Partner Visa Cost: Government Fees and Other Expenses

The partner visa cost in Australia is the visa application charge set by the Department of Home Affairs, plus the other expenses a couple must pay to put together a valid and complete application. As at October 2026, the Department states that the partner visa cost starts from AUD 11,710 for most applicants.

That figure is only part of the picture. The full partner visa cost also includes police certificates, health examinations, biometrics, translations, relationship evidence and, for many couples, travel. It also includes the cost of mistakes. A refused or invalid application can mean the charge is lost and the process starts again. This guide explains the Department charge for each partner visa pathway, the other expenses couples should budget for, and how the partner visa cost increases when an application goes wrong. For the complete legal framework behind each subclass, read our complete guide to partner visas in Australia.

What is the partner visa cost in Australia?

The partner visa cost charged by the Department of Home Affairs is, as at October 2026, from AUD 11,710 for most applicants. The Department's partner visa page for the onshore Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 visas states the cost as follows:

• From AUD 11,710 for most applicants.
• From AUD 1,955 for Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) holders.
• Concessions apply in limited circumstances.
• From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application.

The word "from" matters. The amount shown is the base application charge for the main applicant. The final partner visa cost payable at lodgement can be higher where family members are included in the application, and where payment surcharges apply to the payment method used.

Visa application charges are set by the Migration Regulations 1994 and are generally reviewed on 1 July each year. The partner visa cost stated in this article is accurate as at October 2026. Couples who are planning to lodge after the next 1 July review should check the Department's current figure before they budget, because the charge applies at the date of lodgement, not the date the couple first started preparing.

The Department charge is also not the total partner visa cost. The Department states that its Visa Pricing Estimator does not include other costs. Health examinations, police certificates, biometrics and translations are paid separately, usually to third parties. These are explained in detail below.

Why the partner visa cost is so high compared with other visas

The partner visa charge is one of the higher visa application charges in the Australian migration program. One reason is that the application covers two visas. A successful applicant receives a temporary visa first and then, after a further assessment, a permanent visa.

The practical consequence is simple. A partner visa is a significant financial commitment for most couples, and every decision made before lodgement should protect that investment. Our article on the onshore Subclass 820 visa explains how the two stages fit together.

What does the partner visa cost cover?

The partner visa cost covers the Department's processing of a combined application for both the temporary and the permanent partner visa. A couple does not pay a second full application charge when the permanent stage is assessed.

One charge for two stages

Australian partner visas are lodged as a combined application. In Australia, the applicant applies for the temporary Subclass 820 visa and the permanent Subclass 801 visa at the same time. Outside Australia, the applicant applies for the provisional Subclass 309 visa and the permanent Subclass 100 visa at the same time. One partner visa cost is paid at lodgement for the combined application.

Eligibility for the permanent visa is generally assessed about two years after the combined application was lodged. At that point, the Department asks for updated information and evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing. That second-stage assessment does not attract a new application charge, but it does involve further costs for documents, updated police certificates where requested and, in some cases, professional assistance. Our article explaining the difference between Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 sets out what the Department looks at in the second stage.

What the charge does not cover

The partner visa cost paid to the Department does not cover:

• Police certificates from Australia or any other country.
• Health examinations by a Department-approved panel physician or clinic.
• Biometrics collection fees, where the Department asks for biometrics.
• Translations by an accredited translator.
• Certified copies and identity documents such as passports and birth certificates.
• Travel, accommodation and living costs while the application is processed.
• Professional fees for legal advice and representation.

It also does not cover a review at the Administrative Review Tribunal if the application is refused. The Tribunal charges its own fee. A new application after a refusal attracts a new partner visa cost.

Partner visa cost for the onshore Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 application

The onshore partner visa cost is the same base charge stated by the Department: from AUD 11,710 for most applicants as at October 2026. It is paid once for the combined Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 application.

To apply onshore, the Department states that the applicant must be in a genuine relationship with a spouse or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen. The partner must sponsor the applicant. The applicant must be in Australia when they apply, along with any family members who apply with them. The applicant may be in or outside Australia when the temporary visa is decided.

The Subclass 820 visa lets the holder stay in Australia until the permanent Subclass 801 visa is finalised. The holder can live, work and study in Australia, travel in and out of Australia as many times as they want, and apply for Medicare. These benefits are part of what the onshore partner visa cost buys, but they only begin once the temporary visa is granted.

