One of the questions I am asked most often by viewers about the partner visa concerns a small but decisive document: Form 888. Negin Safaei, Australian immigration lawyer and registered MARA agent (MARN 1791573), walks through the precise legal role of this form, what it actually is in the Department of Home Affairs’ current version, and the requirements a person must meet in order to complete it. What follows is the same practical guide I use in real partner visa matters when selecting and preparing witnesses.
The short answer
Form 888 is the Department of Home Affairs’ “Supporting statement” for partner and prospective marriage visas. It is completed by a third party who knows both the applicant and their partner/fiancé(e) and the history of their relationship, and who is at least 18 years of age. The witness signs and dates the form themselves — no JP or notary certification is required — attaches evidence of identity, and the form is then uploaded to ImmiAccount by the applicant or their registered agent.
What the law says
The official, current title of this form at the Department of Home Affairs is: Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application. The current version of the form (Design date 08/26) states expressly that it must be completed by a person who knows the visa applicant and their partner or fiancé(e) and the history of their relationship, and who is at least 18 years old.
There is an important legal point that needs to be understood correctly: in its present form, Form 888 is not a Commonwealth statutory declaration. The form is signed and dated by the witness themselves and, since it was redesigned as a supporting statement, it no longer requires the attendance or certification of a Justice of the Peace or any other authorised person; and because it is not a Commonwealth statutory declaration, its requirements are set out on the face of the form itself rather than deriving from the Statutory Declarations Act 1959. The practical consequence of this distinction is clear: Form 888 cannot be used to satisfy a requirement that elsewhere calls for a “statutory declaration”.
The witness’s responsibility, however, has not been diminished in any way — only its legal basis has changed. The warning printed on the current form makes clear that giving false or misleading information is a serious offence, and that by signing, the person acknowledges that making a false statement is an offence under section 234(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958. The same form states that the penalty for false or misleading statements is up to 10 years’ imprisonment. In the text of section 234 of the Migration Act 1958 itself, the prescribed penalty is 10 years’ imprisonment or 1,000 penalty units, or both.
Substantively, this form forms part of the assessment of a “genuine and continuing relationship”. The Department of Home Affairs assesses a relationship across the four areas prescribed in the Migration Regulations 1994 — the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social context, and the nature of the commitment — and Form 888 is the most direct piece of evidence for the “social context” limb: that you are recognised as a couple by the people around you. The form is used in partner visa matters (820/801 and 309/100) and in prospective marriage visa matters (subclass 300).
Who can complete Form 888, and what is required?
| Issue | Requirement under the current version of the form and the law |
|---|---|
| Knowledge of the couple | The witness must know the visa applicant and their partner/fiancé(e) and the history of their relationship. |
| Age | At least 18 years of age. |
| Citizenship or permanent residence | Under the older versions, which had the character of a statutory declaration, the person signing had to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. In the current version, the “About this form” text requires only knowledge of the couple and that the person be 18 years of age, and asks for evidence of citizenship or permanent residence “where applicable”. Always read the eligibility wording on the current version of the form. |
| Evidence of identity | The witness must attach documentary evidence of their current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship or permanent residence — for example, a birth certificate, an Australian passport, or a passport containing a permanent visa. |
| Signature and certification | Signed and dated by the witness themselves; no JP or other authorised person is required. |
| Language and method of completion | The form must be opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader and typed in English, or printed and completed in pen using BLOCK LETTERS. |
| How it is lodged | The completed and signed Form 888 is provided as supporting evidence attached to the visa application and is attached to the partner or prospective marriage visa application in ImmiAccount. The witness does not send anything directly to the Department of Home Affairs; completed statements are uploaded to ImmiAccount by the applicant or their representative. |
| Number of forms | No mandatory number is prescribed on the form. In practice there is no fixed number; two well-written statements are a common starting point, and the Department may ask for up to three during processing — quality and personal detail matter far more than quantity. |
| Content that carries weight | The form asks the witness how they know the couple, how often they are in contact with them, and why they believe the relationship is genuine. Specific, personal observations (day-to-day care of a child, shared roles in the home, how the couple behave with one another day to day) carry more weight than photographs and pleasantries. |
What this means for you
The good news is that the old formal strictures have been removed, and you have a freer hand in choosing your witnesses: a friend who has seen you together over the years, a colleague, a neighbour, or a family member — provided they genuinely know the relationship and its history and are over 18. As Negin Safaei explains, the difference between an ineffective Form 888 and a decisive one lies in “observed detail”: the case officer is looking for an account that only a real observer could write, not general, formulaic sentences repeated word-for-word across two forms.
