How to write a statutory declaration for an Australian partner visa [Sample Example]

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the thought of preparing a statutory declaration for an Australian partner visa? Especially if you do not have a background in legal documentation, it is common to feel that way. But do not worry, with a little bit of guidance and preparation, writing a declaration for partner visa can become simplified.

A statutory declaration is a legal document that is signed by partner visa applicants and declared to be correct in the presence of an authorised witness, which is required for the partner and prospective marriage visa application process. Whether you are applying for a partner visa for the first time or you have previously been unsuccessful, understanding the key components of a statutory declaration and how to convey your relationship and personal circumstances effectively can greatly increase your chances of success.

If you are ready to ensure a strong and effective partner visa application, read further to learn about all the crucial components of creating a powerful and influential statutory declaration. Let us delve into the details, shall we?

Table of Contents

Elements of a Statutory Declaration for Partner Visa

When applying for a partner visa, the Department of Home Affairs usually requests statutory declarations from both the sponsor (an Australian citizen or permanent resident) and the partner visa applicant (a foreign national). Here are the key points you need to consider for a partner visa statutory declaration.

Relationship Development: Showing Consistency and Sincerity

By providing a comprehensive account of the relationship’s development, you can reinforce the genuineness and continuity of the partnership, further strengthening your visa application. When deciding, it is important to take certain factors into consideration, such as:

• Initial Meeting: Providing information on how and when you and your partner first met, including any important events or circumstances that occurred.
• Dating Period: Describing the progression of the relationship from the early stages of dating to a more committed partnership.
• Relationship Milestones and Experiences: Documenting important milestones and shared experiences creates a lasting record of the relationship’s growth. This includes significant events like moving in together, getting engaged and having children, and memorable experiences every day.

Finances: Demonstrating Joint Financial Documents

Gathering and presenting financial commitment in a meticulous manner can boost the credibility of your relationship and improve the likelihood of a successful visa application. Examples of such documents may include:

• Bank Statements: Providing evidence of a joint bank account and/or savings account that is used regularly to demonstrate a shared financial commitment towards managing your finances together.
• Shared Assets: Providing evidence of jointly held loans or leases, such as buying a property or car, to demonstrate a shared financial commitment and responsibility towards these assets .
• Day-to-Day Household Expenses: Explaining how day-to-day household expenditures are paid and shared can demonstrate a joint responsibility towards managing your household together.
• Owning or Operating a Business Together: Demonstrating evidence of jointly owning or operating a business signifies a shared financial obligation and commitment to achieving success for the business.

Household Matters: Establishing Shared Responsibilities

Evidence of mutually shared obligations and the nature of your household is essential to support your application. Here are some crucial areas to concentrate on:

• Living Arrangements: Providing evidence of your living arrangements, such as a lease or rental agreement that is in both of your names, can demonstrate that you share a home and have a shared responsibility for maintaining it.
• Healthcare: Providing evidence of shared healthcare responsibilities can demonstrate a strong commitment to each other’s physical and financial well-being. This can include attending doctor’s appointments together, taking care of each other when sick, jointly having health insurance, and covering each other’s medical bills.
• Shared Expenses: Demonstrating shared household bills , such as utilities, rent/mortgage payments, or groceries, can demonstrate that you share financial responsibilities towards household expenses.
• Household Chores and Tasks: Describing the responsibility for housework and showcasing a shared routine. Providing evidence of a shared cleaning schedule or photographs of you and your partner cleaning or cooking together can help to establish this.

Commitment: Addressing Mutual Dedication

To prove that your relationship is genuine, it is important to provide evidence of your mutual dedication. Consider the following factors:

• Relationship Duration: Providing a timeline of your relationship, including significant milestones and events.
• Communication Records: Including screenshots of text messages, emails, or letters exchanged between you and your partner.
• Support: Providing evidence of the support you give each other, such as emotional support during difficult times or supporting each other’s career aspirations, can demonstrate a mutual dedication towards each other’s well-being and success.
• Future Plans: Discussing and providing evidence of your future plans together, such as living together, getting married, or starting a family, can demonstrate a mutual dedication towards building a future together.