Bridging visas while the onshore application is processed

An applicant who holds a substantive visa when they lodge a valid onshore application will generally be granted a Bridging Visa A. The bridging visa usually comes into effect when the current substantive visa ends. Our guide to Bridging Visa A work rights, conditions and travel explains what that bridging visa allows, and our overview of bridging visas in Australia explains the different bridging visa types.

The bridging visa matters to the partner visa cost in a practical way. A Bridging Visa A does not usually allow travel. An applicant who needs to leave Australia and return while the application is processed may need a Bridging Visa B, which carries its own Department charge. Our article on how to apply for a Bridging Visa B, its cost and processing time covers this.

Where to read more about the Subclass 820 charge

My Migration Lawyers has also published a dedicated article on how much a Subclass 820 partner visa costs. That article is limited to the onshore Subclass 820 pathway. This article covers the partner visa cost across the onshore, offshore and prospective marriage pathways. Couples who already know they will apply onshore may also find our Subclass 820 partner visa guide to requirements, cost and processing times useful, together with the firm's Subclass 820 visa service page.

Partner visa cost for the offshore Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 application

The offshore partner visa cost is the partner visa charge payable for the combined Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 application. It is paid once, at lodgement, for both the provisional and the permanent stage.

The offshore application is lodged by an applicant who is outside Australia. The applicant must be outside Australia when the application is made and when the provisional Subclass 309 visa is granted. That requirement has direct cost consequences. An applicant who is in Australia as a visitor when the Department is ready to grant the Subclass 309 visa will usually need to leave Australia for the grant. Flights at short notice can add significantly to the partner visa cost.

Why the offshore partner visa cost is usually higher in practice

The base charge is the same partner visa charge, but the overall offshore partner visa cost is often higher because of travel. Couples living in different countries often travel to see each other while the application is processed. They may also need to travel for the wedding, to attend a health examination in the applicant's country, or to collect police certificates in person.

The Australian partner who sponsors an offshore applicant is usually the person managing the budget and dealing with the paperwork from Australia. Our Subclass 309 visa service page explains how the firm acts for Australian sponsors in offshore cases.

Relationship evidence when living apart

Offshore couples often find it harder to prove the household and financial aspects of their relationship, because they do not share a home. Where the financial and household evidence is limited because the couple lives apart, the explanation for that limitation, and the evidence of communication, visits and commitment, carries greater weight. Careful preparation of that evidence protects the partner visa cost. Our article on how to prove your relationship is genuine explains what the Department looks for.

Partner visa cost for the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa pathway

The Subclass 300 pathway involves two separate payments to the Department. The first is the charge for the Prospective Marriage visa itself. The second is the reduced partner visa cost payable when the Subclass 300 holder later applies in Australia for the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 visas. As at October 2026, the Department states that the partner visa cost for Subclass 300 holders applying onshore starts from AUD 1,955.

How the Subclass 300 pathway works

The Subclass 300 visa is lodged outside Australia by a person who intends to marry their Australian partner. The holder travels to Australia, marries within the visa period, and then applies in Australia for the combined Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 partner visa. Because the Department has already assessed the relationship and many of the applicant's documents in the Subclass 300 application, the onshore partner visa cost for a Subclass 300 holder is significantly lower.

The Subclass 300 application has its own Department charge, which is separate from the reduced onshore charge. Couples should check the current amount on the Department's website or in the Visa Pricing Estimator before they lodge. The total partner visa cost for this pathway is the Subclass 300 charge plus the reduced onshore charge, plus the other expenses described in this article.

What happens if the wedding does not take place in time

The reduced partner visa cost is only available because the Subclass 300 holder marries within the visa period and then applies onshore. If the marriage does not take place in time, the couple may lose the benefit of the pathway and may need to start again with a full charge. Wedding planning, venue availability and the requirements for a valid marriage in Australia should all be considered before the Subclass 300 application is lodged.

The Tribunal has dealt with Subclass 300 cases where the couple married after the Department refused the application. In Ergetu (Migration) [2020] AATA 3790, the parties were validly married in a third country between the delegate's decision and the Tribunal's determination, and the regulations required remittal for consideration as a partner visa. Cases of this kind are specific to their facts, and couples should obtain advice before relying on them. Our Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa service page explains how the firm assists with this pathway.

