Immigration Law
Partner and child visas
A partner visa is decided on evidence of the relationship, not on the wedding certificate. Sun Lawyers prepares partner, prospective marriage and child visa applications for couples and families in Australia and overseas, and handles the harder cases: applicants without a current visa, sponsors with a previous sponsorship, relationships that have broken down, and refusals. We work in English and Mandarin.
- Visas
- 820/801 onshore, 309/100 offshore, 300 prospective marriage
- Permanent stage
- Assessed 2 years after lodging; earlier for long-term relationships
- Government charge
- AUD11,710 for the main applicant
- Processing priority
- Onshore 820/801 first under Direction 117
What we do
- 01Assess which visa fits: onshore 820/801, offshore 309/100, or the Prospective Marriage 300 visa, and whether the permanent stage can be assessed at the same time.
When you need this
- You are married to, or living with, an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and want to stay or move here.
- You are engaged and your partner lives in Australia.
- Your child is overseas, or is in Australia on a temporary visa, and needs a permanent visa.
Who you will work with
Jing Sun
Principal Solicitor · Notary Public
Founder and Principal Solicitor with 16+ years across commercial, corporate, litigation and immigration law. Also a Notary Public.
ProfilePoints worth knowing
Onshore applications are processed first
Under Ministerial Direction 117, which took effect on 25 July 2026, onshore partner applications (820/801) are given the highest priority and offshore 300 and 309/100 applications a lower priority. The main applicant charge for a partner or prospective marriage visa is AUD11,710.
How we work
- 01A first conversation in English or Mandarin about your relationship, your visa history and your partner's situation, and a frank view of the weak points.
- 02Before any work starts, we confirm the scope of work and our fees in writing.
- 03We give you an evidence list made for your relationship, review everything before lodging, and keep the file current until the permanent stage is decided.
Common questions
My visa has already expired. Is it too late?
Not necessarily. You can still apply onshore if you meet the Schedule 3 criteria or can show compelling reasons for them not to apply, and you lodge the extra statutory declarations. Timing matters, so ask as soon as the visa lapses.
This page is general information about Australian immigration law and is not legal advice. Please contact us about your own situation.
Last updated: October 2026