COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Statutory Declaration Statutory Declarations Act 1959 [Use the current prescribed form and wording published by the Attorney-General's Department — the text below shows the body content only.] I, [full name], of [address], [occupation], make the following declaration: 1. I have known [applicant's full name] since [month, year], when we met [how — e.g. we were colleagues at [employer]]. 2. I have known [partner's full name] since [month, year]. 3. [State what you have personally observed, dated and specific. For example: "In December 2023 I stayed with them at their home at [suburb] for four days. They shared a bedroom, cooked together and both dealt with household matters while I was there."] 4. [Continue with further personally observed facts, numbered. Include occasions, approximate dates and who else was present.] 5. I have attached [photograph / invitation] taken at [event] on [date], in which I appear with them. I understand that a person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory declaration is guilty of an offence under section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959, and I believe that the statements in this declaration are true in every particular. [Declarant signature — signed in the presence of the witness] [Full name] · [Date] · [Place] Witness (authorised occupation under the Statutory Declarations Regulations): [Signature] · [Full name] · [Occupation] · [Registration number if applicable] · [Date]
⚠️ Important
This page contains a general example only. It is not legal advice, migration advice, or an approved template. Visa requirements and document expectations can change. Do not copy this example without personalising it for your circumstances. For advice specific to your situation, speak with a registered migration agent.
Visa Translation Hub · Letter Guide
Statutory Declaration — guide and example
A statutory declaration is a written statement of facts that the declarant solemnly believes to be true. It is commonly used in Australian visa applications — particularly for partner visas — to provide evidence from family or friends.
Who May Need a Statutory Declaration?
This letter is generally written by people making a written statement of facts to support a visa application. The exact author and tone depend on the relationship to the applicant and the visa type involved.
- Friends or family members supporting a partner or family visa application
- Applicants providing personal statements of fact
When May This Letter Be Used?
- Partner visa applications (Subclass 820/801, 309/100)
- Where Home Affairs requests independent evidence of a relationship or fact
What a Statutory Declaration Generally Includes
- Full name, address and occupation of the declarant
- A clear statement of facts known personally to the declarant
- Relationship to the applicant and how the declarant knows the facts
- The standard Commonwealth Statutory Declaration wording
- Signature in front of an authorised witness (e.g. JP, lawyer)
Requirements may vary. Check homeaffairs.gov.au or speak with a migration agent.
What to Avoid in This Letter
- Using an outdated version of the Commonwealth form or the wording from a state declaration where a Commonwealth one is required
- Signing before or away from the witness rather than in their presence
- Choosing a witness who is not within an authorised occupation listed for Commonwealth declarations
- Declaring things the declarant did not personally observe, such as the couple's private financial arrangements
- Leaving a page unsigned or uninitialled where the declaration runs over more than one page
How a statutory declaration is usually read
A statutory declaration is distinguished from every other letter here by one thing: it is a sworn document made under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959, and making a false declaration is a criminal offence. That formality is the source of its evidentiary value and also of the mistakes people make with it. The most common problems are procedural rather than substantive — the wrong version of the prescribed wording, no witness, or a witness who is not in an authorised occupation. A declaration also has to stay inside the declarant's own knowledge: statements about what the declarant personally saw carry weight, while statements about what they assume or were told generally do not.
Documents that usually sit alongside this letter
- Photographic identification of the declarant, where the witness requires it
- The declarant's own supporting material — photographs, message threads or event invitations they personally appear in
- Where the declaration supports a relationship claim, evidence of the declarant's own connection to the couple over time
- Contact details allowing the declarant's statements to be checked independently
Signing, witnessing and format
A Commonwealth statutory declaration uses prescribed wording and must be signed by the declarant in the presence of an authorised witness — the list of authorised occupations includes legal practitioners, justices of the peace, pharmacists, medical practitioners and a range of other prescribed professions, and is published by the Attorney-General's Department. The witness signs, prints their name, states their occupation and, where required, their registration number. Commonwealth declarations can also be made electronically under current arrangements; check the Attorney-General's Department for the version and method in force before you sign. A declaration in another language should be translated in full, including the jurat and witness block.
Example Letter Structure
Example only — not a legal template. Replace bracketed placeholders with accurate, personal information.
Does Your Supporting Letter Need to Be Translated?
If your letter is written in a language other than English, it generally needs to be accompanied by a NAATI-certified English translation for Australian visa applications. Trans Lingo provides NAATI-certified translations from $59 per page, delivered within 24 hours.
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