Concessions and the lower partner visa cost for Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens

The Department states that concessions to the partner visa cost apply in limited circumstances. It also states that, from 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application.

Who may pay a lower partner visa cost

The lower partner visa cost for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens applies only to applicants who meet the Department's eligibility requirements and who lodge a valid application. Citizenship of an eligible country is the starting point. Couples should not assume that the lower charge applies to their application without checking the Department's current eligibility rules, the countries included, and whether the concession extends to the whole application or only to particular applicants.

Other concessions apply only in limited circumstances defined in the Migration Regulations 1994. A concession is not a discretionary discount. If the applicant does not fall squarely within the concession, the full partner visa cost applies.

Why a valid application matters for any concession

The Department's wording refers to a "valid visa application". An application that is not valid is not a partner visa application at all in law. A concession cannot rescue an invalid application. Even where a refund of a charge paid for an invalid application is available, the time lost and the consequences for the applicant's visa status cannot be undone. Validity issues are discussed later in this article, including the effect of Schedule 3 criteria for applicants who are unlawful and visa conditions that prevent an onshore application.

How and when is the partner visa cost paid?

The partner visa cost is paid online, in full, at the time the application is lodged. The application is not lodged until the charge has been paid, and the Department does not begin assessing an unpaid application.

Lodgement and payment in ImmiAccount

Partner visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, the Department's online portal. The applicant completes the online application form, the Australian partner completes the sponsorship component, documents are attached, and the charge is paid by an accepted payment method at the final step. Paper lodgement is not part of the process. Our step-by-step guide on how to create an ImmiAccount explains the first step.

The Department may apply a surcharge depending on the payment method used. Couples paying a large partner visa cost by card should check the surcharge before they pay, and should make sure the card limit is high enough for the full amount on the day of lodgement. A failed payment at the final step delays lodgement, and delay can matter where the applicant's current visa is about to expire.

Using the Visa Pricing Estimator

The Department publishes a Visa Pricing Estimator on its website. It allows a couple to estimate the Department charge for the main applicant and any additional applicants. The Department states that the estimator does not include other costs. It is a guide to the Department charge only, not a guide to the full partner visa cost.

The estimator is most useful in the weeks before lodgement, when the couple knows exactly who will be included in the application. It should be checked again close to the lodgement date if a 1 July review falls between the couple's planning and their lodgement.

Timing the payment around 1 July

Because visa application charges are generally reviewed on 1 July each year, couples who are ready to lodge in May or June should consider whether lodging before 1 July will reduce their partner visa cost. That consideration should never override legal readiness. An application lodged early to beat a charge increase, but lodged without the evidence needed to satisfy the Department, can cost far more than the increase it avoided.

Partner visa cost for children and other additional applicants

Each additional applicant included in a partner visa application attracts an additional charge. The total partner visa cost therefore increases when dependent children or other eligible family members are included.

Who can be included

Dependent children of the applicant may be included in the partner visa application as secondary applicants, if they meet the requirements. Each child included must meet health and character requirements, and identity documents must be provided for each of them. Where a child is under 18 and one parent is not travelling with the child or is not included in the application, the Department generally requires evidence that the other parent consents, or that the applicant has the legal right to decide where the child lives.

Questions about parental consent or permission to migrate under the law of the child's home country can delay or prevent the grant of a visa to a child, even where the partner relationship itself is accepted.

How the charge for additional applicants is calculated

The Department charges an additional amount for each additional applicant. The amount depends on factors that include the age of the additional applicant. Couples should use the Visa Pricing Estimator to confirm the exact amount for each family member before lodgement, rather than relying on a figure from an earlier year or from another family's application.

Each additional applicant also brings their own health examinations, police certificates where they are old enough, identity documents and translations. These further increase the real partner visa cost for a family.

Adding a child after lodgement

In some cases a child can be added to a partner visa application after it has been lodged, for example a child born after lodgement. The rules differ depending on the circumstances, and an additional charge may apply. The Department must be told of the birth and other changes in circumstances through the correct process. Our article on Form 1022 and when to lodge a change of circumstances explains the notification obligation.

What other expenses add to the partner visa cost?

