Form 888 for a Partner Visa
Form 888 is the supporting statement a friend or family member makes about your relationship; a partner visa application needs at least 2 of them, and the current edition (design date 08/26) is signed by the person making it, with no witness.
The person who knows you completes and signs Form 888 themselves. The applicant and the sponsor never write it for them. Once it is completed, the applicant or their appointed representative attaches it to the application in ImmiAccount.
| Form 888 facts | As at 23 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Form number | 888 |
| Full form title | Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application |
| Current edition | Design date 08/26 |
| Who completes it | A person who knows the applicant, their partner or fiancé(e), and the history of the relationship |
| Minimum number required | Statements from 2 witnesses |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Who may witness it | No witness: it has no witness section |
| Must it be handwritten | No. Type in the fields, or print it and use a pen and block letters, in English |
| Does it need certifying | No. It is an original statement |
| Identity evidence | Current name and age, and Australian citizenship or permanent residency where that applies |
| Where it is uploaded | Attached to the application in ImmiAccount by the applicant or their representative |
| What it proves | The social aspects of the relationship (reg 1.09A(3)(c), reg 1.15A(3)(c)) |
| Penalty for a false statement | An offence under s 234(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) |
What is Form 888?
Form 888 is the Home Affairs form titled Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application. Its "Purpose of this form" section says the Department must consider the social aspects of the claimed relationship and uses the statements to assess them. That is regulation 1.09A(3)(c) (de facto partners) and regulation 1.15A(3)(c) (spouses) of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth): whether you present as a couple, and what friends and acquaintances think of the relationship.
It is not a statutory declaration. Home Affairs says so directly: no version of Form 888 can stand in for the Commonwealth statutory declarations an onshore applicant without a substantive visa must lodge. The declarations the couple may need are covered on the partner visa statutory declaration page.
How many Form 888 statements do you need?
At least 2. The Home Affairs pages for subclasses 820, 801, 309, 100 and 300 each say you must provide statements from 2 witnesses who are 18 or older, know you and your partner, and know about your relationship, made on Form 888. Two detailed statements describing dated events carry more weight than six generic ones. The form warns each person they may be asked for up to 3 separate statements during processing. Supply only one and the Department can request another under section 56 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), or decide on what it has.
Who can fill out an 888 form?
Form 888 can be filled out by anyone who:
- is at least 18
- knows the visa applicant and their partner or fiancé(e) (both of them, not just one)
- knows the history of their relationship.
The form does not require Australian citizenship or permanent residency. It asks for evidence of current name and age and, "where applicable", of Australian citizenship or permanent residency. Home Affairs says to provide that evidence if the witness is a citizen or permanent resident. Family members and friends can both make one. Who can sign and why, including whether the applicant or sponsor can, is on the who can sign a Form 888 page.
What if your supporting witness is overseas?
A supporter overseas completes Form 888 the same way, because it needs no witness: they complete it in English, sign and date it, and send it with their identity evidence for the applicant to attach. Watch three things:
- English. The form must be completed in English. If the supporter cannot write in English, a translator, rather than the couple, can help them put their own words into English. They must understand exactly what they are signing.
- Signature. The form asks for "Your signature" and a date. It does not say whether an electronic signature is accepted. A handwritten signature on a printed copy, scanned in colour, avoids the question.
- Contact. The form warns that the supporter may be contacted for further comment or an interview. Give a phone number and email they actually use.
Witnessing overseas matters only for Commonwealth statutory declarations, such as the 2 at-lodgement declarations for onshore applicants without a substantive visa. Those rules are on the witness page linked at the end of this page.
Does Form 888 need to be handwritten?
No. The form says to "either type (in English) in the fields provided or print this form and complete it (in English) using a pen and BLOCK LETTERS". A typed Form 888 is as valid as a handwritten one, as long as the right person signs and dates it and the answers are theirs. Electronic execution of a Commonwealth statutory declaration is a separate question, covered on the partner visa statutory declaration page.
Form 888 example answers
The examples below are illustrations written for this page. They are not real statements and not departmental wording. Each follows the form's own question. Two supporters must never use the same sentences. Identical wording across statements suggests they were written by the couple, and it undermines every statement that shares it.
