What documents are required to lodge a partner visa application in Australia?
Preparing a partner visa application is one of the most document-intensive processes in Australian immigration. The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) expects you to paint a complete picture of your genuine relationship, which means collecting evidence from multiple categories. At VJ Consulting and Education, we see incomplete document sets as the single most common reason for requests for further information (RFIs) and delays — so getting this right from day one matters enormously.
Below is a breakdown of the core document categories required for the initial Subclass 820 (onshore) application. The Subclass 309 (offshore) application follows the same framework but is lodged from outside Australia.
| Category | Key Documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Passport (all pages), birth certificate, national ID card | Both applicant and sponsor must provide identity documents |
| Relationship status | Marriage certificate (if married), de facto evidence, separation/divorce decrees if previously married | Must be officially translated if not in English |
| Sponsor documents | Australian citizenship certificate or passport, or permanent visa evidence; completed Form 40SP | Sponsor must be an eligible Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen |
| Health | Medical examination via an DOHA-approved panel physician (HAP ID required) | Do not book before you have your HAP ID from the ImmiAccount lodgement |
| Character | Australian Federal Police (AFP) check; overseas police clearances for every country lived in for 12+ months since age 16 | Must be less than 12 months old at time of decision, not just lodgement |
| Statutory declarations | Form 888 from Australian citizens or permanent residents who know the couple | See dedicated section below |
| Relationship evidence | Financial, social, household, and commitment evidence across four statutory categories | DOHA assesses all four aspects together |
The four statutory aspects of the relationship — financial, social, household, and commitment — are assessed under regulation 1.15A of the Migration Regulations 1994. Each aspect should be supported by its own evidence stream. Financial evidence includes joint bank accounts, joint loans, or evidence of financial interdependence. Social evidence covers joint invitations, shared photos, statutory declarations from friends and family, and evidence of meeting each other's social networks. Household evidence includes a lease in both names, utility bills, or a statutory declaration from a landlord. Commitment evidence includes future plans such as joint travel bookings, life insurance nominations, or wills naming each other as beneficiaries.
📖 Full Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa guide →How many Form 888 statutory declarations do you need for a partner visa application?
Form 888 (Statutory Declaration by a Supporting Witness for a Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa Application) must be completed by Australian citizens or permanent residents who know both you and your sponsor personally and can speak to the genuine nature of your relationship. The form asks witnesses to confirm how they know the couple, how long they have known them, and what observations they have made about the relationship.
While two is the practical floor, more is generally better — particularly if your relationship has a shorter history, is long-distance, or has other features that a case officer might scrutinise. Three or four well-written Form 888s from witnesses who can speak to different contexts (work colleagues, family friends, neighbours) can significantly strengthen your application.
How many Form 888 statutory declarations should I submit for a partner visa?
Quality matters as much as quantity. A Form 888 that simply states "I have known them for two years and they seem happy" adds little value. A well-constructed declaration should describe specific occasions the witness has observed the couple together, note changes they have seen in the relationship over time, and confirm that the witness believes the relationship is genuine and ongoing.
If your relationship involves particular complexity — such as a significant age gap, a short period of cohabitation, or previous marriages — consider requesting Form 888s from witnesses who can directly address those elements. Case officers are trained to look for corroboration of the specific features of your relationship.
📖 More about building a strong partner visa evidence package →What documents and evidence are required for the subclass 801 permanent partner visa application?
The 820/801 pathway works in two stages. The Subclass 820 temporary visa is granted first. After a two-year waiting period from the date of application (not the date of visa grant), DOHA assesses eligibility for the Subclass 801 permanent visa. If the relationship is registered under a prescribed law of a state or territory, or if there is a dependent child, the waiting period may be waived entirely.