The other expenses that add to the partner visa cost are police certificates, health examinations, biometrics, accredited translations, certified copies, relationship evidence, travel and living costs. None of these is included in the Department charge, and the Department states that its Visa Pricing Estimator does not include them.

This article does not state amounts for these expenses. They vary by country, by provider, by the number of family members included and by the circumstances of each couple. A realistic budget should allow for each of them.

Police certificates

The Department requires police certificates to assess whether the applicant and each additional applicant of the required age meet the character requirement. Police certificates are generally required from each country where the applicant has lived for a qualifying period, as set out on the Department's website, and from Australia where the applicant has lived here.

Some countries issue certificates quickly online. Others require an in-person application, fingerprints, a local address or an agent. Some require the applicant to attend an embassy. These steps can involve fees, travel and courier costs. Police certificates also have a limited period of validity for the Department's purposes, so they may need to be obtained again if the application takes a long time to process or if the Department asks for updated certificates at the permanent stage.

A refusal that could have been avoided by obtaining the right certificate in time is one of the most expensive ways to add to the partner visa cost.

Health examinations

Applicants and additional applicants must meet the health requirement. Health examinations are carried out by panel physicians or clinics approved by the Department, and the fees are paid directly to the provider. The Department arranges health examinations through its online health system, and the examinations required depend on factors such as the applicant's age, country of residence and intended activities in Australia.

The fee for health examinations is part of the partner visa cost that couples often overlook. For a family with several children, it can be substantial. Health examinations also have a limited period of validity. If an application takes a long time to process, the examinations may need to be repeated.

Partner visa applications are refused where the health requirement has not been satisfied at the time of the decision. Health examinations should be completed when requested, and the deadline in any request should be met.

Biometrics

The Department may ask the applicant to provide biometrics, usually a facial photograph and fingerprints, at an Australian Visa Application Centre or another designated location. Biometrics collection can involve a service fee and travel to the nearest collection point. For applicants in regional areas or in countries with few collection centres, the travel component can be significant.

Accredited translations

Documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by an English translation. In Australia, translations should be prepared by a NAATI-accredited translator. Outside Australia, the Department's requirements for translations should be checked carefully. A partner visa application commonly includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce documents, identity cards, police certificates and relationship documents that may need translation. Each document adds to the partner visa cost.

Certified copies and identity documents

The Department generally accepts colour scans of original documents uploaded in ImmiAccount. Certified copies may still be needed in some cases, and identity documents may need to be renewed or replaced. Passports must remain valid. Where a passport is close to expiry, renewing it before lodgement is often sensible, because a new passport during processing means further notification to the Department. Birth certificates, name change documents and divorce orders may need to be ordered from government registries.

Relationship evidence and statements

Relationship evidence is the core of every partner visa application. The Department assesses four aspects of the relationship: financial aspects, the nature of the household, social aspects and the nature of the commitment. Gathering evidence for each of these aspects costs little in money, but it costs time. Bank records, leases, utility accounts, travel records and correspondence must be collected and organised. Our partner visa document checklist and our evidence checklist for the 820 partner visa set out what the Department expects. Our article on preparing evidence of a genuine relationship explains how that evidence is presented.

Each couple also provides one relationship statement, which is the couple's own account of the relationship. It covers matters such as how the couple met, how the relationship developed, their living arrangements and their future plans. Our guide to writing a partner visa relationship statement explains its structure.

Supporting statements from people who know the couple are usually given on Form 888. A Form 888 is made by an Australian citizen or permanent resident who knows the couple. It is not a statutory declaration. Statutory declarations are needed only in special partner visa cases where lodging Form 888s instead would make the application invalid. Our articles on who can make a Form 888 and what it should say and on Form 888 example answers and common mistakes explain the requirements.

Proving a de facto relationship

De facto couples generally need to show that they have been in the relationship, including living together, for 12 months before the application, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory or compelling and compassionate circumstances apply. Registering a relationship can involve a small registry fee, which is part of the partner visa cost for some couples. Our articles on the de facto partner visa and the 12-month rule and on whether you really need 12 months of de facto relationship for a Subclass 820 visa explain the exceptions. Same-sex couples are assessed under the same rules, as explained on our LGBTI partner visa page.

