ImmiAccount for partner visa sponsors — uploads and the two-stage process

The two-stage partner visa process in ImmiAccount

Partner visas are processed in two stages, and ImmiAccount treats them as a single combined application:

- Onshore pathway: Subclass 820 (temporary) is assessed first. If approved, the applicant holds the temporary visa until eligible for assessment for subclass 801 (permanent), typically after two years.
- Offshore pathway: Subclass 309 (temporary) is assessed first, followed by subclass 100 (permanent) after the eligibility period.

Within ImmiAccount, both stages are lodged as one application. You do not submit a separate application for the permanent stage. The portal tracks the application through the standard status progression — Received, Initial assessment, Further assessment, Finalised — but the "Finalised" status may appear twice: once for the temporary visa decision and again for the permanent visa decision.

After the temporary visa is granted, the Department will contact the applicant (and sponsor) through the ImmiAccount message centre when the permanent stage is due for assessment. At that point, the applicant and sponsor may be asked to provide updated relationship evidence and statutory declarations.

The sponsor needs a separate ImmiAccount

This is one of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of partner visa applications. The sponsor must have their own individual ImmiAccount, separate from the applicant's account. The sponsor's account is used to:

- Complete and submit Form 40SP (Sponsorship for a partner to migrate to Australia)
- Upload the sponsor's personal documents (identity, character, financial capacity evidence)
- Upload some categories of relationship evidence
- Respond to requests from the Department directed at the sponsor

Creating the sponsor's account:

1. The sponsor registers for an individual ImmiAccount at the portal, using their own unique email address. Shared email accounts are prohibited under the Terms of Use (sections 5.1 and 5.6).
2. MFA must be configured — this has been mandatory since 18 June 2025.
3. The sponsor does not create the visa application. The applicant lodges the visa application from their own account.

Using the applicant's TRN to link accounts

After the applicant lodges the partner visa application, a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) is generated. The sponsor uses this TRN to access the application from their own ImmiAccount.

The linking process:

1. The applicant lodges the partner visa application and receives a TRN.
2. The applicant shares the TRN with the sponsor.
3. The sponsor logs in to their own ImmiAccount.
4. The sponsor selects "Link application" or "Import application" and enters the TRN along with the applicant's details (typically date of birth or other identifying information as prompted by the portal).
5. Once linked, the application appears in the sponsor's dashboard, and they can upload documents and view the application status.

Both the applicant and sponsor can now see the same application from their respective dashboards, but each uploads documents through their own login. This separation ensures that documents are attributed to the correct party and that the Department can identify who provided what evidence.

The 100-document upload limit

Partner visa applications have a higher document upload limit than standard visa applications:

- Partner visas: 100 documents maximum
- Standard visa applications: 60 documents maximum

The per-file size limit remains 5 MB regardless of visa type. Filename restrictions also apply equally: only A–Z, 0–9, dashes, and underscores are permitted. Encrypted PDFs and form-fillable PDFs are rejected by the portal.

Even with 100 documents, partner visa applicants frequently approach the limit. To manage this:

- Consolidate multi-page evidence into single PDFs. For example, a series of chat message screenshots can be combined into one PDF rather than uploaded as 30 separate image files.
- Use clear, descriptive filenames so both you and the case officer can identify documents without opening them: `joint-lease-agreement-2025.pdf`, `relationship-photos-2024-2025.pdf`, `sponsor-statutory-declaration.pdf`.
- Prioritise quality over quantity. A well-organised set of 60 strong documents is more effective than 100 loosely assembled files that duplicate the same evidence.

What the sponsor uploads vs what the applicant uploads

The division of document uploads between the two accounts follows a general pattern, though there is flexibility depending on the evidence:

Documents the applicant typically uploads (from the applicant's ImmiAccount):

- Passport and identity documents
- Form 47SP (Application for migration to Australia by a partner)
- Photographs meeting Department specifications
- Health examination results (uploaded automatically via eMedical after the HAP ID process)
- Police clearance certificates from all countries of residence
- English language test results (if applicable)
- Relationship evidence from the applicant's perspective (statutory declaration, personal statement)
- Shared relationship evidence (joint photographs, travel itineraries, communication records)

Documents the sponsor typically uploads (from the sponsor's ImmiAccount):

- Form 40SP (Sponsorship for a partner to migrate to Australia)
- Sponsor's identity documents (passport, driver licence, birth certificate)
- Sponsor's police clearance certificates
- Evidence of the sponsor's financial capacity or employment
- Sponsor's statutory declaration about the relationship
- Any additional relationship evidence the sponsor holds

Some relationship evidence — such as joint bank account statements, shared utility bills, or a joint lease — can be uploaded from either account. What matters is that the document is attached to the application and clearly labelled.

Uploading relationship evidence

Relationship evidence for partner visas is typically organised into four categories defined by the Department:

1. Financial aspects of the relationship — joint bank accounts, shared expenses, financial dependence or interdependence
2. Nature of the household — joint lease or mortgage, shared living arrangements, division of household responsibilities
3. Social aspects of the relationship — joint invitations, social media evidence, statutory declarations from friends and family
4. Nature of the commitment — length of relationship, knowledge of each other's personal details, future plans together

Within ImmiAccount, when uploading documents, you select a document type from a dropdown menu. Choosing the most relevant category for each document helps the case officer locate evidence efficiently. If the dropdown does not have an exact match, "Other" or "Supporting document" is typically available.

Photographs should be compiled into PDF documents rather than uploaded individually. A single PDF with 20-30 photographs across different time periods is far more practical than uploading each image as a separate file, especially given the 100-document ceiling.

Managing the permanent stage evidence request

When the permanent visa stage (subclass 801 or 100) becomes due for assessment — typically two years after the temporary visa is granted — the Department contacts both the applicant and sponsor through the ImmiAccount message centre.

At this point, both parties will need to:

1. Log in to their respective ImmiAccount portals.
2. Check the message centre for the Department's request letter.
3. Upload updated evidence demonstrating that the relationship is ongoing and genuine — new statutory declarations, recent joint financial records, updated photographs, and evidence of continued cohabitation.
4. The document upload limit resets or is managed separately for this second stage, but the same per-file and filename rules apply.

Responding within the timeframe specified in the Department's letter is critical. Late responses can delay the permanent visa decision.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

- Sponsor uses the applicant's ImmiAccount: The sponsor must create and use their own account. Logging into the applicant's account to upload documents means those documents are attributed to the applicant, not the sponsor, and may cause processing confusion.
- Exceeding the upload limit mid-application: Plan your document strategy before uploading. List every document you intend to attach, consolidate where possible, and prioritise the strongest evidence.
- Filename errors: A rejected upload due to a filename containing spaces or special characters is easily avoided by renaming files before upload. Use the format `description-date.pdf` with only permitted characters.
- Missing the permanent stage deadline: Set a reminder outside of ImmiAccount. The portal sends notifications, but relying solely on the message centre is risky if you do not log in regularly.