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  • Relationship Register for Partners

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Relationship Register for Partners

To apply for a partner visa on de facto grounds, you would generally need to show you have lived with your partner for 12 months. The 12-month requirement also applies when you include a de facto partner in most other visa applications, such as skilled, student and business visas.
However, you would be exempt from the 12 month requirement if you register your relationship in an Australian state or territory. You would need to show that you are living together but not necessarily for 12 months.

Registration provides legal recognition as a couple under the state law and as well as being beneficial for immigration purposes. Usual requirements include:

  • Both partners must be 18 years old or over
  • Must not be in a relationship as a couple with another person – in particular they must not be married, in a de facto relationship or in a registered relationship
  • Must not be related by family.
  • Same sex and different sex couples can register their relationship.

To find out who can register their significant relationship according to the laws of each state, look at the map below:

Partner Visa Assessment

Registration is available in NSW, QLD, Victoria, the ACT, Tasmania and South Australia and the main requirements are listed below for these states.

NSW – Registered relationship under s.4, Relationships Register Act 2010

NSW residents can register via Registry of Death Birth and Marriages. At least one partner must live in NSW. Check with the state registry for current fees and timeframes.

Victoria – Registered Relationship under s.10(3)(a) of Relationships Act 2008

Relationships are registered through Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria. Persons who are in a registrable domestic relationship or a registrable caring relationship may apply to the Registrar, in a form approved by the Registrar, for registration of that relationship if one of the persons in the relationship lives in Victoria and that each of the persons in the relationship is not married or in a registered relationship and is not in another relationship that could be registered.

QLD – Civil Partnership under s.5 of Civil Partnerships Act 2011

At least one partner must have lived in Queensland for at least 6 months and you must provide evidence of this. You can apply by post. Check with the state registry for current fees and timeframes.

Tasmania – Significant Relationship under s.4 of Relationships Act 2003

You can apply by post or in person with the Tasmania Department of Justice. Both partners must be residents of Tasmania. Check with the state registry for current fees and timeframes.

ACT – Civil Partnership under s.6 of Civil Partnerships Act 2008

Civil partnership registration can be obtained via Access Canberra. At least one partner must live in the ACT. Two forms of evidence of residency must be provided. You can apply in person or by post. However if you apply by post, at least one applicant would still need to present identification at the post office. Check with the state registry for current fees and timeframes.

Western Australia (WA)

Western Australia has no relationship register, so the usual 12-month de facto requirement applies.

South Australia (SA)

Relationships can be registered with SA Births, Deaths and Marriages under the Relationships Register Act 2016. At least one partner must live in South Australia. Check with the state registry for current fees and timeframes.

Northern Territory (NT)

Relationship registration not available

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