Travel for offshore cases

Travel is often the largest hidden component of the offshore partner visa cost. Couples travel to see each other, to marry, to attend health examinations and to obtain documents. The applicant must be outside Australia when the Subclass 309 visa is granted, which can mean an unplanned trip. Travel records are also evidence of the relationship, so couples should keep boarding passes, booking confirmations and itineraries.

Living costs, health cover and Medicare

The partner visa cost includes the cost of living while the application is processed. Medicare access is not automatic. An onshore Subclass 820 holder can apply for Medicare, and an applicant in Australia may become eligible to enrol at an earlier point depending on their circumstances, but enrolment is through Services Australia and depends on eligibility. Until Medicare enrolment is in place, couples should consider whether private health cover is needed. Offshore applicants who arrive on a Subclass 309 visa should also plan for health cover until they enrol.

Work rights affect the budget too. Our article on whether you can work while waiting for your Subclass 820 visa explains bridging visa work rights.

Costs that arise while the application is being processed

The partner visa cost does not end at lodgement. Processing takes time, and during that time the Department may ask for more information, and the couple's circumstances may change.

Processing time and the cost of waiting

The Department publishes processing times for partner visas in its processing time guide tool, and those times change. Our articles on current Subclass 820 processing times and on how long the 820 onshore partner visa takes explain the published figures and what can slow an application down. A long wait can mean repeat police certificates, repeat health examinations and renewed passports.

Requests for more information, Form 80 and Form 1221

The Department may send a request for more information under section 56 of the Migration Act 1958. A request may ask for further relationship evidence, a further police certificate or a completed Form 80, which records personal particulars for character assessment. The Department may request Form 80 from the applicant and from family members aged 16 or over who are included in the application, and it commonly does so for partner visas. The Department may also request Form 1221, which records additional personal particulars. Our guides on responding to a section 56 request and on completing Form 80 without errors explain both.

A request has a deadline. Missing it can lead to a decision on the information already held. Errors in Form 80, such as gaps in addresses or travel history, can raise character or integrity concerns. Each of these risks adds to the potential partner visa cost.

Changes in circumstances

The applicant must tell the Department about changes in circumstances, including a new address, a new passport, a new child or the end of the relationship. Where the relationship ends, the application is affected. Our article on what happens to a Subclass 820 application if the relationship breaks down explains the position, and our family violence partner visa page explains how the family violence provisions can allow the permanent visa after the relationship ends.

Appointing a representative

A lawyer or registered migration agent who acts on the application is appointed using Form 956, and an authorised recipient can be appointed using Form 956A. Our article on Form 956 and Form 956A explains the difference. Correspondence from the Department then goes to the representative, which reduces the risk of a missed deadline.

What does a refused partner visa really cost?

A refused partner visa usually costs the couple the full charge already paid, the cost of any review, and, if review does not succeed, a second partner visa cost for a new application. The Department charge is generally not refunded when an application is refused.

The charge is generally not refunded

The visa application charge pays for the Department's assessment of the application, not for a particular outcome. Refunds are available only in limited circumstances set out in the Migration Regulations 1994. A refusal because the Department is not satisfied that the relationship is genuine and continuing, or because a criterion was not met, is not ordinarily one of them. Couples should treat the partner visa cost as money spent at lodgement, whatever the outcome.

Review at the Administrative Review Tribunal

Most partner visa refusals can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. A Tribunal application fee applies, which is separate from the partner visa cost already paid. The deadline to apply for review is short and is strictly applied. The refusal letter states the deadline and how it is calculated. Our articles on your appeal options when a partner visa is refused and on what to expect in an ART review after a visa refusal explain the process, and our partner visa refusals page explains how the firm acts on review.

A review adds further costs. There are documents to gather, submissions to prepare, and often a hearing. Where the applicant is in Australia, the applicant usually remains on a bridging visa while the review is decided. Our article on when you need a visa appeal lawyer explains what representation at review involves, and our general visa refusals page covers refusals across visa types.

Natural justice letters before refusal

Before a refusal, the Department may send a letter inviting comment on adverse information under section 57 of the Migration Act 1958. A strong response to that letter can avoid a refusal and the review costs that follow. Our article on how to respond to an s57 natural justice letter for a partner visa explains what the Department expects.

