The Form 888 is a supporting statement which must be provided with Partner visa (820/801 and 309/100), and Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) visa applications. The Form 888s are an important aspect of these applications, as they provide third party verification of the relationship.
At least two Form 888s must be provided with a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application, and relevant details must be included in the visa application form. While you can provide more if you wish, there is also a balance in not providing too many documents. You can access a copy of Form 888 here.
Exactly who should complete a Form 888, and the information they should provide is discussed below.
Who should fill in my Form 888s?
A Form 888 will need to be completed by at least two people who:
- know the visa applicant and their partner/spouse;
- know the history of their relationship; and
- are at least 18 years of age.
As long as a person meets the above, they can complete the form. There is no requirement that they must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
We generally recommend providing at least one Form 888 from a family member/friend on the applicant’s side, and one from the sponsor’s side.
How should the questions on Form 888 be answered?
A guide to answering the long-form questions on the Form 888 is provided in the below table. Where possible, it is good to include specific details and events in these responses, to strengthen your statement.
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Explanation |
Example Response |
Question ThreeState how you know the applicant and the applicant’s partner or fiancé(e), and indicate how often you have been in contact with them |
The person making the statement, in relation to both the applicant and sponsor, should discuss:
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I am the older brother of the sponsor, Jane DOE. I have known her for 24 years, since her birth.
I first met the applicant, John JAMES, in October 2019 at an Italian restaurant in Melbourne. My sister had invited myself and our parents out for dinner with them to introduce John to us as her boyfriend. John and I became friends quickly after first meeting, and we bonded over our shared interest in sport. I see John and Jane at least once a month for family dinner at my parent’s house, and I am in contact with them more frequently over social media and text messages. |
Question FourState 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 |
Here, the person making the statement should explicitly state that they believe your relationship is genuine and continuing. They should then elaborate on why they believe this. This should including (where they have first hand knowledge of) the nature of:
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I believe that John and Jane’s relationship is genuine and continuing. Their relationship and love for each other has only grown stronger in the five years they have been together. John and Jane live together in their home that they purchased together last year, along with their two dogs. They also share a joint passion for travel and have gone on many holidays together. They go on an annual trip to France each year to visit John’s family. In 2023, I joined them on a holiday to France where I had the pleasure of meeting John’s family and friends. I know that both John and Jane are committed to their relationship long-term. John has shared his plans to propose to Jane within the next year, and I am very excited to officially welcome him into our family. |
Question FiveState any other matters you wish to add in support of the visa application
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This response allows the person making the statement to include further details about their knowledge of the relationship. This is a good place to discuss further reasons why the person believes their relationship is genuine and continuing.
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I have no doubt about the genuineness of Jane and John’s relationship, and their commitment to each other. Some of my favourite memories of time spent with them as a couple is the Christmas days John has spent with us as a family. He fits in perfectly with our family, and is an amazing uncle to my two children. |
More information?
At Hannan Tew Lawyers we frequently assist clients with all aspects of Partner and Prospective Marriage visa applications, including reviewing draft Form 888s to ensure a suitable amount of information is included. If you need legal assistance or have an immigration related query, you can contact our experienced team by email at [email protected] or by phone at +61 3 9016 0484.
