Partner visa document checklist

• 820 or 309. Apply for the 820/801 online while you are in Australia. You must be outside Australia when you apply for the 309/100. Most of the document list is the same for both.
• Provide everything when you apply, or as soon as possible after. Processing is long, so the Department asks you to keep your documents and relationship evidence up to date in ImmiAccount.
• No certified copies needed. Scan or photograph every document in colour. Attach each document once, up to 100 documents for each person on the application.

Identity

1. Birth certificate showing both parents' namesIf you can't provide one, the Department accepts the identity page of a family book, a government-issued identity document, a court-issued identity document or a family census register.Always
2. Current passportThe pages showing your photo, personal details, and the issue and expiry dates.Always
3. National identity cardIf you have one
4. Evidence of any change of nameFor example a marriage or divorce certificate, change of name documents, or documents showing other names you have used.If it applies

Your relationship

1. Your relationship history, in writingHow, when and where you first met, how the relationship developed, when you moved in together, got engaged or married, any time apart, significant events, and your plans for the future.Always
2. Marriage certificateOr other evidence that your marriage is valid in Australia.If married
3. Evidence of at least 12 months in a de facto relationship before you appliedIf you have been together for less than 12 months, provide evidence that the relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory births, deaths and marriages agency, or tell the Department in writing about any compelling and compassionate circumstances.If de facto
4. Shared financesEvidence can include joint mortgage or lease documents, joint loans for major assets, joint bank account statements and household bills in both names.Always
5. Shared householdEvidence can include a statement about how you share housework, household bills in both names, mail or emails addressed to you both, joint responsibility for children, and your living arrangements.Always
6. Statements from 2 witnessesEach witness must be 18 or older and know you, your partner and your relationship. Form 888 can be used. If a witness is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, include evidence such as a passport or birth certificate.Always
7. Other social evidenceEvidence that others know about your relationship can also include joint invitations, friends in common, telling government, public or commercial bodies about the relationship, joint sporting, cultural or social activities, and travel together.Always
8. Evidence of commitmentEvidence must show you know each other's background, family situation or other personal details, have combined your personal matters, stay in touch when apart, and are not related by family. The terms of your wills can also be provided.Always
9. Documents from former relationshipsIf either of you has been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated: divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations.If it applies

Your sponsor

1. Your partner's sponsorship applicationYour partner applies to sponsor you. Give them your Transaction Reference Number (TRN) or Application ID so they can lodge it.Always
2. Your sponsor's police certificatesThe Department's partner visa FAQs say these go in when your sponsor submits the sponsorship form, or as soon as possible after you apply.Always
3. Sponsorship form, evidence of your sponsor's status and 2 statutory declarations, lodged with the applicationIf you apply in Australia and do not hold a substantive visa, include the completed sponsorship form, evidence of your sponsor's status (a passport or birth certificate; a driver's licence or Medicare card is not enough), and at least 2 statutory declarations made in the last 6 weeks by Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens confirming the relationship, with evidence of each declarant's status. Form 888 is not a statutory declaration. Without these the application may be invalid.820, without a substantive visa

Health and character

1. Health examinationsResults are valid for 12 months from the date you complete the examinations. A health undertaking, if you are asked to sign one, is valid for 6 months.Always
2. Australian police certificateIf you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16. Only a complete disclosure National Police Certificate from the Australian Federal Police is accepted; state or territory and standard disclosure certificates are not.12 months or more in Australia
3. Overseas police certificatesFrom every country where you have spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16.12 months or more in a country
4. Military service recordsIf you served in the armed forces of any country.If you served
5. Form 80Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment. Complete it and attach it to your application.Always

Children and other family members

1. For each child under 18 applying with youIdentity documents, a birth certificate or other evidence of the relationship, health examinations, character documents if the child is 16 or 17, adoption papers or parental court orders if they apply, school enrolment evidence if it applies, and evidence of sole custody if it applies.If included
2. Consent for a child under 18 to migrateFrom anyone who has a legal right to decide where the child lives and is not coming to Australia: Form 1229 with their identity document showing a photo and signature, or an Australian court order, or evidence that the laws of the home country allow the child to leave permanently.If it applies
3. For each dependent family member aged 18 or overIdentity documents, documents about their other relationships, health examinations, character documents, evidence of dependency such as bank statements, money transfers or rent receipts, and Form 47a. Who counts as a dependant over 18 differs between the 820 and the 309, so check the page for your subclass.If included

Preparing your documents

• Translations. Have every document not in English translated. Provide the original and the translation. A translator in Australia must be NAATI accredited. A translator outside Australia need not be, but must include their name, address, phone number, qualifications and experience, in English.
• Police certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue for immigration purposes. The Department may ask for new ones if they expire before a decision.
• Keep it current. Add new relationship evidence and updated documents in ImmiAccount while you wait.

Sources, checked 8 November 2026. Department of Home Affairs: Partner visa (apply in Australia) (subclasses 820 and 801) · Partner visa (temporary) (subclass 820) · Partner visas (apply overseas) (subclasses 309 and 100) · Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) · Partner visa frequently asked questions. Ticks are saved on this device only. This checklist is general information drawn from the Department's pages, not migration advice, and it does not cover every circumstance. What you need depends on your situation, and the Department can ask for more.