Partner visas
Relationship Registration for an Australian Partner Visa
Find out how registering your relationship in an Australian state or territory can support a partner visa application—with guidance from immigration solicitors.
Updated October 2026 · 18 min read min read
Relationship registration enquiry
Table of Contents
How relationship registration fits into a partner visa application
De facto relationship vs registered relationship
- De facto means a couple living together as a genuine couple without being married or registered. Services Australia says there is no minimum period for a relationship to count as de facto, but that is a social security rule. Partner visa rules can differ, and applicants generally need to show 12 months together before lodging unless an exception applies.
- Registered means the relationship is recorded with a state or territory registry, where registration is available. Registration may be a way to address the 12-month requirement, provided it is still in place when the visa is decided.
- Location matters. Registration is not available in the Northern Territory or Western Australia, so couples living there generally cannot rely on this option.
- Overseas registrations are not recognised under Australian state or territory law. Evidence of one can still help show that you are in a de facto relationship.
- Registration is not a shortcut around genuineness. You still need to show a genuine and continuing relationship, with evidence of shared finances, a shared home, social recognition and commitment. See our de facto guide for the kinds of evidence that carry weight.
Registration is not the same as marriage
- Different legal status. A registered relationship is recorded under state or territory law. It does not make you married, and it does not change your marital status in the way a wedding does.
- Different visa pathway. If you are engaged and your partner is overseas, the prospective marriage visa is a separate pathway with its own requirements. Registration does not substitute for it.
- Marrying mid-application needs care. Marrying while a partner visa application is still being processed can affect how the relationship is assessed. Get advice on timing before you book a ceremony.
- Registration does not guarantee a visa. It is one piece of evidence and one possible way to meet a threshold requirement. The Department still assesses the whole relationship.
- Where you apply from. Whether you lodge onshore or offshore can change how registration fits into your plan. Our partner visa overview explains the pathways.
Can registration replace the 12-month de facto requirement?
Registration may help with the 12-month rule, but it is not a shortcut. Couples in a de facto relationship generally need to show 12 months together before lodging, unless an exception applies . Registering the relationship under state or territory law can satisfy that requirement in place of the 12 months, but only if the registration is still in place when the application is decided . Registration does not prove the relationship is genuine, so you still need evidence that it is continuing and exclusive. Availability also differs between states and territories. Check your situation before relying on registration. See our partner visa overview for how the criteria fit together.
Where you can register your relationship in Australia
States and territories with a relationship register—and where registration is not available.
Victoria
At least one partner must live in Victoria, and both must be 18 or older. A 28-day cooling-off period applies, so registration cannot be finalised sooner than four weeks after a complete application is received.
New South Wales
At least one partner must live in NSW, and both must be over 18. You do not have to live together, but neither partner can be married or already in another registered relationship. You can apply online, by post or in person.
Other states and territories
Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT also run their own registers, each with its own residency and eligibility rules. Check the relevant registry before you apply, because a registration only works if you meet the rules of the place you register in.
Western Australia and the Northern Territory
Relationship registration is not available in Western Australia or the Northern Territory. Couples who live there cannot use a local register as evidence for a partner visa. A partner visa application can still rest on a de facto relationship. See our de facto partner visa guide.
Relationships registered overseas
Australian state and territory law does not recognise a relationship registered in another country as a registered relationship. Overseas registration documents can still show you are in a de facto relationship. Treat any certificate as one piece of evidence rather than a substitute for the rest.
Not sure which route suits you?
Whether to register, and where, depends on your circumstances and your visa pathway. Start with our partner visa overview.
Who is eligible to register a relationship
Use this checklist to test whether you and your partner can register. Registration is run by each state or territory—details below follow Victoria and NSW. Check the rules of the registry where you will apply.
Age and residency requirements
- Both partners are adults. Victoria says at least 18 years old, and NSW says over 18. Neither registry accepts anyone younger.
- At least one partner lives in the state or territory where you apply. Only one of you needs to be a resident. The other can live elsewhere, including overseas.
