Form 888 for Partner Visa: What It Is and How to Get It Right (2026)

When you are preparing a Partner visa, it can feel strange to ask the people closest to you to put your relationship into words. Many couples worry about who to ask, what their family should write, and whether one small mistake could cause problems.

That is exactly what Form 888 is for, and it is far more manageable than it first appears.

The short answer: Form 888 is a written supporting statement from someone who knows you both, such as a friend, family member or colleague. It explains how they know you and why they believe your relationship is genuine and continuing. It is no longer a statutory declaration, so it does not need to be signed in front of a Justice of the Peace. It is still a serious legal document, however, and a knowingly false statement can carry significant penalties.

This guide explains the position as at October 2026, including the current version of the form.

What Is A Form 888?
Who Can Complete A Form 888?
How Many Form 888s Do You Need?
What to Include in A Form 888
How to Sign and Finalise It
Common Mistakes to Avoid
How to Submit Form 888
How We Can Help
FAQs

Form 888 at a glance

Question	Short answer
What is it officially called?	Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application
Which version is current?	Design date 08/26
Which visas does it apply to?	Partner visas (Subclass 820/801 and 309/100) and the Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300)
Who can complete it?	A person aged 18 or over who knows both of you and the history of your relationship
Does it need a Justice of the Peace?	No. It has not been a statutory declaration since July 2023
How many?	Two is a common starting point. Quality matters far more than quantity
How is it lodged?	The applicant or their representative attaches it to the application in ImmiAccount

What is a Form 888?

Form 888 is the official supporting statement used in Australian Partner visa and Prospective Marriage visa applications. It gives someone who knows you as a couple the opportunity to describe, in their own words, what they have seen of your relationship.

It is used for:

the Subclass 820/801 Partner visa, lodged in Australia;
the Subclass 309/100 Partner visa, lodged from outside Australia (our complete 2026 guide to the Offshore Partner Visa Subclass 309 and 100 explains that pathway in detail); and
the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa.

The current Form 888 carries a design date of 08/26. Always download the form directly from Home Affairs when preparing your application. If a friend or relative completed an older version months ago, or downloaded a template from a forum, please check it against the current form before you lodge. Versions from before July 2023 were statutory declarations and no longer reflect the current form.

Why Form 888 matters: the legal test behind it

When assessing the relevant Partner visa relationship criteria, the decision maker must consider all the circumstances of the relationship, including the factors prescribed by the Migration Regulations. These include four broad areas, often called the four pillars: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects, and the nature of the couple’s commitment to each other.

Within the social aspects, the law specifically refers to the opinion of the couple’s friends and acquaintances about the nature of the relationship. These factors are set out in regulation 1.15A of the Migration Regulations 1994, which lists the opinion of friends and acquaintances as one part of the social aspects of a relationship.

In other words, Form 888 is one of the most direct ways to place the opinion of the people around you before the decision maker. It is one part of your overall evidence, not a substitute for the rest. The form itself confirms that its information is used to assess the social aspects of the relationship.

Who can complete a Form 888?

Under the current form, the person completing it must:

know both the visa applicant and their partner or fiancé(e);
know the history of the relationship; and
be at least 18 years of age.

They must also provide documentary evidence of their current name and age and, where applicable, their Australian citizenship or permanent residency, such as a copy of their birth certificate, Australian passport, or a passport containing a permanent visa.

Witnesses no longer need to be in Australia, and the form no longer requires them to be Australian citizens or permanent residents. A close friend overseas who has known you both for years can be a valuable witness. Many practitioners still like to include at least one or two witnesses who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, because their identity and standing are straightforward to verify.

Who makes a strong witness?

The best witness is not the most impressive person you know. It is the person who has actually seen your relationship over time.

A thoughtful mix might include:

a parent or sibling of the sponsor;
a family member of the applicant;
a long-standing friend who has spent time with you as a couple; and
someone from a different part of your life, such as a colleague, housemate or member of your community.

Family members are acceptable witnesses. What matters is that each person can speak from genuine, first-hand experience, and that together they show your relationship from different angles and across different periods of time.

How many Form 888s do you need?

There’s no single number that suits every couple. Two statements are a common starting point. In our experience, a few carefully chosen witnesses who can share genuine, first-hand observations will usually help more than a large pile of short, similar statements.

The current form also notes two things:

Up to three separate statements may be requested during processing. Not every application receives such a request, but it helps to stay in touch with your witnesses.
Witnesses may be contacted for further comment or an interview. Each person should be comfortable standing behind every word they have written.

If you have applied for the Subclass 820/801 or 309/100 visa, the permanent stage is usually assessed some time after you lodge. Updated evidence can help show your relationship has continued.

Our guide to Partner visa processing priorities under Direction 117 explains how applications are currently ordered.

A practical tip: ask your witnesses early. Statements from busy friends and relatives are one of the most common reasons lodgement plans slip.

Does Form 888 need to be witnessed or certified?

No. Since July 2023, Form 888 has not been a statutory declaration. Your witness signs and dates the form themselves. It does not need to be signed in front of a Justice of the Peace. The witness must still attach documentary evidence of their identity and, where applicable, their Australian citizenship or permanent residency.

At question 6, the witness confirms they understand that making a false statement in connection with a visa application is an offence under section 234 of the Migration Act 1958. The form warns that penalties for false or misleading statements can include up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of AUD 313,000, or both.

Important: Form 888 doesn’t replace every statutory declaration.
If you’re applying onshore and don’t hold a substantive visa, you may need separate statutory declarations from Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens. A Form 888 doesn’t satisfy that requirement. Please check the requirements for your situation, or speak with us, before you lodge.

How to complete Form 888, question by question

The official form is divided into numbered questions, from 1 to 6. The table below follows the same numbering, so your witnesses can read it side by side with the form. The form must be completed in English, either typed or handwritten in block letters.

