For couples who live in Melbourne, or where one partner is here and the other is overseas. We prepare the combined partner visa application with you at our Collins Street office or by video, and we keep the evidence plan in front of you from first meeting to lodgement.
Or call (03) 9958 5854
A partner visa lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia. There are two streams. An applicant who is in Australia applies for the Subclass 820 (temporary) and Subclass 801 (permanent) together; an applicant outside Australia applies for the Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 together. Each stream is one application with one charge, assessed in two stages.
The Department looks at the relationship as a whole: whether it is genuine and continuing, whether you live together or are not apart permanently, and whether you are committed to a shared life to the exclusion of others. The sponsor must also meet the sponsorship rules, which limit how many partners a person may sponsor.
Most of the Melbourne couples we act for are already living together in the city, often with a lease, shared accounts and a circle of friends here, while the applicant holds a student, work or visitor visa. For them the questions are usually about timing: whether the current visa allows an onshore application, and what happens to work rights and travel once it is lodged.
The other common pattern is a Melbourne resident whose partner is overseas. Here the evidence of time spent together, travel and contact matters more, and the application is lodged from outside Australia.
For the full rules, subclasses and current processing information, see our national partner visas page.
Partner visas are personal, and many couples like to sit down with their lawyer at least once. You can meet us at Level 13, 257 Collins Street in the CBD, or by video if one of you is overseas or you prefer to meet from home.
We usually hold the first meeting with both partners present, then work through the evidence list by video and email. Many couples come back to the office to go through their statements before they are signed. If your history includes anything you would rather explain face to face, tell us when you book and we will set aside a private meeting.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Partner visa (820/801 or 309/100), main applicant | $11,710 |
| Partner visa, each additional applicant 18 or over | $5,860 |
| Partner visa, each additional applicant under 18 | $2,935 |
| Prospective Marriage visa (300), main applicant | $11,710 |
One charge covers both stages of the combined partner application: the temporary visa and, later, the permanent visa.
Checked on 22-10-2026. Source: Department of Home Affairs: current visa pricing. Our professional fees are separate and are quoted in writing before you instruct us.
We meet both of you, at Collins Street or by video, and work out which stream fits: onshore 820/801 if the applicant is in Australia, offshore 309/100 if not.
You receive a written list of the evidence for each of the four aspects of a relationship: finances, the household, how others see you as a couple, and your commitment to each other.
We draft your relationship statements from your own account and review every document before it goes in.
We lodge the combined application and handle correspondence with the Department of Home Affairs, including any request for more information.
Around two years after lodgement the permanent stage is assessed. We prepare the updated evidence the Department asks for at that point.
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"I reached out to Visa Plan about my 820 partner visa and James was attentive and reassuring throughout the entire process. My case was not straightforward because of my previous visa history, but the team guided me through it with patience and clarity."
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Reviewed by James Bae, Managing Director and Principal Immigration Lawyer. This page is general information about Australian migration law and is not legal advice for your circumstances.
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