Master prompt
Commonwealth statutory declaration templates (Form 1023)
Drafting framework for Form 1023 statutory declarations under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 — covers name discrepancy, missing certificates, de facto relationship, financial support, and witness rules.
AustraliaStatutory declarationForm 1023Statutory Declarations Act 1959Form 888
You are drafting a Commonwealth Form 1023 statutory declaration for [DECLARANT_NAME], to accompany an Australian visa application. The declaration is made under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth) — a false statement is an offence under s.11 punishable by 4 years imprisonment.
DECLARANT SNAPSHOT
• Name: [DECLARANT_NAME]
• Address: [DECLARANT_ADDRESS]
• Occupation: [DECLARANT_OCCUPATION]
• Purpose: [PURPOSE]
• Key facts: [KEY_FACTS]
• Witness: [WITNESS_AVAILABLE]
§1 — STATUTORY FRAME
Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth) — s.5A confers power to prescribe authorities who can witness declarations. The Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018 lists ~30 categories of prescribed witnesses.
A statutory declaration is sworn (or affirmed) and witnessed. Once made, it becomes admissible evidence in DHA proceedings. The standard is the same as a court oath — knowingly false content triggers s.11 prosecution.
§2 — FORM 1023 STRUCTURE
The declaration must contain these elements in this order:
(1) Heading: "Commonwealth of Australia — Statutory Declaration — Statutory Declarations Act 1959"
(2) Declarant identification: full legal name, address, occupation
(3) Declarative spine: "I, [DECLARANT_NAME], of [DECLARANT_ADDRESS], [DECLARANT_OCCUPATION], do solemnly and sincerely declare that:"
(4) Numbered facts (one per paragraph, factual not argumentative)
(5) Truth statement: "And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the statements contained in this declaration to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959."
(6) Declarant signature + date + place
(7) Witness block: prescribed authority's full name, capacity (qualification under the Schedule), address, signature, date
§3 — DRAFT FOR [PURPOSE]
Build the declaration based on [PURPOSE] using one of the templates below.
▸ TEMPLATE A — Name variation / spelling discrepancy
"1. I am the same person who appears in:
(a) [Document 1, e.g. Indian passport number M1234567] under the name [name as appears];
(b) [Document 2, e.g. marriage certificate number xxx] under the name [name as appears];
(c) [further documents, listed].
2. The variation arises because [reason — phonetic spelling, transliteration from Devanagari, family-tradition usage].
3. I have always been known as [DECLARANT_NAME] in official records.
4. I confirm there is no other person referenced in these documents."
▸ TEMPLATE B — Missing birth certificate
"1. I was born on [date] at [city, state, country].
2. My parents are [father's name] (deceased on [date]) and [mother's name].
3. A birth certificate was not registered at the time of my birth because [reason — rural area, pre-1989 unregistered birth, hospital records lost].
4. The following documents corroborate my date of birth:
(a) School leaving certificate from [school], dated [date];
(b) Aadhaar card number XXXX-XXXX-XXXX, issued [date];
(c) Passport number [number], issued [date].
5. I have attempted to obtain a birth certificate from [Municipal Corporation] and am unable to do so for the reasons stated."
▸ TEMPLATE C — De facto / common-law relationship period
"1. I have been in an exclusive de facto relationship with [partner's full name] since [date].
2. We commenced cohabitation at [address] on [date] and continue to live together.
3. During this period we have:
(a) maintained a joint household;
(b) presented to family and friends as a couple;
(c) shared finances [extent — joint account / shared rent / merged bills].
4. We have made decisions together regarding [examples].
5. Our relationship is genuine, continuing, and to the exclusion of all others."
▸ TEMPLATE D — Sponsor's financial support / accommodation (for visitor visa applications)
"1. I am [sponsor name], an Australian citizen / permanent resident.
2. The applicant [applicant name] is my [relationship].
3. I undertake to provide:
(a) accommodation at [my address] for the duration of the visit;
(b) financial support sufficient to cover all expenses;
(c) return airfare if required.
4. I confirm my financial capacity through the following:
(a) annual gross income A$[amount];
(b) employment with [employer] since [date];
(c) bank balance A$[amount] in account [bank].
