Proving that you live together is one of the most important parts of a Partner visa application, but it’s also one of the areas applicants find most confusing. There’s no single document that confirms cohabitation; instead, the Department looks for a consistent pattern of shared household life.
Drawing on more than 25 years of immigration experience, I’ll walk you through the types of household evidence that carry real weight, including leases, bills, correspondence, photos, and simple timelines that clearly show how long you’ve lived together. You’ll also learn how to explain one-name accounts, what to do if you’ve recently moved, and practical steps you can take now to build a strong, organised record for your Partner visa application.
Key Takeaways:
- Household evidence is one of four key areas assessed for Partner visas.
- The Department wants to see you act as a domestic partnership, not just roommates.
- Joint documents are ideal, but clear alternatives can still prove shared life.
- Start building your paper trail early: bills, lease, mail, photos and receipts.
- A timeline showing consistent shared living over time strengthens your case.
- Photos of shared spaces and everyday receipts add context beyond formal documents.
- If only one name appears, provide explanations, supporting items and statutory declarations.
Proving that you live together is a critical part of your Partner Visa application — and it’s often where couples feel most uncertain. With over 45 years of immigration experience, Carlos Sellanes and the team at Sellanes Clark Immigration Law Specialists know exactly what evidence the Department looks for. Visit our website to learn how we can help you prepare strong cohabitation proof from the start.
Types of Household Evidence
You will use a mix of document types to show you live together. Short, repeated records that cover months matter more than a single paper. I often see stronger files when couples combine official documents with everyday records.
The best approach is breadth and consistency. Try to show overlapping dates across different sources. The Migration Regulations assess household arrangements as one of four key areas, so link dates and addresses clearly in your timeline.
- Core documents (leases, bills, bank statements)
- Financial links (joint accounts, shared expenses)
- Official mail (rates, electoral roll, government letters)
- Everyday records (photos, receipts, delivery records)
- Third‑party statements (friends, family, landlords)
| Lease / Tenancy agreement | Shows legal residence and names on the agreement; 6-12 months is persuasive |
| Utility & phone bills | Regular bills at the same address with one or both names; helps show everyday living |
| Official correspondence | Government letters, electoral roll, or council rates that link you to the address |
| Joint financial records | Bank statements, joint cards, or shared subscriptions that show shared spending |
| Photos & household receipts | Time‑stamped photos of the shared home and receipts for groceries or furniture |
Core Documentation
Your strongest documents are the ones that officially tie you to the same address. Tenancy agreements and mortgage statements are top‑weight. If a lease lists both names, that single item can carry a lot of weight. Aim for at least six months of continuous documentation where possible.
Utility bills and bank statements are the next layer. Monthly phone or electricity bills with the same address show routine life. Joint bank statements that show shared rent or grocery payments add clear proof. If only one name appears, add a short signed explanation and supporting receipts to show the link.
Supplementary Evidence
Supplementary items fill gaps and add context. Time‑stamped photos of shared living spaces, grocery receipts, and delivery dockets show the day‑to‑day reality. Third‑party letters from landlords, flatmates or family can explain why only one name is on bills. I’ve helped clients use shopping app histories and streaming service accounts to prove shared routines.
Use a mix of low‑value but frequent items plus occasional larger purchases. For example, a dated photo series of a living room across months plus a receipt for a couch purchased together makes a persuasive pair. Also include travel or calendar entries that show shared home life during periods when formal bills are in one name.
Knowing a clear, organised package of core and supplementary evidence makes it easier for decision makers to see you live together and share a household.
Tips for Gathering Evidence
You should aim for depth and consistency in your household evidence. Collect documents that show shared living over time, not just a single moment. For example, keep utility bills, a lease, and mail with both names for at least 12 months when possible. Piece together a timeline showing how your household developed month by month.
- Utility bills and account statements showing your shared address.
- Lease or mortgage documents, or a written tenancy agreement.
