Editorial Policy
How FormMate 80 sources, writes, and maintains the guidance content on this website.
Our purpose
FormMate 80 publishes practical guidance to help Australian visa applicants understand and complete Form 80 (Personal Particulars for Assessment including Character Assessment). Our goal is to make accurate, plain-English information about this form freely available — not to provide immigration advice.
FormMate 80 does not provide legal or migration advice. Content on this site is for general informational purposes only. For complex situations — criminal history, previous visa refusals, health concerns, or any case where you are uncertain — consult a registered migration agent (MARN holder).
Sources we rely on
Content on this site is based on publicly available primary sources, including:
- The official Form 80 PDF published by the Department of Home Affairs (Design date 03/21, available at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
- The Department of Home Affairs website (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) and ImmiAccount documentation
- The Migration Agents Registration Authority (mara.gov.au)
- The Migration Act 1958 and associated regulations, where relevant
We do not cite secondary sources, forums, or user-generated content as authoritative. Where something is uncertain, we say so explicitly rather than presenting guesses as fact.
Independence
FormMate 80 is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Australian Government, the Department of Home Affairs, or any registered migration agent or legal firm. No content on this site represents the official position of the Department of Home Affairs.
FormMate 80 does not accept sponsored content, advertorial placements, or payments in exchange for editorial coverage. Display advertising may appear on the site; this does not influence the editorial content.
What we write about
Our content covers:
- How to complete each section of Form 80 accurately
- Which visa subclasses may be asked to provide Form 80
- General information about how the Department of Home Affairs uses Form 80
- How to use the FormMate 80 tool itself
We do not write about visa strategy, migration pathways, skills assessments, or any topic that requires a registered migration agent to advise on. If a question requires professional judgement, we say so and link to the MARA find-an-agent directory.
We always use "may be requested" rather than "required" when describing Form 80's role in visa applications, because the Department requests it based on individual circumstances rather than applying a universal rule.
How we keep content current
We monitor the Department of Home Affairs website for changes to Form 80 and related guidance. When the official form or related policy changes, we update our content within a reasonable period and record the revision date on affected pages.
If you notice an error, outdated information, or a discrepancy between our content and the official form, please contact us. We take accuracy seriously and will investigate and correct issues promptly.
Verifying information
We encourage you to verify any guidance on this site against the primary sources listed above, particularly before submitting a visa application. Visa requirements change, and the Department of Home Affairs is the authoritative source for all current requirements.
If you are uncertain about any answer in Form 80, consult a registered migration agent before submitting your form.
Contact
Questions about our editorial approach, corrections, or feedback about the accuracy of our content? Contact us.