How Do I Prove My Sponsor Is an Australian Citizen?

What documents prove a sponsor is an Australian citizen?

The documents that prove a sponsor is an Australian citizen are a current Australian passport, an Australian citizenship certificate, or an Australian birth certificate where the date of birth or the parents' status shows citizenship by birth. The passport is usually the simplest, because it shows citizenship and identity together. Our partner visa document checklist lists the sponsor's identity documents alongside the rest of the application.

Is an Australian birth certificate enough to prove citizenship?

An Australian birth certificate is enough to prove citizenship for most sponsors born in Australia before 20 August 1986, subject to limited exceptions. For sponsors born in Australia on or after that date, a birth certificate alone does not prove citizenship, because citizenship by birth depends on a parent being an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time. Those sponsors should provide a passport or citizenship certificate, or evidence of a parent's status at the time of birth.

What if the sponsor became a citizen by conferral or descent?

A sponsor who became a citizen by conferral or descent proves citizenship with the Australian citizenship certificate issued at that time, or with a current Australian passport. A sponsor who has lost the certificate can apply for evidence of Australian citizenship. Citizenship is not effective until the sponsor has made the pledge where a pledge is required, so a sponsor who has been approved but has not yet attended a ceremony is not yet a citizen and may need to sponsor as a permanent resident.

What if the sponsor's name differs across documents?

If the sponsor's name differs across documents, the sponsor provides the document that links the names, such as a marriage certificate, a change of name certificate or a divorce order. Differences in spelling or in the order of names should be explained so that the Department does not query identity. Documents in another language must be translated, as our article on partner visa evidence translation explains.

How are the sponsor's citizenship documents provided to the Department?

The sponsor's citizenship documents are provided by uploading clear colour scans of the original documents with the sponsorship in ImmiAccount. The sponsorship is lodged after the applicant's application, using the details the Department provides. Our guide to the partner visa online application explains how the two parts connect, and our guide on creating an ImmiAccount helps sponsors set up their own account.

How does My Migration Lawyers check the sponsor's citizenship evidence?

My Migration Lawyers checks the sponsor's citizenship evidence by matching the document to the way the sponsor actually became a citizen, so a birth certificate is not relied on where it does not prove the point. The firm also reviews name changes and earlier sponsorships at the same time, because these appear in the same part of the sponsorship. Sponsors can speak with our partner visa lawyers by video, whether the applicant is applying for the Subclass 820 visa in Australia or for the Subclass 309 overseas.