Form 888 is no longer a statutory declaration: what changed
Short answer
Since July 2023, Form 888 has been a supporting statement, not a statutory declaration: it has no JP or qualified-person witness and no “declared at” section.
Since July 2023 the person making a Form 888 no longer has to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Many templates online still show the old version.
Checked against Form 888 (08/26) and Home Affairs’ pages on 19/10/2026General information, not migration advice
What is Form 888 now?
Form 888 is a supporting statement from someone who knows a partner or prospective marriage visa applicant and their partner. Its full title is “Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application”. The current version has design date 08/26 and is two pages long.
The person making it answers five questions: how long they’ve known each of you, how they know you and how often they’re in contact, whether they believe your relationship is genuine and continuing and why, and whether they’ve attached evidence of their identity. They then sign a declaration that the statements are true.
When did Form 888 stop being a statutory declaration?
In July 2023. The first supporting-statement version has design date 07/23, and Home Affairs’ subclass 820 page changed its link from “Statutory declaration by a supporting witness” to “Supporting statement” between 24 July and 25 August 2023.
What changed between the old and the current Form 888?
The table compares the old statutory-declaration form (design 10/20) with the current form (07/23 onwards; 08/26 has the same wording as 11/24).
| Old (10/20) | Current (08/26) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A statutory declaration by a supporting witness | A supporting statement (not a statutory declaration, since July 2023) |
| Witnessed by a JP or qualified person | Required | Not needed |
| “Declared at” and qualified person details | Required | Removed from the form |
| Who can make it | An Australian citizen or permanent resident (with an exception for some applicants outside Australia) | Anyone aged 18 or over who knows you both and the history of your relationship |
| ID evidence from the person making it | Evidence of name, age and citizenship or residency; copies had to be certified | Evidence of current name, age and, where applicable, citizenship or permanent residency; no certification mentioned |
| Contact details | Occupation and office and after-hours phone numbers | Home phone, mobile and email; giving an email means agreeing to electronic communication (since 11/24) |
Do you still need a JP, a qualified person or “declared at”?
Not for Form 888. The current form has no JP or qualified-person section and no “declared at” line. The person making the statement signs and dates it themselves.
One exception to know about: some onshore partner visa applicants are asked for Commonwealth statutory declarations as well. That requirement is separate from Form 888: see when a partner visa still needs a statutory declaration.
When does a partner visa still need a statutory declaration?
Separately, the subclass 820 page asks applicants who don't hold a substantive visa for at least two Commonwealth statutory declarations, and says current and previous versions of Form 888 don't satisfy that requirement.
On the subclass 820 page, this sits under “Not had a visa cancelled or an application refused”. It asks those applicants to “include a minimum of two statutory declarations, each made within the last six weeks by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen”, and adds: “The current and any previous versions of the Form 888 are not acceptable as they do not satisfy this requirement.”
So a partner (spouse or de facto) visa can involve both: Form 888 supporting statements from witnesses, and, for this group of onshore applicants, separate Commonwealth statutory declarations. Whether it applies to you depends on your visa situation; check the subclass 820 page, or ask a registered migration agent or lawyer. This is general information, not advice.
Who can make a Form 888 now?
Form 888 must be completed by someone who is at least 18 and knows the visa applicant, their partner or fiancé(e), and the history of their relationship.
Since July 2023 the person making a Form 888 no longer has to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. If they are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the visa pages ask for evidence of it, such as a passport or birth certificate. See Form 888 ID evidence.
What changed in 2024?
The November 2024 version (11/24) added contact details: home phone, mobile and an email address. The form says that by providing an email address, the supporting witness agrees to communicate electronically. 11/24 also added a fillable date field and renumbered the ID question as question 5.
How do you spot an outdated Form 888 template?
An old or unofficial copy usually has one or more of these:
- The title “Statutory declaration by a supporting witness”
- A “Declared at” line, or “Signature of qualified person”
- A field for your occupation, and office or after-hours phone numbers
- Four pages instead of two
- A requirement that you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
The safest copy is the one on the Home Affairs website. See where to get the official Form 888 PDF, and how to fill it in, question by question.
Questions
Is Form 888 a statutory declaration?
No. Since July 2023, Form 888 has been a supporting statement, not a statutory declaration: it has no JP or qualified-person witness and no “declared at” section. The current form is titled “Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application”.
Does Form 888 need to be witnessed by a JP or qualified person?
No. The current Form 888 has no section for a JP, qualified person or other authorised witness, and no “declared at” section. The person making the statement signs and dates it themselves.
What does “declared at” mean on Form 888?
“Declared at” was the place where a statutory declaration was made in front of a qualified witness. It appeared on the old statutory-declaration version of Form 888 (for example the 10/20 design). The current form doesn't have it; if your copy does, it's an old version.
Who can sign a Form 888 now?
Form 888 must be completed by someone who is at least 18 and knows the visa applicant, their partner or fiancé(e), and the history of their relationship. Since July 2023 the person making a Form 888 no longer has to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Home Affairs doesn't say on the form or the visa pages whether the applicant, the sponsor or their relatives can make one.
Do we still need any statutory declarations?
Separately, the subclass 820 page asks applicants who don't hold a substantive visa for at least two Commonwealth statutory declarations, and says current and previous versions of Form 888 don't satisfy that requirement. Check the visa page for your subclass and situation; this is general information, not advice.
What changed in the 08/26 version of Form 888?
The wording of the 08/26 form is the same as the 11/24 version apart from the design date and copyright year. The big changes were in July 2023 (no longer a statutory declaration) and November 2024 (new contact details fields).