Relationship evidence for an 820 or 309 application: the four areas and the two witness statements

Updated 2026-10-14 · General information, not migration advice · Run by the Arrivau team

On both the subclass 820 page and the subclass 309 page, the evidence-of-relationships instructions say you need to provide evidence of your relationship with your partner, any former relationships, and any dependants you have. The partner-relationship evidence has three layers: a written relationship history, documents proving the relationship, and four areas of supporting evidence — finances, household, social matters and commitment. Two witness statements sit inside the social-matters area, and those statements can be completed on Form 888.

This article follows the pages through those layers and through the former-relationships list. The dependants document requirements appear under separate headings later on the same pages and are not described here.

What the pages say you must provide evidence of

Both the subclass 820 page and the subclass 309 page say you need to provide evidence of your relationship with your partner, any former relationships, and any dependants you have. Both pages also say you must provide evidence of your relationship with your spouse or de facto partner.

The written relationship history

The pages set out what to cover in writing. The subclass 820 page and the subclass 309 page list the same points:

  • how, when and where you first met
  • how the relationship developed
  • when you moved in together, got engaged or married
  • what you do together
  • time you spent apart
  • significant events in the relationship
  • your plans for the future

Documents proving the relationship

If you are married, the pages say to provide your marriage certificate or other evidence that your marriage is valid in Australia.

If you are a de facto partner, the pages say you need to provide evidence of your de facto relationship. In addition to the documents proving the relationship, the pages ask you to show you have been in the de facto relationship for at least 12 months before you applied for this visa. If you have not been with your de facto partner for 12 months, the pages say you can do either of these:

  • provide evidence you have registered your relationship with an Australian State/Territory births, deaths and marriages agency
  • tell them in writing about any compelling and compassionate circumstances for them to grant the visa

The four areas of supporting evidence

After the relationship history and relationship documents, both pages organise the rest of the relationship material under four areas.

Finances

This area covers evidence you and your partner share financial matters. The pages say evidence can include:

  • joint mortgage or lease documents
  • joint loan documents for major assets like homes, cars or major appliances
  • joint bank account statements
  • household bills in both names

Your household

This area covers evidence you and your partner share domestic matters. The pages say evidence can include:

  • a statement about how you share housework
  • household bills in both names
  • mail or emails addressed to you both
  • documents that show joint responsibility for children
  • documents that prove your living arrangements

Social matters and the two witness statements

This area covers evidence that others know about your relationship. The pages say you must provide statements from 2 witnesses who:

  • are 18 years old or older
  • know you and your spouse or de facto partner
  • know about your relationship

The pages also say statements from witnesses can be done by completing Form 888 – Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application (241KB PDF). If the witness is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the pages say to provide evidence of this, such as a passport or birth certificate.

Evidence can also include:

  • joint invitations or evidence you go out together
  • proof you have friends in common
  • proof you have told government, public or commercial bodies about your relationship
  • proof you do joint sporting, cultural or social activities together
  • proof you travel together

Commitment

This area covers evidence you are committed to a long-term relationship with each other. The pages say the evidence must show that you:

  • have knowledge of each other’s background, family situation or other personal details
  • have combined your personal matters
  • stay in touch when apart
  • are not related by family

The pages add that you can also provide the terms of your wills as evidence.

Former relationships

The pages list former relationships separately from the four supporting areas. They say that if you have previously been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated, provide divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations.

Questions people ask

How many witness statements do I need, and who can make them?

Both pages say you must provide statements from 2 witnesses. Each witness must be 18 years old or older, know you and your spouse or de facto partner, and know about your relationship. The pages also say the statements can be done by completing Form 888 – Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application (241KB PDF).

What if my de facto relationship is shorter than 12 months?

Both pages say that if you have not been with your de facto partner for 12 months, you can provide evidence you have registered your relationship with an Australian State/Territory births, deaths and marriages agency, or tell them in writing about any compelling and compassionate circumstances for them to grant the visa.

Can wills be used as relationship evidence?

Yes, in the commitment area. The pages say you can also provide the terms of your wills as evidence.

Do I need documents about a past marriage?

Both pages say you need to provide evidence of any former relationships. In the former-relationships section they say that if you have previously been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated, provide divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary, is not published by the Department of Home Affairs, and if the department's current pages differ, they prevail.