If you’re in a relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the path to living together in Australia runs through one critical question: can you prove your relationship is genuine? For many couples, this is the most stressful part of the partner visa process — and it’s also the part where applications most commonly run into trouble.
The Department of Home Affairs takes the genuineness of your relationship very seriously. Officers are trained to look for signs of a real, committed partnership — one built on shared lives, finances, and futures. But what exactly does “genuine” mean in a legal sense, and what evidence should you be gathering right now?
This guide explains exactly what the department looks for, the four categories of evidence you need to address, common mistakes that raise red flags, and practical steps you can take today to strengthen your application for an onshore partner visa (820/801) or an offshore partner visa (309/100).
What Does “Genuine Relationship” Mean Under Australian Migration Law?
Under the Migration Act, a genuine relationship is one where both partners are truly committed to a shared life together — as opposed to a relationship entered into primarily for the purpose of obtaining a visa. The department assesses this across four broad categories of evidence, and you need to address all four in your application.
The Four Evidence Categories
- Financial aspects: joint bank accounts, shared living expenses, joint loans or property, financial interdependence.
- Nature of the household: living together (or evidence of why you don’t), sharing domestic duties, joint lease agreements or mortgage documents.
- Social aspects: how your relationship is known to others — joint social media, attendance at family events, recognition as a couple by friends and family.
- Commitment: knowledge of each other’s lives, future plans together, length of relationship, any legal documents like wills or insurance policies that name each other.
No single category is weighted above the others. A strong application provides consistent, credible evidence across all four. If one area is weaker — for example, you don’t share a bank account yet — you can compensate with stronger evidence elsewhere and explain the circumstances.
What Evidence Should You Collect?
The more specific and varied your evidence, the better. Generic statements like “we love each other” do not carry much weight. What matters is documented, verifiable proof of your day-to-day life together.
Financial Evidence
- Joint bank account statements showing regular shared transactions
- Joint lease agreement or mortgage documents
- Utility bills in both names at the same address
- Evidence of supporting each other financially (transfers, shared subscriptions)
- Joint travel bookings or shared insurance policies
Household Evidence
- Lease agreements or property ownership documents listing both partners
- Correspondence addressed to both of you at the same address
- Statutory declarations from people who have visited your shared home
- Photos of your living space that show both partners’ belongings
Social Evidence
- Photos together at family events, holidays, and everyday occasions — dated over time
- Invitations or attendance records for events as a couple
- Social media posts showing the relationship (screenshots with dates)
- Statutory declarations from family members and friends who can describe your relationship
Commitment Evidence
- Evidence you have met each other’s families
- Joint future plans — written communications discussing your life plans together
- Naming each other as next of kin, beneficiaries, or emergency contacts
- Length of relationship and how it developed (a timeline can be very helpful)
Common Mistakes That Raise Red Flags
Many partner visa applications are delayed or refused not because the relationship isn’t genuine, but because the evidence presented doesn’t tell a convincing story. Here are the most common pitfalls:
- Large gaps in evidence: If you can only provide photos from a few occasions spread over two years, the officer may wonder what you were doing the rest of the time.
- Inconsistent information: If your personal statements contradict each other on key dates or facts — how you met, when you moved in together, when you met each other’s families — this raises serious concerns.
- No financial connection: Completely separate finances for a couple who have been together several years can look unusual, even if there are legitimate reasons.
- Statutory declarations that are vague or identical: Declarations from friends and family that all say essentially the same generic things lack credibility. Each person should write in their own words about their specific observations.
- Minimal knowledge of each other: Departmental interviews (more common for offshore visas) may test how well partners know each other’s daily lives, families, and histories.
Long-Distance and Offshore Relationships
Not all couples live together before lodging a partner visa application — and that is perfectly acceptable, provided you can demonstrate genuine commitment despite the distance. For couples applying under the offshore partner visa (Subclass 309/100), the evidence focus shifts somewhat toward demonstrating ongoing contact and mutual commitment across borders.
Strong evidence for long-distance couples includes: records of visits (flight itineraries, border movement records, travel photos), evidence of regular communication (call logs, messaging history, video call records), and financial support between partners. A detailed relationship statement that honestly explains why you have been living apart — and what your plans are to live together — is especially important in these cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many photos do I need to include with my partner visa application?
There is no fixed number, but quality and variety matter more than quantity. A selection of 20–30 photos spanning the full length of your relationship — across different occasions and settings — is generally considered meaningful. The key is that photos should be dated, show both partners clearly, and cover a range of contexts: everyday life, travel, family gatherings, and special events.
Do we need a joint bank account to get a partner visa?
A joint bank account is not strictly required, but it is one of the most straightforward ways to demonstrate financial interdependence. If you don’t have one, you can still show financial connection through joint bills, shared expenses, or evidence of regularly transferring money to cover shared costs. Providing a brief explanation of why you manage finances separately can also help address any questions.
What if we haven’t lived together?
You are not required to have cohabited to be eligible for a partner visa — depending on your circumstances. However, if you haven’t lived together, you will need to provide a compelling explanation and stronger evidence in the other three categories. Compelling statutory declarations from people who can confirm they have witnessed your relationship in person carry extra weight in these situations.
What is a statutory declaration and who should write one?
A statutory declaration is a written statement made under oath, declaring that the information is true and correct to the best of the person’s knowledge. For partner visa purposes, you want declarations from people who know you both well and have personally observed your relationship — parents, siblings, close friends, neighbours, or colleagues. Each person should write in their own words about specific things they have observed, such as attending family dinners with you or helping you move into a shared home.
Can my application be refused even if our relationship is genuine?
Yes — unfortunately this does happen, and it is usually because the evidence provided did not adequately demonstrate the genuineness of the relationship, even if the couple is completely legitimate. This is why preparing a comprehensive, well-organised application is so important. If your application is refused, there may be review rights available, but it is far better to invest in getting it right the first time.
Start Building Your Evidence Now
The best time to start gathering evidence is before you even lodge your application. Keep records of your relationship as it develops: save travel bookings, take dated photos, and note significant milestones. If you are in a long-distance relationship, keep records of your communications and visits. The more comprehensive your evidence trail, the stronger your application will be.
Partner visa applications are complex, and the evidence requirements can feel overwhelming. The team at Ultimate Migration has helped hundreds of couples navigate this process successfully. If you are unsure whether your evidence is sufficient, or you want expert help putting together the strongest possible application, book a consultation with our OMARA-registered migration agents today. Call us on 0478 904 001 — we are here to help.
This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact one of our OMARA-registered migration agents at Ultimate Migration.
Featured image by Nico Smit on Unsplash.
