This article is general information about Australian Partner Visa document uploads. It is not migration advice. For advice on your circumstances, consult a registered migration agent (search MARA).
ImmiAccount gives every document a category, a document type, an optional description and a filename. The upload screen is easier to use when those four pieces agree with each other.
For Australian Partner Visa applications, the rules with the biggest practical effect are 5 MB per file and up to 100 attachments for each person on the application. Home Affairs also asks applicants to label documents clearly and attach a document only once, even when it relates to more than one part of the application.
This guide separates the Department's upload rules from a plain file-naming convention you can use on your own computer.
The core ImmiAccount file rules
The current Home Affairs material and the VisaBinder ImmiAccount reference record these rules for visa applications:
- The maximum file size is 5 MB for each file.
- Partner Visa applications can hold up to 100 attachments for each person.
- Compressed archives and encrypted or secured PDFs are not accepted.
- A document with several pages is saved as one file.
- Colour scans or photos need to remain clear enough to read.
- A non-English document is uploaded with its English translation.
- Home Affairs asks applicants to attach a document once and label it clearly.
Identity documents can have a lower size allowance than the general 5 MB rule. Read the limit shown beside the relevant ImmiAccount slot before attaching that file.
Formats ImmiAccount accepts
The attachment help material lists these extensions:
bmp, dcm, doc, docx, dot, gif, jpg, pdf, png, ppt, pptx, rtf, txt, xls, xlsx
PDF is often the easiest format for a multi-page document because page order is fixed. A password-protected bank statement may open normally on your computer but still fail the ImmiAccount rule against encrypted PDFs. Save an unprotected copy for upload and check that it opens without a password.
A file-naming convention that stays readable
Home Affairs says to label documents clearly but does not publish a mandatory filename formula. A practical convention is:
CATEGORY_DATE-RANGE_DOCUMENT_PARTNER.pdf
Examples:
Financial_2026-01-to-2026-06_Joint-Bank-Statements.pdf Household_2025-07_Lease_Both-Names.pdf Social_2024-to-2026_Photo-Timeline.pdf Commitment_2026_Relationship-History.pdf
Use short words that identify the document without opening it. Dates written as YYYY-MM sort chronologically on most computers. Avoid names made only from scanner defaults like Scan0047.pdf.
The filename is not the only label. ImmiAccount also provides a document-type selection and an optional description. The description can identify the date range or explain a neutral fact about the file without turning the filename into a paragraph.
One document, one upload
The public Partner Visa pages say to attach a document only once. A joint lease might relate to household and financial matters, but duplicating the same lease consumes another attachment slot.
Choose the closest ImmiAccount category and use the description field to identify the file. The Department's own upload screen remains the authority for the category choices available in an individual application.
What to do when a PDF is over 5 MB
Large PDFs usually contain high-resolution scans or photos. Reducing the image resolution can lower the file size while leaving the text readable. If a readable file still exceeds 5 MB, split it at a clear document boundary and give each part a numbered name:
Financial_2026_Joint-Statements_Part-01-of-02.pdf Financial_2026_Joint-Statements_Part-02-of-02.pdf
Our PDF compression guide covers the Mac and Windows steps. VisaBinder applies the same output constraint when it generates a category pack and creates numbered parts when a category cannot fit in one file.
Keep a local upload map
A small upload map can prevent repeated files and missing parts. Record:
| Local filename | ImmiAccount category | Document type | Uploaded |
|---|---|---|---|
Financial_2026_Joint-Statements.pdf | Financial aspects | Financial Statements - Joint | □ |
Social_2024-to-2026_Photos.pdf | Social aspects | Photograph - Other | □ |
The exact document-type labels come from the application shown in ImmiAccount. They can differ between stages or applicants, so copy the label visible in the live account rather than relying on an old screenshot.
If you are still gathering files, the free Partner Visa evidence checklist keeps progress in your browser. When the folder is ready, VisaBinder can organise it into the four relationship-evidence PDFs.
Primary sources
- Home Affairs: Attach documents to your application
- Home Affairs: Subclass 820 Partner Visa
- Home Affairs: Subclass 309 Partner Visa