What Is a Registered Relationship?

A registered relationship is a relationship that has been formally registered with an Australian state or territory registry under the applicable state or territory legislation.

Depending on the jurisdiction, it may be called:

• Registered relationship
• Domestic relationship
• Relationship registration
• Civil partnership
• Registered partnership

The terminology and eligibility requirements vary between Australian states and territories.

For couples considering Australian migration, it is important to distinguish between:

Marriage

and

Registered relationship

and

De facto relationship

These are different legal concepts, although evidence of a registered relationship may be relevant to certain visa applications.

Is Relationship Registration the Same as Marriage?

No.

A registered relationship is not the same as a marriage.

Marriage in Australia is governed by Commonwealth legislation, while relationship registration is generally administered under state or territory legislation.

A couple may therefore be able to register a relationship without getting married, provided they satisfy the relevant state or territory requirements.

For immigration purposes, the Department of Home Affairs separately recognises spouses and de facto partners under the relevant visa requirements.

Can a Registered Relationship Help With an Australian Partner Visa?

Yes, in certain circumstances.

Home Affairs accepts evidence of a relationship registered by an Australian state or territory as one way of evidencing a de facto relationship for certain visa applications.

For example, Home Affairs states that applicants for certain skilled visas who are claiming a de facto relationship can provide:

• Evidence that the relationship is registered by an Australian state or territory; or
• Evidence that they have been in a de facto relationship for the required period.

The applicant must still satisfy the other applicable visa requirements.

A registered relationship should therefore be viewed as relationship evidence, not as a separate visa pathway.

Relationship Registration and De Facto Relationships

A de facto relationship is assessed based on the circumstances of the relationship.

Evidence can include:

Financial aspects

• Joint bank accounts
• Shared expenses
• Joint loans
• Joint bills
• Joint insurance
• Financial support

Household arrangements

• Joint lease
• Mortgage
• Utility accounts
• Shared address
• Household responsibilities
• Joint responsibility for children

Social aspects

• Family events
• Friends
• Travel
• Invitations
• Social activities
• Evidence that others recognise you as a couple

Commitment

• Relationship statements
• Future plans
• Communication
• Mutual support
• Important relationship milestones

Home Affairs identifies these types of evidence when assessing genuine and continuing relationships.

Relationship Registration in Victoria

If you live in Victoria, you can apply to register a domestic relationship through the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Victoria currently allows eligible couples to register their domestic relationship where:

• Both partners are at least 18
• At least one partner lives in Victoria
• The partners are not married
• The partners are not already in a registered relationship
• Neither partner is in another relationship that can be registered
• The partners provide domestic support to each other
• The partners are committed to each other personally and financially

Both partners need to participate in the registration process.

How to Register a Relationship in Victoria

The Victorian process generally involves several steps.

Step 1 – Check Eligibility

Both partners should confirm that they satisfy the Victorian requirements.

At least one partner must live in Victoria when the application is made.

Step 2 – Start the Application

One partner begins the relationship registration application.

Step 3 – Second Partner Completes Their Section

The Victorian Registry sends the second partner an email so they can complete their own part of the application.

Each partner must provide their own information.

Step 4 – Prove Identity

Both partners need to provide acceptable identity evidence.

Online identity verification may be available, or certified identity documents can be used where applicable.

Step 5 – Provide Evidence of Victorian Residence

At least one partner must provide evidence that they live in Victoria.

Examples can include:

• Bank statement showing a Victorian address
• Rental agreement
• Utility account
• Confirmation of enrolment at a Victorian tertiary institution

Step 6 – Complete Statutory Declarations

Both partners need to provide a statutory declaration confirming that they are eligible to register the relationship.

The declarations must be signed in front of a qualified witness.

Step 7 – Wait for Registration

Victoria has a 28-day cooling-off period for relationship registration.

The current Victorian information states that registration takes at least 28 days from receipt of a complete and valid application.

Victoria Relationship Registration Requirements

Identity

Both partners must establish their identity.

Possible documents can include:

• Australian passport
• Foreign passport
• Birth certificate
• Australian citizenship certificate
• Driver licence
• Medicare card
• Visa evidence
• Other accepted identity documents

The exact combination depends on the identity verification method used.

Victorian Residence

At least one partner must show that they live in Victoria.

Possible evidence includes:

• Bank statement
• Rental agreement
• Utility account
• Victorian education enrolment evidence
• Other accepted residential evidence

Relationship Eligibility

Both partners must confirm that they:

• Consent to registration
• Are not married
• Are not already in a registered relationship
• Are not in another relationship that can be registered

What If One Partner Was Previously Married?

If either partner was previously married, or was previously in a registered relationship, evidence that the previous relationship ended may be required.

Depending on the circumstances, this could include:

• Divorce certificate
• Certificate of revocation
• Death certificate of a former partner
• Other official evidence

Victoria specifically identifies documents such as divorce certificates and relationship revocation certificates as possible evidence.

Relationship Certificate

After registering a relationship in Victoria, the couple can apply for a relationship certificate.

A legal relationship certificate can be used as evidence of the registered relationship for legal and other official purposes.

