Can We Live With Family and Still Get a Partner Visa?

Does living with parents affect a partner visa?

Living with parents does not, by itself, affect a partner visa, because the Department recognises that couples often live with family, particularly in the early years of a relationship or where culture expects it. The question is whether the couple share a room, a daily routine and responsibilities as partners within the home. Our article on a partner visa living with parents explains how decision makers approach these households.

How do we prove we live together if the lease is in a parent's name?

A couple proves they live together when the lease or title is in a parent's name by using other documents that show the shared address, such as bank statements, driver licences, Medicare records, mail, phone bills and electoral enrolment. A letter or Form 888 from the parent who owns or rents the home, confirming that the couple live there as partners, also helps. Our article on partner visa household evidence lists the strongest documents.

What does the Department look for in a shared family household?

In a shared family household, the Department looks for signs that the couple run their part of the household together, such as sharing a bedroom, contributing to rent or board, sharing housework and caring responsibilities, and making joint decisions. A household where the couple appear to live separately under one roof raises more questions. Our article on the partner visa nature of the household explains this aspect in detail.

Can family members give Form 888 statements?

Family members can give Form 888 statements if they are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens, and family who share the home are often well placed to describe the relationship. A Form 888 is a supporting statement, not a statutory declaration. Statements should describe what the person has personally seen. Our article on Form 888 for partner visas explains what an effective statement says.

What if we do not pay rent or bills while living with family?

A couple who do not pay rent or bills while living with family can still show a shared household, but they need to explain the arrangement and show how they share finances in other ways. Paying for groceries, contributing in kind, saving together for a home or supporting each other financially are all relevant. Our article on partner visa informal living arrangements explains how to present arrangements without formal documents.

How does My Migration Lawyers prepare a partner visa for couples living with family?

My Migration Lawyers prepares a partner visa for couples living with family by identifying, room by room and bill by bill, what proves the couple live as partners in that home, and filling any gaps with statements from the family members who see it every day. The firm explains the cultural or financial reasons for the arrangement in the relationship statement so the Department reads the household correctly. Couples can discuss their living situation with our partner visa lawyers, and the firm, led by Principal Lawyer Weiwei Zhang, can consult in Mandarin.