Risk flags

Partner visa (subclass 820 / 309) — as at 2026-03-15

8 flags active

Flags are risk indicators — areas where applications commonly have gaps or inconsistencies. Each flag shows what to look for, why it matters, and how to address it. They are not predictions of outcome.

Risk flag

Relationship evidence is limited across the four pillars

Home Affairs assesses partner visa applications across four pillars of shared life: financial, household, social, and commitment. Weak evidence in any pillar — especially if the relationship is recent — raises credibility concerns.

What to do

Gather evidence across all four pillars: financial, household, social, and commitment
Include joint documents, not just statements from each person individually
Where evidence is thin in one area, provide a written explanation supported by other documents

Evidence examples

Joint bank account statements or shared bills (financial)
Shared lease agreement or utility bills at same address (household)
Photos, event invitations, messages showing shared social life (social)
Statutory declarations from friends/family (commitment)
Evidence of future plans — travel bookings, property enquiries

Risk flag

Relationship evidence is limited across the four pillars

Home Affairs assesses partner visa applications across four pillars of shared life: financial, household, social, and commitment. Weak evidence in any pillar raises credibility concerns.

What to do

Gather evidence across all four pillars: financial, household, social, and commitment
Include joint documents, not just statements from each person individually
Where evidence is thin in one area, provide a written explanation supported by other documents

Evidence examples

Joint bank account statements or shared bills (financial)
Shared lease agreement or utility bills (household)
Photos, event invitations, messages showing shared social life (social)
Form 888 statutory declarations from friends/family (commitment)

Flag

Third-party statutory declarations not included

Statutory declarations from friends, family, or colleagues who know the couple are a standard and expected part of a partner visa application. Their absence is notable.

What to do

Obtain at least 2 statutory declarations from people who can attest to the genuineness of the relationship
Declarations should describe how long they have known the couple and what they have observed
Include a mix of people who know each partner individually and as a couple

Evidence examples

Statutory declaration from a family member of either partner
Statutory declaration from a friend or colleague who knows the couple
Form 888 (Supporting statement for partner visa)

Flag

Cohabitation history not clearly documented

Living together is one of the strongest indicators of a genuine relationship. If shared address history is absent or inconsistent, the household pillar of evidence is weakened.

What to do

Provide a joint lease, mortgage, or utility bill showing shared address
If you have not always lived together, explain the circumstances and periods apart
Include statutory declaration from landlord or neighbours if formal documents are limited

Evidence examples

Lease agreement showing both names at same address
Utility bills addressed to both partners
Bank statements showing same residential address

Flag

Sponsor eligibility may not have been confirmed

The Australian partner (sponsor) must be approved before the visa can be granted. Sponsors with certain criminal history, prior sponsorship history, or who don't meet residency criteria may be ineligible.

What to do

Confirm the sponsor meets citizenship or permanent residency requirements
Check if the sponsor has sponsored a previous partner visa within the last 5 years
Review whether the sponsor has any relevant criminal history that could affect eligibility

Evidence examples

Australian citizenship certificate or permanent visa grant notice
Statutory declaration regarding prior sponsorships

Flag

Relationship timeline appears inconsistent across documents

If statements, photos, and documents tell different stories about when or how the relationship started or progressed, the application's credibility is undermined.

What to do

Write a consistent relationship history that both partners agree on
Ensure dates of key events (first meeting, cohabitation, engagement, marriage) match across all documents
Review both partners' statements for discrepancies before lodging

Evidence examples

Consistent relationship history statement from both partners
Supporting documents matching key dates cited in statements

Flag

Sponsor eligibility may not have been confirmed

The Australian partner (sponsor) must be approved before the visa can be granted. Sponsors with certain history or who do not meet residency criteria may be ineligible.

What to do

Confirm the sponsor meets citizenship or permanent residency requirements
Check if the sponsor has sponsored a previous partner visa within the last 5 years
Review whether the sponsor has any relevant criminal history

Evidence examples

Australian citizenship certificate or permanent visa grant notice
Statutory declaration regarding prior sponsorships

Flag

Relationship timeline appears inconsistent across documents

If statements, photos, and documents tell different stories about when or how the relationship started or progressed, the application s credibility is undermined.

What to do

Write a consistent relationship history that both partners agree on
Ensure dates of key events match across all documents
Review both partners statements for discrepancies before lodging

Evidence examples

Consistent relationship history statement from both partners
Supporting documents matching key dates cited in statements

Next actions

Review each flag and check whether it applies to your circumstances
Work through the suggested actions for any applicable flags
Return to the evidence checklist to mark supporting items as done