Take two professional points seriously. First, brief your witness on their responsibility before they sign; the warning on the form itself is clear that giving false or misleading information is a serious offence. Second, prepare each witness’s identity evidence together with their form; a form without a signature or without identity evidence is the most common trigger for a request for further documents and for delay in the case. In matters prepared under the guidance of Negin Safaei, Australian immigration lawyer and registered MARA agent (1791573), witnesses are chosen purposefully from the outset, the content of each statement is aligned with the rest of the relationship evidence, and all documents are uploaded to ImmiAccount as a single coherent package — so that a “decision-ready” application reaches the officer.
Sources
- Form 888 — Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application (Design date 08/26) — Department of Home Affairs, current 2026 version
- Department of Home Affairs evidence guidance — Form 888 – Supporting statement (evidence help text) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Migration Act 1958 — Federal Register of Legislation (current version)
- Migration Act 1958 — s 234: False documents and false or misleading information relating to non-citizens — AustLII
- How to fill a Form 888 (with examples) — Hannan Tew Lawyers, updated 2026
- Form 888 Explained: Partner Visa Support Statement — Australia Migrate, July 2026
- Form 888 Australia: How to Complete the Witness Supporting Statement (2026) — VisaBinder, 2026
Have the Form 888s in your case reviewed before they are signed
If you are about to lodge a partner or prospective marriage visa application and you are unsure which witnesses will carry the most weight for your case, what detail their statements should contain, and what identity evidence is needed, these are precisely the points where a professional eye shortens the road. For a personalised review of your relationship and your evidence, book a consultation with Negin Safaei, Australian immigration lawyer and registered MARA agent, MARN 1791573, and enter the process with a coherent, decision-ready application.
Frequently asked questions
Is Form 888 a statutory declaration?
No. The official title of the current version is “Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application”. The witness signs and dates the form themselves, and no JP or other authorised person is required to certify it. Because it is not a Commonwealth statutory declaration, its requirements are set out on the face of the form, and it cannot be used where the law specifically calls for a “statutory declaration”.
Who can complete Form 888?
Under the wording of the current version of the form, any person who knows the visa applicant and their partner or fiancé(e) and the history of their relationship, and who is at least 18 years of age. The requirement to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident belonged to the older, statutory-declaration versions; always read the eligibility wording on the current version of the form.
What evidence must the witness attach?
The current form asks the witness to attach documentary evidence of their current name and age and, where applicable, their Australian citizenship or permanent residence — for example a birth certificate, an Australian passport, or a passport containing a permanent visa.
Who sends Form 888 to the Department of Home Affairs?
The applicant or their registered migration agent/lawyer. The signed form is uploaded to the visa application in ImmiAccount as supporting evidence; the witness does not send anything directly themselves.
What happens if a witness gives false information?
The warning on the form makes clear that giving false or misleading information is a serious offence, and that by signing, the person acknowledges that making a false statement is an offence under section 234(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958. The form states a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, and the text of section 234 itself prescribes 10 years’ imprisonment or 1,000 penalty units, or both.
How many Form 888s are required?
No mandatory number is prescribed on the form. In practice, two detailed and personal statements are a common starting point, and the Department may ask for more during processing; the quality of first-hand observation matters more than the number of forms.
Is Form 888 also required for the subclass 300 visa?
Yes. The form is used for partner visas 820/801 and 309/100 as well as for the prospective marriage visa (subclass 300), and it supports the “social context” aspect of the relationship.
This answer reflects the law and policy as verified on September 29, 2026. Immigration rules change frequently — confirm the current position before acting.
Mrs. Negin Safaee Registered Migration Agent 1791573
This article is general information only, current at the date shown, and is not legal advice. Do not rely on it for your own situation — immigration law and policy change frequently. Seek advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer about your circumstances.