Summary of Terms

Evidence of relationship

Evidence of a genuine and stable relationship between partners

To show your partnership is genuine and stable you'll need to present to us original or certified copies of certain documents.  These can include:

  • your marriage certificate
  • your civil union certifcate
  • birth certificates of any children you may have together
  • evidence of communication between you
  • photographs of you together
  • any documents that show your relationship is publicly recognised
  • any other evidence that shows you're committed to each other both emotionally and exclusively.  This may include evidence of:
    • joint decision making
    • sharing of parental and household obligations and activities
    • sharing of companionship/spare time
    • sharing of leisure and social activities
    • evidence of being financially interdependence such as
      • shared  income, joint bank accounts or joint assets or liabilities.

 

Evidence of relationship between parents and children

We will want to see:

  • The original birth certificate that shows the names of the parent(s)

or 

  • household registration documents, if these show your relationship to the child

or

  • original adoption papers showing the child has been legally adopted by you

or

  • if adopted by custom, a separate declaration from you that you've adopted the child, the date of adoption and the country in which the adoption took place.