- Joint mail, electoral roll entries, and government correspondence.
- Photos of shared living spaces with dates and captions.
- Receipts for household purchases and joint bank transactions.
- Statutory declarations from two to four people who see you living together.
Starting Early
Begin collecting from day one you move in together. Even simple things count: a joint grocery receipt or a dated photo helps. Aim to save two to three documents per month for the first year.
Set small, practical goals. For example, scan one bill a week and save it in a shared cloud folder. In my experience, couples who start early avoid gaps that the Department may question.
Organizing Your Documents
Create a simple folder system on your computer and in hard copy. Label folders by year and by document type, for example “2024 – Bills” or “2023 – Lease”. This makes it easy to find items when you prepare your application.
Use a single timeline document that lists each household item with a short note. Write the date, what the document is, and why it shows you live together. Attach file names that match entries on the timeline.
The timeline should be short, clear and match the order of your documents so the reviewer can follow your household story.
Step-by-Step Guide to Presenting Evidence
Step-by-Step Checklist
| Action | What to include / Examples |
| Gather core documents | Lease or rental agreement, at least 6-12 months of utility bills, mail addressed to both or showing shared address. |
| Collect everyday proof | Grocery receipts, joint shopping or furniture purchases, subscriptions with the same address, and shared insurance policies. |
| Photograph the home | Wide shots of shared spaces, labelled with date and brief caption. Include photos showing both partners using the space. |
| Statements and declarations | Statutory declarations from friends or family, a joint household statement from you and your partner, dated and signed. |
| Organise chronologically | Arrange documents by date. Make a one-page timeline that links each document to events and dates. |
| Explain single-name documents | If only one name appears, add supporting evidence: rent transfers, joint purchases, and a short written explanation. |
| Prepare an index | Number pages, classify by type, and include a cover sheet that points the officer to key pages and dates. |
Creating a Timeline
Create a simple timeline that lists move-in dates, lease starts, changes of address, and major shared purchases. Use bullet points on a single page. For example: “Moved in March 2019; lease began 1 April 2019; joint electricity bills June 2019-May 2020.”
Make sure each entry links to a document and page number in your bundle. I often tell clients that a clear timeline makes it faster for an officer to verify your story. Keep dates precise. Include short notes for periods you lived apart for work or family reasons.
Ensuring Consistency
Check names, addresses and dates across documents so they tell the same story. If one document has a different address, add an explanation and proof that shows the overlap. For instance, show rent transfers to the landlord for months when only one name is on the lease.
Use the timeline to cross-reference every document. Mark each document with the timeline entry it supports. Provide at least 6 consecutive months of utility bills when possible, and add other recurring items like subscriptions to fill gaps.
Extra detail on consistency: prepare short explanatory notes for any mismatch. Number the notes and place them beside the differing documents in your bundle. For example, if a lease has only one name, include a note pointing to bank transfers, receipts for shared furniture, and a statutory declaration explaining why the lease name differs.
Even genuine couples face visa delays or refusals if their living-together evidence isn’t clearly documented or presented. At Sellanes Clark Immigration Law Specialists, we structure your documents into a compelling, compliant story case officers understand. Visit our website today to see how professional guidance can strengthen your Partner Visa submission.
Factors to Consider
When you collect household evidence, focus on relevance and consistency. Time at the same address matters. So do shared financial responsibilities, regular mail addressed to both of you, and living routines that show you act as a household. Give priority to documents that overlap in dates and types – for example, a lease, utility bills, and bank transfers that all show the same address over six months or more.
Think about practical signs that the Department expects: shared bills, joint lease or mortgage, joint bank payments, photos of the shared home, and mail showing both names. The Migration Regulations assess household arrangements as one of four key areas of a partner claim, so align your evidence to show daily life together. Assume that consistent, overlapping documents across different categories are more persuasive than many documents of one single type.
