Partner visa (Subclasses 300, 309, 820)

Lawyer-reviewed evidence before it's submitted

Name: Australia partner visa (Subclass 300/309/820)
Brand: Tern
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (59 reviews)

Subclasses 300, 309, 820Check your eligibility in minutes. Genuine relationships still get refused when the evidence doesn't hold up, so you'll know exactly where yours stands before you submit.

Immigration lawyer guidance

Free consult before you pay

Money back if refused

Lawyer-reviewed evidence before it's submitted - Australian visa application

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

Australian partner visas, explained

The Australian partner visa lets the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen or permanent resident live here permanently. It works in two stages: a temporary visa first (Stage 1), then a permanent visa once the Department is satisfied the relationship is ongoing (Stage 2). Which subclass you apply for depends on whether you are in Australia or overseas at the time of submission.

If you are married, there is a marriage certificate anchoring your case. If you are de facto, the evidence across four pillars, financial, social, household, and commitment, carries that weight instead. Either way, you get matched to the right route before you start. For a full walkthrough of every stage, read our complete guide to the Australian partner visa.

Which partner visa is right for you?

Your situation determines your subclass. Pick the one that fits.

Applicant requirements

Real relationshipYou're married or in a genuine de facto relationship

Health and characterMeet standard health and character requirements

Age requirementBoth you and your partner must be 18 or older

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.

Why choose Tern?

Know your evidence is strong before submission

An immigration lawyer thoroughly reviews every application before it is submitted. If your evidence falls short, you find out before submission, 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.

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. Work that would otherwise eat weeks of your evenings is handled for you. As you upload evidence, each document is checked in real time against what the Department expects.

No visa, no fee

The government fee of A$11,710 is non-refundable once submitted, 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.

See it in action

See exactly how strong your relationship evidence is

As you upload documents across all four pillars (financial, social, household, commitment), real-time pass/fail badges show whether each piece meets the Department's standard. Lawyer-designed advice tells you what's missing and what to add, before you submit.

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 submission.

Lawyer review, then submission

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

Support after submission

Tern stays with you after submission. 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 59 reviews

Fantastic experience with tern, amazing value for moneyFantastic experience with tern! We planned to DIY our 820 visa but having the extra reassurance an immigration lawyer was looking over our documents made us feel so much better and at a fraction of the cost! They were incredibly responsive to any questions we had and the website was clear and easy to use. We could go at our own pace and see what still needed to be uploaded. Would recommend them to anyone that doesn’t want to pay the exorbitant agent fees on top of the crazy visa fee but wants the added reassurance everything is there and correct. They definitely spotted a few mistakes we missed which saves us having to amend anything with the DOI. Very glad we used tern and will be recommending them to anyone else needing help with the lengthy partner visa process!

Lucy· 31 July 2026

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 submission. 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 submits 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 monitors your application until a decision is issued

Department requests for documents or 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).Prices shown are for applications made from outside Australia, with 10% GST added when you apply from within Australia.

Common questions

Will an immigration lawyer review my application?

Yes, on every plan. An immigration lawyer reviews your complete application before it is submitted to 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 submission.

What if the lawyer flags something?

Re-reviews are included at no extra charge as needed. If your lawyer identifies anything that needs to change, they advise you on exactly what to update. Tern works with you to make those changes, staying with you until the application is ready, before your lawyer reviews it again.

Who submits my application to the Department?

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

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.

What happens after my application is submitted?

On Direct and Guided plans, your application is transferred to your own ImmiAccount once submitted. You handle any requests for further information and changes of circumstance yourself. On the Complete plan, Tern continues to monitor your application until a decision is issued. Tern responds to Department requests for documents or information and supports any changes of circumstance along the way.

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 submission matters.

Does this cover the second stage of the partner visa?

No. All three plans cover Stage 1 only (subclass 820 or 309). Stage 2 (subclass 801 or 100) is handled separately when the time comes.

7 Apr 2026 • 14 min