Do I Need Certified Copies for a Partner Visa?

Do I need certified copies for an online partner visa application?

Certified copies are generally not needed for an online partner visa application. The Department's usual practice for online applications is to accept clear colour scans of original documents, such as passports, birth certificates and marriage certificates, without certification. The Department may still ask for certified copies or originals later if it needs to verify a document. Our guide on how to lodge a partner visa through ImmiAccount explains the upload process.

When might the Department ask for certified copies or originals?

The Department might ask for certified copies or originals when a scan is unclear, when a document looks altered, when details differ between documents or when it wants to verify an overseas civil document. Such a request usually comes with a deadline that is strictly applied. The applicant should respond in full and on time, or ask for more time before the deadline passes. Our article on responding to a section 56 request explains how these requests work.

How should documents be scanned for a partner visa?

Documents should be scanned for a partner visa in colour, at a resolution where every word, stamp and photo is easy to read, with all pages and both sides included. Each file should be clearly named so the case officer can find it. A blurred or cropped scan invites a further request and can delay processing. Applicants should keep the originals safe after lodgement, because a request to produce them can arrive at any stage, including when the permanent stage is assessed. Our partner visa document checklist lists the documents that are usually needed.

Do translated documents need to be certified?

Translated documents need to be properly translated rather than certified as copies. A translation made in Australia should be by a NAATI-certified translator. A translation made outside Australia should be endorsed by the translator with their full name, contact details and qualifications. Both the original document and the translation should be uploaded. Our guide to partner visa evidence translation explains these requirements.

What if our documents show different names or dates?

Documents that show different names or dates need an explanation, whether or not they are certified. Common causes are transliteration of names from another script, marriage name changes and errors in civil records. A short explanation, supported by documents showing the link between the names, prevents the issue from becoming a concern about identity. Our article on Form 1221 covers how personal details are recorded.

How does My Migration Lawyers prepare partner visa documents for lodgement?

My Migration Lawyers prepares partner visa documents for lodgement by checking every scan for clarity and completeness, matching names and dates across all documents and arranging any translations before the application goes in. The firm flags documents that are likely to draw a request for originals, such as overseas civil records, and advises how to obtain them in advance. Sponsors whose partner is lodging an offshore Subclass 309 visa can ask our partner visa lawyers to check the document set before it is uploaded.