Living Arrangements
If you rent, a signed lease with both names is strong evidence. When only one name is on the lease, add rent receipts, bank transfers showing regular payments, and a letter from the landlord confirming you both live there. For home owners, joint mortgage papers or council rates in both names help. If only one person owns the home, include shared bills, joint insurance, and photos of joint living spaces to show the household functions for both.
Living with family requires extra clarity. Provide a statement from the family member who owns or rents the property. Back that with mail to both of you at the address, regular grocery receipts that match shared shopping, and a timeline showing when you moved in. From my experience, clear chronological evidence of shared life outweighs informal arrangements.
Joint vs. Individual Documentation
Joint documents carry more weight. A joint bank account, joint lease, or joint utility account directly links both names to the same address. If you have these, highlight them and place them early in your evidence bundle. Aim to show at least six months of overlapping joint documents where possible.
When most documents are in one name, you must build a web of supporting evidence. Use statutory declarations from both partners that explain the arrangement. Add proof of shared expenses such as regular bank transfers, joint purchases for the home, and paid invoices that show both contributed. Include dated photos of the living space and mail addressed to the other partner to fill the gap.
Provide clear explanations for why documents are individual. For example, if one partner’s name is on the lease because their visa status required it, attach a short sworn statement and supporting proof of shared payments and household contribution. Use specific examples: a $1,200 monthly rent split with $600 transfers each month for 12 months gives a clear pattern of shared living.
Pros and Cons of Different Evidence Types
You should weigh each document on what it actually proves, not just how official it looks. Some papers show legal residence, others show daily life. In my experience, a mix of strong formal documents and everyday items gives the best picture to the Department.
Think about time span and consistency. A single utility bill dated one month is weak. A consistent set of bills, photos, mail and bank records over 6-12 months is far more persuasive. Use examples that link you and your partner to the same living address across different sources.
Pros and Cons of Different Evidence Types
| Lease / Tenancy agreement – Pros Shows legal right to live at the address. Names on a lease are clear, dated evidence of shared residence. | Lease / Tenancy agreement – Cons Often only one name is on the lease. Family homes or informal arrangements may have no signed lease at all. |
| Utility bills (electricity, water) – Pros Monthly bills show ongoing occupancy and address. They are dated and issued by recognised providers. | Utility bills – Cons Accounts are often in one partner’s name. Short-term bills or single-month statements carry little weight. |
| Joint bank accounts / shared payments – Pros Direct evidence of shared finances. Regular transfers for rent, groceries, or bills show day-to-day sharing. | Joint bank accounts / shared payments – Cons Not all couples mix money. One partner managing accounts alone can make these documents unavailable. |
| Mail and official correspondence – Pros Government letters, electoral rolls, or health letters in both names help verify long-term residence at the same address. | Mail and official correspondence – Cons Some people use digital statements only. Electoral rolls or official mail may lag behind actual living arrangements. |
| Photos, receipts, household purchases – Pros Photos of shared space, joint purchase receipts and grocery records add context and show everyday life. | Photos, receipts, household purchases – Cons These items are supportive but rarely stand alone. They need dates and corroborating documents to be persuasive. |
Benefits of Joint Documentation
Joint documents show you share responsibility for the household. If both names appear on a lease, utility account, or bank statement, the Department sees clear, overlapping ties to the same home.
You should aim to gather documents that cover different aspects of living together. For example, a joint lease plus six months of joint utility or bank statements creates a timeline showing residence and shared costs.
Limitations of Individual Evidence
When only one name appears on key documents, the Department will ask how you function as a household. One-name files often raise questions about who pays bills, who lives there permanently, and whether the relationship is domestic rather than a lodger arrangement.
You can still use individual evidence, but you must link it to your partner with supporting items. For example, if only one name is on the lease, include dated photos, mail addressed to your partner at the same address, and statements showing regular contributions to rent or groceries.
