Partner visa (Subclasses 309, 820)

Sponsor your partner's Australian visa

Subclasses 309, 820As the Australian sponsor, you and your partner apply together as one case. Tern handles the application end to end, and an immigration lawyer reviews the complete package before anything is lodged. From A$1,400.
Immigration lawyer guidance
Free consult before you pay
Money back if refused
Sponsor your partner's Australian visa - Australian visa application
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4.6 out of 5
Free eligibility check, then a free lawyer consult. Commit only when you know your case.
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What it means to sponsor your partner

A partner visa is a joint application. Your partner applies to migrate; you apply to sponsor them. Both parts of the application are assessed by the Department, and both need to be in good shape before anything is lodged.
As the Australian sponsor, you take on formal obligations, including supporting your partner's accommodation and living costs, and signing a sponsorship undertaking. Tern handles the full application for both of you, with an immigration lawyer reviewing the complete package before lodgement. For a full guide to the sponsor's role and obligations, read our guide to sponsoring a partner visa.
A couple meeting with an immigration lawyer

What you need to be eligible

Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizenYou must hold one of these statuses to be eligible to sponsor a partner
18 or olderSponsors must be at least 18 years old at the time of sponsorship
Within sponsorship limitsThere are limits on how many times and how often you can sponsor a partner. An immigration lawyer reviews your sponsorship history as part of the application
Character and police checksCertain serious criminal history must be disclosed and can affect whether your sponsorship is approved. Police checks are required where the Department asks for them
Not sure if you qualify? Start the application and your eligibility is checked as you go.

What sponsoring a partner involves

Sponsorship is more than signing a form. The Department wants to be satisfied that you are eligible to sponsor and that you understand the obligations involved.
Who can sponsor
You must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. You must be 18 or older. An immigration lawyer confirms your eligibility to sponsor as part of the application.
What sponsors commit to
Sponsors formally undertake to support their partner with accommodation and financial support during the temporary visa period. This is a legal obligation, not an informal arrangement, and it is recorded as part of the sponsorship application.
Sponsorship limits and character checks
There are limits on how many times and how often a person can sponsor a partner. Certain serious criminal history must be disclosed and can affect whether the sponsorship is approved. Police certificates are required where the Department asks for them. An immigration lawyer reviews your situation as part of the process.

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

The sponsor's role in Australian partner visa applications
Partner visas
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The sponsor's role in Australian partner visa applications
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Australian partner visa 2026: complete guide (820/801, 309/100, 300)
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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)
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After you lodge: managing your Australian partner visa during the wait (2026 update)
27 Apr 2026 • 10 min
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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.

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support@ternvisa.com
Sydney, Australia
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