Partner Visa Evidence: Social Aspects Guide 2025

This article is general information only and does not constitute migration or legal advice; requirements can change and individual circumstances vary, so consider seeking advice from a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.

Last Updated: February 2026

Why the social aspects pillar matters

Australian partner visa decisions assess several pillars of a relationship. The social aspects pillar focuses on how your relationship is recognised socially and the shared life you present to others. The Department of Home Affairs considers the social aspects of the claimed relationship and uses Form 888 statements, among other evidence, to assess these aspects. This pillar is about visibility and credibility: it shows the relationship exists outside the two of you and is woven into everyday life.

What Home Affairs lists as social evidence

The Department of Home Affairs provides examples of evidence that can support social aspects, including:

Joint invitations or evidence you used to go out together
Proof you had friends in common
Proof you told government, public or commercial bodies about your relationship
Proof you did joint sporting, cultural or social activities together
Proof you travelled together

These categories are broad on purpose. Aim for a consistent pattern of shared social life and public recognition rather than a perfect checklist.

Evidence you can use (realistic examples)

Below are practical examples; use what reflects your situation and timeline.

1) Shared social life and invitations

Show time together in social settings.

Event invitations addressed to both of you
Tickets, programs, or confirmations for events you attended together
Group photos with friends or family, labelled with dates and context
Messages about social plans with mutual friends

2) Friends in common

Demonstrate that people in your circles know you as a couple.

Photos from birthdays, holidays, or gatherings that include both of you with the same friends
Written statements from friends describing how they know you as a couple
Social posts or comments that show you are seen together consistently

3) Joint activities or memberships

Evidence of shared hobbies or community involvement can be strong.

Memberships in clubs, gyms, teams, or community groups that list both of you
Records of volunteering or participating together in cultural or social activities
Registrations for classes or courses you attend together

4) Public recognition or declarations

These documents show that you have told official, public, or commercial bodies about your relationship.

Records where you listed each other as partners in official or commercial systems
Joint bookings or confirmations that show you as a couple
Official letters or confirmations that list both of you together

5) Travel together

Travel is a clear signal of shared life and planning.

Flight itineraries, booking confirmations, or hotel reservations with both names
Travel photos showing you together at different times and locations
Supporting explanations if travel was for family visits or special events

Supporting statements and Form 888

Third party statements are a key part of social evidence. Form 888 is the official supporting statement for Partner and Prospective Marriage visa applications. The form must be completed by someone who knows you and your partner and is at least 18 years old. The supporting witness must also provide evidence of their identity and, where applicable, their Australian citizenship or permanent residency.

Form 888 is specifically used to assess the social aspects of your relationship. It notes you may be asked to provide up to three statements during processing and that the Department can contact a witness for further comment or interview. It can be attached to your application in ImmiAccount by the applicant or their representative.

Tips for strong supporting statements:

Choose witnesses who have seen your relationship in different contexts and over time
Ask them to include specific examples of shared activities and milestones
Keep dates and details consistent with your timeline and other evidence
Encourage honest, personal language rather than generic praise

How to build a clean, credible evidence pack

A strong social evidence pack is organised and easy to follow. Build a simple timeline and attach evidence for each period.

Map a timeline from the start of the relationship to the present.
Select a spread of evidence across the timeline rather than clustering everything in one year.
Label each item with a short note explaining what it shows and why it matters.
Avoid duplicates. One strong example is better than ten near identical items.
Cross check names, dates, and places so your story is consistent.

Quality beats quantity. A small set of clear items that show different angles of your social life is easier to assess than dozens of near duplicates. If you include screenshots or social posts, add context and dates so a case officer can understand them without guesswork. For photos, select a spread across time and settings rather than many from the same day. Keep file names descriptive when possible; this saves review time.

If your social evidence is limited

Not every relationship looks the same. Some couples are private or live apart for periods. Official guidance notes evidence lists are not exhaustive and are applied flexibly, and you can provide a statement explaining why certain documents are unavailable. If your evidence is limited, be clear about the reasons and provide alternatives that still show your social connection.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Only submitting photos with no dates or context
Relying on a single event rather than showing an ongoing pattern
Submitting documents that contradict your timeline
Using identical statements across multiple witnesses
Overloading the application with repetitive material

Quick checklist

Before you submit, ask yourself:

Do I have evidence across the whole relationship, not just one period?
Do I show shared social life and public recognition?
Have I included supporting statements that describe real interactions?
Are dates and names consistent across documents?
Have I explained any gaps or unusual circumstances?

Final thoughts

The social aspects pillar is about credibility and visibility. You are showing that your relationship exists in the real world and is recognised by friends, family, and the broader community. Focus on quality, clarity, and consistency. If your evidence tells a clear story over time, you will have a strong foundation for this pillar.