How to organise Australian partner visa evidence

The four aspects in the Regulations

Partner visas come in two stages. Home Affairs lists the 820 and 801 together for applying in Australia, and the 309 and 100 for applying overseas. For these visas, the Migration Regulations 1994 say the Minister must consider all of the circumstances of the relationship, including the matters set out in subregulation (3). Regulation 1.15A covers spouses and regulation 1.09A covers de facto partners. Both list the same matters:

1. the financial aspects of the relationship, including:
   1. any joint ownership of real estate or other major assets;
   2. any joint liabilities;
   3. the extent of any pooling of financial resources, especially in relation to major financial commitments;
   4. whether one person in the relationship owes any legal obligation in respect of the other;
   5. the basis of any sharing of day-to-day household expenses;
2. the nature of the household, including:
   1. any joint responsibility for the care and support of children;
   2. the living arrangements of the persons;
   3. any sharing of the responsibility for housework;
3. the social aspects of the relationship, including:
   1. whether the persons represent themselves to other people as being married to each other (1.15A) or as being in a de facto relationship with each other (1.09A);
   2. the opinion of the persons' friends and acquaintances about the nature of the relationship;
   3. any basis on which the persons plan and undertake joint social activities;
4. the nature of the persons' commitment to each other, including:
   1. the duration of the relationship;
   2. the length of time during which the persons have lived together;
   3. the degree of companionship and emotional support that the persons draw from each other;
   4. whether the persons see the relationship as a long-term one.

The only difference between the two lists is item (c)(i), shown above. Read them on AustLII: reg 1.15A and reg 1.09A.

What official sources mention

Home Affairs doesn't publish one fixed list of documents for every couple. An Australian Embassy partner visa FAQ says every relationship is different and different kinds of documents may be needed. It asks applicants to include evidence relating to the household, recognition of the relationship by family and friends, joint financial commitments, and evidence of ongoing contact with each other.

Form 888. Home Affairs' Form 888 is a supporting statement for Partner and Prospective Marriage visa applications. The form says it must be completed by someone who knows the applicant, their partner and the history of their relationship, and who is at least 18. That person provides evidence of their name and age (and, where applicable, Australian citizenship or permanent residency). The form says the department uses it, among other things, to assess the social aspects of the relationship, that up to 3 separate statements may be asked for during processing, and that the applicant attaches it to the application in ImmiAccount.

Where evidence goes in ImmiAccount

Documents are added through a screen called Attach documents. Home Affairs describes the steps like this:

1. Select the applicant's name to see their list.
2. Select the category of document you're attaching.
3. Choose the best description from the list, and optionally type an extra description.
4. Select the files. You can pick several at once.
5. Select Attach.

• One list per applicant. Home Affairs says there is a limit on the number of files for each applicant. Its current help text doesn't give a number; reported figures are in ImmiAccount upload rules.
• Required, then Recommended. Every item marked Required must be attached. Home Affairs says to attach Required items first, then any Recommended items you want to provide.
• Received. Categories you've attached to appear under a Received heading. You can still attach more to them.
• Other documents. If a document isn't on the list, Home Affairs says to select Other documents and enter a description.
• No acknowledgement, no undo. Files are saved to the application when you select Attach, with no further acknowledgement. They can't be removed, and Home Affairs asks applicants not to contact the department to delete one.

Your own application form shows which documents to attach, and whether before or after you submit.

Two phones, often two countries

This part is about record-keeping. My partner is overseas too. Between two people, photos, bookings and receipts end up split across two phones, often in two countries.

• Gather from both sides. Photos, bookings and screenshots usually sit in two camera rolls and two inboxes. Collecting from both into one place means nothing depends on one person remembering.
• Add things as they happen. A photo saved the week it was taken still has its date and the story behind it. Rebuilding years of it the month before lodging is slower.
• Write down the date and place. A short note (who, where, when) on each item makes it easier to find and sort later.

Documents in other languages. Home Affairs says documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by an English translation. If you're in Australia when applying, it says to use translators accredited by NAATI. If you're outside Australia, the translation must be done by a qualified translator and endorsed with their full name, address, phone number and details of their qualifications and experience.

Keeping your own copies

Home Affairs says you won't be able to access your supporting documents from ImmiAccount after uploading, and to keep your own copies. It also says not to email documents to the department.

• Keep the originals. If you make a smaller copy to fit the 5 MB limit, keep the full-size one too.
• Keep the exact file you attached. That's the version Home Affairs has.
• Keep a list. Each file, its category and the date you attached it. With no acknowledgement per file and no way to remove one, your list is your record of what's there.

ImmiAccount's file rules in brief

• Up to 5 MB per file.
• Accepted extensions: bmp, dcm, doc, docx, dot, gif, jpg, pdf, png, ppt, pptx, rtf, txt, xls and xlsx. HEIC, the format many iPhones save photos in, isn't on the list.
• Compressed files and encrypted PDFs can't be accepted.
• A document with more than one page goes in a single PDF.
• Scan each document separately, both sides, and in colour if the original is in colour.
• The same rules apply to sponsorship applications.

More detail in ImmiAccount upload rules, and for files over the limit, getting photos and PDFs under 5 MB.

Before and after you lodge

Home Affairs says some application types require documents to be attached before you can pay and submit, and that you can attach documents after submitting and paying, until the application is finalised. It says attaching documents as soon as possible after submitting will assist processing, and that some applications may be refused if documents weren't attached at lodgement.

If the department writes asking for more information, Home Affairs says to attach it as soon as possible, then select I confirm I have provided information as requested so processing staff know the application is ready to assess.

More in lodging now and adding evidence later.

A structure that mirrors the portal

None of this is about what to submit. It's a way to keep the files you already have in the same shape as the Attach documents screen.

• A folder per person. One for each applicant, and one for the sponsor.
• Inside each, a folder per category. Each folder then matches one list and one category on the screen.
• One document, one file. A lease is one PDF, not a file per page.
• Plain filenames. A 2017 Department tip sheet says to use only letters, numbers, dashes and underscores, for example Joint_lease_2025.pdf.
• Translations next to the document. The original and its English translation in the same folder.

A quick check before you attach

1. Is this the right applicant's list?
2. Is this the right category and description?
3. Have you opened the file and checked it's the right one?
4. Is it under 5 MB, an accepted type, and one PDF per document?
5. Have you kept a copy and added it to your list?

This guide passes on what the Migration Regulations and Home Affairs publish, plus ways to keep files organised. It isn't migration advice and doesn't cover what or how much evidence to submit, or how evidence is assessed. For that, talk to a registered migration agent or lawyer. The instructions in your own ImmiAccount application are authoritative. See the Home Affairs Attach documents help page.