Proving a Married or De Facto Relationship on a Parent Visa 864 in 2026

Updated 2026-10-05 · General information, not migration advice · Run by the Arrivau team

You can include a spouse or de facto partner in a Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) application, and the relationship evidence is specific: identity documents, character documents, evidence of your relationship — either your current marriage certificate or documents showing you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before you apply — plus documents about other relationships if they apply. That list comes from the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) page, as of July 2026. Everything below is general information about how that page describes the evidence, not personalised advice for your circumstances; relationship evidence is assessed on the documents you actually provide, so treat the official page and any professional advice you rely on as the final word.

What evidence does a partner need for a subclass 864 application?

Home Affairs groups the partner's documents into four buckets: identity, character, proof of the relationship, and documents about other relationships where relevant.

The identity and character parts mirror what the main applicant provides. The relationship part is what distinguishes a partner from any other family member: if you are married, the department asks for your current marriage certificate; if you are not married, it asks for documents proving a de facto relationship of at least 12 months standing before you apply. Documents about other relationships — for example, evidence that a previous marriage or de facto relationship has ended — are only asked for "if applicable", which means the answer depends on your history rather than on a fixed checklist.

Accuracy matters here as much as completeness. The department states there are consequences for not giving accurate or complete information, so a relationship you describe in the form should line up with the documents attached to it.

Which documents prove a de facto relationship for the 864 visa?

The official page gives four examples, and all four are about shared life rather than shared intentions:

joint bank account statements
billing accounts in joint names
joint leases or mortgages
documents that show you have lived at the same address as your partner

Notice what these have in common. Three of the four are financial or legal commitments held jointly, and the fourth is residential. A de facto relationship for this visa is evidenced by the paper trail two people generate when they run a household together, not by statements of affection or photographs of holidays. The page does not set a minimum number of documents or a required mix, so the practical question is whether your documents, taken together, show joint finances and a shared address across the period you are claiming.

Does the 12-month de facto period have to be finished before you apply?

Yes, on the wording of the official page: the documents must prove you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before you apply. The period is measured up to the lodgement date, not up to the date of decision.

This matters for the 864 in particular because Parent visas are capped and queued, and applications are released from the queue for final assessment as places become available. The relationship requirement is tested at lodgement, so what counts is the evidence you hold on the day you submit — not evidence that accumulates while the application waits.

What else does a partner need besides relationship evidence?

A partner included in the application is an applicant in their own right. Beyond the relationship documents they need:

a valid passport before the visa can be granted, with the pages showing photo, personal details, and issue and expiry dates provided as identity evidence
a national identity card if they have one, and proof of change of name if applicable
character documents, though the department says not to arrange a police check until it asks
four recent passport-size (45mm x 35mm) photographs, less than six months old, in good quality colour, showing the full face against a plain light-coloured background

They must also meet the health and character requirements, and health examinations are arranged when the department tells you they are needed. If a partner is not migrating with you, the picture is different — see the next section.

Do you have to declare a partner who is not migrating?

Yes. The official page states that you must include details of all your family members in the application form, even if they are not migrating. Family members who apply for the visa must meet health and character requirements, and family members who are not coming to Australia might also need to meet them.

So a partner you are not bringing to Australia is still disclosed. The distinction is between declaring someone and including them as an applicant: declaration is mandatory either way, while inclusion triggers the full document set described above.

Can you add your partner after you lodge the 864 application?

Possibly — the official page says you might be able to add family members to your application before a decision is made. The process is Form 1436 Adding an additional applicant after lodgement, and the department also requires evidence of your relationship and a copy of the family member's passport. If you applied online, or imported a paper application into ImmiAccount, the form can be uploaded there; otherwise it can be sent using the Parent visa processing centre form.

Location rules differ depending on how you applied. A spouse or de facto partner can be in or outside Australia when you add them, unless you applied as a retiree — in that case they must be in Australia when you add them. A dependent child, by contrast, can be in or outside Australia when added.

What happens if your relationship changes while the application is queued?

You have to tell the department. Relationship status is explicitly on the list of changes you must report, alongside phone number, email, address, passport, and family composition including the birth of a child. Mistakes on the application are handled separately through Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers.

The relevance for a partner who is already on the application is that relationship status is a standing obligation, not a one-time disclosure at lodgement. A separation, divorce or new partnership during a queued Parent visa application is a change the department expects to hear about.

Does including a partner change the cost or the Assurance of Support?

The official page does not state that including a partner leaves the cost or the cost structure unchanged. It states the visa costs from AUD49,900 for a single applicant and is paid in two instalments — the first when you apply, the second when the department invoices you, and the second instalment must be paid before the visa is granted. It also notes you might need to pay other costs for each applicant for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. The page also notes a lower visa cost from 1 July 2026 for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, with family members eligible based on the passport of the primary applicant; check current visa pricing for the amount that applies to you.

The Assurance of Support is broader than just the main applicant. It guarantees you will not need to rely on government assistance during the Assurance of Support period, and it covers you and any family members who come to Australia with you on this visa — including an included partner. It does not have to be provided by the sponsor or a family member; an individual, more than one person, or an organisation can provide it. Applicants under the Retirement visa pathway do not need one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to be married to include a partner in an 864 application?

No. The official page accepts either a current marriage certificate or documents proving a de facto relationship of at least 12 months before you apply. What changes is the type of evidence, not whether a partner can be included.

Can joint bank statements alone prove a de facto relationship?

The page lists joint bank account statements as one of several examples, alongside joint billing accounts, joint leases or mortgages, and documents showing a shared address. Because no single document is described as sufficient on its own, the safer reading is that the documents should collectively show joint finances and cohabitation.

Can my partner be outside Australia when I add them to an 864 application?

Generally yes — a spouse or de facto partner can be in or outside Australia when added, unless you applied as a retiree, in which case they must be in Australia. Either way you must provide evidence of the relationship and a copy of their passport with Form 1436.

What if my partner was previously married?

The page asks for "documents about other relationships, if applicable" for partners, and lists marriage or divorce certificates among documents that prove a change of name. Evidence that a prior relationship has ended is the usual way to show your current relationship is the one being assessed.

Does my partner need to meet health and character requirements?

Yes. Family members who apply for the visa must meet the health and character requirements, and the department may also ask non-migrating family members to meet them. Police certificates should not be arranged until the department requests them.

Who can give immigration assistance on an 864 application?

Under the official page, only certain people can help: a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person. Anyone can be appointed to receive documents on your behalf, which is a separate role from giving immigration assistance.