What Form 888 is
If you are applying for a Partner visa, the people who know you best can help tell the story of your relationship. Form 888 is the supporting statement used for Partner and Prospective Marriage visa applications. It gives a friend or family member the chance to explain, in their own words, what they have seen of your relationship over time.
The Department of Home Affairs asks for statements from 2 witnesses, and you may be asked for up to 3 statements while your application is being processed. It is a good idea to think about who your witnesses will be early, rather than leaving it until the last minute.
Download Form 888 from the Department of Home Affairs
Who can complete a Form 888
A witness must be 18 years of age or older. They must also know both you and your partner, and know the history of your relationship.
In practice, this means choosing people who have genuinely spent time with the two of you as a couple. A person who has only met one of you, or who knows of the relationship only second-hand, may find it hard to give the kind of detail that is useful.
What the statement should cover
The form asks the witness to explain how they know each of you, and how often they are in contact with you. It then asks whether they believe your relationship is genuine and continuing, and to give their reasons for that belief. There is also space for any other relevant information the witness would like to add in support of the application. Finally, the witness signs and dates the statement.
The most helpful statements are honest and specific. A witness who describes real occasions, such as time spent together, family events or how they have seen your relationship grow, usually gives a clearer picture than one who uses general phrases. Each witness should write about what they personally know.
Identity evidence from each witness
Each witness must provide documentary evidence of their current name and age. If a witness is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, they must also provide evidence of this, such as a birth certificate or an Australian passport.
It helps to collect these documents at the same time as the signed statement, so that nothing is missing when the application is put together.
Accuracy matters
Every statement must be accurate. Under the Migration Act 1958, giving false or misleading information is a serious offence, and the form itself includes a warning to this effect. Witnesses should only sign a statement they believe is true in every detail.
Witnesses may also be contacted by Home Affairs for further comment or an interview about what they have written. Let your witnesses know this before they agree to help, so they are comfortable with it.
Form 888 is not a statutory declaration
This point is often misunderstood. Form 888 is not a statutory declaration. If you are applying in Australia and do not hold a substantive visa, you must include at least two statutory declarations, each made within the last six weeks by an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, confirming your relationship. Form 888 does not meet this requirement. If these declarations are not included when you lodge, your application may be treated as invalid.
The Home Affairs Partner visa page explains the evidence it asks for, including witness statements and the statutory declaration rule.
Read the Home Affairs Partner visa page on relationship evidence
Getting your statements right
Witness statements are one part of the evidence for a Partner visa, and they work best alongside the rest of your relationship evidence. Before you lodge, read each statement carefully, check that the details match the rest of your application, and make sure each witness has attached their identity documents. If anything looks unclear or inconsistent, it is better to fix it before the application is lodged.
If you would like your supporting statements reviewed before you lodge, we are happy to help.
Read our guide to Partner visas
See our other recent migration updates
To talk about your situation, Book a Consultation from the top of this page, or message us on WhatsApp on +61 478 278 410.
General information only, not legal advice. EMC Australia, MARN 1800335.