5. I accept full responsibility for the applicant during the period of their stay."
▸ TEMPLATE E — Address proof for relatives in India
"1. I am the [relationship, e.g. mother] of [applicant name].
2. My current address is [DECLARANT_ADDRESS].
3. I have resided at this address continuously since [date].
4. The following documents establish my residence at this address:
(a) electricity bill in my name dated [date];
(b) Aadhaar card showing this address;
(c) property tax receipt for [year].
5. [Applicant name]'s correspondence has been sent to this address since [date]."
§4 — KEY FACTS — TURNING [KEY_FACTS] INTO NUMBERED PARAGRAPHS
Take each fact line from [KEY_FACTS] and convert into a numbered paragraph in the template's voice. Rules:
• One fact per paragraph
• Factual not argumentative ("I have not seen X" — not "There is no reason to believe X")
• No emotion or interpretation ("I love my husband" — out; "We have been married since [date] and continue to reside together" — in)
• Concrete dates and names (not "around 2022" — use "in or about August 2022")
• Documents referenced by number (passport number, certificate number, account number)
• Capitalise titles consistently (Mr, Mrs, Dr without full stops in AU convention)
§5 — PRESCRIBED WITNESS CATEGORIES ([WITNESS_AVAILABLE])
Under the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018, prescribed authorities include:
• Australian lawyer (admitted to a Supreme Court)
• Justice of the Peace (JP)
• Medical practitioner (registered)
• Police officer (rank of sergeant or above)
• Postal manager / postmaster
• Pharmacist (registered)
• Dentist (registered)
• Bank manager / Australian bank officer with 5+ years service
• Accountant (member of CPA, CA, IPA)
• Teacher (registered or employed full-time)
• Person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under Australian state/territory law
For OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA, additionally:
• Australian Consular Officer or Diplomatic Officer
• An employee of an Australian embassy / High Commission
• A notary public
For [WITNESS_AVAILABLE]: confirm the witness category falls within the Schedule. If declarant is in India, the easiest route is:
• Australian Consulate (New Delhi / Mumbai / Chennai / Kolkata) — has prescribed authority
• OR an Indian notary public + apostille (acceptable as "a person before whom a statutory declaration may be made")
§6 — WITNESS RESPONSIBILITIES
The witness must:
(a) See the declarant sign the declaration
(b) Verify the declarant's identity (passport / photo ID)
(c) Confirm the declarant has read the declaration and understands its contents
(d) Witness sign and date in the witness block
(e) Print full name + occupation (matching the prescribed-authority Schedule)
(f) Provide their address
§7 — SUBMISSION FORMAT
• Print the declaration single-sided
• Declarant signs in BLACK ink (DHA preference) every page bottom
• Witness signs and dates the final page
• For Form 888 (third-party witness statement for partner subclass): same format, witness is the third party giving evidence about the relationship
Upload to ImmiAccount:
• Single PDF, colour scan
• File name: [Applicant_surname]_StatDec_[Purpose]_[Date].pdf
• If multiple statutory declarations (e.g. 2 × Form 888 for partner): one PDF each
§8 — COMMON ERRORS
□ Witness signed but did not print name + occupation — declaration void
□ Witness's prescribed category not stated (e.g. "JP" not written next to name)
□ Date format inconsistent — use DD/MM/YYYY throughout
□ Declarant's address differs from current passport address without explanation
□ Facts written as argument or opinion ("I believe...") instead of statement of fact
□ Witness not in the prescribed-authority list (e.g. an Indian advocate witnessing — needs apostille or Australian consulate routing)
□ Statutory declaration over 12 months old at time of submission — get a fresh one
§9 — VERIFICATION CHECKLIST
□ Heading present (Commonwealth + Act citation)
□ Declarant name + address + occupation in opening block
□ Numbered facts (no narrative paragraphs)
□ Truth statement verbatim from the Act (s.5 form)
□ Declarant signature + date + place
□ Witness full name + capacity + address + signature + date
□ Date of declaration within 12 months of intended submission
End with: "DRAFT — for MARA-registered migration agent review. Verify against current Home Affairs guidance before submission. False statements are a Commonwealth offence under s.11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 — the consultant must coach the declarant accordingly."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt