Partner visa (Subclass 820)

Subclass 820 partner visa

Name: Australia partner visa (Subclass 820)
Brand: Tern
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (49 reviews)

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

Free eligibility check, then a free lawyer consult. Commit only when you know your case.

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.

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.

Why choose Tern?

The heavy lifting, done for you

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 thoroughly 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, and Tern's hands-on customer support team supports you throughout.

No visa, no fee

The government fee of A$11,710 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.

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.

Free eligibility check

A quick, free check tells you whether you can apply and flags any issues early on. No account needed, no obligation.

Free lawyer consultation

Have a consult with an immigration lawyer at no cost to discuss your specific situation and ask any questions you have.

Personalised evidence upload

Upload your documents in a guided flow, on your own schedule. Everything is saved to your account, so you can always see what's still outstanding without back-and-forth emails to check. Each document is assessed against what the Department expects in real time, so gaps are caught as you go, not after lodgement.

Lawyer review, then lodgement

An immigration lawyer reviews your complete application before lodgement and advises on anything that needs to change, with re-reviews included at no extra charge as needed. Tern then lodges directly with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf.

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.

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 49 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

Immigration Lawyer

License #5513641

Australian company with Australian immigration lawyers

Pick your level of support

Every plan includes the online application platform, hands-on support from Tern's customer support team, and a thorough lawyer review before lodgement. Choose how much guidance you want along the way.

Direct

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

Lawyer-reviewed, re-reviewed as needed, then Tern lodges with the Department

Guided

Lawyer on call whenever questions come up.

A$1,900

AUD

Everything in Direct

4x30-minute consultations with an immigration lawyer

Use them anytime, by video or call, as questions arise

Complete

We handle everything, 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$11,710 government fee, plus medical exams and police certificates paid directly to the providers (cost varies by country).

Common questions

How does the subclass 820 onshore process work?

You apply for subclass 820 while you are physically in Australia. This is Stage 1 of the onshore partner visa pathway. Once your existing visa expires, a Bridging Visa A is typically granted automatically, so you remain lawful and have full, unrestricted work rights while the Department assesses your application. Processing takes time, and your circumstances during that period can change, so keeping your immigration lawyer informed matters. When the Department is satisfied your relationship is genuine, your 820 is granted. Stage 2 (subclass 801, the permanent visa) is a separate stage handled when the time comes.

What happens to my visa status while my partner visa is being processed?

If you are applying onshore, a Bridging Visa A (BVA) is typically granted automatically when your substantive visa expires, so you remain lawful while the Department assesses your application. For partner visa applicants, the BVA carries full, unrestricted work rights, regardless of what visa you held before. If you need to travel outside Australia during processing, you will need to apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you depart. Leaving Australia on a BVA without a BVB already granted cancels the BVA automatically the moment you exit, and you cannot return on it. Specific conditions depend on your circumstances, and your immigration lawyer can advise you during the application.

Will an immigration lawyer review my application?

Yes, on every plan. An immigration lawyer reviews your complete application before it is lodged with the Department, including your relationship statements, supporting evidence across all four pillars, your Form 80, and any witness declarations. The goal is to strengthen your application and catch anything that could read as a red flag to the case officer. Your lawyer advises on any additional evidence needed and any changes worth making before lodgement.

Who lodges my application with the Department?

Tern lodges your application directly with the Department of Home Affairs on every plan.

What happens after my application is lodged?

On Direct and Guided plans, your application is transferred to your own ImmiAccount once lodged. You handle any requests for further information and changes of circumstance yourself. On the Complete plan, Tern continues to manage your case until a decision is issued, including RFIs and changes of circumstance.

Which plans include lawyer consultations?

Guided and Complete both include four 30-minute consultations with an immigration lawyer, available at any point during your application. On Direct, consultations can be purchased separately if you need one.

What does the "no visa, no fee" guarantee cover?

Tern's service fee is refunded in full if your visa is refused. The government fee of A$11,710 is set by the Department and is non-refundable by them, so it is not covered by the guarantee. This is why lawyer review before lodgement matters.