On this page
- Short answer
- What is Form 888 for?
- Who can write one?
- What does the form actually ask?
- What should the statement cover?
- How many statements might be asked for?
- Does Form 888 need a witness or a stat dec?
- How does it get attached to the application?
- What are the penalties for false statements?
- How do couples and agents make this easier?
- Questions people ask
- Sources
Short answer
Form 888 is a supporting statement for a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa, written by someone aged 18 or over who knows the applicant, their partner and the history of their relationship. The writer explains how they know the couple and whether they believe the relationship is genuine and continuing, attaches evidence of their name, age and (where applicable) Australian citizenship or permanent residency, and signs a declaration. The applicant or their representative attaches it in ImmiAccount.
Key takeaways
- The writer must know both partners and the history of their relationship, and be at least 18.
- They attach evidence of their current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship or permanent residency.
- Applicants may be asked for up to 3 separate statements during processing.
- The current edition has a declaration and signature, with no separate witness section.
- False or misleading statements carry penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment or AUD313,000, or both.
Your friends have asked you to "write something for our visa". You want to help, but the form in your inbox has a section number, a reference to the Migration Act and a warning about ten years in prison. What are you actually being asked to say, and what happens if you get it wrong?
This guide is for the person writing the statement and for the couple asking for it. It quotes the current Form 888 throughout. It's general information, not legal or migration advice. A registered migration agent or lawyer can advise on a specific case.
What is Form 888 for?
Form 888 is a supporting statement for a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa. The form explains that when assessing these visas, the Department "must consider the social aspects of the claimed relationship", and it uses the statements, "among other things, to assess these aspects." It's a friend's or relative's view of the couple, in their own words.
It isn't a character reference and it isn't a form about you. It asks how you know the couple, how often you're in touch, and whether you believe the relationship is "genuine and continuing", with your reasons.
Who can write one?
Anyone who knows both partners and their story, and is at least 18. The form says 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 "is at least 18 years of age". Family members and friends both qualify if they meet that test.
The writer also has to prove who they are. The form asks for "documentary evidence of their current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency", giving examples: "a copy of their birth certificate, Australian passport or passport containing a permanent visa".
What does the form actually ask?
It's two pages. The writer gives their details, then answers six numbered items: the applicant's name, the partner's name, how they know the couple, whether they believe the relationship is genuine, whether they've attached identity evidence, and a signed declaration. Here's each part in order.
| Item | What it asks | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Your details | Name, residential address, phone, email | The form notes "The Department prefers to communicate electronically" |
| 1 | Visa applicant's name, and how long you've known them | Use the name as it appears on their passport |
| 2 | Partner's or fiancé(e)'s name, and how long you've known them | You may have known one partner far longer; say so |
| 3 | How you know the applicant and partner, and how often you've been in contact | Concrete and specific beats general |
| 4 | Whether you believe the relationship is genuine and continuing, and your reasons, plus anything else to add | Your own observations, in your own words |
| 5 | Have you attached evidence of your identity? | Attach it before you tick yes |
| 6 | Declaration under section 234(1)(b) of the Migration Act, with signature and date | Read it before signing |
The couple's Transaction Reference Number or File Number goes at the top if they have one. Ask them for it.
What should the statement cover?
What you've seen yourself. Say how and when you met each partner, how often you see or speak to them, and the moments that show you how they are as a couple: shared events, visits, holidays, how they talk about their future. Then give your honest view on whether the relationship is genuine and continuing, and why.
Some guidance that holds up well:
- Be specific. "We had dinner at their flat most Sundays from mid-2023" says more than "I see them often".
- Stick to what you know. If you only met the partner last year, say that. You don't need to know everything.
- Use your own words. Statements copied from a template, or from each other, read that way. The form asks for your reasons.
- Write in English. The form says to complete it in English, typed or in block letters.
- Use extra pages if needed. Each answer box says "If insufficient space, please attach additional details."
How many statements might be asked for?
