Partner Visa Evidence Checklist for 2026 Applications

Before you start: confirm your facts

Check VEVO. If either partner holds an Australian visa, log in to VEVO and note the visa conditions, expiry date, and any limitations.

Check your ImmiAccount. Create an ImmiAccount if you don't have one. This is where you lodge the application and upload evidence.

Know your subclass. The evidence requirements are the same whether you're applying for the onshore partner visa (820/801), offshore partner visa (309/100), or following on from a Prospective Marriage visa (300). The four pillars apply to all.

The four pillars of evidence

The Department assesses every partner visa against four categories defined in Regulation 1.09A of the Migration Regulations:

1. Financial aspects of the relationship
2. The nature of the household
3. Social aspects of the relationship
4. The nature of the commitment to each other

You do not need to be equally strong across all four. A couple that has been together for years but doesn't have a joint bank account can still succeed — if the other pillars are strong. Focus on building evidence wherever you can.

Pillar 1: Financial aspects

This pillar shows you share financial responsibility. The Department wants to see your money lives are intertwined.

### Strongest evidence
- Joint bank account statements (showing regular use by both parties)
- Joint mortgage or loan agreements
- Joint credit cards
- Superannuation beneficiary nominations naming each other
- Life insurance policies naming each other as beneficiary
- Joint tax returns or evidence of filing as a couple

### Good supporting evidence
- Shared household expenses (utilities, internet, groceries) in either name with proof both contribute
- Regular transfers between individual accounts
- Shared subscriptions (streaming, gym, insurance)
- Joint liability for rent or lease payments
- Evidence of financially supporting each other during unemployment, study, or illness

### For long-distance couples
- Money transfers between countries (bank statements showing regular transfers)
- Splitting costs for visits (flights, accommodation)
- Contributing to each other's bills or expenses
- Sending gifts with receipts and tracking

See our long-distance evidence guide for more detail on building financial evidence across borders.

Pillar 2: Nature of the household

This pillar shows you live together and share domestic responsibilities. It's about daily life as a couple.

### Strongest evidence
- Joint lease or rental agreement with both names
- Joint property ownership (title deeds)
- Utility bills (electricity, gas, water, internet) at the same address in both or either name
- Shared contents or home insurance
- Mail received at the same address for both partners

### Good supporting evidence
- Evidence of shared household duties (who does what)
- Joint furniture or appliance purchases
- Shared vehicle registration or insurance
- Council rates or body corporate notices at your shared address
- Photos of your shared home showing evidence of both partners living there

### For couples who don't live together yet
If you're applying for a prospective marriage visa or an offshore partner visa and haven't lived together:
- Evidence of staying together during visits
- Plans for living together (rental applications, house-hunting correspondence)
- Past cohabitation evidence (if you previously lived together)
- Explain in your relationship statement why you live apart and when you plan to live together

Pillar 3: Social aspects

This pillar shows the world knows you as a couple. It is often the easiest pillar to build strong evidence for.

### Strongest evidence
- Statutory declarations from two witnesses (Form 888 or equivalent). Each witness must know your relationship personally and describe specific interactions, events, and observations. The more specific and detailed, the better.
- Joint invitations to events (weddings, dinners, family gatherings)
- Evidence of being known as a couple in religious, cultural, or community groups
- Joint memberships (clubs, gyms, organisations)

### Good supporting evidence
- Photos together across different times and places (captioned with date and location)
- Social media evidence showing the relationship publicly (posts, tags, relationship status, comments from friends)
- Travel together (joint bookings, itineraries, passport stamps from the same destinations)
- Communication records (call logs, chat histories, emails)
- Cards, letters, and gifts from family and friends addressed to both of you
- Evidence of spending time with each other's families and friends

### What makes a strong statutory declaration (Form 888)

A Form 888 statutory declaration should include:
- How the witness knows both partners
- When they first became aware of the relationship
- Specific examples of seeing the couple together (dates, events, observations)
- Their understanding of the couple's living arrangements
- Their view of the couple's commitment to each other

Weak example: "I know John and Jane. They are a couple and seem happy."

Strong example: "I have known John since 2018 through our cricket club. He introduced me to Jane at a club barbecue in March 2022. Since then, I have seen them together at club events roughly once a month. They hosted a joint birthday party at their apartment on Smith Street in November 2024, where both their families attended."

Get at least two statutory declarations. Choose witnesses who have seen you together as a couple on multiple occasions.

Pillar 4: Nature of the commitment

This pillar shows the relationship is long-term and both partners are committed to a shared future.