Form section	What it asks	What helps
Witness details	The witness’s full name, address and contact details	Use their full name exactly as it appears on the identity evidence they attach
Questions 1–2	The applicant’s and partner’s names, and how long the witness has known each of them	Use full legal names, and check the applicant and partner are not swapped
Question 3	How the witness knows you both, and how often they are in contact	Explain the connection and give a realistic picture of contact, in person and remotely
Question 4	Whether they believe the relationship is genuine and continuing, and why	This is the heart of the form. Specific, first-hand observations matter most
Other matters (optional, not numbered)	Anything else the witness wishes to add	A good place for future plans, support through hard times, or recent observations
Question 5	Whether evidence of identity is attached	Attach the required evidence and answer accurately
Question 6	The statement, signature and date	Sign and date only after checking the information is complete and accurate

What makes a Form 888 genuinely persuasive

A persuasive statement shows the decision maker something. It does not simply tell them something.

Compare these two short excerpts, which are illustrative only:

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Weak: “I believe their relationship is genuine because they love each other very much.”

Stronger: “I have known Daniel since university. I first met Mei when he brought her to my 30th birthday in March 2023. Since then I have seen them together most months. When Daniel’s father was unwell last year, Mei moved into his parents’ house for three weeks so she could help with his care. I have been to their apartment for dinner several times, and they talk openly about buying a home together.”

The stronger version works because it is:

specific, with real dates, places and events;
first-hand, describing what the witness saw rather than what they were told;
chronological, showing how the relationship developed over time; and
personal, written in the witness’s own voice.

Please do not give your witnesses a template to copy, and never write the statements for them. Statements that share the same phrasing tend to read as having one author, which can undermine all of them. It is fine to remind witnesses of key dates so that their details are accurate. The words must be their own.

Common Form 888 mistakes

Most Form 888 problems are small, honest mistakes that are easy to avoid with a little care:

Using an outdated version of the form, including the old statutory declaration version.
Inconsistent details. Case officers read the Form 888s alongside your own relationship statements. If a witness says you met in 2021 and your statement says 2022, that difference may need to be explained.
Names that do not match the identity documents, or the applicant and partner being swapped.
Missing pieces, such as no signature, no date or no identity document attached.
Vague, generic wording that could describe any couple.
Identical or template statements across several witnesses.
Overstating. A witness should never claim to have seen something they have not. An honest statement with fewer examples is always better than an exaggerated one.

If a case officer has concerns about information in your application, you may receive an invitation to comment. Our guide to Partner visa Section 57 letters and Invitations to Comment explains what these notices mean and how to respond carefully.

Worried your witness statements are not strong enough?

Perhaps the dates do not quite match your own statement, a witness only knows part of your story, or several statements sound too alike. These are exactly the issues we look for. Book a consultation and we will review each Form 888 against your relationship evidence, so small problems are resolved before a case officer sees them.

Sensitive situations

Not every relationship fits neatly into the form, and that is completely normal.

When some family members do not yet know about your relationship. For cultural, religious or personal reasons, some couples have not yet told everyone about the existence of their relationship. You do not need statements from every relative. Choose witnesses who genuinely know your relationship, and seek advice on how best to present your circumstances honestly.

When much of your relationship has been long-distance. A witness may know you as a couple mainly through video calls or occasional visits. That is fine, but the statement should say so honestly rather than suggest more in-person contact than there has been.

When circumstances change after lodging. If your relationship ends, or if family violence occurs, please do not assume the outcome is already decided. Our guide to what happens to a Partner visa when a relationship ends explains how the position can vary.

When travel plans are still being made. If your partner is overseas, recent announcements about Visitor visas may affect which pathway suits you. Our guide to Partner visa changes in 2026 and the new Visitor visa rules explains what couples should consider before travel.

Key takeaway

The practical response is not to collect as many forms as possible. It is to choose the right witnesses, ask early, and help them tell the truth clearly.

Preparing your Partner visa?

At Emerson Migration Law, we know a Partner visa is never just paperwork. It is two people hoping to build a life in the same place.

Through our Application Preparation Service, we can help you choose your witnesses, check every Form 888 for consistency with your other evidence, and lodge a complete, well-organised application. If your application has already been refused, our team can also help with visa appeals and refusals.

Our professional fees are set out in full on our transparent fees page. When you are ready, we would be glad to discuss your circumstances and guide you through each step with care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Form 888 mandatory for a Partner visa?

Form 888 is an established and commonly included form of supporting evidence for Partner and Prospective Marriage visa applications. Please check the current document requirements for your visa and any request made in your particular case. Form 888 supports your other relationship evidence; it does not replace it.

Can someone overseas complete Form 888?

Yes. Witnesses do not need to live in Australia. They must still know you both, complete the form in English, and attach evidence of their identity.

Does the witness need to be an Australian citizen?

The current form does not require it. Evidence of citizenship or permanent residency is provided where applicable. Many applicants still include at least one witness who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Can I write the Form 888 for my witness?

No. The statement must be the witness’s own account. You can remind them of accurate dates, but the words and observations must be theirs.

Is Form 888 used for the Prospective Marriage visa?

Yes. For the Subclass 300 visa, witnesses can focus on how your relationship has developed and why they believe you genuinely intend to marry and build a life together.

Ready to get your Form 888s right?

Whether you are still choosing witnesses, checking drafted statements, or have been asked for further statements during processing, we can help.

Book a consultation with our Partner visa team and we will look at your Form 888s alongside the rest of your relationship evidence, and guide you through the next step with care.

Disclaimer: this article is general information only and is not legal advice. Australian Migration law changes frequently. Please speak to a lawyer about your own circumstances.