For migration purposes, the certificate can be uploaded as supporting evidence where relevant.

However, the certificate should generally be considered alongside other relationship evidence rather than assuming it proves every aspect of a Partner visa application.

Does a Relationship Certificate Prove a Partner Visa Relationship?

A relationship certificate can establish that the relationship has been formally registered.

However, a Partner visa application can involve additional requirements.

The Department may still consider matters such as:

• Whether the relationship is genuine
• Whether the relationship is continuing
• Financial arrangements
• Household arrangements
• Social aspects
• Commitment
• Identity
• Health
• Character
• Sponsorship
• Other visa-specific criteria

Therefore, couples should prepare a complete application rather than relying solely on a relationship certificate.

Relationship Registration for Partner Visa Applicants

A registered relationship can be particularly relevant when an applicant is relying on a de facto relationship.

Depending on the visa subclass, Home Affairs may accept:

Registered relationship evidence

as an alternative to certain evidence of the length of a de facto relationship.

For example, current Home Affairs information for skilled visas such as subclasses 190 and 491 allows a de facto partner to provide evidence that the relationship is registered by an Australian state or territory, or evidence of the required de facto relationship period.

The rules differ between visa subclasses, so applicants should always check the requirements of their specific visa.

Registered Relationship for Subclass 190 and 491

If you are applying for a skilled visa and declaring a de facto partner, relationship registration may be relevant.

Home Affairs currently states for subclass 190 and subclass 491 applications that a de facto applicant can provide either:

• Evidence that the relationship is registered by an Australian state or territory; or
• Evidence of a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before applying.

The couple must also provide evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing.

This can be an important consideration for skilled migrants who need to demonstrate their partner relationship.

Registered Relationship and Partner Visa 820/801

For an Australian Partner visa, the relevant requirements depend on the applicant's circumstances and the specific visa stage.

The Partner visa subclass 820 is the temporary stage of the onshore Partner visa pathway, followed by subclass 801 for eligible applicants.

A registered relationship can be relevant evidence where the applicant is applying as a de facto partner.

However, the applicant still needs to satisfy the applicable Partner visa requirements and provide evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship.

Registered Relationship and Partner Visa 309/100

For applicants applying through the offshore Partner visa pathway, the relevant temporary visa is subclass 309, followed by the permanent subclass 100 pathway.

A registered relationship may provide evidence supporting a de facto relationship where the relevant requirements are met.

The applicant should still provide comprehensive relationship evidence and satisfy all applicable visa criteria.

Is Relationship Registration Required for a Partner Visa?

Not necessarily.

You do not generally have to register your relationship simply because you are in a de facto relationship.

Depending on the visa subclass, applicants may be able to demonstrate their de facto relationship through other evidence.

For some Australian visa applications, however, registering the relationship can be particularly relevant because Home Affairs allows evidence of a registered relationship to be used in place of certain evidence of the duration of the de facto relationship.

The correct approach depends on the visa subclass and the applicant's circumstances.

Relationship Registration vs De Facto Evidence

For many migration applications, couples may provide both registration evidence and broader relationship evidence.

What Evidence Should Couples Keep?

Even after registering a relationship, it is useful to maintain evidence of your life together.

Financial Evidence

☐ Joint bank accounts
☐ Joint bills
☐ Shared expenses
☐ Joint insurance
☐ Joint loans
☐ Major joint purchases

Household Evidence

☐ Rental agreement
☐ Mortgage
☐ Utility bills
☐ Shared address
☐ Household responsibilities

Social Evidence

☐ Photos
☐ Travel
☐ Family events
☐ Invitations
☐ Joint activities
☐ Evidence of mutual friends

Commitment Evidence

☐ Relationship statements
☐ Future plans
☐ Communication records
☐ Evidence of mutual support
☐ Important relationship milestones

Formal Evidence

☐ Relationship registration certificate
☐ Identity documents
☐ Previous relationship documents
☐ Other official records

Relationship Registration in Other Australian States and Territories

Relationship registration is administered by individual states and territories, and terminology and eligibility requirements can differ.

Depending on where you live, the relevant authority may provide a system for registering a domestic or civil relationship.

Some relationships formally registered in other jurisdictions may also be recognised under Victorian law. Victoria currently lists relationships formalised in jurisdictions including:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Queensland
• Tasmania
• New Zealand
• Canada
• Hawaii
• California
• New York
• South Africa
• Netherlands
• United Kingdom
• Scotland

Other relationships may also be recognised where the legal requirements are satisfied.

Always check the requirements of the jurisdiction where your relationship was registered.

Can Couples Living Overseas Register a Relationship in Australia?

This depends on the rules of the relevant Australian state or territory.

For Victoria, at least one partner must live in Victoria when applying to register a domestic relationship.

Therefore, couples should not assume that they can register a Victorian relationship while both partners are living overseas.

What Happens If a Registered Relationship Ends?

A registered relationship can be revoked according to the applicable state or territory rules.

In Victoria, both parties generally apply to revoke a registered relationship.

If one person applies alone, they generally need to provide evidence that the other partner has been notified, subject to circumstances involving safety or wellbeing.