### Strongest evidence
- Marriage certificate (if married)
- Registered relationship certificate (available in most Australian states)
- Wills naming each other as beneficiary or executor
- Power of attorney documents
- Advance care directives naming each other
- Joint ownership of significant assets

### Good supporting evidence
- Length of relationship (timeline with key milestones)
- Knowledge of each other's personal details (birthdays, family, background)
- Correspondence about future plans (messages about moving in, marriage plans, children, career decisions together)
- Evidence of combining lives (merging possessions, changing careers to be in the same city, ending a lease to move in together)
- Engagement evidence (ring, party, announcements)
- Baby or pregnancy evidence if applicable
- Evidence of sacrifices made for the relationship (relocating, career changes)

The relationship statement — your most important document

Your relationship statement (also called a relationship history or personal statement) ties everything together. This is a chronological narrative written by the applicant (and a separate one from the sponsor) telling the story of your relationship.

### What to include
- How you met (date, place, circumstances)
- How the relationship developed (first date, becoming exclusive, meeting families)
- Every significant milestone (moving in together, engagement, marriage, children)
- How you maintain the relationship if you live apart
- Your daily routine as a couple
- How you resolve disagreements
- Your plans for the future

### Tips for a strong statement
- Be specific. Use dates, names, and places.
- Be honest. Don't exaggerate or fabricate.
- Both statements should be consistent but not identical — you are two people telling the same story from your own perspective.
- Cover the full period of your relationship, not just the highlights.
- Address any gaps (periods of separation, breakups, time apart).

Common gaps that lead to refusals

Based on patterns from refused partner visa cases, these are the most common evidence gaps:

No financial evidence. Even if you keep separate finances, show some financial connection. Regular transfers, shared expenses, or joint subscriptions all count.

Weak statutory declarations. Generic statements that don't describe specific interactions are almost useless. Coach your witnesses on what to include.

No evidence between visits. For long-distance couples, the period between visits matters. Show communication, calls, and plans during these gaps.

Inconsistent statements. If your relationship statement says you moved in together in June 2024, but your lease starts in September 2024, expect questions. Check everything for consistency.

Missing recent evidence. The Department wants to see the relationship is current, not just that it existed in the past. Include recent photos, recent bank statements, and recent communication.

Not addressing red flags. Large age gaps, short relationships, prior visa refusals, or previous sponsorships are not disqualifying — but you need to address them directly in your statement rather than ignoring them.

Organising your evidence

Good organisation speeds up processing and shows the case officer you're serious.

Create a document index. List every document with a description, date, and which pillar it supports.

Label files clearly. Use a consistent naming convention: "Financial_JointBankStatement_Jan2026.pdf" is better than "scan_003.pdf."

Group by pillar. Organise your uploads into the four pillars so the case officer can find what they need quickly.

Include English translations. Any document not in English needs a certified (NAATI-accredited) translation. Lodge the original and the translation together.

Upload as PDF. Convert photos and documents to PDF where possible. Compress large files so they upload smoothly to ImmiAccount.

When to talk to an agent

Consider a MARA-registered migration agent if:

- Your relationship is less than 12 months old and not registered
- You have a complex relationship history (previous marriages, children from other relationships)
- Either partner has a previous visa refusal
- The sponsor has previously sponsored another partner
- You are long-distance with limited in-person contact
- You have health or character concerns
- English is not your first language and you need help with the relationship statement

An agent can review your evidence before lodgement and identify weaknesses you may not see.

Next steps

1. Print this checklist. Go through each pillar and tick off what you already have.
2. Identify your gaps. Where are you weakest? Focus your evidence-gathering there.
3. Write your relationship statement. Start drafting your chronological narrative now — it takes longer than you think.
4. Brief your witnesses. Give your Form 888 witnesses guidance on what makes a strong statutory declaration.
5. Get a professional review. A MARA-registered migration agent can review your evidence package before you lodge and catch gaps you've missed.

Related resources

- Long-Distance Partner Visa Options
- Visitor Visa While Waiting for Partner Visa
- Partner Visa Refusal — What Next?
- Bridging Visas Explained
- Visa Refused — Appeal or Reapply?
- Visa Application Taking Too Long?

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How many photos should I include in a partner visa application?

Quality matters more than quantity. Include 15 to 30 well-chosen photos showing different occasions, locations, and time periods. Each photo should be captioned with the date, location, and who is in the image. Submitting hundreds of near-identical photos wastes the case officer's time and does not strengthen your case.

Do I need a joint bank account for a partner visa?

No. A joint bank account helps, but it is not required. You can show financial interdependence through other evidence — regular transfers between individual accounts, splitting bills, shared expenses, or naming each other as beneficiaries on superannuation or insurance policies.

What is a statutory declaration and who can write one?

A statutory declaration is a written statement signed before an authorised witness (like a Justice of the Peace or lawyer). For partner visas, you need statements from two witnesses who know your relationship. Ideally, choose people who have seen you together as a couple over time. Family members can provide statements, but independent friends or colleagues are also valuable.

Can I add evidence after lodging my partner visa application?

Yes. You can upload additional evidence through ImmiAccount after lodging. In fact, the Department expects your relationship to develop over time. Adding new evidence — like updated financial records, recent photos, or a new lease together — shows the relationship is ongoing and genuine.