When your 801 assessment is triggered, a case officer will typically issue a request for further information asking you to demonstrate that the relationship remains genuine and continuing. The core documents required at this stage include:
| Document Type | What to Provide | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Updated relationship evidence | Continued joint financial records, shared lease/mortgage, travel together, social media, photos | Covering the period since your 820 was granted |
| Updated police clearances | AFP check and any overseas checks for countries lived in since initial application | Must be current — typically within 12 months of the 801 decision |
| Updated health examination | New panel physician examination if original health results have expired | Health results are valid for 12 months; check expiry dates carefully |
| Updated Form 888s | Fresh declarations confirming the relationship is ongoing | Should reflect the current period, not simply resubmit old forms |
| Change of circumstances | Birth certificates for any children born, evidence of address changes, name change documents | As applicable |
What documents are required for the 801 permanent partner visa application?
It is important to understand that DOHA's assessment focus shifts between the 820 and 801 stages. At the 820 stage, the case officer is often asking: "Is this relationship genuine?" At the 801 stage, the question becomes: "Has the relationship continued and is it still genuine and ongoing?" Your evidence package should be curated to answer the second question directly.
Practical evidence that works well at the 801 stage includes joint mortgage or tenancy documents, joint superannuation nominations or life insurance beneficiary designations, evidence of joint travel (boarding passes, hotel bookings in both names), and photographs from the intervening period with metadata or contextual captions. Bank statements showing regular financial intermingling over the two-year period are particularly persuasive.
Can you substitute a birth certificate with a notarized document for Australian partner visa if you don't have one?
Many applicants from countries where civil registration systems are incomplete or were damaged by conflict or natural disaster find themselves unable to obtain a birth certificate. DOHA is aware of this reality and has policy provisions to accommodate it. However, you cannot simply choose not to provide a birth certificate because it is inconvenient. You must make genuine efforts to obtain it and document those efforts.
The recommended approach when a birth certificate is unavailable is:
Step 1: Attempt to obtain the certificate through the relevant government authority in your country of birth. Keep records of your application and any response (including non-responses after a reasonable period).
Step 2: Prepare a statutory declaration explaining the circumstances — why the document does not exist, what steps you took to obtain it, and why those steps were unsuccessful.
Step 3: Submit a notarised or certified copy of any alternative documents that can establish your identity and date of birth, such as a passport, driver's licence, national ID card, school records, or religious records (e.g. a baptismal certificate).
Step 4: If a notarised document is prepared overseas, ensure it is apostilled or authenticated appropriately for Australian immigration purposes, and accompanied by a NAATI-certified translation if not in English.
Do you need to translate a foreign police check for an Australian partner visa application?
This is a firm requirement, not a guideline. DOHA's policy is clear: all documents not in English must be accompanied by translations prepared by a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Machine translations, informal translations by bilingual individuals, or translations by non-NAATI-accredited agencies are not acceptable.
Police clearances are required from every country in which you have lived for 12 months or more (cumulatively) since turning 16. For applicants who have lived in multiple countries — or who were born in a country other than Australia and have returned to live there for extended periods — this can mean obtaining and translating several police checks from different jurisdictions.
Some important practical points about overseas police clearances:
| Issue | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Processing times | Some countries (e.g. India, China, Philippines) can take weeks or months to issue police clearances. Factor this into your timeline before lodging. |
| Validity | Police clearances must remain valid at the time of visa decision, not just lodgement. For long-processing visas, you may need to renew them. |
| Translation timing | Book your NAATI translator as soon as you receive the foreign document. Do not wait until *This article is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processing times change regularly — always verify details on the relevant authority's official website before making decisions.* Ready to start your journey?Every migration case is unique. Book a private strategy session with our MARA-registered agents to get advice tailored to your situation. Schedule ConsultationOur Accreditations Migration Agents  Victoria  Migration Institute VJ Consulting is an independent migration firm which is not associated in any way with the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice. For an appraisal of your unique personal situation, please book a consultation and talk to one of our Registered Migration Agents, who are all bound by the MARA Code of Conduct. © 2026 VJ Consulting. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |