Department 04 / NSW relationship register
Register a Relationship in NSW: The NSW Relationship Register and the Partner Visa
Registering a relationship with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages costs $198 plus $70 for a standard certificate and takes up to 7 weeks including a 28-day cooling-off period, and Home Affairs says the 12-month de facto requirement does not apply to a couple who have registered their relationship with a State or Territory authority. NSW Registry ยท Home Affairs
Fees and processing details were checked on 18 October 2026. Confirm the current NSW Registry figures before applying.
| Registration decision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Unmarried adults over 18, at least one living in NSW |
| Registration only | $198 |
| Standard certificate | $70, including $11 postage |
| Processing | Up to 7 weeks, plus 5 to 7 days delivery |
| Cooling-off | 28 days, inside the 7 weeks |
| Effect on the partner visa | Removes the 12-month duration requirement only |
28 days
The cooling-off period inside the Registry's processing time of up to 7 weeks.
Who can register a relationship in NSW?
Unmarried adults who are in a relationship as a couple, when at least one of them lives in NSW. The couple does not have to live together.
Both partners must be:
- over 18
- not married to each other or anyone else
- not already in a registered relationship in NSW or another State or Territory
- not in a relationship with another person
- not related by family
What does NSW relationship registration cost and how long does it take?
| Item | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Registration only | $198 | Up to 7 weeks, including the 28-day cooling-off period |
| Standard certificate, ordered with registration | $70, including $11 postage and handling | Up to 7 weeks, then 5 to 7 days delivery |
| Commemorative package (one standard and one commemorative certificate) | $100 | Up to 7 weeks |
| Letter confirming lodgement | $45 | Not stated |
The $198 fee is not refunded if the application is withdrawn. NSW Registry
How do you register a relationship in NSW?
- Apply online, or by post, or in person at a Service NSW Centre. The postal address is Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, GPO Box 30, Sydney NSW 2001.
- For a paper application, send 3 identification documents. Never send originals.
- After reviewing the application, the Registry emails a secure payment link.
NSW de facto law versus the visa definition
| Context | Rule |
|---|---|
| NSW law | A registered relationship is recognised as de facto in NSW (Relationships Register Act 2010) |
| Home Affairs | De facto partners usually need 12 months together. That requirement does not apply to a registered relationship under a State or Territory law |
The exception removes one duration requirement. It does not grant a visa, and every other criterion still applies. Home Affairs partner visa (subclass 820) page
How do you obtain a NSW relationship certificate?
Order it with the registration. The standard certificate costs $70 and the commemorative package $100. This page does not rank one over the other as evidence for a visa.
How do withdrawal and revocation differ?
| Point | Withdrawing an application | Revoking a registration |
|---|---|---|
| When | Within 28 days of submitting the application | After registration |
| Fee | None, and the $198 application fee is not refunded | $99 |
| Cooling-off | None | 90 days, up to 13 weeks in total |
| Who applies | Either partner | Either or both partners |
Registration is also revoked by law when a person in the relationship dies or marries. NSW Registry
Does a relationship ceremony register the relationship?
No. A ceremony at the Pyrmont Registry is short, non-legal and costs $180. It is available only once the registration is finalised, with two weeks' notice.
What is the next Sydney partner visa step?
The next step depends on the matter. For legal help with the application, read about a Sydney partner visa lawyer. For the starting point, see the partner visa in Sydney overview or the partner visa NSW guide.
Registering relieves only the 12-month requirement, so a registered couple still has to meet every other criterion. An application prepared by an Australian migration lawyer is more likely to succeed, because the lawyer checks the whole application and not only the registration. Enquiries from this page go to Australian Migration Lawyers.