- You can show where you live. Victoria asks for current evidence of residence, such as a bank statement, rental agreement, utility account or tertiary enrolment confirmation. A rental agreement in both names can work.
- You can prove who you are. Victoria requires identity evidence from both partners. A partner overseas can usually use foreign equivalents, such as a foreign driver licence or birth certificate. NSW asks for three identity documents on postal and in-person applications.
Relationship status requirements
- Neither of you is married. This covers marriage to each other and marriage to anyone else.
- Neither of you is already in a registered relationship. This includes registrations in another Australian state or territory.
- Neither of you is in another relationship that could be registered. NSW also excludes anyone in a relationship with a third person.
- You are not related by family. NSW lists this as a bar to registration.
- Living together is not always required. NSW says a couple does not have to share a home. Check this with the registry you are applying to.
Commitment and domestic support
- You are a couple. NSW requires adults who are in a relationship as a couple.
- You are committed to each other. Victoria looks for personal and financial commitment.
- You give each other domestic support. Victoria lists this as a separate requirement.
- Both of you freely consent. Each partner must agree to the registration. Consent obtained by fraud, duress or other improper means can make a registration void in NSW.
- You can both sign a statutory declaration. In Victoria, each partner declares their eligibility before a qualified witness. One witness can witness both declarations.
Registration is a state or territory process and is separate from a visa application. Whether a registered relationship counts toward a partner visa depends on federal migration rules. Our partner visa overview explains how the visa pathways work.
Steps to register your relationship
Relationship registration is handled by each state or territory, not by the Department of Home Affairs. Eligibility rules, fees and timeframes differ by jurisdiction—check the registry for the place you live before you apply.
Confirm you can register where you live
Registries generally require both partners to be 18 or older and at least one partner to live in that state. Neither of you can be married or in another relationship that could be registered.
Choose how to apply
Victoria runs its process online. NSW accepts online applications, or paper forms lodged at a Service NSW Centre or posted to the registry. Queensland also publishes its own application options.
Each partner completes their own part
In Victoria, the first partner starts the application. The registry then emails the second partner, who must use a different email address from the first.
Prove identity and residency, and sign declarations
Victoria asks both partners to prove their identity and sign statutory declarations confirming consent and eligibility. One partner must also show current evidence of living in Victoria.
Lodge the application and pay the fee
Victoria: $266.00 . Queensland: $170.00 . NSW application fee is non-refundable.
Wait out the registration period
Victoria requires at least 28 calendar days from a complete application, with listed processing of up to 35 days. Queensland states 10 days for a compliant application.
Order your certificate
Victoria certificate: $59.10 . Queensland official certificate: $58.10 . Allow for express or international postage if you are overseas.
Use the registration in your partner visa application
Keep the certificate with the rest of your relationship evidence. See our partner visa overview at /services/partner-visas/overview.
Documents you will need
Requirements differ between states and territories. The items below follow the Victorian and NSW registries. Have everything ready before either partner starts the application.
Proof of identity for both partners
- Identity documents for Partner 1, as listed by the registry handling your application.
- Identity documents for Partner 2, on the same basis. Each person proves their own identity.
- For paper or in-person applications in NSW, three identity documents per the registry's form.
- Certified or scanned copies only. Do not post original documents to the registry.
- If you are overseas, foreign equivalents such as a foreign driver licence or birth certificate. Victoria accepts these for applicants who live abroad.
- A separate email address for each partner. The Victorian process emails Partner 2 directly, and it must not be the same address Partner 1 used.
Evidence of state or territory residence
At least one partner must live in the state or territory where you register. Only one partner needs to supply this evidence, and it should be current.
- A recent bank statement showing your address.
- A rental agreement. A joint-name lease can work.
- A utility account in your name.
- Confirmation of enrolment at a tertiary institution in that state, if this applies to you.
- Anything else the registry lists as accepted residency evidence. Check before you rely on a document type that is not listed.
