Documents list for partner visa application

Identity documents

Provide a birth certificate showing the names of both parents.

If you can’t provide this, provide the identification page for one of the following:

family book showing the names of both parents
identification document issued by the government
court-issued document that proves your identity
of a family census register.

Also provide:

the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details and passport issue and expiry dates
a national identity card, if you have one
proof of change of name, if applicable, such as:
- a marriage or divorce certificate
- change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
- documents that show other names you have been known by.

Character documents

Provide an Australian police certificate if you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16.

We only accept complete disclosure National Police Certificates issued by the Australian Federal Police. We do not accept standard disclosure certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police.

To get an Australian police certificate see National Police Checks.

Also provide:

an overseas police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16
military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country.

For immigration purposes, police certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date.

To get an overseas police certificate, see Offices and locations.

Complete and attach to your application Form 80 Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment (596KB PDF).Hide

Evidence of relationships

You need to provide evidence of:

your relationship with your partner
any former relationships
supporting evidence of your relationship and
any dependants you have.

Your relationship with your partner

You need to provide evidence of your relationship with your partner. This evidence must show that:

you have a mutual commitment with your spouse of de facto partner to the exclusion of all others
your relationship is genuine and continuing
you live together or don’t live permanently apart
you are not related by family.

Relationship history

Tell us in writing about:

how, when and where you first met
how the relationship developed
when you moved in together, got engaged or married
what you do together
time you spent apart
significant events in the relationship
your plans for the future.

Relationship documents

If you are married, provide your marriage certificate or other evidence that your marriage is valid in Australia.

If you are a de facto partner, you need to provide evidence of your de facto relationship.

Evidence of your de facto relationship

In addition to documents proving your relationship, show us you have been in your de facto relationship for at least 12 months before you applied for this visa.

If you haven’t been with your de facto partner for 12 months, you can:

provide evidence you have registered your relationship with an Australian births, deaths and marriages agency or
tell us in writing about any compelling and compassionate circumstances for us to grant the visa.

Supporting evidence of the relationship

Finances

Evidence you and your partner share financial matters. Evidence can include:

joint mortgage or lease documents
joint loan documents for major assets like homes, cars or major appliances
joint bank account statements
household bills in both names.

Your household

Evidence you and your partner share domestic matters. Evidence can include:

a statement about how you share housework
household bills in both names
mail or emails addressed to you both
documents that show joint responsibility for children
documents that prove your living arrangements.

Social matters

Evidence that others know about your relationship.

You must provide statements from 2 witnesses who:

are 18 years old or older
know you and your spouse or partner
know about your relationship.

Statements from witnesses can be done by completing Form 888 – Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application (241KB PDF).

If the witness is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, provide evidence of this such as a passport or birth certificate.

Evidence can also include:

joint invitations or evidence you go out together
proof you have friends in common
proof you have told government, public or commercial bodies about your relationship
proof you do joint sporting, cultural or social activities together
proof you travel together.

Commitment

Evidence you are committed to a long-term relationship with each other. Evidence must show that you:

have knowledge of each other’s background, family situation or other personal details.
have combined your personal matters
stay in touch when apart
are not related by family.

You can also provide the terms of your wills as evidence.

Former relationships

If you have previously been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated, provide divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations.Hide

Dependants under 18 documents

For every dependant under 18 years old who is applying with you, provide:

identity documents
evidence of your relationship with your dependant, like a birth or marriage certificate
character documents, if the dependant is 16 or 17 years of age
adoption papers or parental court orders, if applicable
evidence of enrolment at school, college or university, if applicable
evidence of sole custody, if applicable.

Parental responsibility documents

You must get consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia from anyone who:

has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
is not coming to Australia with the child.

They must complete:

Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (240KB PDF) or
a statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to visit Australia on this visa.

Include:

an identity document that shows the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a passport or driver’s licence
adoption papers or other court documents, if applicable.

Alternatively, you can show us:

an Australian court order that allows your child to migrate to Australia, or
that the laws of the child’s home country allow them to leave their home country.

Dependants over 18 documents

To include your child who is over 18 in your visa application, they must be:

wholly or substantially dependent on you more than any other person for their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, or
unable to work to support themselves because they have a disability that totally or partially affects their bodily or mental functions.

Provide:

identity documents
documents about their other relationships, if applicable
character documents.

You must also provide evidence the child is dependent on you. This includes:

evidence of your relationship with the dependent such as a birth certificate or adoption papers
evidence of financial dependence such as bank statements, money transfers and rent receipts
a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over (241KB PDF).