Partner visa sponsor statutory declaration (801)

The 801 page asks for the sponsor’s declaration to give information about any of the following:

• whether you and your partner have a mutual commitment, to the exclusion of all others
• whether the relationship is genuine and continuing
• whether you live together or don't live permanently apart
• when the relationship began and how long you have lived together
• the financial commitments you share
• the nature of your household, including any joint responsibility for the care and support of children
• the social aspects of the relationship
• the nature of your commitment to each other
• your plans for the future

These are the topics Home Affairs names. What the sponsor says about each one is theirs to write; we don’t suggest content, and the Attorney-General’s Department says it can’t either: questions about content go to whoever asked for the declaration.

The Attorney-General’s Department lists three ways, all equally valid:

1. Digital, through myGov with a Digital ID. No witness is needed.
2. The approved form, signed in person while an approved witness watches.
3. The approved form, signed by video link (such as Zoom, Teams or FaceTime) while an approved witness watches remotely.

Who can be an approved witness is set out on the Attorney-General’s “Information for witnesses” page. Making a false statement on purpose in a statutory declaration is an offence.

With the other stage 2 documents, attached in ImmiAccount. Home Affairs considers the permanent visa two years after you applied and says not to send the documents before then. The full list is on the 801 checklist.

Sometimes. 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. That requirement and Form 888 are explained on Is Form 888 a statutory declaration?

The 801 page also asks for statements from 2 witnesses on Form 888, as part of your updated relationship evidence. Our Form 888 tool sends each witness a private link; they answer in their own words and your browser fills in the official form.