Partner visa (Subclasses 309, 820)

Sponsor your partner's Australian visa

Name: Australia partner visa (Subclass 309/820)
Brand: Tern
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (49 reviews)

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

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

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.

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.

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

Who can sponsor a partner visa?

To sponsor a partner, you must generally be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. You must also be 18 or older. Beyond those basic requirements, the Department also looks at your sponsorship history (there are limits on how many times and how often you can sponsor a partner) and requires you to meet character standards, which includes disclosing certain serious criminal history. An immigration lawyer reviews your sponsorship eligibility as part of the application, so any questions about your specific situation are addressed before anything is lodged.

What are my responsibilities as a sponsor?

By signing the sponsorship undertaking, you formally commit to supporting your partner with accommodation and financial support during the temporary visa period. This is a legal obligation. The undertaking is assessed by the Department as part of the sponsorship application. Beyond the formal undertaking, sponsors are also expected to be a genuine part of the relationship evidence, which means contributing to the financial, social, and household pillars alongside the applicant. Tern guides you through exactly what is needed from you at each stage.

Are there limits on sponsoring a partner?

Yes. There are limits on how many times and how often a person can sponsor a partner under Australian immigration law. Whether your history of sponsorship affects your current application depends on your individual circumstances. Separately, certain serious criminal history must be disclosed and can affect whether a sponsorship is approved. The Department requires police certificates where relevant. An immigration lawyer reviews your sponsorship history and character matters as part of the application, so any issues are assessed before lodgement rather than discovered by the Department afterward.

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.

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.