Partner Visa Challenges in Australia: What You Need to Know About Relationship Evidence

Lodging an Australian Partner visa application is a life changing decision and a sign of a firm commitment by the applicants to enter an enduring and exclusive relationship with one another.

Whether the applicants are married or in a de facto relationship, the application process requires careful planning, and it is extremely important to first consider the strength of the evidence available to support the application.

Why Relationship Evidence Matters for Visa Applications 

Partner visas are a major investment and are closely scrutinised by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Applicants should take time to carefully analyse their options and timing of lodgement to ensure a strong application is lodged—one that avoids potential issues later.

Couples should carefully consider:

• • • The quality and amount of available evidence
    • Whether they prefer to lodge the application from onshore or offshore
    • The options to remain united during the lengthy processing period

While the Department of Home Affairs recognises that relationships come in many forms, their objective is to assess an application based on the Migration Act and Regulations. The Act and Regulations contain specific provisions and guidance to determine whether a relationship is genuine, ongoing and exclusive.

Common Types of Evidence Requested by Immigration Authorities

The Migration Regulations outline two core requirements for a Partner visa:

• • • The couple must have a mutual commitment to a shared life as husband and wife/de facto partner to the exclusion of all others; and
    • The relationship must be genuine and continuing.

To meet these, applicants must provide detailed evidence across several key areas.

How to Prove a Genuine Relationship for Your Partner Visa 

Relationship Statement

The relationship statement is a comprehensive statement by both parties where all the key details of the relationship are outlined. These statements should be carefully written out, to ensure all key dates and other milestones are captured and consistent throughout both statements. These statements should include:

• • • The beginning of the relationship, how it developed and when the couple entered a mutually committed relationship
    • An outline of financial arrangements and how finances are managed
    • An explanation of how housework duties are shared
    • An insight into the social aspects of the relationship
    • Future plans as a couple
    • A clear expression of commitment to the spouse or de facto partner

Financial Aspects of the Relationship

At the time of application lodgement, couples are expected to  provide evidence of how they support each other financially. This may include:

• • • Joint mortgage or lease documents
    • Joint loans
    • Joint bank accounts
    • Household bills in both names
    • Any other evidence to show how couples support each other financially

The Department gives a lot of weight to this evidence as it demonstrates a strong commitment by the couple to each other. Due to personal or cultural circumstances, some couples may separate their financial commitments or live apart, making it hard to gather the requisite financial evidence to support the relationship. It is therefore important to start building financial evidence of the relationship as early as possible.

Nature of the Household

Couples should demonstrate that they have been living together for at least 12 months prior to lodging the application, and do not live apart permanently. This can be challenging for those in long-distance relationships or impacted by cultural norms. This is a significant factor in the overall assessment of the application, so couples should assess their circumstances and plan.

Social Aspects of the Relationship

This group of evidence is often easier to demonstrate and includes:

• • • Photos taken together in various settings, such as with friends and family or while attending social events
    • Social media posts that reflect the relationship
    • Supporting documents such as:
      • • • Tickets to events attended together
          •  Invitations to joint events
          • Joint travel and hotel bookings
    • Proof that the relationship is registered or recognised by government or other bodies

Future Plans and Commitment 

This should be covered in the relationship statement and include:

• • • A clear outline of future goals as a couple
    • Examples of emotional support and commitment

Again, the importance of this aspect should not be understated, and couples should take time to reflect and provide a detailed overview of their future plans and take the time to flesh out concrete examples of emotional support provided to each other.

How Fragomen Helps Build a Strong Application 

Partner visa applications are evidence-heavy, and the Department requires a substantial amount of information and documentation to be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and continuing. 

The type and quality of information and documentation play an important role in achieving a successful outcome. Importantly, having more documents does not necessarily strengthen an application, as certain documents carry greater weight than others. Processing times can range from five to 33 months from the date of lodgement.

Couples need to carefully strategise and work out a suitable plan for their application. Fragomen’s immigration lawyers have years of experience working on partner visa applications and can provide valuable input and guidance. Fragomen encourages engaging in a consultation with an experienced lawyer to assess the strength of applications and any potential risks.

Need to Know More?

For further information or questions regarding Partner visa application, please contact Senior Associate Irfaan Amod at [email protected].

This blog was published on 16 May 2025, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.