The expertise of a lawyer. The simplicity of an app.
Australian visa applications without the confusion, the cost, or the back-and-forth.
Australian immigration lawyers
No visa? No fee
Your teamTony, Immigration Lawyer · Jonas, Founder
Why choose Tern?
Immigration lawyer verified
Our legal framework is backed by immigration lawyers to ensure it complies with Australian immigration laws.Never wonder if your evidence is enough
Immigration lawyers design the process. You get real-time feedback on your evidence as you go, so you know exactly what's needed and what's strong. Your application is checked before submission, and if refused, your service fee is refunded.About five times less than a migration agent
Know exactly what you'll pay before you start. No hourly billing, no hidden fees. Just a fixed price for a thorough, expertly guided application.Visa arrives on time or your money back
How it works
1
Your passport fills in the form
Upload a photo of your passport and your name, nationality, and document details populate instantly. One click confirms your current visa status and which subclass you qualify for.
2
Which visa you need, and why
Select your purpose of stay and an advice panel built by immigration lawyers tells you which subclass fits your situation. Change your answer and the recommendation, and the price, updates to match.
3
Know your evidence is strong before you finish
Upload a document and real-time checks show whether it meets what the Department actually looks for: name match, income regularity, fund levels. Anything flagged comes with a specific explanation of what was found and what to fix.
Talk to an immigration lawyer
Licensed immigration lawyer
Secure video call
Getting a visa should not cost thousands or require a law degree to navigate
Common questions
General
Which visas can I apply for?
Right now you can apply for:
• Visitor visas (Subclass 600/651) for tourism, family visits, or business• Working Holiday visas (Subclass 417/462) for young travellers• Transit visas (Subclass 771) for short stopovers through Australia• Partner visas (Subclass 820/801 onshore, 309/100 offshore) for spouses and de facto partners• Prospective Marriage visas (Subclass 300) for fiancés planning to marry in Australia
More visa types are in progress, including student, employer-sponsored, and skilled visas.What if my situation is complicated?
Start the application and we'll let you know if anything needs extra attention:
• Previous visa refusals• Health or character concerns• Gaps in your documents
For trickier cases, you'll get a consultation with Tern's own immigration lawyer. You'll always see any additional costs before you decide.How it works
What's the application process like?
Here's what happens when you apply:
• Pick the visa you need• Answer guided questions and upload your documents (works on your phone or laptop)• See lawyer advice on-screen as you go, explaining what matters and why• Your application is reviewed before submission, with complex cases escalated to an immigration lawyer• Submitted to Home Affairs and tracked until your decision arrives
Does a real person check my application?
Yes.Every application is reviewed before it goes to the Department. For partner visas, an immigration lawyer reviews your full file before submission. For other visas, your application is checked for errors and inconsistencies by our expert team. Nothing is submitted without that review being complete.
Is the legal advice coming from AI?
No.All the legal advice you see comes from licensed immigration lawyers. We use AI for admin tasks like reading your documents, but it never interprets migration law or gives you advice.
How is this different from other online visa services?
Most are overseas businesses with no legal accountability in Australia.Tern is an Australian company, operating under Australian law, with licensed immigration practitioners overseeing every application. We check your application for errors before it's submitted, draft any statements required, and refund our service fee if your visa is refused. Other online services typically forward your form as-is, with no review and no recourse.
How do I know what's happening with my application?
Your dashboard shows you exactly where things are at:
• Application submitted• Health checks or biometrics requested• More information needed• Decision made
We'll email you whenever the Department asks for something, and you can respond directly through our platform.Pricing & refunds
What does Tern cost, and what am I paying for?
Typically two to five times less than a traditional migration agent, depending on your visa.You'll always see your total before you pay. It includes:
• Our service fee (fixed for each visa type, shown on the visa page)• Government fees (paid to Home Affairs, either through us or directly)• Optional extras like translations or complex case work (only if you need them)
No hidden fees. The price you see is the price you pay.What happens if my visa is refused?
We refund our service fee in full.The only exceptions are if the refusal happened because:
• Information in your application wasn't accurate or complete• Your circumstances changed after we submitted• You missed a deadline or didn't provide information the Department requested
Government fees can't be refunded (the Department keeps those). We process refunds within 14 days of the decision.What do I actually get for my money?
• Real-time guidance from immigration lawyers as you complete your application• Help drafting any statements you need• A full review of your application and documents by a migration specialist• Secure submission to Home Affairs• Regular updates on your application status• All communication with the Department handled for you
Some things are charged separately if you need them:• Police checks• Medical exams• Document translations• Extra legal work for complex cases
You can sort these yourself, or we can coordinate everything through our trusted partners.Legal & security
How do I know this isn't a scam?
Tern is a registered Australian business, operating under Australian law.Your application is overseen by licensed immigration lawyers and complies with all Department of Home Affairs requirements. Detailed records are kept at every step. Your data stays in Australia, stored on AWS.One thing to know: only the Department of Home Affairs can grant a visa. No service, including ours, can guarantee approval.
Is my personal information safe?
Tern is an Australian company. Your data stays in Australia, stored securely on AWS.Here's how your data is protected:
• Bank-level encryption in transit and at rest• Only authorised staff and your assigned lawyers can access your file• You can request deletion of your data (some records may be retained for legal compliance)• Full details are in our Privacy Policy