How Can You Prove a Genuine De Facto Relationship for an Australian Partner Visa in 2026?

Marriage is a socially recognised union of two individuals that gives them automatic legal recognition as partners. For that very reason, getting an Australian Partner Visa as a married partner is so much easier.

However! The same journey can be somewhat difficult for de facto partners who aren’t legally married. It is basically because the likelihood of a sham arrangement is higher in this case. Obviously, the Australian Department of Home Affairs doesn’t take any chances and demands strong evidence from individuals applying for a partner visa as de facto partners.

In this blog, we will explain how couples can present their genuine de facto partnership to the Australian immigration authorities and qualify for a visa without marrying.

What Is a De Facto Relationship for an Australian Partner Visa?

As is clear, a de facto relationship is one in which the people aren’t legally married. But this can be a vague description to define a de facto relationship for an Australian Partner Visa.

As per the DHA, a relationship between two individuals can be considered as de facto when:

• They are not legally married to each other (obviously)
• They are committed to sharing their life (exclusion of all others)
• They have a genuine and persistent relationship
• They live together or do not live individually and apart on a permanent basis
• They don’t have a family relationship that would prohibit marriage under Australian law.

These requirements for a de facto relationship apply to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Proving a de facto relationship is often necessary for onshore Partner Visas (subclass 820/801) and offshore Partner Visas (subclass 309/100).

Plus, in most cases, the couple even needs to prove they have maintained at least a one-year relationship before lodging their application for the visa. And just knowing each other for a year is not enough! The couple needs to provide strong evidence that they have been living together and sharing their life for 12 months as a couple.

What About Temporary Periods of Separation?

Periods of separation are natural in all relationships. A job, a trip, a course of study, or another real family duty may bring this on.

And the Department understands this very well. So, you don’t have to worry if you and your Partner were apart for a while during your relationship.

But there are some conditions for that too. Your separations will not necessarily break a de facto relationship if:

• The separation is for a while, not permanent
• You have a genuine reason for the temporary separation
• Your relationship still continues during the separation
• You have evidence to prove ongoing commitment, communication, and continued financial or emotional support during the periods of separation.

Key Evidence Categories: How to Prove a De Facto Relationship

Now comes the question of how to prove that you actually meet all the requirements of a de facto relationship and that your application is genuine. A strong application includes documents from all four categories.

Financial Aspects of the Relationship

Interdependency is the one key element of a real relationship. And, if it’s financial, this is actually the strongest indicator that proves you and your partner trust each other and share responsibilities. Now, to prove economic interdependence, you can provide details of:

• Joint bank accounts that both partners use frequently
• Shared costs for groceries, utilities, and rent
• Major purchases, joint loans, mortgages, assets, or liabilities
• Insurance policies, superannuation nominations, or wills that name each other as beneficiaries

Social Aspects of the Relationship

The Department also looks at whether your relationship is recognised socially by others. For that, you can provide:

• Photographs of your partner and you together that are captured over time, and during various events
• Invitations or correspondence by friends and family addressed to you as a couple
• Travel records showing you have taken trips together to different places

A genuine relationship is acknowledged by the people in your life and those who surround you. So, you can provide personal statements from friends and family confirming that they know you as a genuine couple.

Nature of Commitment to Each Other

The department assesses the authenticity of a relationship based on its exclusivity, emotionality, and long-term commitment.

This is the most important criterion, so make sure you can show you’re both serious about each other. To do so, you should provide:

• Personal statements from you and your partner, each explaining how the relationship began and developed
• Detail how you support each other emotionally in your life.
• Future planning and shared future evidence

Show Nature of the Household

The nature of your household should be exactly like that of a committed couple. It should show how you live together and manage your daily life as a couple. To prove this, you may include:

• Joint lease agreements or property ownership documents
• Utility bills or official correspondence (addressed to both partners at the same address)
• Evidence of shared household responsibilities, such as paying bills together or owning a pet.
• Mails addressed to both of you at the same address

Write A Strong Personal Statement That Strengthens Your Visa Application

As is now clear, getting a partner visa for a de facto partner requires demonstrating genuineness, continuity, and commitment to the relationship with the Department. And writing a clear and honest statement can help in doing that so easily.

While creating a personal statement, you need to mention:

• When and how you and your partner met
• What have you achieved as a couple in the relationship
• When did you actually start living together
• Did you have periods of separation? If so, when and why
• What are your plans as a couple in the future?

Note: Immigration officers pay close attention to whether the details in the personal statement match those in the attached documents. So, make sure your personal statement doesn’t contradict even a minor detail in the documents that you will attach to your application.

Valuable Tips For Partner Visa Applicants In 2026

Here are some of the tips that can help you secure a partner visa in 2026 as a de facto partner:

• Start collecting all the documents early, from filing your application.
• Keep records organised and present them in chronological order for better clarity.
• Provide as much detailed documentation filled with substance as possible to prove your genuineness.
• Have clear explanations for separation gaps and explain anything that might raise questions
• Attach statements from friends and family members who are aware of your relationship.
• Make sure each and every document and detail you are providing is truthful and consistent.

It’s best to seek assistance from professionals like Ozee Migration when filing your application to build a strong profile and improve the chances of approval. A weak profile can face an immediate decline and, in the case of forgery, cause a 3-to-10-year return ban by the Department.

Relationship Registration as an Alternative

Some states and territories in Australia allow unmarried couples to register their relationship. This can save you from the hassle of meeting the 12-month de facto requirement for your partner visa.

But! You and your partner still need to prove your relationship is genuine, stable, and continuing and provide evidence for the same.

Wrapping Up

Indeed, proving your relationship as a de facto is more difficult than proving your relationship as a husband or wife for a partner visa. With that being said, as long as your relationship is real and not some sham arrangement, you can easily prove your genuineness and get your hands on a Partner visa.

We at Ozee Migration assist individuals like you who wish to move to Australia but are confused about the requirements and paperwork to actually qualify for a visa. Whether you want a Partner visa, a student visa, a Skilled migration visa, or some other Australian visa, our MARA agents can guide you through the process and assist in filing your application with complete paperwork. Get in touch to book a consultation with one of our agents today.

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