Partner Visa Lawyer in Sydney and Melbourne
A partner visa is one of the most personal applications you will ever lodge, and one of the easiest to get wrong on paper. Our migration lawyers act for couples applying onshore (subclasses 820 and 801), offshore (309 and 100) and before marriage (subclass 300).
We also take on the harder files, including earlier refusals, sponsor problems and thin relationship evidence. You know the cost up front, and you can meet us in Sydney or Melbourne, or by video call from anywhere in Australia.
- Fixed fees, agreed up front
- Offices in Sydney and Melbourne
- Video consultations Australia-wide
- Led by Principal Lawyer Tina Nematian
How we help
Onshore partner visa (820/801)
If your partner is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and you are in Australia, we plan the application, prepare the sponsorship, build the evidence and lodge. We also look at your current visa and bridging visa position first.
Learn moreOffshore partner visa (309/100)
For couples living apart, or applicants outside Australia, we prepare the application and the sponsorship together. We help you present a relationship that is real but spread across two countries, with evidence that matches the way you actually live.
Learn moreProspective marriage visa (300)
If you are engaged and your partner is overseas, a subclass 300 visa may be an option before you marry. We check whether the relationship and your plans fit the criteria, and what happens to the application after the wedding.
Learn moreRelationship evidence review
Most partner files are decided on evidence. We go through your financial, household, social and commitment material, point out the gaps, and help you present it clearly in statements and supporting documents the case officer can follow.
Learn moreSponsor eligibility and history
Your sponsor has their own requirements, including police certificates and, in some cases, limits tied to earlier sponsorships or their own history. We assess the sponsor early, before time and fees are spent on an application that cannot proceed.
Learn morePrevious refusals and cancellations
A past refusal does not always close the door, but it changes how the next application needs to be built. We review the earlier decision and reasons, then advise on review rights, a fresh application or other options.
Learn moreFamily violence provisions
If your relationship has ended because of family violence, you may still be able to continue with a permanent partner visa. We explain the process, the evidence involved and how to protect your privacy and safety along the way.
Learn moreReviews and ministerial requests
If a partner visa is refused, strict review deadlines apply. We assess the decision, act for you at the Administrative Review Tribunal where it is available, and consider ministerial intervention where review is no longer open.
Learn more
When a partner visa lawyer makes a real difference
Plenty of straightforward couples lodge partner applications themselves. The files that come to a lawyer are usually the ones where something does not fit the standard box, and the cost of a mistake is high because a refusal is hard to undo.
These are the situations where we are most often asked to step in:
- A previous refusal or cancellation. The new application has to deal with the reasons for the earlier decision, not repeat the same gaps.
- Onshore immigration history. Expired visas, bridging visa conditions and extra criteria that apply to some onshore applicants can limit your options. Which visa you hold when you lodge matters.
- Sponsor limitations. Sponsors must meet additional requirements, and a sponsor with earlier sponsorships, or a criminal or character history, may face extra hurdles.
- Weak or unusual evidence. Long-distance, arranged, culturally different or newer relationships still succeed on the evidence, but only if it is presented well.
- Family violence. A relationship that has broken down does not always end the application. Special provisions exist, and the evidence is assessed in a particular way.
- Health, character or children. These can affect both the applicant and the sponsor, and are better raised early than discovered mid-assessment.
We are a law firm, so we can also act for you if the decision goes against you. That includes review at the Tribunal and, in the right case, a request to the Minister.
None of this means a lawyer is needed for every partner visa. It means the answer depends on your facts, and a consultation is the quickest way to find out which category you are in.
How a partner visa application runs with us
Every file is different, but the shape is usually the same.
- Consultation. We look at where you and your partner are, your visa history, the relationship timeline and anything that worries you. You leave knowing which visa fits and what the realistic issues are.
- Plan and fixed fee. We confirm the pathway and the scope of work, so you know the cost up front.
- Evidence and sponsorship. We prepare the sponsorship, collect police certificates and health requirements, and shape your statements and documents across the main evidence categories.
- Lodgement. We lodge the application and keep your documents in order for any request for further information.
