It’s basically a rite of passage – googling “Partner Visa Australia Checklist” – because after all, what’s better than one checklist that can just tell you exactly what you need to provide with your Partner Visa?
Maybe you’re just starting out and trying to work out what you’ll need to provide along with your application. Or maybe you’re wrapping up your application and want to make sure you’ve checked all the boxes before pressing submit. Either way, you’ve come to the right place, but first a word of caution.
Partner Visa checklists are not a one size fits all solution. You’ve probably noticed in your research that the Department of Home Affairs also doesn’t give you exactly one document checklist of everything you need to provide. And actually, they’re pretty vague when it comes to the type of evidence you need to provide. So why is that? It’s because Partner Visas are so subjective and relationships are unique, so the best Partner Visa checklist for you is going to be dependent on your relationship (not someone else’s).
What’s the problem with using someone else’s Partner Visa document checklist?
I’ve seen lots of couples who have tried using their friends or family members’ checklists. This is such a big no no.
It’s tempting to think of a Partner Visa application like many other applications where you might have a set list of documents to provide like getting a driver’s licence, applying for a job, applying to university, etc. But there is no set list of documents required otherwise the Department would have a list somewhere.
The number of couples who have come to me and told me that their friends or family submitted a Partner Visa with X Y Z documents, but they have none of those! I can imagine how stressful that might feel to think you’re not going to have a strong enough application because you’re lacking certain documents which may not even be relevant to your situation.
Partner Visa applications are subjective and the documents you provide make up a legal case to the Department of Home Affairs arguing that you meet the criteria. Using someone else’s checklist could result in holes in your application that can weaken your case and cause complications including delays in the processing of your application or, at the worst, a visa refusal.
Document checklists and evidence lists are great in terms of getting an idea of what kind of documents other people are providing, but the reality is that every relationship is unique. I’ve never come across two sets of couples who manage all the aspects of their lives the same. The onus is always on the applicant and sponsor to prove to the decision maker that they are in a genuine and continuing de facto or spousal relationship.
What documents are included in all Partner Visa applications?
While there is no single document checklist for Australian Partner Visas, there are types or categories of documents that will be included in all applications. So what are they?
Forms
I have a ton of posts about forms including one that covers all the major forms you might need for your Partner Visa application. I highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already.
The mandatory forms for Partner Visas include the Form 47SP (this is the applicant’s application form), the Form 40SP (this is the sponsor’s application form), and the Form 888 (this is for your witness statements). I also highly recommend completing the Form 80 although that one is technically not mandatory. There may be other forms required for your application depending on your circumstances.
Identity Documents
You and your partner both need to provide evidence with your Partner Visa that you are who you say you are. That includes providing identity documents such as passports, birth certificates, driver’s licences, and so on.
Again, the list of what you need to provide will vary between each couple as some countries have different requirements around identity. For example, some countries issue household registry books and some issue national identity cards. So if you’re from one of the countries that does, then you also need to provide these types of identity documents.
Police Clearances
All sponsors and applicants over the age of 16 are required to provide a police clearance or background check for any country where they have spent a total of 12 months over the last 10 years. So if your primary residence is in one country and you’ve taken frequent trips to another country adding up to 12 months or more over the last 10 years, then you’ll need a police clearance for both. Likewise, if you’ve lived in multiple countries over the last 10 years for at least 12 months in each, you’ll need police clearances for each.
Police clearances may also vary from country to country. Some countries may require both a national police clearance and a state or province clearance. It’s best to confirm any instructions on the Department’s website.
Visa Medicals
Visa applicants are required to undergo a medical examination as part of the Partner Visa process. If you’re onshore, this is done through a BUPA office. Offshore medicals must be conducted by an approved panel physician. This step can only be completed after you have lodged your Partner Visa application.
Evidence of Your Relationship
Then of course we have the big one: evidence of your relationship. This includes relationship statements, witness statements, and documents that demonstrate the nature of your relationship across the four pillars (financial aspects, social aspects, nature of household, and nature of commitment).
How do I know what evidence I will need for my Australian Partner Visa?
I wish I could answer this for you in just a few paragraphs. It’s just not possible. The evidence you’re going to need for your Partner Visa will depend on what your relationship looks like. There’s no point in me telling you that you need documents like a joint bank account and a joint lease agreement if you and your partner aren’t even living in the same country.
The best way to determine what evidence you might need for your Partner Visa, and importantly, whether it’s enough, is through an evidence planning session where I can find out more about your relationship and we can tailor a document checklist specific to you. Then ultimately by completing a review of your application.
How will I plan out my Partner Visa Evidence?
Being organised and knowing which category documents fall into is going to save you a lot of time and help you come up with a Partner Visa document checklist of your case.
Below I’ve included a video of our founder, Emma Drynan, who provides an example of how to flesh out your evidence and brainstorm the types of evidence you may have. This should not replace speaking with a Registered Migration Agent about your personal evidence checklist. Instead, you can think of it as homework or extra preparation.
We’ve pulled this video directly from our Academy and have dozens more that help our members walk step by step through preparing their visa applications.
How will I know if I have enough evidence?
The million dollar question. Having a tailored Partner Visa document checklist is a start – so you know what documents are required for your case. But ultimately, knowing whether you’ve provided enough evidence isn’t something that I can teach you. This is where our expertise comes into play and through years of experience and seeing thousands of Partner Visas, we can tell you whether we believe you have enough to get you over the line.
This really comes into play during the full application review we do. It’s one thing to have a list of evidence and another to see the evidence laid out. If we determine your evidence is not quite strong enough, we can work with you to strengthen your application before you press submit.
Can you provide me with a Partner Visa Australia Checklist?
I sure can – but PLEASE remember that this is a guide only and includes sample documents. If you aren’t ‘ticking all the boxes’ it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not eligible for a Partner Visa but if you’re unsure, you should seek advice.
You can download a free Partner Visa Australia Document Checklist here.
In Conclusion
Partner Visas are very subjective and have a high evidentiary threshold. It’s important to plan out your evidence very carefully (and ideally with the help of a Registered Migration Agent). Even more importantly, you shouldn’t rely strictly on someone else’s evidence checklist. Get started here to find out more about how we can help.
IMPORTANT: Please note, this does not constitute Immigration advice. Always seek advice from a Registered Migration Agent before applying for an Australian Visa. Migration Law is constantly changing. This information is accurate only at the time of publication.
