Partner visa (Subclasses 309, 820)

De facto partner visa Australia

Subclasses 309, 820Without a marriage certificate, your evidence carries the full weight of your case. From A$1,400, an immigration lawyer reviews everything across all four pillars before your application is lodged.
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De facto partner visa Australia - Australian visa application
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Free eligibility check, then a free lawyer consult. Commit only when you know your case.
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What is a de facto partner visa?

The de facto partner visa allows unmarried couples in a genuine ongoing relationship to live together in Australia permanently. De facto applicants normally need to have lived together for at least 12 months immediately before applying, unless you have registered the relationship with a state or territory authority, have a child together, or have compelling circumstances. Because there is no marriage certificate, the Department assesses your relationship across four evidence pillars: financial, household, social, and the nature of your commitment.
A de facto relationship can be applied for onshore (subclass 820, if you are in Australia) or offshore (subclass 309, if you are outside Australia). Either way, the evidence is what carries the case. For a detailed look at how the de facto and spouse pathways compare, read de facto vs married partner visa.
A couple at home together

Applicant requirements

Genuine de facto relationshipYou and your partner are in a genuine, ongoing de facto relationship (not married)
Living togetherYou have lived together for at least 12 months, or you have registered the relationship, have a child together, or have compelling circumstances
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.

The four pillars of de facto evidence

Without a marriage certificate, these four pillars carry the entire weight of your case. The Department is experienced at reading applications and will notice if the picture feels thin, selective, or inconsistent across pillars. How you present and contextualise the evidence matters as much as which documents you include.
Financial
Joint bank accounts, shared expenses, combined financial commitments, or evidence that you support each other financially. Consistency and history matter more than large individual amounts.
Household
Evidence you share a home: a joint lease or mortgage, shared utility bills, or statutory declarations from people who know where you live. Time living apart (for work or study) does not automatically weaken this pillar.
Social
Photos together over time, travel history, recognition of the relationship by family and friends, and joint attendance at significant events. A consistent social record across the length of the relationship carries weight.
Nature of the commitment
How long you have been together, your knowledge of each other's lives, your future plans, and whether the relationship is exclusive and genuine. This is where your relationship statements do the most work.

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

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The sponsor's role in Australian partner visa applications
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Australian visa applications with lawyer oversight and app-level simplicity.
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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.

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