Understanding how a migration agent can increase your Partner visa approval chances can make a big difference when you’re preparing a high-stakes application. Partner visas are assessed in detail, and even small gaps or unclear evidence can create delays or risk refusals. A skilled migration agent helps you avoid these problems by guiding you on what evidence truly matters, how to present it clearly, and how to address sensitive areas before they become issues.
With deep knowledge of what case officers look for, a migration agent can help you build a persuasive, well-organised relationship narrative that highlights your genuineness and minimizes risk. Drawing on decades of experience inside the Department, I focus on strategic preparation, stronger documentation, and practical steps that remove confusion and reduce stress — giving you the best chance of a smooth and successful Partner visa outcome.
Key Takeaways:
- Migration agents increase approval odds through strategic preparation and targeted evidence selection.
- I draw on Department experience to predict assessor priorities and prevent common refusal triggers.
- We choose the most persuasive documents, avoiding unnecessary clutter that dilutes your case.
- A clear relationship narrative and well‑drafted statutory declarations make assessors see the genuine partnership.
- We spot and fix weaknesses-financial gaps, cohabitation questions, or past visa issues-before you apply.
- Timely, strategic responses to Department requests reduce risk and keep your application on track.
- Engaging a migration agent is smart risk management; fees are usually far less than refusal costs.
Your Partner Visa outcome depends on how clearly your case is presented — and professional guidance can make a decisive difference. With more than 45 years of immigration experience, Carlos Sellanes and the team at Sellanes Clark Immigration Law Specialists know how to prepare applications that meet the Department’s expectations. Visit our website to learn how our expertise can strengthen your visa strategy from the start.
Types of Partner Visas
You can apply for partner visas either onshore or offshore, and each route has a temporary and a permanent stream. I often explain the practical difference this way: the temporary visa lets you stay while your permanent claim is processed, and the permanent visa grants long-term residency once the relationship criteria are satisfied.
Below is a quick reference so you can see which subclass fits your situation and what each one is mainly for. Use this to decide when to contact a migration agent for strategy and document planning.
| Visa Class | When it’s used / Key features |
| Subclass 820 (onshore) / 801 (permanent) | Apply in Australia. 820 is temporary while 801 is assessed later for permanent residency. |
| Subclass 309 (offshore) / 100 (permanent) | Apply outside Australia. 309 is temporary while you wait for the 100 permanent decision. |
| Subclass 300 (Prospective Marriage) | For fiancés who plan to marry within 9 months and then apply for partner stream visas. |
| Other family-related partner options | Includes dependent child pathways and some bridging visa scenarios tied to partner applications. |
- Temporary streams let you live in Australia while the permanent stream is decided.
- Offshore and onshore routes use similar evidence, but timing and rights differ.
- Processing times vary; expect many cases to take 12-24 months end-to-end.
Temporary Partner Visa
The temporary partner visa (subclass 820 onshore or 309 offshore) secures your lawful stay while the permanent claim is assessed. You must demonstrate the same relationship evidence as for the permanent stage: shared finances, social life, household arrangements and commitment. I see many refusals come from weak evidence in one of these areas, not from the relationship itself.
You will usually get provisional work and study rights on the temporary visa. Processing often takes 12 to 18 months depending on case complexity and Department workload. A migration agent helps by prioritising which documents prove your living arrangements and by drafting strong relationship statements.
Permanent Partner Visa
The permanent partner visa (subclass 801 onshore or 100 offshore) is granted after the Department is satisfied your relationship is genuine and ongoing. It is not automatic; the assessor reviews changes since you filed the temporary application. This means you must keep building evidence while you wait.
You gain full permanent residency once the 801 or 100 is granted. That status allows work, study, and access to many government benefits. We prepare clients to show the relationship continued or improved, and we address any gaps the assessor might spot.
The permanent decision often hinges on timing and consistency. Provide dated evidence across the whole timeline-bank statements, joint leases, photos, travel records and consistent statutory declarations. I help structure those documents so an assessor sees a clear, chronological story that matches your statements and the sponsor’s records.
Assume that engaging an agent early will let you collect and present the best evidence and lower the risk of refusal.
Key Factors for Successful Applications
Certain elements make an application persuasive to an assessor. You need consistency across dates, shared events, and third-party support to build credibility. For example, six months of joint bank statements plus utility bills across a year strongly supports claims of shared finances and residence. Short, clear timelines and corroborating documents reduce questions and speed up decision-making.
