You Apply	What It Is	Leads To	Timeframe
Subclass 309	Outside Australia	Temporary Spouse Visa	Subclass 100	9–13 months
Subclass 100	Follows the 309	Permanent Spouse Visa	Permanent Residency	13–32 months
Subclass 820	Inside Australia	Temporary Spouse Visa	Subclass 801	12–26 months
Subclass 801	Follows the 820	Permanent Spouse Visa	Permanent Residency	11–30 months
Subclass 300	Outside Australia	Fiancé Visa	Subclass 820	12–26 months

Important: You apply once and pay one fee. The temporary and permanent stages are bundled into a single application — there is no second fee when you move to the permanent stage.

Offshore Partner Visa

Subclass 309

The subclass 309 is for applicants who are outside Australia, offshore, at the time of lodgment. If you are based in Bangladesh, this is the visa you apply for. It allows you to live, work, and study in Australia while the Department of Home Affairs monitors your relationship over a two-year period. If you are currently in Australia, then learn about 820 visa.

The Two-Stage Journey

Stage 1 — Temporary (subclass 309): Live, work, and study in Australia for two years while your relationship is assessed.
Stage 2 — Permanent (subclass 100): After two years, the Department confirms your relationship is genuine and ongoing, then grants permanent residency.

Requirements for Partner Visa (Subclass 309)

Be outside Australia when applying
Be married to, or in a genuine de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
Show the relationship is genuine and ongoing
Have a sponsor — your partner must formally sponsor you
Meet health requirements (medical examination)
Meet character requirements (police clearance)
Meet identity requirements

Subclass 100 — Permanent Partner Visa

Australia spouse visa is the easiest pathway for you to join your Australian Partner. The Subclass 100 is the permanent stage of the offshore pathway. It follows automatically from the Subclass 309 — there is no separate application or additional fee required. Once granted, it gives you the right to live, work, and study in Australia permanently with no end date.

Requirements for Subclass 100

You must already hold the Subclass 309 visa
At least two years must have passed since the original application was lodged
You must still be in a genuine and continuing relationship with the same sponsor
You and any family members included must continue to meet health and character requirements

Fast-track note: If your relationship was already well-established at the time of applying — typically 3 or more years together, or 2 years if you have a dependent child — you may be granted the 100 visa at the same time as the 309, skipping the two-year wait entirely.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility

Ensure your relationship is genuine and continuing, and your partner is eligible to sponsor you as an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Check you can meet Australia’s health, character, and visa requirements before applying.

Step 2: Gather documents

Prepare identity documents, relationship evidence, financial records, and proof of living together to support your application.
Include police clearances and complete your health examination when requested by the Department of Home Affairs.

Step 3: Visa lodgment

Submit your Partner Visa application online, pay the government fee, and upload all required supporting documents.
Providing complete and accurate information helps avoid unnecessary processing delays.

Step 5: Medical examination

Complete your medical examination with a Home Affairs-approved panel physician to satisfy Australia’s health requirements.
Your results are sent directly to the Department, so you do not need to upload them yourself.

Step 6: Police clearance

Obtain police certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more since turning 16. These documents help the Department assess whether you meet Australia’s character requirements.

Step 7: Visa granted

If approved, you will receive a temporary Partner Visa that allows you to live in Australia while awaiting permanent residency.
You can usually work and access eligible services during this stage, subject to visa conditions.

Processing Times

Processing times vary based on the volume of applications and individual case complexity. The following are approximate current timeframes:

Subclass 309 (offshore temporary) — 9 to 13 months
Subclass 100 (offshore permanent) — 13 to 32 months from lodgment