- Second stage. Partner visas have a temporary and a permanent stage. If you hold a temporary 309 or 820, two years must have passed since you applied for that visa before you are eligible for the permanent stage.
Processing priority also depends on where you are. As at October 2026, Home Affairs gives highest priority to onshore partner applications (820/801), with offshore applications (309/100 and 300) given lower priority. Our guide to partner visa processing times keeps the current detail.
Working with our Sydney and Melbourne teams
You can meet us in person at our Surry Hills office in Sydney or on St Kilda Road in Melbourne, or by video call if you are elsewhere in Australia or your partner is overseas. Consultations can be booked with Tina Nematian, our Principal Lawyer, who has more than 15 years of experience in Australian immigration law, or with Ivana Djoneski, our Immigration Practice Leader.
If you want to read before you call, our guides cover the basics in detail, including the partner visa requirements and what to look for when choosing a migration lawyer. For other relatives, see our family migration page.
If your application has already been refused, tell us the date on the decision as soon as you can. Review deadlines are short, and for most onshore refusals the Tribunal cannot extend them.
Talk to a lawyer about your situation
Book a ConsultationAwards and Affiliations
We believe in the power of migration.
Simplifying Immigration, Connecting Humanity.
Our Team Members
Tina Nematian
Founder & Principal Lawyer
Ivana Djoneski
Immigration Practice Leader
Joseph Sukkar
Immigration Lawyer
Simon Jeans
Special Counsel
Rhel Tidoso
Immigration Case Manager
Maria Reglos
Finance Lead
Talk to a partner visa lawyer before you lodge
Tell us where you and your partner are, what has happened so far and what worries you. We will explain the options that may be open to you and the cost up front. Book a consultation with our migration lawyers on our booking page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer for a partner visa?
No, you are allowed to apply yourself. Many applicants find a lawyer worthwhile when something is not straightforward, such as an earlier refusal, a sponsor with a complicated history, expired visas or limited evidence. A consultation can help you work out whether your file is one of those, and what a lawyer would actually add.
What is the difference between a partner visa lawyer and a migration agent?
Both can give immigration assistance if properly authorised. A law firm can also act in related legal work, such as Tribunal reviews and requests to the Minister, and is bound by legal professional duties, including confidentiality. Many people choose based on how complex their case is, who will actually handle it, and whether review help might be needed later.
Can a lawyer help if my partner visa was refused?
We can review the decision and reasons, then explain what options may be open. These can include review at the Administrative Review Tribunal, a new application or a request for ministerial intervention. Deadlines for most onshore refusals are short, so contact us as soon as you receive the decision, with the notice and reasons in hand.
Which partner visa applies to me, onshore or offshore?
Broadly, you apply onshore (subclasses 820 and 801) if you are in Australia when you lodge, and offshore (309 and 100) if you are outside Australia. Your visa history can affect your choices, so check your position before lodging. Our partner visa guide explains both stages, and a consultation can confirm which one fits you.
What if my sponsor has sponsored someone before?
Earlier sponsorships can matter, and limitations may apply depending on the sponsor's history. Sponsors must also meet additional requirements, including providing police certificates. We assess the sponsor's position at the start so you are not paying for an application that may not be able to proceed, and so any history can be dealt with openly.
Can I stay in the application if the relationship ends because of family violence?
You may be able to. Home Affairs has family violence provisions for partner visa applicants whose relationship has ended. You must show the relationship was genuine, and then that family violence occurred. If you are in danger, call 000. We can talk through the process with care and discretion, and help protect your privacy while we do.
How much does a partner visa lawyer cost?
We work on a fixed-fee model, so you know the cost up front before work begins. The amount depends on your circumstances, so we confirm it after your consultation. Government visa application charges are separate and set by Home Affairs, so check the current figure on its website before lodging, as it changes from time to time.
Can you help if my partner and I live in different cities or countries?
Yes. We meet clients at our Sydney and Melbourne offices and by video call anywhere in Australia, and we regularly work with couples across time zones. Applicants and sponsors can both take part from wherever they are, signing and sharing documents securely, so distance does not slow the file down.