Evidence that your relationship is genuine and continuing
You must provide documents to prove that your relationship is genuine and continuing. If
statements are provided, they can be written statements or statutory declarations. They
must be signed and dated by the authors. A statutory declaration must also be signed
by two witnesses. You can attach supporting documents to your online application with
our Migration Agent. The below are examples of information you may wish to provide:
-
Form 888 Statutory declaration by a supporting witness in relation to a Partner
or a Prospective Marriage visa applicant (to be completed by two Australian citizens
or permanent residents who have personal knowledge of your partner relationship).
History of your relationship:
- Statements from you and your partner about:
- how, when and where you first met
- how your relationship developed
- when you decided to marry or to start a de facto relationship
- your domestic arrangements (how you support each other financially, physically
and emotionally and when this level of commitment began)
- any periods of separation (when and why the separation occurred, for how long
and how you maintained your relationship during the period of separation)
- your future plans.
Financial evidence of your relationship:
- Documents to show that you and your partner share financial commitments and responsibilities,
such as:
- evidence of any joint ownership of real estate or other major assets (for example,
cars, appliances) and any joint liabilities (for example, loans, insurance)
- sharing of finances
- legal commitments that you and your partner have undertaken as a couple
- evidence that you and your partner have operated joint bank accounts for a reasonable
period of time
- sharing of household bills and expenses.
The nature of the household:
- Documents to show that you and your partner share responsibilities in your household,
such as:
- your living arrangements
- a statement about the way housework is distributed
- joint ownership or joint rental of the house in which you live
- joint utilities accounts (electricity, gas, telephone)
- joint responsibility for bills for day-to-day living expenses
- joint responsibility for children
- correspondence addressed to both you and your partner at the same address.
Social context of the relationship:
- Documents to show how your relationship with your partner is seen by your friends and
family will be considered, such as:
- evidence that you and your partner are usually accepted as a couple socially
(for example, joint invitations, going out together, friends and acquaintances
in common)
- statutory declarations from your partner’s parents, family members, relatives
and other friends about their assessment of the nature of your relationship
- evidence that you and your partner have declared your relationship to government
bodies, commercial or public institutions or authorities, joint membership
of organisations or groups
- evidence of joint participation in sporting, cultural or social activities
- joint travel.
The nature of your commitment to each other:
- Documents to show your commitment to each other:
- knowledge of each other’s personal circumstances (for example, background
and family situation, which could be established at interview)
- intention that your relationship will be long-term (for example, the extent to
which you have combined your affairs)
- the terms of your wills
- correspondence and itemised phone accounts to show that contact was maintained
during any period of separation.
- If you are living in a de facto relationship, provide one of the following:
- evidence that you have been in the relationship for at least 12 months before
you apply for this visa
- evidence that of compelling and compassionate reasons for applying before the
12 month period has passed
- evidence that you have registered your relationship in Australia with the relevant
state or territory authority.
For more information relating to authorised witnesses is available on the
Who can witness statutory declarations? page.
Your children
- Certified copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents
of all your dependent children.
- Evidence of financial dependency for all your family members aged 18 or older (such as
evidence of current studies):
- a certified copy of their birth certificate and proof of their relationship to
you
- proof that they live in your household
- proof that they have been financially dependent on you for at least the 12 months
immediately before you lodge your application.
- If any dependent child included in the application is adopted: certified copies of the
adoption papers.
- If you want to bring a child younger than 18 years of age with you to Australia, and
that child’s other parent is not included in the application, you will need
documentary evidence that you have the legal right to bring that child to Australia,
such as:
- certified copies of official legal documents, such as a court-issued parental
responsibility (custody), access or guardianship order
-
Statutory Declaration (80KB PDF) giving their permission
-
Form 1229 (125 KB PDF
) Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age
of 18 years If you use Form 1229 or a statutory declaration, you will have
to attach a certified copy of the other parent’s government-issued
identification document (such as a passport or driver's licence) with their
photograph and signature.
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