Focus your evidence on the items the Department values most. Assemble clear relationship statements, properly witnessed statutory declarations, joint financial records, and proof of cohabitation. Good examples include a joint lease for 12 months, three to six months of regular transfers into a joint account, and dated travel itineraries showing time together. Organise these items into a logical index before lodgement so assessors can follow the story easily.
- Clear relationship timeline with major dates
- 5-8 statutory declarations from friends and family
- Joint financial records (bank statements, mortgage, or rent)
- Evidence of living together (leases, bills, mail)
- Photos with dates and captions, travel records
- Consistent third-party supporting documents (employers, landlords)
Knowing how each piece of evidence is weighed helps you choose what to prioritise and how to explain gaps.
Genuine Relationship Evidence
You must tell a clear, believable story about your relationship. Provide a relationship statement that lists key dates: when you met, moved in together, engaged or married, and shared milestones. I often advise couples to include a one-page timeline plus a more detailed narrative. Assessors like simple timelines because they compare dates across documents quickly.
Third-party confirmations matter. Aim for five to eight statutory declarations from people who know your relationship well. Include close family, mutual friends, and at least one professional contact if possible. Provide dated photos with short captions and supporting documents like joint travel bookings or invitations. Assessors decide on the balance of probabilities under the Migration Act 1958 – in simple terms, they ask whether it is more likely than not that your relationship is genuine.
Financial and Living Arrangements
Joint finances and living evidence show your day-to-day life together. Submit joint bank statements showing regular transfers or shared expenses for at least six months. A joint lease or mortgage for 12 months is powerful. If you have joint utility bills or council rates, include them. If you use separate accounts, explain how you divide costs with receipts or a household budget sheet.
When you cannot produce perfect records, explain gaps clearly. If one partner worked overseas for months, include travel records, messages, and evidence of continued financial support. I have helped clients who used indexed evidence folders with labeled tabs; that approach persuaded assessors where raw documents alone had failed.
Label every financial document and create an index that points to the reason each item supports your claim. Include brief cover notes for any anomalies, such as a sudden large transfer explained by an inheritance receipt or a temporary lease in a partner’s name supported by joint utility payments. This small work often turns borderline cases into approvals.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Application Process
Follow a clear sequence to reduce risk and save time. I advise treating the application like a project: assess risks, gather evidence, prepare a persuasive story, lodge the file, then respond quickly to any requests.
You can often cut weeks off processing time by preparing complete, well-organised evidence up front. In one matter I managed, reorganising documents and adding a short relationship timeline secured approval within 10 weeks instead of a later refusal review.
| Step | What you do / Why it matters |
| Initial assessment | We identify strengths, risks, and any visa history or character issues before you start. Early flags let us plan evidence strategy. |
| Gather documents | Collect identity, relationship, financial, household, and social proof. Quality over quantity proves the relationship more clearly. |
| Prepare statements | Draft personal relationship statements and statutory declarations. Clear narratives and timelines help assessors follow your story. |
| Health & character checks | Book mandatory medicals and police checks early. These can take weeks and delay lodgement if left to the end. |
| Lodge application | Submit online with a cover letter and index. A tidy, indexed file speeds assessor review and reduces clarification requests. |
| Respond to requests | We prioritise and craft measured responses to Department requests. Timely, strategic replies often prevent refusal. |
| Await decision | Track timelines and be ready to provide additional evidence if asked. Active case management shortens delays. |
Gathering Required Documentation
You must show consistent, overlapping proof of your relationship. Start with 12 months of joint financial records where possible, six months of shared utility or lease bills, and at least three independent statutory declarations from family or friends who know your relationship well.
Also include photographs with dates, travel itineraries showing shared trips, and any household invoices that show shared living. I often ask clients for a short timeline of milestones-when you met, moved in, married or committed-that matches the documentary evidence.
Submitting Your Application
When you lodge, present an index and a one-page cover letter that states the key facts clearly. A well-indexed file with tabs or a PDF bookmark structure makes an assessor’s job easier and highlights the strongest evidence first.
Use the Department’s online portal and upload documents as searchable PDFs where possible. Large files slow uploads; compress images but keep them legible. If you use statutory declarations, ensure they follow the required format and are properly witnessed.
In my experience, a concise cover letter that points to five to eight critical documents changes how assessors prioritise evidence. We mark those items and explain why they prove the relationship. This strategic framing often reduces follow-up questions and speeds decisions.