Up to three. The form says: "You may be asked to submit up to 3 separate statements during the processing of the visa application." Each comes from a different person. The visa's document checklist, or the Department during processing, tells the couple how many they need.
For couples, it helps to choose writers who've known you at different times or in different settings, such as a family member, a long-standing friend and a colleague. Their statements will naturally cover different parts of your story without overlapping word for word.
Does Form 888 need a witness or a stat dec?
Not on the current edition. Form 888 has its own declaration and signature box; it doesn't contain a witness section, and it isn't a statutory declaration. The writer declares that they understand it is "an offence to make a false statement in connection with a visa application" and signs and dates the form.
You may still see older guides telling writers to get the form witnessed or to use a statutory declaration. Use the current form and follow its instructions. If the Department separately asks for a statutory declaration about something, that's a different document, covered in our guide to making a Commonwealth statutory declaration.
How does it get attached to the application?
The writer gives the signed form and identity evidence to the couple. The form says: "the visa applicant or their appointed representative can attach this form to the Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application in ImmiAccount." The writer doesn't lodge it, and the couple shouldn't change it after it's signed.
A simple handover:
- The couple sends the writer the current Form 888 PDF, with their names and reference number filled in.
- The writer completes their details and answers, attaches identity evidence and signs.
- The writer returns the form and evidence as a PDF or scan.
- The couple (or their agent) checks it's complete and legible, then attaches it in ImmiAccount.
- Everyone keeps a copy. The form says: "We strongly advise that you keep a copy of this statement and all attachments for your records."
What are the penalties for false statements?
Serious. The form warns: "The Migration Act 1958 (the Act) provides penalties for providing false or misleading statements of 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of AUD313,000, or both." The declaration repeats that false statements are an offence. Write only what you believe to be true.
If you have doubts about the relationship, you're not obliged to write a statement. Saying no is better than writing something you don't believe.
How do couples and agents make this easier?
Pre-fill everything that isn't the writer's to say: the applicant's and partner's names, the reference number and the writer's contact details if you have them. The writer then only writes their own story, and you avoid misspelled names and missing reference numbers.
AppliFlo's PDF & Word forms includes Form 888 in its library of 54 official forms, so an agent can pre-fill the couple's details from the client record before sending it out. Sign can route the form to each writer and track who has returned theirs. If you collect signatures electronically, confirm that an electronic signature is acceptable for the statement in your situation, and print a copy for any writer who'd rather sign on paper.
For the rest of a partner visa application, see the Australian visa forms guide, and if the Department asks for one, the guide to Form 80.
Questions people ask
What is Form 888?
Form 888 is the Home Affairs 'Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application'. A friend or relative who knows the couple uses it to describe how they know them and whether they believe the relationship is genuine and continuing. The Department uses these statements, among other things, to assess the social aspects of the relationship.
Who can complete Form 888?
The form says 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 'is at least 18 years of age.' The writer also provides documentary evidence of their current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship or permanent residency, such as a birth certificate or passport copy.
How many Form 888 statements do I need?
The form says: 'You may be asked to submit up to 3 separate statements during the processing of the visa application.' Each statement comes from a different person. Check your visa's document checklist and any request from the Department for the number they want in your case, rather than relying on a general rule.
Does Form 888 need to be witnessed?
The current edition of Form 888 has no witness section. The writer signs a declaration on the form itself, stating they understand that under section 234(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958 it's an offence to make a false statement in connection with a visa application. Older guides may mention a witness, so always use the current form from the official listing.
How do I submit Form 888?
The writer gives the completed, signed form and their identity evidence to the couple. Then, as the form says, 'the visa applicant or their appointed representative can attach this form to the Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application in ImmiAccount.' The writer doesn't lodge it with the Department themselves, but may be contacted later for further comment or an interview.
Sources
- Home Affairs — Form 888, Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application (PDF)immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (opens in a new tab)
- Home Affairs — Form listingimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au (opens in a new tab)
- Attorney-General's Department — Statutory declarationsag.gov.au (opens in a new tab)
