Partner visa (Subclass 820)

Subclass 820 partner visa

Subclass 820Apply onshore and a Bridging Visa A typically keeps you lawful and working while the Department assesses your case. From A$1,400, an immigration lawyer reviews your application and evidence before it is lodged.
Immigration lawyer guidance
Free consult before you pay
Money back if refused
Subclass 820 partner visa - Australian visa application
Excellent
4.6 out of 5
Free eligibility check, then a free lawyer consult. Commit only when you know your case.
VisaMastercardAmerican Express
UnionPay
JCB

What is the subclass 820 partner visa?

Subclass 820 is Stage 1 of the onshore partner visa pathway. It is for applicants who are in Australia and want to remain here while the Department assesses their case. When granted, it leads to subclass 801, the permanent stage.
To apply for subclass 820 you must be physically in Australia, and you must also be in Australia when the Department makes its decision. For more on the full onshore pathway, see our complete guide to the Australian partner visa.
A couple at the beach

Applicant requirements

In Australia when you applyYou must be physically in Australia to apply for subclass 820
Genuine relationshipYou are married or in a genuine de facto relationship with your partner
Health and characterMeet standard health and character requirements
Not sure if you qualify? Start the application and your eligibility is checked as you go.

Sponsor requirements

Australian statusThe sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
18 or olderThe sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
Sponsorship limits applyThere are rules on how many times and how often a person can sponsor a partner, and our eligibility check confirms this up front.
Character and police checksThe sponsor must disclose any serious criminal history, and police checks may be required. An immigration lawyer reviews their situation.

Married or de facto, both covered

Subclass 820 is open to both married and de facto couples, as long as you are in Australia when you apply. What differs is the evidence that carries your case.
If you're married
Your marriage is recognised under Australian law and forms the legal basis of your application. You'll need your marriage certificate, evidence the relationship is genuine and continuing across the financial, social, household, and commitment pillars, and health and character documents.
If you're de facto
There is no marriage certificate, so the evidence across all four pillars carries the full weight of establishing that the relationship is genuine and ongoing. You'll need documentation spanning your shared financial life, household, social recognition, and the nature of your commitment, along with health and character checks.

Applying onshore keeps your life in Australia going

Once you apply for subclass 820, your immigration status is protected while the Department decides.
A Bridging Visa A keeps you lawful
When your substantive visa expires, a Bridging Visa A is typically granted automatically. You remain lawful in Australia without any gap in your status while the Department processes your case.
Keep working while you wait
As a partner visa applicant, the Bridging Visa A gives you full, unrestricted work rights. No hours cap, no restrictions on employer. Your employment does not need to stop while your partner visa is being assessed.
The path to permanent residence
Subclass 820 is Stage 1. Once the Department is satisfied your relationship is genuine, Stage 2 (subclass 801) provides the permanent outcome. That stage is handled separately when the time comes.

How it works with Tern

The simplicity of an app. The expertise of an immigration lawyer. Real advice, real-time evidence checks, and lawyer review at every stage that matters.
1
Free eligibility check
A quick, free check tells you whether you can apply and flags any issues early on. No account needed, no obligation.
2
Free lawyer consultation
Have a consult with an immigration lawyer at no cost. Ask whatever is on your mind.
3
Personalised evidence upload
Upload your documents in a guided flow. Each piece is assessed against what the Department expects in real-time, so gaps are caught as you go, not after lodgement.
4
Final lawyer review, then lodgement
Our immigration lawyers do multiple reviews of your complete application before anything reaches the Department. Tern then lodges directly with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf.
5
Support after you lodge
Tern stays with you after lodgement. On the Complete plan, your case is actively managed through to a decision, including any requests for further information from the Department.

Get your visa

Your application goes to the Department fully prepared, giving your relationship every chance to be recognised.

Why choose Tern?

Focus on the relationship, not the paperwork

Tern builds your photo album, drafts your relationship statements, fills Form 80, and helps you gather Form 888 witness declarations. What typically takes over 100 hours to assemble takes closer to 10. As you upload evidence, each document is checked in real time against what the Department expects.

