An Australian permanent partner visa applicant must have evidence that proves a genuine and continuing relationship. Initially, you may question: “How do I provide proof of how a relationship developed for a permanent visa?”
The simple answer is that you must provide sufficient evidence that covers four different categories that meet the requirements of the Department of Home Affairs.
The legal guide below provides a checklist of evidence you can submit to support proof that a relationship is genuine, regardless of the relationship status:, i.e. married, engaged or in a de facto relationship.
A Detailed History of Your Relationship Developed
An Australian permanent or temporary partner visa requires complete and thorough documentation to prove a relationship is genuine.
Strong partner visa evidence begins with a thorough history showing how the relationship developed and grew into a genuine and continuing commitment. This history should be as detailed as possible, including as much information as possible. Here are some basics:
- How, where and when did you meet?
- When did your relationship develop into a ‘serious’ and long-term commitment?
- When did you decide to marry or become de facto?
- How do you support each other financially, physically and emotionally?
- When did that level of commitment begin for you?
- If you are living apart, in what ways do you maintain that level of commitment?
- Details of any times you’ve been apart: When, why, and for how long did you keep your relationship going?
- What were the significant events in your relationship and your future plans?
An Australian permanent partner visa application or temporary visa requires complete and thorough documentation to prove a relationship is genuine.
Types of Relationships Covered by Partner Visas
Australian partner visas cover all types of relationships, including those with a marriage certificate, de facto partnerships, and those who are engaged to marry. Here are some quick facts:
- You may apply for a Subclass 820/801 Partner visa if you are married or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- If you are outside Australia and want to apply for a partner visa, you may be eligible for a Subclass 309/100 Partner visa.
- An Australian spouse may qualify for a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa if you plan to marry them.
- A legally valid marriage in Australia is required if you are applying based on a spouse relationship.
- A spouse or de facto partner relationship has additional eligibility requirements under migration law.
- Evidence that can demonstrate a genuine de facto relationship includes cohabitation and joint financial responsibilities.
Evidence Proving a Long-Distance Relationship is Genuine and Continuing
Proving a genuine and continuing long-distance relationship for a partner visa application can be challenging, but it is certainly achievable with the proper evidence. Since you may not have the typical cohabitation or shared household documents, you will need to rely on alternative forms of proof to demonstrate your commitment and ongoing connection.
Key types of evidence to consider include:
- Travel Records: Flight tickets, boarding passes, and hotel bookings showing visits to each other help establish that you are maintaining the relationship despite physical distance.
- Communication Logs: Detailed records of communication, such as phone bills, screenshots of phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media interactions, provide evidence of regular contact and emotional support.
- Financial Support: Evidence of financial transactions, such as money transfers, joint bank account statements, or gifts exchanged between partners, demonstrates ongoing financial interdependence.
- Photographs: Photos taken together during visits, including with family and friends, help show that the relationship is recognised socially.
- Detailed statements from friends and family about the relationship can bolster a long-distance relationship visa application.
- Joint Future Plans: Documentation showing plans for living together or marrying in the future, such as wedding invitations or joint lease agreements planned for when you reunite.
- Other Evidence: Anything else that can prove your relationship’s authenticity, such as shared memberships, joint insurance policies, or correspondence addressed to both partners at the same address.
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Our experienced immigration lawyers have a 99% success rate for successful outcomes. They can help provide evidence that meets the requirements of the Department of Home Affairs. Call now 07 3166 9100
Australian Government Requirements for Partner Visa Evidence
If you’re applying for an Australian partner visa, get ready to show the government your relationship is the real deal. They need solid paperwork proving it’s both genuine and continuing. This means your partner visa application must include proof that you and your partner share your lives across four key areas:
- Financial aspects
- Social aspects
- Household evidence
- Mutual commitment
To meet these requirements, you should gather evidence that proves your relationship is genuine, such as:
- Joint bank account statements that show shared financial responsibility
- Joint lease agreements or evidence of joint responsibility for your home
- Shared utility bills and joint ownership of major assets
Department of Home Affairs
All Australian partner visa applications require evidence to convince the Department of Home Affairs that the relationship is genuine and continuing.