Small errors or poorly structured evidence can seriously reduce approval chances, even for genuine relationships. At Sellanes Clark Immigration Law Specialists, we combine decades of inside immigration knowledge with proven application strategies to give our clients the strongest possible advantage. Visit our website today to see how professional support can increase your success rate.
Tips for Strengthening Your Application
Prioritise the evidence that tells a clear story about your life together. Use dated, linked documents that cover shared living, finances, social life and plans for the future. For example, include at least six months of joint bank statements, a lease or mortgage in both names, and photos with dates spanning the relationship. Short, clear timelines make it easy for an assessor to see progression. I often ask clients to prepare a one‑page timeline of major events to sit at the front of their file.
Organise material so an assessor can follow it without guessing. Number pages, include a table of contents, and reference each piece of evidence in your relationship statements. When a case looked weak on paper, reorganising evidence and adding three well‑drafted statutory declarations turned the file around in one review. Keep your package focused. Too many similar documents dilute the best evidence.
- Prepare a one‑page relationship timeline with dates and short notes.
- Submit 6-12 examples of joint financial transactions and shared bills.
- Include dated photos with captions and locations across multiple years.
- Provide at least 3-6 statutory declarations from friends or family who know your relationship.
- Number pages and supply a clear table of contents that references documents in your statements.
- Translate non‑English documents and attach certified translations.
- Explain gaps in cohabitation or contact with a short supporting letter.
This focused, indexed approach reduces the chance an assessor misses critical evidence and shortens decision time.
Crafting Compelling Relationship Statements
Write a clear, chronological account of how your relationship formed and grew. Start with how you met, then describe living arrangements, shared finances, major trips, and future plans. Use specific dates where possible. For example, state “moved in together 12 May 2019” rather than “moved in mid‑2019.” Keep each partner’s statement to one or two pages. Short, factual paragraphs work better than long emotional essays.
Link every claim to supporting evidence by citing document numbers from your table of contents. If you say you opened a joint account on 3 March 2020, reference the bank statement number right after that sentence. I advise clients to include three concrete examples of commitment – such as joint lease, shared bills, and a major family event attended together – to show different kinds of mutual dependence.
Importance of Statutory Declarations
A statutory declaration is a signed statement from someone who knows your relationship. It should be factual and specific. Good declarants describe where and when they met you as a couple, notable shared events, and observable signs of commitment. Examples include a friend who attended your housewarming party, a colleague who saw you live together, or a landlord who can confirm joint tenancy. Aim for 3-6 declarations from diverse social circles.
Quality matters more than quantity. Avoid declarations that repeat generic phrases like “they are genuine” without concrete examples. Instead, each declarant should offer at least two dated observations – for example, “attended Christmas dinner with both families on 25 December 2018” and “saw both partners named on the lease dated 01 June 2019.” Have each declaration signed, dated and witnessed by an authorised person, such as a justice of the peace or lawyer.
Include the declarant’s contact details and a short note on how they know you both. If a declarant travels frequently, attach a scanned copy of their ID and a short photo to establish identity. We coach witnesses to avoid hearsay and to stick to what they directly observed; that approach makes their statements persuasive rather than repetitive.
Pros and Cons of Using a Migration Agent
| Pros | Cons |
| Expertise and strategic case planning tailored to your situation | Cost of professional fees and potential upfront payments |
| Targeted evidence selection that focuses on what assessors value | No agent can guarantee visa approval |
| Faster, organised responses to Department requests and timelines | Risk of choosing an inexperienced or unregistered agent |
| Stronger relationship narrative through quality statements and declarations | You may have less direct control over form drafting and submissions |
| Early identification and mitigation of potential refusal reasons | Additional fees can arise for complex matters or appeals |
| Access to tested templates, statutory declaration guidance and checklists | Over-documentation risk if an agent submits everything without strategy |
| Professional advocacy if issues or Department queries arise | Communication styles and availability vary between agents |
| Reduced stress and clearer expectations during the process | Possible dependency on the agent for updates and decisions |
Benefits of Professional Assistance
You get a tailored evidence plan that shows the assessor the right facts. Instead of sending every document, your agent focuses on the pieces that prove your commitment. I have handled cases where adding three targeted statutory declarations and a timeline turned a near-refusal into approval.
Professionals also manage Department communications and deadlines for you. That saves time and reduces mistakes. Your application will be organised, with relationship statements drafted to answer the specific questions assessors ask.
Considerations Before Engaging an Agent
Check registration, fees and what services are included before you sign. Make sure the agent is registered with MARA and ask for their registration number. Also ask for examples of similar partner visa cases they have handled.