How long have you known this person?
This appears twice, once for the applicant and once for the partner.
- Weak: "A long time."
- Strong: "8 years (since 2018)" for one partner and "3 years (since March 2023)" for the other.
- Why: a number the Department can check against the relationship history, with a start year for each person.
State how you know the applicant and the applicant's partner or fiancé(e), and indicate how often you have been in contact with them
- Weak: "They are my close friends and I see them all the time."
- Strong: "I have worked with [sponsor] at the same Brisbane hospital since 2018. I met [applicant] at [sponsor]'s 30th birthday in March 2023, and since then I have seen them together about twice a month: dinners at their flat in [suburb], a weekend at the Sunshine Coast in January 2024, and my wedding in October 2024, which they attended as a couple."
- Why: it explains how the supporter knows each person, gives a frequency, and names dated events that other evidence can match.
State whether you believe the relationship of the applicant and their partner or fiancé(e) to be genuine and continuing, and give your reasons for your belief
Example A (a friend who sees them often):
- Weak: "Yes, they are a lovely couple and are very much in love."
- Strong: "Yes. I have visited their home in [suburb] several times since they moved in together in mid-2023, and they run it as a shared household. When [applicant] was overseas caring for her father in 2024, [sponsor] kept in touch with her daily and flew over in April to see her."
- Why: first-hand observations of the household and of a period apart, rather than adjectives.
Example B (a relative who lives overseas):
- Weak: "I believe the relationship is real because my brother told me so."
- Strong: "Yes. I am [applicant]'s older brother and live in [city]. [Sponsor] stayed with our family for two weeks in December 2023, and the couple spent our parents' anniversary with us in December 2024. We speak on video every week, usually with both of them on the call."
- Why: a relative can be a strong supporter when they write about what they saw, not what they were told.
State any other matters you wish to add in support of the visa application
- Weak: "Please approve their visa."
- Strong: "I was asked to be a witness at their wedding on 14 June 2025 and signed the marriage register."
- Why: one extra verifiable fact is worth more than an appeal. This box can be left short, or blank.
Strong answers are dated, specific, first-hand and in the supporter's own voice; weak ones rely on adjectives, second-hand knowledge or wording that could appear in anyone's statement.
What are common errors on Form 888?
| The error | Why it matters | What the Department can do | How to fix it before lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| The applicant or sponsor filled it in and the supporter only signed | It is no longer the supporter's evidence | Contact the supporter; give it little weight | The supporter writes their own answers |
| Two statements use the same wording | Suggests the couple wrote both | Treat both with doubt | Each supporter writes independently |
| The supporter knows only one partner | The form asks about both people and the relationship | Give it little weight | Choose someone who knows you both |
| Answers are generic, with no dates or events | Nothing can be checked | Ask for more under s 56 | Add dated, first-hand events |
| Not signed or not dated | The statement is incomplete | Ask for a replacement | Check the signature and date boxes |
| Identity evidence missing, or question 5 left blank | The Department cannot confirm who made it | Ask for the evidence | Attach ID and tick question 5 |
| Supporter is under 18 | Does not meet the form's requirement | Disregard it | Use an adult supporter |
| An old edition was used | Older editions may carry different wording | Ask for the current form | Download the current PDF from Home Affairs |
| Pages missing from the upload | Half a statement | Ask for the full form | Save both pages and attachments as one file |
| Written in a language other than English | The form asks for English | Ask for a translation | Complete it in English |
| Form 888 lodged in place of the at-lodgement statutory declarations | Form 888 does not meet that requirement | The application may be invalid | Use Commonwealth statutory declarations for that requirement |
What documents do I need for Form 888?
The supporter attaches evidence of their current name and age and, where it applies, of Australian citizenship or permanent residency, such as a copy of their birth certificate, Australian passport, or a passport containing a permanent visa (the form's own examples). Question 5 asks whether that evidence is attached. Form 888 does not itself need to be certified. It is an original, so there is nothing to certify, and the full answer is on the who can sign a Form 888 page.