Along with financial and household evidence, the Department of Home Affairs requires statutory declarations from supporting witnesses—usually friends and family members—who can attest to your relationship’s authenticity. These statutory declarations show that others recognise your relationship nature as not just a private arrangement.
Social aspects are equally important. Providing evidence that can strengthen your cause, such as:
- Joint participation in social activities
- Joint invitations
- Photos with friends and family
The more documentary evidence you can provide across these categories, the more likely it is that your partner visa application will meet the Australian Government’s standards for a genuine and continuing relationship.
Evidence of a Genuine and Ongoing Relationship Falls into Four Categories
As stated above, there are four categories of evidence for partner visas: financial, household, social, and commitment. Generally, anything that supports your claim about a serious, committed, and ongoing relationship is valid.
- Evidence requirements may differ depending on whether you are married, in a de facto relationship, or applying for a prospective marriage visa.
- Eligibility for partner visas generally requires being married to or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- A prospective marriage visa application has specific evidence requirements, separate from those for partner visas.
- Statutory declarations for partner visas should describe the development of the relationship.
- Statutory declarations must be signed and dated or declared before an authorised witness.
1. Financial Aspects like joint bank account statements
What are the financial aspects that prove your relationship is genuine, including:
- How you and your partner share financial matters, such as joint ownership of assets or shared responsibility for liabilities.
- Joint purchase of major assets you own together, including cars, real estate, loans, insurance, credit cards, major appliances.
- Shared bank accounts
- Any legal commitments you have made as a couple. For example, you appeared at a rental tribunal as a couple.
- Proof that you and your partner share bills and expenses.
2. Household Evidence
In what ways can you demonstrate the nature of your household? Think about:
- Your current living arrangements
- Write a statement that describes how you share the responsibilities of running the household. This might include how the housework or other chores (like shopping) is shared
- You may have a joint lease, lease agreement, or mortgage, signifying your shared ownership or responsibility for your home. A formal lease agreement or a letter from the leaseholder can also be used as evidence of your living arrangements.
- Household bills like utilities that are in both of your names
- Any mail sent to both you and your partner at the same address
- How do you share caring for children, and who is responsible for what
3. Social Aspects
Presenting documentation that shows the authentic social context of your relationship may also be required. The social aspect of life can be documented in many ways, including:
- Joint invitations
- Social media posts, such as photos of you together at events and functions
- Common friends and acquaintances could provide evidence, such as statutory declarations from your friends. Form 888 is a statutory declaration provided by supporting witnesses for partner visa applications.
- You can provide proof that you’ve informed other government departments, public institutions, or authorities about your relationship. Maybe your partner is your next of kin at work?
- Statutory declarations made by family members
- Joint membership of clubs, organisations, or formal groups
- Joint participation in sports, cultural, or social activities
- Joint travel
Consider providing photographs, copies of travel tags, invoices with both of your names on them, and collective mail.
NOTE: Just providing statutory declarations will not be enough for the Department of Home Affairs
4. Long-Term Commitment
You also need to demonstrate a mutual commitment to a long-term relationship.
- You could be interviewed about each other’s family, background, family situation, or others’ personal circumstances
- Prove the intention of a long-term commitment, e.g., to what extent have you combined your affairs?
- The terms of your wills
- Mail, email, and phone records that prove you kept in regular contact whenever you have been separated from each other
- Providing evidence of emotional support in your relationship
Partner Visa Evidence Podcast originally broadcast 2018
Requirements for a Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300 Application
When applying for a prospective marriage visa (Subclass 300), applicants must provide evidence that demonstrates the genuine intention to marry their Australian partner within the visa’s validity period. This visa is designed for couples who are engaged to be married and plan to enter Australia to formalise their marriage.