Statutory declarations
- A statutory declaration from each partner confirming consent to registration and eligibility.
- A qualified witness to sign each declaration. One witness can witness both partners' declarations.
- Declarations that are accurate, complete and signed correctly. Errors or missing details are a common cause of delay.
- Time allowed for the cooling-off period. Victoria requires at least 28 calendar days from a complete, valid application before registration.
Before you lodge
- Check each document's name, date and address for consistency across both partners' paperwork.
- Keep copies of everything you submit. You may need them later for your visa application.
- Remember that registration is only one piece of evidence in a partner visa application. See our partner visa overview for the wider picture.
Lodging with your state or territory registry
Each registry sets its own lodgement method, evidence and timing. For how registration fits into a partner visa, see our partner visa overview.
Online applications
- Two-part application (Victoria): each partner completes their own section; Partner 2 must use a different email address.
- Evidence uploaded with the form: identity, statutory declarations, and Victorian residence evidence for one partner.
- Cooling-off before registration (Victoria): at least 28 calendar days after a complete application.
- Fees: Victoria $266.00 registration and $59.10 certificate; Queensland civil partnership $170.00.
Postal and in-person applications
- Paper form (NSW): download the registration form and gather three identity documents. Send copies only, never originals.
- Where to lodge (NSW): Service NSW Centre or post to the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
- Postage for certificates: Victoria offers express post within Australia and internationally.
- Changing your mind: In NSW, either partner can withdraw only within 28 days of submitting. The application fee is non-refundable.
Appointments and ceremony bookings
- Booking a ceremony (NSW): email the Registry with names, registration number, contact details and preferred dates.
- Ceremonies are optional extras separate from registration itself.
- Getting the certificate later: In Victoria you can order during registration or afterwards, after the 28-day period.
- Timing against your visa application:
Registration fees by state
Registration fees are set by each state or territory registry, not by Home Affairs. Confirm every figure on the registry website before you lodge.
Application fees
| State | Scheme name | Registration fee | Certificate included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Registered domestic relationship | $266.00 | No, ordered separately |
| New South Wales | Relationship register | Amount not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Queensland | Civil partnership | $170.00 | No, official certificate priced separately |
- The NSW fee is non-refundable, so check eligibility before paying. At least one partner must live in NSW, and both must be adults.
- Victoria also requires at least one partner to live in the state when applying.
Certificate and postage costs
| Item | Victoria | New South Wales | Queensland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official or legal certificate | $59.10 | Standard certificate fee applies, amount not confirmed | $58.10 |
| Commemorative certificate | Not listed | Offered; fee not confirmed | $75.60, including one official certificate |
| Standard post (Australia) | Not listed | Not listed | Free |
| Registered post (Australia) | Not listed | Not listed | $8.10 |
| Express post (Australia) | $10.60 | Not listed | $8.55 |
| International post | $58.60 express | Not listed | $21.55 registered mail |
NSW also charges separately for relationship ceremonies and for revoking a registration. If you plan to lodge a partner visa overseas, factor in international delivery when you order certificates.
How long registration takes
Cooling-off periods
Registration is not instant. Victoria applies a statutory cooling-off period; Queensland publishes a shorter timeframe in the material we reviewed. The clock starts only when the application is complete.
Registry processing times
Queensland urgent applications: not available
What can add time
- Incomplete applications—missing documents or unsigned declarations delay the process.
- Partner 2's part of the application (Victoria)—the registry emails the second partner, who must complete their section using a different email address.
- Postage—express and international options exist in Victoria and Queensland; standard postage in Queensland is free.
Work backwards from your visa lodgement plan. Allow the full registry window, plus a buffer for public holidays and further document requests, before you rely on a registration certificate as evidence. For how registration fits into the wider application, see the partner visa overview.