Where do you upload Form 888 in ImmiAccount?
- The supporter sends you the signed form and their identity evidence.
- Scan both pages of the form, plus any extra pages, in colour into one file.
- In ImmiAccount, open the application, go to Attach documents and choose the applicant.
- Select the relationship evidence type for the social aspects of the relationship and the closest document type. If none fits, use Other Documents under Additional documents.
- Attach the supporter's identity evidence as well, and label both files with the supporter's name.
The rest of the upload, row by row, is in the partner visa document checklist.
Do you need new Form 888 statements at the second stage?
Yes. The subclass 801 and 100 pages ask again for statements from 2 witnesses. Make them fresh statements describing the relationship since you applied, not copies; the same people can write them.
What happens if a Form 888 is rejected or not accepted?
The Department can invite you to give more information under section 56 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), or contact the supporter directly. To replace a statement, have the supporter (or a new one) complete a fresh current-edition form, attach it in ImmiAccount and respond within the deadline. If the supporter can no longer be reached, provide another supporter's statement with a short explanation. Ask for more time through the Partner Processing Enquiry Form before the deadline if you need it.
Questions about Form 888
Can a family member complete a Form 888?
Yes, if they know you both and the relationship's history.
Can the same person complete one for both stages?
Yes, with a new statement describing events since the last one.
Does the supporter need to have met you in person?
The form does not say so, but it asks how long they have known each of you; someone who has met you both answers far more convincingly.
Does the Department contact the supporter?
It can. The form says the supporter may be contacted for further comment or an interview about what they wrote.
Can a Form 888 be used for a prospective marriage visa?
Yes. The form's title covers Partner and Prospective Marriage visa applications, and the subclass 300 page asks for statements from 2 witnesses on Form 888.
Partner visa declarations and evidence
- The who can sign a Form 888 page: who may make the statement, and the list of prescribed witnesses for Commonwealth statutory declarations.
- The who can witness a statutory declaration page: video, myGov and overseas witnessing for the declarations that need a witness.
- The partner visa document checklist page: where Form 888 sits among the other documents.
- The partner visa relationship evidence page: the four factors, of which Form 888 proves the social aspects.
Supporting statements go wrong in ways that are hard to fix later: a supporter who knows only one of you, answers the couple drafted, or two statements that match word for word. An application prepared by a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner is more likely to succeed. They can check that each statement meets the form's requirements, reads as the supporter's own evidence, and is not being used where a statutory declaration is required. No adviser can promise a grant.
Questions people ask
How many Form 888 do you need for a partner visa?
Home Affairs asks for statements from 2 witnesses who are 18 or older, know you and your partner, and know about your relationship. Two detailed statements from people who can describe dated events carry more weight than several generic ones. The Department can ask a witness for up to 3 statements during processing, and fresh statements are expected at the second stage.
Does Form 888 need to be handwritten?
No. The form says you can either type in the fields provided or print it and complete it using a pen and block letters. Either way it must be completed in English, signed and dated by the person making the statement.
Who can fill out an 888 form?
Form 888 must be completed by a person who is at least 18 and who knows the visa applicant, their partner or fiance, and the history of their relationship. The person does not have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, but if they are, they should attach evidence of it. Family members and friends can both complete one.
Does Form 888 need to be witnessed or certified?
No. The current Form 888 is a supporting statement signed by the person making it under a warning in the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), and it has no witness section. It is an original document, so there is nothing to certify.
Where do you upload Form 888?
The form says that once it is completed, the visa applicant or their appointed representative can attach it to the partner or prospective marriage visa application in ImmiAccount. Attach the witness's identity evidence with it.
Sources
Primary sources this page was checked against on 23 September 2026.
- Home Affairs, Form 888 Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application (PDF) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Home Affairs, Partner visa (subclass 820), social matters evidence immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Home Affairs, Partner visa (subclass 801), second-stage evidence immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Migration Act 1958 (Cth), ss 56 and 234 www.legislation.gov.au
- Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), regs 1.09A and 1.15A www.legislation.gov.au