Provide context and explanations where a document seems weak. Statutory declarations from both partners and from housemates or landlords work well. Also, collate a simple timeline that matches dates on bills, bank transfers and photos to show continuous shared living over time.
Common Concerns and Solutions
Non-Traditional Arrangements
If you live in a household that is not the usual two-person setup, use a mix of evidence to show you share daily life. Provide at least three types of documents: a tenancy or mortgage document, regular bank transfers or joint bills, and dated photos of shared spaces. Add a household ledger or grocery receipts to show who pays for what over time.
I have helped couples in polyamorous and multigenerational homes where only one name was on the lease. We compiled 12 months of bank transfers, 18 dated photos of personal items in shared rooms, and statutory declarations from two housemates. That combination showed the Department you function as a domestic household, not merely as separate tenants.
Temporary Living Situations
If you are living apart for work, study, or family reasons, document the pattern and the purpose. Save travel tickets, dated messages, workplace letters confirming assignments, and accommodation receipts for both addresses. Show regular visits-for example, records of visits every 2-6 weeks over six months carries weight.
When one of you keeps the primary home and the other lives elsewhere temporarily, include evidence that belongings remain at the shared address. Use photos of packed and unpacked items, mail forwarding records, and inventory lists. A clear timeline that links travel dates, visits, and shared bills helps the Department see continuity.
Provide a short written timeline that states dates and reasons for separation. Add supporting documents like employer letters, hospital records, or study enrolment confirmations. The Migration Regulations assess household arrangements as one of four key areas, so present a consistent story across receipts, photos, travel records, and witness statements to explain temporary separation.
Conclusion
From above you should now understand how household evidence supports your partner visa application. The Department looks for signs that you run a household together. Joint documents are strong, but clear explanations and alternative evidence can also show your shared life. A consistent timeline and matched records make your case easier to assess.
Gather a clear timeline and organise documents into categories: bills, leases, mail, photos, receipts and statements from friends or family. If only one name appears on paperwork, provide context and supporting evidence such as shared purchases or household contributions. Present your folder clearly and explain any gaps so an officer can see your life together.
Your evidence of living together can directly affect your Partner Visa approval. Don’t rely on guesswork when your future is at stake. With decades of inside immigration experience, Carlos Sellanes and his team are here to help. Visit our website now to get expert support for your application.
FAQ
Q: What documents prove that we live together?
A: Utility bills, lease agreements, shared bank statements, joint insurance policies, council rates, mail addressed to both, tenancy bonds, joint subscriptions and dated photos of the home all help show a shared, ongoing household arrangement.
Q: What if only one partner’s name is on the lease or bills?
A: If only one name appears on documents, supply a clear explanation, statutory declarations from both partners, landlord letters, payment records, joint purchases and bank transfers showing shared expenses over time to demonstrate domestic partnership.
Q: How much evidence and for what time period is needed?
A: Aim for consistent evidence covering at least twelve months where possible. Provide multiple document types across time, such as bills, bank statements, photos and lease pages, to show an ongoing shared household rather than a single isolated event.
Q: Are household photos useful and how should they be presented?
A: Photos should show different rooms, daily life, and social moments. Include dated files, varied angles and captions that link images to addresses. Combine photos with bills and mail to strengthen the household story.
Q: How can household evidence be shown when living with family or flatmates?
A: When living with family or flatmates, provide room allocation evidence, letters from housemates or landlords, separate payment records, photos of private living spaces and statements showing division of household costs and responsibilities.
Q: What evidence helps explain short-term or temporary separations?
A: Explain temporary separation with travel tickets, work contracts, dated messages, joint financial activity, continued rent or mortgage payments from the absent partner and statutory declarations that outline reasons and intention to resume shared living.
Q: How should household evidence be organised for the visa application?
A: Organise documents into a clear index and timeline. Group by document type and date, provide copies and originals on request, include short explanatory notes and statutory declarations to clarify any unusual circumstances.
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.