Understand fee structures and extra costs for appeals or ministerial requests. Beware of promises of guaranteed outcomes. Good agents explain risks clearly and give realistic timelines.
Practical checklist: request a written engagement agreement, ask who will do the work, get an estimate of total fees, confirm communication frequency, and ask for a sample relationship statement. That helps you compare agents and pick one who fits your needs.
Common Misconceptions About Partner Visa Applications
You must be married to succeed
You do not have to be married to apply for a Partner visa. A de facto relationship can qualify after 12 months of living together, or sooner in limited circumstances such as having a child together or registering your relationship with the relevant State Authority. From my Department experience, assessors look for proof of a genuine, ongoing commitment – joint leases, shared bills, joint bank accounts and consistent social evidence matter more than a ceremony. I once worked on a case where the couple had not formally married but showed five years of shared finances and a joint lease; presenting that clear timeline helped secure the grant.
Submitting everything will strengthen your case
More documents do not always help. Sending 1,200 loose files can bury the key evidence and trigger extra requests. It’s better to provide a focused, organised bundle – for example, 30-50 labelled documents plus a concise relationship statement and a few quality statutory declarations. In one matter I narrowed a client’s 600‑page folder down to 45 vital exhibits and a 10‑page index. The application moved faster and avoided a further information request because the assessor could see the story at a glance.
Final Words
Considering all points, you gain a measurable advantage when a migration agent prepares your partner visa application. You get strategic evidence selection, a clear relationship narrative, early issue spotting, and expert responses to Department requests. This reduces avoidable mistakes and focuses on the proofs decision makers value.
Engaging an experienced agent earlier gives you time to build evidence, fix weaknesses, and manage risk so you avoid delays or refusals later. While no one can guarantee a visa, professional strategy and advocacy substantially improve your odds and provide confidence and practical protection throughout the process.
When your future in Australia is on the line, experience matters. Since 2003, Carlos Sellanes and his team have helped thousands of couples secure positive Partner Visa outcomes through careful preparation and expert representation. Visit our website now to discover how we can help maximise your approval chances.
FAQ
Q: How does a migration agent improve my partner visa approval chances?
A: I assess evidence strategically, highlight strengths, address weaknesses, and craft clear relationship statements. My Department experience guides what assessors value, so I present evidence that answers likely concerns and reduces risk of refusal.
Q: What exactly am I paying for when hiring a migration agent?
A: You pay for strategy, evidence selection, tailored relationship statements, statutory declaration drafting, risk identification and advocacy. We manage Department requests, anticipate issues, and save time and serious cost by reducing the chance of refusal and delays.
Q: Can a migration agent help with non-traditional relationship evidence?
A: Yes. Agents know how to frame non-traditional relationships for assessors. We select meaningful evidence, draft persuasive statements, explain living arrangements or cultural differences, and bridge understanding gaps to present your genuine partnership convincingly.
Q: Will hiring an agent guarantee approval?
A. No Agent can guarantee approval. However, we can significantly reduce risks by identifying problems early, preparing targeted evidence, and advocating during requests. Our role is to improve odds and protect your interests throughout the process.
Q: How do migration agents respond to Department requests for more information?
A: We craft focused, legally informed responses that directly address the assessor’s questions. We prioritise strong supporting evidence, write clear statements, and submit compliant documentation to avoid unnecessary delays and improve the assessment outcome.
Q: How early should we engage a migration agent?
A: Engage early, ideally before major evidence decisions. I can design a plan, gather targeted documents, and coach statutory declaration witnesses. Early work reduces surprises, fills gaps, and produces a cohesive case rather than last-minute patching.
Q: Are migration agent fees worth it compared to the cost of refusal?
A: Yes. The financial, emotional, and time costs of refusal often exceed agent fees. I mitigate avoidable risks, advise on alternatives, and help preserve migration options. Fees are an investment in risk management and certainty.
Author Bio
Carlos Sellanes is the founder and principal of Sellanes Clark Immigration Law Specialists, an Australian firm established in 2003. Carlos has more than 45 years immigration experience with over 20 years in practice and more than 25 years with Australia’s Department of Immigration where he gained unmatched insight into migration law and policy. Today, he leads a team recognised among the Top Ten Immigration Law Firms in the Asia-Pacific, offering expertise across skilled, family, and corporate visa categories. Through his blogs, Carlos shares practical updates and professional guidance to help clients navigate the complexities of Australian immigration with confidence. Learn more about Sellanes Clark Immigration Law Specialists.
