Guides · Evidence
Relationship evidence: what case officers look for
Case officers assess your relationship in four areas. A strong application covers all four with a clear selection of evidence across the whole relationship, not a huge pile from one part of it.
1. Financial
Show that you share money and responsibilities, not only that one partner sends money to the other.
- Joint bank account statements showing both of you using the account
- Bills, loans or a lease in both names
- Being named in each other's insurance or superannuation
- Remittance receipts
- Gifts and one-off payments
Sending hundreds of pages of remittance receipts. A selection covering the whole relationship is clearer for the case officer.
2. Household
Show how you live together, or how you will, and how you share day-to-day life.
- A lease or mortgage in both names
- Mail to both of you at the same address
- Shared household bills
- A statement saying you live together, with no documents
Leaving out the time you lived apart. Explain any separation, such as work overseas, in your statements rather than hoping it isn't noticed.
3. Social
Show that the people around you know you as a couple.
- Form 888 statements from friends and family
- Photos together with family and friends, across the relationship
- Joint invitations and travel together
- Dozens of selfies from a single trip
- Social media screenshots with no context
Photos with no dates or captions. Add the date, place and who is in each photo so the case officer can follow your story.
4. Commitment
Show that the relationship is genuine, continuing and exclusive, and that you plan a future together.
- Detailed relationship statements from both of you
- Communication history while apart, as a selection
- Wills, or plans you have made together
- Thousands of pages of chat logs
Statements that don't match. Dates, places and how you met should line up across both statements and the rest of the evidence.
How much evidence is enough?
There is no fixed number of documents. Aim for evidence that covers each area, spread across the whole relationship, and clearly labelled. Quality and consistency matter more than volume.
Want the complete method?
The DIY Kit includes a full evidence tracker spreadsheet, statement templates with worked examples, and all 12 common mistakes.
General information only, not migration advice. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for current requirements.