Know your evidence is strong before you lodge

An immigration lawyer reviews every application before it is lodged. If your evidence falls short, you find out before lodgement, while there is still time to fix it. Consultations are included on Guided and Complete plans so you can ask questions at any point.

No visa, no fee

The government fee of A$9,365 is non-refundable once lodged, so your application is checked before we send it in. If the Department refuses your visa, Tern's service fee is refunded in full. Full terms apply.

Complex situation? Talk to an immigration lawyer first.

A newer relationship, time spent living apart, children from a previous relationship, or a past visa refusal does not automatically close the door, but it does change how the case should be prepared and presented. Start with the free eligibility check on this page and a free consultation with an immigration lawyer follows before you commit to anything, so you go in knowing exactly where you stand.

What people are saying

Based on 42 reviews
LifesaversLifesavers. Very helpful!!! Tern helped me with a complicated partner visa situation. Tony was super knowledgeable and it would have cost me thousands and potentially a loss if visa without his help.
Samuel· 14 April 2026
I recommend this serviceThe consultation was efficient and helpful. The lawyer answered all of my questions and gave me clear next steps to follow. I would recommend if you need quick and knowledgable advice throughout your visa application.
Jade· 26 March 2026

Meet your legal team

Your application follows a process designed and maintained by immigration lawyers for accuracy and compliance.
Antonious Nehme
Antonious Nehme
Immigration Lawyer
License #5513641
Australian company with Australian immigration lawyers

Pick your level of support

Every plan includes lawyer review before lodgement. Choose how much guidance you want along the way.

Essential

Lawyer review at your pace.

A$1,400

AUD
Lawyer-authored advice tailored to your situation, every step of the way
Photo album, relationship statements, and Form 80 prepared for you
Real-time feedback on your evidence as you upload it
Multiple lawyer reviews, then Tern lodges with the Department
Most popular

Guided

Lawyer on call whenever questions come up.

A$1,900

AUD
Everything in Essential
4x30-minute consultations with an immigration lawyer
Use them anytime, by video or call, as questions arise

Complete

Hands-off from application to decision.

A$2,400

AUD
Everything in Guided
Tern manages your case until a decision is issued
Requests for further information handled for you
Changes of circumstance managed throughout
Total realistic spend is Tern's service fee from A$1,400, the A$9,365 government fee, and approximately $1,000 for medical exams and police certificates.

Common questions

Learn more about partner visas on our blog

Australian partner visa 2026: complete guide (820/801, 309/100, 300)
Partner visas
Family visas
Australian partner visa 2026: complete guide (820/801, 309/100, 300)
6 Feb 2026 • 18 min
After you lodge: managing your Australian partner visa during the wait (2026 update)
Partner visas
Family visas
After you lodge: managing your Australian partner visa during the wait (2026 update)
27 Apr 2026 • 10 min
De facto vs married: does it matter for Australian partner visas?
Partner visas
Family visas
De facto vs married: does it matter for Australian partner visas?
6 Feb 2026 • 10 min
The sponsor's role in Australian partner visa applications
Partner visas
Family visas
The sponsor's role in Australian partner visa applications
6 Feb 2026 • 14 min

tern

Australian visa applications with lawyer oversight and app-level simplicity.
Lawyer verified platform
Tern Visa Pty Ltd is an independent company and is not affiliated with the Australian Department of Home Affairs. We do not issue visas; visas are issued by the Department of Home Affairs. General information on this website is not legal advice. Where you use our application flow, immigration assistance (including personalised advice) is provided by an Australian legal practitioner in connection with legal practice and is delivered through the Tern platform. The practitioner's details are shown in the application flow.

Contact

support@ternvisa.com
Sydney, Australia
Follow us
© 2026 Tern Visa Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. Australian Business Number: 63 690 495 991
100% Secure Transactions SSLPrivacy policyTerms of serviceListed in the NAIC AI Directory