Social Aspects: Public Recognition of the Relationship

Demonstrating your relationship via public recognition and acknowledgement is crucial to establish the authenticity of your connection. Here are some recommended approaches:

• Photographs and Social Events: Including photographs of you and your partner attending social gatherings, family events, or celebrations together.
• Engaging in Public Activities: Engaging in public activities together, such as volunteering or participating in charity events, can also demonstrate the social aspect of your relationship.
• Supportive Family and Friends: Having important family and friends who know about your relationship and are supportive can also demonstrate the social aspect of your relationship. This can show that you and your partner have a strong support network and are accepted by those who matter most.

Incorporating Documentary Evidence

Adding documentary evidence increases the trustworthiness of both applicant and the sponsor and confirms the truthfulness of their relationship. This can serve as a valuable tool to substantiate their assertions and provide additional evidence to support their claims.

Additionally, incorporating documentary evidence can help to clarify the meaning of particular documents or evidence that may not be particularly strong or clear. By providing context and explanation, applicants can help their case officer understand the relevance of the evidence and how it demonstrates the genuineness of their relationship.

Thorough Document Review and Professional Assistance

While these aspects are essential for a strong visa application, it is crucial to conduct a thorough review of all supporting documents. Any conflicting evidence or inconsistencies should be addressed and rectified beforehand to avoid potential visa rejections. Furthermore, seeking assistance from a registered Australian migration agent can provide valuable guidance and ensure a smooth immigration process.

Partner Visa Statutory Declaration Example

Form 888 is a Supporting Statement or Commonwealth Statutory Declaration for a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application. It must be submitted to the Australian Department of Home Affairs for assessing a partner visa application. To successfully submit the declaration form, the applicants must sign and date it.

Additionally, when making a declaration, it is necessary to have a witness who can provide their identifying information and signature to confirm that they were present when the declaration was made. The declaration form’s final page contains a comprehensive list of eligible witnesses.

To demonstrate a committed and exclusive relationship between you and your partner, you can refer to the following relationship statement example to draft a declaration.

“I, Charlotte Brown, residing at 56 Queens Road, Hurstville, am the applicant for a partner visa application in Australia. This declaration is made under the Statutory Declaration Act 1959 to provide a comprehensive account of my relationship with my partner Alex Smith to the Department of Home Affairs.”

Relationship Development

• Alex and I first met at the University of Melbourne in March 2011 while we were both pursuing our undergraduate degrees.
• Alex and I were acquaintances during our time as undergraduate students, but we never dated each other. In our first and second years at university, we did not have many courses and subjects in common. We would usually run into each other at university around once or twice a week for various events and activities such as:
  –Social activities organised by our mutual friends, the university, university social clubs, or students’ union.
  –Study groups with our friends when we had mid-term or end-of-term examinations.
• During our last year of undergraduate studies in 2014, Alex and I enrolled in the same course and class for four different subjects. In both semesters, we covered two common subjects each because the advanced courses in the later years were more specialised and restricted.
• Alex and I grew closer during our last year of studies, spending a lot of time together in class and studying outside of it. We supported each other through difficult subjects and exams, which brought us even closer. It was during this time that our feelings of care, love, and support for each other began to develop.
• In 2015, we both continued our studies as postgraduate students. I completed my studies in Law while Alex studied Computer Science. We both completed our postgraduate studies in adjacent buildings on campus in 2015.
• Alex and I got to know each other better during a day trip to the Great Ocean Road in January 2016. We decided to enter into a relationship and started dating soon after.
• In the year that followed, we developed and continued our relationship by having nearly daily contact at our university. We have provided some examples from our message and phone records, which demonstrate our regular daily communication.
• We went on a road trip to Tasmania with friends, exploring and attending a wedding together in December 2017. Soon after, we started planning our wedding and got engaged in June 2018. Our wedding, which occurred in October 2019, was made possible with the generous assistance of our loved ones and friends. After our wedding, we moved to our own apartment in the city and have been happily married ever since.

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