Reapplying means paying the partner visa cost again

If a partner visa is refused and review is unsuccessful or unavailable, a new application means paying a new partner visa cost. A refusal can also restrict where and when a new application can be made. Applicants in Australia who have been refused a visa may be barred by section 48 of the Migration Act 1958 from making certain further applications in Australia, although partner visas are generally among the visas that can still be applied for onshore if the requirements are met. Our article on applying for a partner visa after a visa refusal explains the position in detail.

Which mistakes waste the partner visa cost?

The mistakes that most often waste the partner visa cost are lodging an invalid application, lodging when the applicant cannot meet Schedule 3 or is affected by a no further stay condition, overlooking sponsorship limitations, lodging a de facto application before the relationship qualifies, and lodging without sufficient evidence. Each of these can be identified before the charge is paid.

Applying when the applicant has no substantive visa

An applicant in Australia who does not hold a substantive visa at the time of application, for example because they hold a bridging visa that is not a substantive visa or because they are unlawful, must meet Schedule 3 criteria 3001, 3003 and 3004 unless they are waived for compelling reasons. An application lodged without addressing Schedule 3 risks refusal on that ground alone, which means the partner visa cost is spent without the relationship being the deciding issue. Our articles on the Schedule 3 partner visa waiver and our Schedule 3 waiver page explain how compelling reasons are presented.

The Tribunal has considered Schedule 3 in many partner cases. In Sandhu (Migration) [2018] AATA 1483, a Subclass 820 matter, the issues included whether compelling reasons existed for not applying the Schedule 3 criteria, the length of the relationship and the difficulty of relocating offshore while the application was processed.

Condition 8503 and other visa conditions

A current visa with condition 8503 (No Further Stay) generally prevents the holder from making an application for a further substantive visa in Australia unless the condition is waived. An onshore partner visa application lodged in breach of that condition is not a valid application. Our article on whether you can apply for a Subclass 820 visa with a No Further Stay condition explains the waiver process. Visitors considering an onshore application should also read our article on moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa in Australia.

Sponsorship limitations

The Australian partner sponsors the applicant, and the sponsorship is completed online in ImmiAccount as part of the process. Sponsorship limitations apply. A sponsor generally cannot sponsor more than two partners in a lifetime, or sponsor a partner within five years of a previous partner sponsorship, unless there are compelling circumstances. The Tribunal considered this limitation in Promthong (Migration) [2024] AATA 2472, where the prior sponsorship had been approved within five years of the time of the primary decision. Our sponsorship limitations page and our article on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner visa explain the rule and its exceptions.

Insufficient evidence of the relationship

The most common reason for a refusal is that the Department is not satisfied the relationship is genuine and continuing. Evidence that is thin in one or more of the four aspects, inconsistent between the couple's documents, or unexplained where there are gaps, puts the partner visa cost at risk. Our articles on why Subclass 820 partner visas are refused and on why partner visas get refused set out the patterns that appear most often in refusal decisions.

Incorrect or incomplete information

False or misleading information in a visa application, even if it was given by mistake, can lead to refusal under public interest criterion 4020 and can affect future applications. Errors in previous visa applications can also be raised. Consistency across the application form, Form 80, the relationship statement and earlier applications is essential. Our 820 visa guide to requirements, documents and how to apply explains how the application form should be approached.

How should couples budget for the partner visa cost?

Couples should budget for the partner visa cost in three layers: the Department charge payable at lodgement, the third-party expenses needed to complete the application, and a reserve for costs that arise during processing. Planning the budget early prevents a rushed lodgement.

Layer one: the Department charge

The first layer is the Department charge for the main applicant and each additional applicant, confirmed using the Visa Pricing Estimator close to the lodgement date. As at October 2026, the base partner visa cost starts from AUD 11,710 for most applicants, or from AUD 1,955 for Subclass 300 holders applying onshore. Couples should also allow for any payment surcharge.

Layer two: the documents needed before lodgement

The second layer covers police certificates, health examinations where completed before lodgement, translations, identity documents and relationship registration where relevant. These costs vary widely. A couple where both partners have lived in one country will pay far less than a couple where the applicant has lived in several countries that each require a police certificate.

Layer three: the reserve for processing

The third layer is a reserve for repeat police certificates, repeat health examinations, biometrics, passport renewals, Bridging Visa B charges for travel, and the possibility of review. Couples who plan for this layer are less likely to make decisions under financial pressure while the application is being processed.