Key evidence requirements for a prospective marriage visa application include:
- Proof that you have met face-to-face after turning 18 and that you have a personal relationship when applying for a visa.
- Proof of intention to marry: Documentation such as wedding invitations, correspondence with wedding planners or venues, and any other details supporting your planned marriage date and arrangements.
- Relationship history: A detailed statement outlining how your relationship developed, including how and when you met, the progression of your commitment, and significant milestones leading to your engagement.
- Statutory declarations: Written statements from both partners and supporting witnesses (such as family and friends) that attest to the authenticity of the relationship and the intention to marry. These declarations should be signed, dated, and, if possible, witnessed by an authorised official.
- Financial and social evidence: While the prospective marriage visa does not require as extensive evidence as partner visas, providing proof of joint bank statements, shared social activities, or mutual support can strengthen your application.
- Legal eligibility: Evidence that both parties are legally free to marry, such as divorce decrees or death certificates if previously married.
- Identity documents: Certified copies of a passport or birth certificate, and other official identification documents for both applicants.
Gathering Partner Visa Evidence is a Big Task
Gathering partner visa evidence can be overwhelming. That’s why our expert partner visa lawyers interview couples to learn about their unique situations before providing advice. With years of experience in migration law, we understand:
- How much evidence is sufficient
- When there’s a risk of not providing enough
- We can also offer suggestions and alternatives
The visa applicant must ensure they have a valid substantive visa (which is any visa apart from a bridging visa) when lodging their application, as this is a key requirement for many partner and family visas. The Department of Home Affairs is the authority responsible for processing partner visa applications, and it is crucial to comply with all their requirements to avoid delays or refusals.
There are about 20,000 partner visa refusals every year. Make sure you don’t fall into that statistic! Contact us now to make sure you’re doing it right. Call 07 3166 9100
How to Have a Successful Partner Visa Application
A successful outcome for an Australian visa application depends on the quality of evidence. Consequently, you should aim to:
- Provide as much evidence as possible that proves your relationship is genuine
- Be truthful and accurate because any misleading information can cause delays or a denied application
- Check everything twice to make sure you don’t make mistakes that could hurt your application
- A well-structured application with strong partner visa evidence will avoid processing delays and increase your chances of success
Advice from Immigration Lawyers with 99% Success Rate
Timpson Immigration Lawyers has a 99% success rate for successful visa applications. Our lawyers and migration agents know the evidence required to become an Australian citizen.
Our team of lawyers and registered migration agents can make a significant difference in the success of your application. They understand the intricacies of migration law and can provide tailored advice based on your specific circumstances.
We can guide you on how to present adequate evidence and assist in building a valid partner visa application that satisfies the Australian Government’s requirements.
Don’t risk wasting $9,000 (or more) on a refused application. Our partner visa checkit service will thoroughly examine your evidence and plug any gaps that could cause a visa rejection.
Partner Visa Australia Requirements FAQs
What are the requirements for partner visa eligibility?
Australian partner visa eligibility requires the following:
- You must be in a continuing and genuine relationship (either legally married, engaged, or with a de facto partner)
- That relationship is with either an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Partner visa applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet the health and character requirements
- They must be sponsored by their partner
- A de facto partner sponsor must have been living with their partner for a minimum of 12 months (with some exceptions)
What do I do if my relationship breaks down during the partner visa application process?
You must inform the Department of Home Affairs using ImmiAccount (or by using the online contact form) if a relationship ends while processing an Australia partner visa 820 application.
You could have a denied visa application if you fail to do so. In some cases, you could still satisfy partner visa eligibility requirements. For example, if you have experienced domestic violence, have children with your former partner, or if the sponsor has died.
What if we are legally married but separate during the visa processing period?
Your visa can be cancelled if you are legally married and separate during the processing of a partner visa subclass 820
