Getting Your Marriage Certificate for a Partner Visa
Married partner visa applicants upload the official certificate issued by the registry of births, deaths and marriages, not the ceremonial certificate signed on the day, and ordering it takes up to 3 weeks online in NSW and up to 10 business days in Queensland as at 23 September 2026, plus postage.
The certificate proves you are married, but the Department still assesses your relationship on the four factors, so it is uploaded alongside your other relationship evidence, not instead of it. Under reg 1.15A of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) it establishes that you are spouses, and as evidence it is read with the nature of your commitment.
| Certificate | Who issues it | When you get it | Accepted for a partner visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate handed to you on the day | The celebrant, under s 50(1)(a) of the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) | At the ceremony | No. NSW and Queensland registries say it cannot be used to prove the marriage |
| Official (standard) certificate | The registry of births, deaths and marriages in the state or territory where you married | After the marriage is registered and you order it | Yes |
| Foreign civil-registry certificate | The civil registry of the country where you married | Depends on that country | Yes, with an English translation if it is not in English |
Which marriage certificate do you upload for a partner visa?
The official registry certificate. Home Affairs asks married partner visa applicants to "provide your marriage certificate or other evidence that your marriage is valid in Australia". The Queensland registry lists three kinds of marriage certificate and says only the official one can be used to prove your relationship. The NSW registry says the same: the ceremonial certificate you take home is not the official certificate.
How do you order your Australian marriage certificate for a partner visa?
- The celebrant sends the marriage for registration. Section 50(4) of the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) gives the celebrant 14 days after the ceremony to forward the official certificate to the state or territory registry. The ceremony itself is covered in the guide to marrying an Australian citizen.
- Apply to the registry in the state or territory where you married, online or by post. Either spouse can apply.
- Pay the fee and prove your identity.
- Receive the certificate by post, then upload a colour scan.
| State or territory | Registry | Standard certificate fee | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages | $70, including $11 postage | Up to 3 weeks online, up to 4 weeks by post |
| Victoria | Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria | $59.10, plus postage | See the registry |
| Queensland | Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages | $58.10, regular postage free | Up to 10 business days |
| Western Australia | Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages | See the registry | See the registry |
| SA, Tasmania, ACT, NT | The births, deaths and marriages registry of that state or territory | See the registry | See the registry |
Fees and times are as at 23 September 2026. NSW and Victoria list fees effective 1 July 2026. Processing times exclude postage.
What if you need to lodge before the certificate arrives?
Home Affairs says to provide all required information with your application "or as soon as possible after you apply". You can lodge with the evidence you have and attach the official certificate in ImmiAccount when it arrives. Home Affairs publishes no specific rule on uploading the ceremonial certificate in the meantime, so treat it as a stopgap only.
How do you get a replacement certificate?
Apply to the same registry. The NSW, Queensland and Victorian registries each issue new or replacement official certificates, and Victoria charges the same $59.10 legal certificate fee for an original or a replacement.
Which marriage certificate does a partner visa need if you married overseas?
Upload the certificate from the civil registry of the country where you married, with an English translation if it is not in English. Under s 88D of the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth), a foreign marriage is generally recognised in Australia unless an exception applies, such as one party already being married.
Is a marriage certificate enough for a partner visa?
No. Regulation 1.15A(2) says the Minister must consider all of the circumstances of the relationship, including the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of your commitment. A certificate on its own shows the marriage took place. It does not show a shared life. Upload it with your partner visa relationship evidence.
What if you married after lodging the partner visa as de facto partners?
Tell the Department. Home Affairs lists marriage as a change in situation you must report before the application is finalised, and s 104 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) requires it.
- Log in to ImmiAccount and select 'Update details', then 'Notification of changes in circumstances'.
- If you cannot use ImmiAccount, complete Form 1022 Notification of changes in circumstances instead.
- Attach a colour scan of the official marriage certificate.
Do you need to change your name after marriage for a partner visa?
No. Nobody has to change their name on marriage. If you do, the official certificate is the document that links your old and new names. The page on name change after marriage explains what to update.
Questions about marriage certificates and partner visas
Does the certificate need to be certified?
No, for an online application. A clear colour scan of the official certificate is enough.
Is a religious ceremony certificate accepted?
A marriage by a minister of religion is registered with the state registry like any other. Upload the official registry certificate, not the church or ceremony certificate.
Do you need the certificate for a prospective marriage visa?
No. The subclass 300 is granted before the wedding. You need the official certificate when you then apply for the onshore partner visa.
Can the sponsor order the certificate?
Yes. Either spouse can apply for their own marriage certificate in NSW and Queensland.
Marriage certificates and the partner visa document checklist
If you have not yet married, start with marrying an Australian citizen. If your surname is changing, read name change after marriage. The certificate sits beside the rest of your partner visa relationship evidence, never in place of it.
A marriage certificate settles one question and leaves the rest open, and the Department refuses applications that rely on it alone. An application prepared by a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner is more likely to succeed, because they can confirm the marriage is valid in Australia, time the change notification correctly and build the four-factor evidence around the certificate. No adviser can promise a grant.
To see where the certificate goes, open the partner visa document checklist, group C.
Questions people ask
Which marriage certificate do you need for a partner visa?
The official certificate issued by the registry of births, deaths and marriages in the state or territory where you married. The certificate the celebrant hands you on the day is a ceremonial record, and state registries say it cannot be used to prove your marriage. Home Affairs asks married applicants for their marriage certificate or other evidence the marriage is valid in Australia.
Is a marriage certificate enough for a partner visa?
No. It proves you are married, but the Migration Regulations 1994 still require the Department to consider the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of your commitment. Upload it with your other relationship evidence.
How much does a marriage certificate cost?
As at 23 September 2026, a standard certificate costs $70 in NSW including postage, $58.10 in Queensland and $59.10 in Victoria plus postage. Fees change, so check the registry in the state or territory where you married.
Does a marriage certificate need to be certified for a partner visa?
No, for an online application. The Home Affairs partner visa pages say you do not need to have any documents certified. Upload a clear colour scan of the official certificate.
Sources
Primary sources this page was checked against on 23 September 2026.
- Department of Home Affairs, Partner visa (subclass 820) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) www.legislation.gov.au
- NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Fees and processing times www.nsw.gov.au
- Queensland Government, Get a marriage certificate www.qld.gov.au
- Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Fees www.bdm.vic.gov.au
- Department of Home Affairs, Applying on paper (changes in your situation) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au