RELATIONSHIP REGISTRATIOM FOR DE FACTO PARTNERS

If you are applying for a partner visa or including and/or adding a partner to an existing visa based on de facto grounds, it is mandatory to show that you have lived with your partner for at least 12 months.

To waive the 12-month cohabitation requirement, you would need to register your relationship in an Australian state or territory. You still 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 can also be used for immigration purposes in Australia.

You will require relationship certificates to waive the 12-month cohabitation requirement for the purpose of adding and/or including partners for the following types of visas:

• Permanent visas
• Employer sponsored temporary visas
• Business Skills (Provisional)
• Student visas
• Partner visas
• General Skilled Migration visas

General 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

Registration is available in NSW, Victoria, QLD, ACT, Tasmania and SA with the main requirements and the registration fees included below for each state:

NSW – BDM – Relationship Register

​Relationship register

NSW residents can register via Registry of Death Birth and Marriages. At least one partner must live in NSW. It will take 28 days to receive your certificate after you have registered your relationship.

Registration fee: $223

Victoria – BDM – Relationship Register

Register a domestic relationship

Relationships are registered through Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria. Both partners need to have been resident in Victoria for the last 12 months. It takes a minimum of 28 days for the registration process to be finalised.

Registration fee: $228.10

QLD – BDM – Relationship Register

Civil partnerships

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 and processing time to register relationships is 10 days.

Registration fee: Free

Tasmania – BDM – Relationship Register

Register a significant relationship

You can apply by post or in person with the Tasmania Department of Justice. It will take 28 days to receive your registration certificate. Both partners must be residents of Tasmania.

Registration fee: $196.02.

ACT – Relationship Register

Civil partnership registration

Civil partnership registration can be obtained via Access Canberra. At least one of the partners must live in the ACT. Two forms of evidence of residency must be provided. You can apply in parson or by post. However, if you apply by post, at least one applicant would still need to present identification at the post office. There are no fees for civil partnership registration.

Registration fee: Free.

SA- BDM- RELATIONSHIP REGISTER

Register a relationship

You can register your relationship if you are 18 years of age or older and in a relationship with another person as a couple. At least one of you must live in South Australia. Couples may apply irrespective of their sex or gender identity.

Registration fee: $121.00

Western Australia (WA)

If you are resident of WA you can register your defacto relationship, however it is not recognised for migration purposes.

Northern Territory (NT)

Relationship registration not available

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