Do not let the budget drive a premature lodgement

Couples sometimes lodge before they are ready because the applicant's visa is about to expire, or because they want to avoid a charge increase on 1 July. Sometimes an early lodgement is legally necessary, for example to lodge while the applicant still holds a substantive visa. In other cases it is a false economy. The decision about timing should be made on legal grounds, with the full partner visa cost in view.

Do professional fees form part of the partner visa cost?

Yes. For couples who engage a lawyer, professional fees are part of the total partner visa cost, in addition to the Department charge and third-party expenses. My Migration Lawyers charges fixed fees, set out in a written costs agreement before any work begins, so that couples know the professional component of their partner visa cost before they commit.

What a fixed fee should cover

A fixed fee should state what work is included, what is excluded, and how the fee is paid across the stages of the matter. Our article on what a fixed-fee immigration lawyer quote should include explains the points to check, and our guide to partner visa lawyers in Australia, fees and how to choose explains how partner visa fees are usually structured. For a broader view, see our article on how much an immigration lawyer costs in Australia.

Weighing legal help against doing it yourself

Some couples lodge without assistance. Others engage a lawyer because the stakes of a refusal are high or because their case has a complication such as Schedule 3, a previous refusal, a sponsorship limitation or a character issue. Our article on a partner visa lawyer compared with doing it yourself sets out the considerations. Our article on choosing between a migration agent and a lawyer for a partner visa explains the differences between the two professions factually.

Couples who have already lodged can still obtain assistance. Our articles on hiring an immigration lawyer after lodging your own application and on getting a second opinion from an immigration lawyer explain how this works. Our article on booking an immigration lawyer consultation explains what happens at the first consultation.

Partner visa advice by video, wherever you are in Australia

My Migration Lawyers advises couples across Australia, and consultations are held by video. Clients do not need to live near the firm's office to obtain advice on the partner visa cost, the application or a refusal.

The firm acts for couples in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart and Parramatta. Couples comparing representation in their city may find our guides on choosing a partner visa lawyer in Sydney, choosing a partner visa lawyer in Melbourne and choosing a partner visa lawyer in Brisbane useful, together with our national guide on how to choose a partner visa lawyer in Australia. For other visa matters, the firm's immigration lawyers in Sydney and immigration lawyers in Melbourne pages explain the wider practice.

How My Migration Lawyers helps couples plan the full partner visa cost and avoid the errors that waste the charge

My Migration Lawyers acts in many partner visa matters across the onshore, offshore and prospective marriage pathways, including complex cases involving Schedule 3, condition 8503, sponsorship limitations, previous refusals and character concerns. The firm's work on the partner visa cost begins before any charge is paid, because that is the point at which the most expensive errors can still be avoided.

Before the charge is paid

Before lodgement, the firm confirms which pathway is legally available to the couple, whether the application will be valid, and whether any bar, condition or limitation affects it. It identifies who should be included as an additional applicant and the documents each person will need. It tells the couple, early, which police certificates, health examinations and translations will be required, so that the full partner visa cost can be planned rather than discovered.

Preparing an application that protects the charge

The firm reviews the couple's relationship evidence against the four aspects the Department assesses, identifies gaps and inconsistencies, and advises on how they should be addressed with genuine evidence. The relationship statement remains the couple's own account, reviewed and corrected by them, and the firm presents it in the form the law requires. Where Schedule 3 or a sponsorship limitation applies, the firm prepares legal submissions on compelling reasons or compelling circumstances. The aim is an application that can be decided on its merits, so that the partner visa cost is not wasted on a refusal that could have been avoided.

During processing and at review

After lodgement, the firm responds to section 56 requests, natural justice letters and requests for Form 80 or Form 1221, and manages the evidence needed at the permanent stage. If a refusal occurs, the firm advises promptly on review at the Administrative Review Tribunal, within the strict deadline, and on whether review or a fresh application best protects the couple's position. More information is available on our partner visa lawyers page, in our article on what a partner visa lawyer does, and on the profile of Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer.

The partner visa cost is significant, and the cost of getting the application wrong is greater. Couples who want clear advice on their pathway, their budget and the risks in their case can book a consultation online or call 1300 040 300.