Withdrawing or revoking a registered relationship
Check before you withdraw or revoke. Rules vary by state and territory. In NSW, for example, an application to register can be withdrawn only if it was submitted within the last 28 days, and a 90-day cooling-off period applies before the Registrar revokes a registration. If you have lodged, or plan to lodge, a partner visa that relies on your registration, get advice before you take either step, because the change may affect your visa application. Our partner visa overview explains how registration fits into a claim.
How M2 Migration's solicitors can help
Registering a relationship is a state or territory process, but it can sit alongside a partner visa application. Our solicitors help you decide whether registration suits your situation and keep it consistent with your visa case.
- Registration eligibility check: We confirm that at least one of you lives in the state where you apply, that you are both adults, and that neither of you is married or already in a registered relationship.
- Where registration is unavailable: Registration is not offered in the Northern Territory or Western Australia, so we look at other ways to prove your relationship if you live there.
- Registration or de facto evidence: We advise whether registering is worth it for your visa, or whether your shared-life evidence is enough . See our de facto guide.
- Timing around cooling-off: Victoria applies a 28-day cooling-off period before registration completes, so we build that into your lodgement plan.
- Identity papers and declarations: We help you gather identity documents and prepare statutory declarations so details match across registration and visa forms.
- Overseas registrations: Australian law does not recognise relationships registered overseas as registered relationships, but we show how that registration can still count as de facto evidence.
- Choosing the right visa pathway: We match your circumstances to the onshore, offshore or prospective marriage route.
- Clear costs: We explain registry fees and our legal fees before you commit.
- Book a conversation: Speak to a solicitor about your plans before you lodge anything.
Relationship registration FAQs
Mandatory registration, timing with lodgement, immigration use and marrying during processing.
No. Registering a relationship is one way to show a couple is in a genuine de facto relationship, and it is not a standalone requirement for a partner visa. Couples without a registration can still qualify by showing they have lived together as a couple for the required period, supported by evidence of shared finances, a shared home, and their social and family life . Registration can strengthen a file, but it does not replace the rest of the evidence. See our partner visa overview for how the pathways fit together.
Often you can, but timing matters. Registration schemes are run by each state or territory, so you apply through the registry where at least one of you lives, for example in Victoria or NSW. Registering after lodgement generally cannot backdate your relationship or fix a gap in the time-together requirement that applied when you applied . You can still give the registration to the Department as further evidence if it is relevant. Allow for registry timing. Victoria, for instance, has a 28-day cooling-off period before registration is complete .
Yes, it can be used as evidence in a partner visa application, but a registry certificate does not guarantee a visa. Home Affairs still assesses whether your relationship is genuine and continuing, looking at the full picture of your life together. Registration is a recognised form of evidence under the de facto rules, and it works best alongside your other documents . Eligibility also differs between registries. In Victoria, NSW and Queensland, at least one partner must live in that state, and each state has its own fees and timeframes . Our partner visa evidence guidance covers what else to include.
You can marry while your application is being processed, and it does not necessarily end it. If you applied as a de facto partner and later marry, you should tell the Department and provide your marriage certificate so your file reflects your current circumstances . If you are not yet married and are outside Australia, a different pathway may suit you better. Our page on the prospective marriage visa explains how it works. For those already in Australia, see onshore partner visas.
Related partner visa resources
If you're weighing up how a registered relationship fits into a partner visa application, these pages cover the next questions couples usually ask.
- Partner Visa Overview
How the partner visa pathway works and which stages apply to your situation.
- Onshore Partner Visa
Applying while you are in Australia.
- Offshore Partner Visa
Applying while your partner is outside Australia.
- Prospective Marriage Visa
For couples who plan to marry in Australia but have not yet done so.
- De Facto Relationship Guide
How de facto relationships are assessed when you are not married or registered.
- Partner Visa Evidence Checklist
Documents that help show a genuine, ongoing relationship.
- Partner Visa Processing Times
What to expect while your application is being assessed.
Book a consultation with an immigration solicitor
Find out whether registering your relationship suits your partner visa application, and how to present it alongside the rest of your evidence, by speaking with one of our immigration solicitors.
Or email us at info@m2migration.com.au