Victoria currently requires a 90-day waiting period after applying before the registered relationship can be revoked.

A relationship can also be automatically revoked in Victoria if either partner:

• Dies; or
• Gets married to either the other partner or another person.

Does Registering a Relationship Give Permanent Residency?

No.

Registering a relationship does not grant:

• Australian citizenship
• Permanent residency
• A Partner visa
• A work visa
• An automatic right to remain in Australia

It is evidence that a relationship has been formally registered under the relevant state or territory law.

A separate visa application must still satisfy the applicable Australian migration requirements.

Relationship Registration and Australian Migration Planning

If you are planning an Australian visa application as a couple, consider the relationship evidence requirements early.

Your migration strategy may involve:

Relationship Registration

Relationship Evidence

Visa Eligibility

Sponsor Requirements

Health & Character

Other Visa Criteria

A registered relationship can be useful evidence, but it should form part of a broader application strategy.

Common Relationship Registration Mistakes

1. Thinking Registration Automatically Means De Facto Visa Approval

It does not.

2. Using the Wrong State or Territory Process

Each jurisdiction can have different registration requirements.

3. Not Checking Residence Requirements

For example, Victoria requires at least one partner to live in Victoria at the time of application.

4. Providing Incorrect Identity Information

Names and other details should match identity documents.

5. Forgetting Previous Relationships

Evidence that a previous marriage or registered relationship has ended may be required.

6. Assuming the Certificate Is the Only Partner Visa Evidence Needed

A complete visa application can require additional evidence of your relationship.

7. Ignoring the Visa-Specific Rules

The evidence accepted for one visa subclass may not be identical to another.

Relationship Registration Checklist – Victoria

Couple

☐ Both partners are at least 18
☐ At least one partner lives in Victoria
☐ Both partners consent to registration
☐ Neither partner is married
☐ Neither partner is already in a registered relationship
☐ Both provide domestic support
☐ Both are committed personally and financially

Documents

☐ Identity documents
☐ Victorian residence evidence
☐ Statutory declaration from Partner 1
☐ Statutory declaration from Partner 2
☐ Previous relationship documents, if applicable
☐ Certified documents where required
☐ Correct email address for each partner

After Registration

☐ Relationship registration completed
☐ Relationship certificate ordered, if required
☐ Certificate retained for visa/legal purposes
☐ Continue keeping relationship evidence

Victoria currently states that registration takes at least 28 days from receipt of a complete and valid application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a relationship register?

A relationship register is a formal state or territory system that allows eligible couples to register their domestic or civil relationship.

Can I register my relationship for a Partner visa?

You may be able to register your relationship under the relevant state or territory law. Registration can provide evidence of a de facto relationship for certain visa applications.

Does relationship registration guarantee a Partner visa?

No. Visa eligibility and relationship registration are separate matters.

Is a registered relationship the same as marriage?

No. A registered relationship and marriage are legally different arrangements.

Do I need to live together to register a relationship?

The requirements depend on the relevant state or territory. You should check the applicable registration rules.

Can relationship registration replace the 12-month de facto requirement?

For some visa subclasses, Home Affairs allows evidence of a registered relationship as an alternative to evidence of a 12-month de facto relationship. This is visa-specific and should not be assumed to apply to every visa.

Can I register a relationship in Victoria?

Eligible couples can apply to register a domestic relationship in Victoria if they satisfy the Victorian requirements, including the requirement that at least one partner lives in Victoria.

How long does Victorian relationship registration take?

Victoria currently requires a minimum 28-day period for relationship registration, with the current BDM information also indicating processing can take up to 35 days once the required information is received.

Can I get a relationship certificate?

Yes. Victoria allows couples to apply for a legal relationship certificate when registering or later.

Can a registered relationship be cancelled?

Yes. The process depends on the relevant jurisdiction. In Victoria, registered relationships can be revoked under the applicable process.

Can a relationship registered overseas be recognised in Australia?

Recognition depends on the jurisdiction and applicable Australian law. Victoria recognises certain relationships formally registered in specified Australian and overseas jurisdictions, subject to the relevant legal requirements.

Get Help With Your Australian Partner Visa

At The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd, we assist clients with Australian migration and Partner visa matters, including de facto relationship evidence and relationship-related documentation.

We can assist with understanding:

• Partner visa pathways
• De facto relationships
• Relationship registration
• Relationship evidence
• Subclass 820 and 801
• Subclass 309 and 100
• Skilled visa partner evidence
• Sponsor requirements
• Complex relationship circumstances
• Supporting documentation

Registered Migration Agent: Navneet Kaur – MARN 2318181

Phone: +61 430 077 714
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://thevisa.com.au/

Planning to Register Your Relationship for Australian Migration?

A registered relationship can be useful evidence for certain Australian visa applications, but the correct approach depends on your visa subclass and individual circumstances.

Before registering your relationship solely for migration purposes, make sure you understand both the state or territory registration requirements and the specific requirements of your intended Australian visa.

This page provides general information only. Relationship registration is administered by state and territory authorities, while Australian visa requirements are administered by the Department of Home Affairs. Requirements can change, so check the current official requirements before applying.