Partner Visa Readiness Assessment Tool
Score your readiness for an Australian partner visa application (820/801 or 309/100). Check eligibility, rate your evidence across all 4 pillars, and see exactly what gaps to fill before lodging.
Prior visa refusals must be declared. The sponsor must not be disqualified from sponsoring (e.g. prior domestic violence conviction).
Examples: joint car insurance, home contents insurance, utility bills listing both names, listed as next of kin on bank or employment records.
Long-distance relationships can still qualify but require additional explanation and evidence of genuine commitment.
Form 888 must be completed by an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18+. If offshore, other witnesses can complete it. Aim for at least 2 strong declarations.
Relationship statements (often called personal statements) from both partners are considered strong commitment evidence. They should cover how you met, key milestones, daily life together, and future plans.
Your readiness score appears here
Answer the eligibility questions and score your evidence across all 4 pillars. Your readiness report updates in real time.
1. Financial (shared money and bills)
2. Household (shared living arrangements)
3. Social (known to friends and family)
4. Commitment (future plans, relationship history)
Common Mistakes Nigerian Couples Make with Partner Visa Applications
How the Partner Visa Readiness Assessment Works
The assessment scores your evidence across the four pillars the Department of Home Affairs uses to determine whether a relationship is genuine and continuing. The formula is:
Financial: max 40 points (most weight: joint account, lease)
Household: max 30 points (cohabitation, shared address docs)
Social: max 30 points (Form 888s, public recognition, photos)
Commitment: max 30 points (duration, future plans, statements)
Total: max 130 points
Ready to lodge if: all eligibility requirements met AND score ≥ 80 (62%)
It also checks eligibility conditions: you must be legally married or in a 12-month+ de facto relationship, be over 18, have a valid sponsor (Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen), and have no disqualifying character issues.
The Four Pillars Explained in Detail
Pillar 1: Financial Evidence
Financial evidence shows that you and your partner share resources and support each other financially. The strongest financial evidence is a joint bank account with regular transactions. Beyond that, a joint lease or mortgage, shared utility bills, and being named as each other’s beneficiary or next of kin all contribute. The Department wants to see that your finances are genuinely intertwined, not just cohabitation. Even small regular transfers between separate accounts with a consistent pattern can serve as supporting evidence.
Pillar 2: Household Evidence
Household evidence demonstrates shared living arrangements. This does not just mean a shared address: it means evidence that both of you actually live there. A lease agreement with both names, utility bills at the same address in both names, mail addressed to both at the same property, and statements about shared household responsibilities all contribute. For long-distance relationships, you will need a written explanation of why you are living apart temporarily, along with evidence of plans to live together.
Pillar 3: Social Evidence
Social evidence shows that your relationship is recognised by others around you. Form 888 is the primary tool here: it is a statutory declaration completed by an Australian citizen or permanent resident (aged 18+) who knows you both as a couple. Aim for at least two. Photos together across different time periods and settings, evidence of attending family events together, and social media or communication records showing public acknowledgment of the relationship also contribute to this pillar.
Pillar 4: Commitment Evidence
Commitment evidence demonstrates that you intend to continue the relationship into the future. Personal relationship statements from both partners are the strongest commitment evidence, covering your relationship history, current life together, and plans for the future. Future-oriented evidence includes: shared lease agreements extending into the future, joint travel bookings, being named as beneficiary on insurance or superannuation, and mutual support of family obligations.
Cost and Timeline Reality Check for Nigerian Applicants
The visa application charge for the 820/801 or 309/100 is approximately A$9,365 as of 2025, paid once at lodgement and covering both the temporary and permanent visa stages. Additional costs include: health examination (typically A$300 to A$500 per person), police clearances from Nigeria (varies, allow A$50 to A$150 per certificate), certified translations for Nigerian documents not in English, and migration agent fees if used (A$3,000 to A$8,000 range depending on complexity).
Processing times in 2025-26: the 820 onshore temporary visa takes roughly 15 to 26 months. The 801 permanent visa is typically assessed two years after your original lodgement date, with a further 11 to 30 months for the permanent decision. This means the full onshore journey from lodgement to permanent residency is commonly 3 to 5 years total.
Table of Truth: Readiness Score Benchmarks
| Evidence Situation | Pillar Scores (F/H/S/C) | Total | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married 4 yrs, joint account, Form 888×2, personal statements, living together | 40/30/30/30 | 130 | Very strong — ready to lodge |
| Married 1 yr, no joint account, 1 Form 888, some photos | 10/20/15/15 | 60 | Needs significant improvement |
| De facto 18 mths, joint lease, some transfers, 2 Form 888, basic statements | 25/25/25/20 | 95 | Solid; add more financial evidence |
| Long-distance married, no joint account, 1 Form 888, no statements | 10/5/15/10 | 40 | Significant gaps; delay lodgement |
| De facto 8 months (under 12 months) | Any | Any | Not eligible yet (de facto requirement) |
Realistic Scenarios for Nigerian Applicants
Scenario 1: Lagos-based applicant applying offshore (309/100)
Adaeze is in Lagos, engaged to an Australian citizen. She applies for the 309/100 offshore partner visa. She needs to apply while outside Australia and will receive entry rights once the temporary 309 is granted. Key evidence challenge: building household evidence while living apart. She should document shared financial commitments (joint accounts or transfers), gather at least 2 Forms 888 from people who know them both, and both partners should write detailed personal statements. Processing for the 309 typically takes 18 to 30 months offshore.
Scenario 2: Nurse in Australia on 482, married to Australian PR holder
Emeka is in Australia on a 482 visa. He marries his Australian permanent resident partner. They apply for the 820/801 onshore visa. He will receive a Bridging Visa A immediately on lodgement, allowing him to remain in Australia and work. He can continue working on the bridging visa while his 820 is processed (15 to 26 months). His sponsor is a permanent resident, which is valid. Key evidence: joint bank account, joint lease, Form 888s from mutual friends, personal statements.
Scenario 3: Long-term couple, de facto 5 years, strong evidence
Chidi and his Australian citizen partner have been together for 5 years, sharing a property for 4 of those years. They have a joint mortgage, shared bank account, extensive photos, 3 Forms 888, and both have written relationship statements. Their total relationship duration of 5 years (over 3 years together) may make them eligible for a double grant, receiving both 820 and 801 at the same time without waiting 2 years. This requires explicitly requesting the double grant at lodgement and providing sufficient evidence of the long-term genuine relationship.
