Form 888 (Statutory Declaration by a Supporting Witness) is a short declaration completed by someone who personally knows you and your partner and can vouch for the genuineness of your relationship. It's commonly used as supporting evidence for partner and de facto relationship visa applications, alongside your own relationship evidence.
What Form 888 is for
The form asks a witness to declare how they know you and your partner, how long they've known you both, and what they've personally observed about your relationship — shared social occasions, how you're regarded by friends and family, and their honest opinion that the relationship is genuine. It's third-party corroborating evidence, distinct from the documents you and your partner provide yourselves (joint finances, shared residence, and so on).
Who can sign one
Generally an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or over who has known both you and your partner personally, is not a relative of either of you, and can speak to your relationship from direct personal knowledge rather than secondhand. [VERIFY: confirm current eligibility criteria and any witness-identification requirements against the official Form 888 instructions, since specific requirements can be updated by the Department of Home Affairs.]
How many you typically need
Most partner visa guidance suggests providing statutory declarations from two or more people who know you both well, ideally from different parts of your life (e.g. one from each side of the family, or a mix of family and friends), rather than relying on a single witness. [VERIFY: confirm the current recommended or required number against official Home Affairs guidance for your specific visa subclass.]
Ask witnesses to be specific rather than generic — dates, shared events, and concrete observations carry more weight with a case officer than a general statement that "they seem happy together."
Where it fits in your checklist
Form 888 declarations sit under the relationship evidence (social aspect) section of a partner visa checklist, alongside photos, joint invitations, and evidence of how your relationship is known to friends and family. Once each witness's form is signed and scanned, add it to your VisaPacks checklist so it's uploaded and named alongside your other relationship documents.