Australia Partner Visa Evidence: Communication Records PDF from WhatsApp Exports
Australian partner visas allow de facto partners, married spouses, and prospective marriage partners to live in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs evaluates relationships across four evidence pillars: financial, household, social, and commitment. Applications are lodged through ImmiAccount, which has specific file size and format restrictions.
Visa Types
- Partner Visa (Onshore) (Subclass 820/801) — Processing: ~20-27 months
- Partner Visa (Offshore) (Subclass 309/100) — Processing: ~16-25 months
- Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) — Processing: ~16-22 months
Why Chat Evidence Matters
Communication records usually support the nature of the commitment pillar: ongoing contact, mutual intent, and how the relationship works day to day. The social aspects pillar is more about third-party recognition (Form 888s, joint invitations, being known as a couple). WhatsApp still helps when it shows daily contact, plans, and emotional support while you were apart. For offshore partner visas, chat evidence is especially useful to show the relationship continued.
Evidence Requirements
- Financial Aspects: Joint bank accounts, shared bills, money transfers, joint investments, shared insurance, or evidence of financial interdependence.
- Household Aspects: Joint lease or mortgage, shared utility bills, mail to the same address, evidence of shared household duties and responsibilities.
- Nature of the Commitment (Communication): Communication records (messages, emails, call logs), social media interactions, photos together at events, evidence of recognition by family and friends, joint invitations or correspondence.
- Commitment: Length of relationship, future plans (property, children, travel), wills naming each other, combined superannuation beneficiary, or engagement/marriage documentation.
- Social evidence (witness statements): Form 888 supporting statements from at least two witnesses who know you as a couple (Form 888 is a supporting statement, not a statutory declaration — no JP required under current Home Affairs guidance). Separately, each partner should provide their own relationship statement.
Step-by-Step: Create Your Evidence PDF
- Export your WhatsApp chat — In WhatsApp, open the conversation, tap menu > Export Chat > Include Media. Save the .zip or .txt file to your device.
- Upload to PartnerProof — Drop your file into PartnerProof. Everything is processed locally in your browser. No data is sent to any external server.
- Select Australia as destination — Choose Australia from the country selector. PartnerProof applies A4 formatting, DD/MM/YYYY dates, and "Exhibit" labels matching DHA expectations.
- Filter and curate by the social pillar — Use PartnerProof date filtering to cover the full relationship timeline. Focus on messages showing trip planning, daily life, mutual support, and future plans. Those map mainly to the commitment pillar. Keep Form 888s and joint social proof for the social pillar.
- Add photos and Form 888 supporting statements — Upload photos from different occasions and times. Add Form 888 supporting statements from witnesses, each partner’s own relationship statement, travel bookings, or other supporting documents. PartnerProof labels everything as organized exhibits.
- Review and download — Check the evidence strength score and timeline coverage. Download the formatted PDF (target under 5 MB for ImmiAccount) and the organized ZIP bundle.
- Upload to ImmiAccount — Upload your PDF to ImmiAccount. Stay under 5 MB per file and 60 files total. Do not use encrypted PDFs — ImmiAccount rejects them. Attachments cannot be deleted once uploaded, so review carefully.
Evidence Checklist
- Partner visa application form lodged via ImmiAccount
- Communication evidence PDF organized chronologically
- Financial evidence (joint accounts, transfers, shared bills)
- Household evidence (joint lease, utility bills, mail)
- Photos labeled with dates, locations, and people
- Personal relationship statements from both partners
- Form 888 supporting statements from at least two witnesses
- NAATI-accredited translations for non-English documents
- All files under 5 MB; no encrypted PDFs
- Total attachments under 60 files
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as "evidence of communication" for Australian partner visas?
The Department of Home Affairs accepts dated messages (WhatsApp, SMS, email), call logs (showing dates and duration), video call records, social media interactions, letters, and cards. The key is showing consistent, ongoing communication across the relationship timeline, especially during periods when you were in different countries.
How do I show communication during time apart for an 820 visa?
For offshore or long-distance periods, include dated WhatsApp messages, call/video call logs, and any evidence of regular contact across the full separation period. PartnerProof's timeline heatmap visually demonstrates continuous communication patterns, which caseworkers find compelling.
Should I include daily chats or highlights for partner visa evidence?
Highlights. DHA caseworkers review thousands of applications — a curated selection of meaningful conversations (plans, family interactions, milestones, daily life) across different months is far more effective than raw daily logs. PartnerProof's monthly sampling mode automatically selects representative messages.
What are the four evidence pillars for Australian partner visa?
DHA evaluates relationships across four pillars: (1) Financial aspects: shared money and expenses, (2) Household aspects: living together, (3) Social aspects: public recognition and shared social life, and (4) Nature of the commitment: length of relationship, ongoing contact, and future plans. Chat history usually sits under commitment. Your package should address all four, even if some pillars are thinner.
What is the file size limit for ImmiAccount?
ImmiAccount accepts files up to 5 MB each, with a maximum of 60 files per applicant. PartnerProof targets 4.5 MB per PDF. Only unencrypted PDFs, JPGs, and certain other formats are accepted. Once uploaded, attachments cannot be deleted, so review your evidence carefully before uploading.
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