Form 888 evidence of identity: what each supporter attaches
As at October 2026: Form 888, design date 08/26, and the Home Affairs partner and prospective marriage visa pages.
Published by Form 888 Australia · publisher and review details
Form 888 identity documents are copies of a supporter's ID showing their current name and age, such as a birth certificate, Australian passport or passport containing a permanent visa, and Australian citizens and permanent residents also attach evidence of that status.
For an online application a clear colour scan or photo is enough, with no certification, because certified copies are a paper-application rule, and the supporter ticks Question 5 of the 08/26 form to say the evidence is attached.
These requirements come from Form 888 (08/26), the Home Affairs partner and prospective marriage visa pages, and Home Affairs’ certified-copy page.
ID attachments, as at October 2026 (design date 08/26)
| Document | Who attaches it | In what form |
|---|---|---|
| A copy of an identity document showing current name and age; Form 888 gives a birth certificate, Australian passport or passport containing a permanent visa as examples | Every supporter | A clear colour scan or photo |
| Evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residence | Australian citizens and permanent residents only (“where applicable”) | A clear colour scan or photo |
| An English translation of an ID that is not in English | A supporter whose ID is not in English | Original and translation together |
| Question 5, “Have you attached evidence of your identity?” | Every supporter | Ticked on the form |
Certified copies are required only for a paper application, under Home Affairs’ certified-copy page—not for an online application.
What documents do I need for Form 888?
The documents you need for Form 888 are the signed form and a copy of the supporter’s ID showing current name and age, plus evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residence where that applies, under Form 888 (08/26) and the Home Affairs visa pages.
| Supporter | ID showing name and age | Status evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Australian citizen | A copy of a birth certificate or Australian passport | Evidence of citizenship, “such as a passport or birth certificate” |
| Australian permanent resident | A copy of a passport containing a permanent visa | That passport serves as the evidence |
| Anyone else, in Australia or overseas | A copy of an ID showing current name and age | None |
Form 888’s identity question has been Question 5 since the 11/24 edition (Question 6 in 07/23); the statutory-declaration editions’ tick box asked only about citizenship or permanent residence evidence and said “All copies must be certified”.
Each statement Home Affairs asks for comes with its own supporter’s ID; the guide to how many Form 888s a partner visa needs explains the count.
Who attaches citizenship or permanent residence evidence?
Only supporters who are Australian citizens or permanent residents attach citizenship or permanent residence evidence: Form 888 asks for it “where applicable”, and the Home Affairs visa pages say, “If the witness is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, provide evidence of this such as a passport or birth certificate.”
Citizenship or permanent residence has not been a condition for completing Form 888 since the 07/23 edition, so a supporter who is neither attaches name-and-age ID only.
Do Form 888 ID copies need to be certified?
No, Form 888 ID copies do not need to be certified for an online application: the supporter attaches a clear colour scan or photo, and the Home Affairs partner and prospective marriage visa pages say, “You do not need to have any documents certified.”
Home Affairs’ certified-copy page gives the paper rule: “When you apply on paper you must provide certified copies of your documents.”
The previous statutory-declaration editions of Form 888 said “All copies must be certified”, which explains the earlier instruction.
Nobody needs to witness or certify Form 888 itself either: Form 888 (08/26) has no witness section, as the signing guide explains.
What if a supporter's ID is not in English?
If a supporter’s ID is not in English, attach it with an English translation: the Home Affairs visa pages say, “Have all documents translated into English. Provide original and translated documents in your application.”
Those pages require translators in Australia to be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters; translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. Each translation must include the translator’s full name, address, telephone number, qualifications and experience in the language, in English.
Home Affairs’ translation help text says a missing English translation may delay the application.
The answers on Form 888 itself are in English and in the supporter’s own words.
How is the ID sent with the Form 888?
The ID is sent with the Form 888 in 3 steps, and the applicant—not the supporter—attaches both, with Form 888 (08/26) also allowing the applicant’s appointed representative to attach the form.
Scan or photograph the ID in colour. The Home Affairs visa pages require readable scans or photos, with all pages of a document saved as one file; its attachment page says photos must show all document information.
Tick “Yes” at Question 5. Send the ID file with the signed Form 888 to the applicant, following the form’s identity question and submission instructions.
Attach each file once and label it clearly, using the supporter’s name. Home Affairs’ 820 page requires clear labels and no duplicate attachments. Its attachment page allows documents up to 5MB, sets a 3.5MB maximum for digital photographs, rejects secured PDFs and says documents cannot be removed after submission.
Why a migration lawyer checks each supporter's ID
A migration lawyer can check each supporter’s ID against their statement and flag a name mismatch, missing status evidence or an unreadable scan before lodgement, using Form 888 (08/26) and the Home Affairs visa pages’ attachment requirements.
Home Affairs’ attachment page says documents cannot be removed once the application is submitted, so the check comes first.
For a check of these attachments, send an enquiry to an Australian migration lawyer through this site’s enquiry form.
The supporters the ID belongs to
The supporters the ID belongs to must first meet Form 888 (08/26)’s two conditions: being 18 or over, and knowing both partners and the history of their relationship.
The supporters guide explains who can complete Form 888 and which supporters fit those conditions.
For an overview of the form, return to Form 888 Australia.
General information only, not legal advice. This site is not a law firm or migration practice.