147 (Design date 10/20) - Page 3© COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, 2020
In and outside Australia
Once a decision has been made on your application, you will be
notified of that decision in writing.
If your application is refused, you will be given reasons for the
refusal as well as information about review rights.
Residential address
You must provide the address of where you intend to live during
the period that your application is being considered. Failure to
give your residential address will result in this application being
invalid. A post office box address will not be accepted as your
residential address.
Let the Department know if you change your address
If you change your residential address for more than 14 days
while your application is being processed, you must tell the
Department your new address and how long you will be there.
The Department will send communication about your application
to the latest address for correspondence you have provided.
Communication about your application can be sent to another
person that you have authorised, but you will be taken to have
received the communication that the Department sends to that
person. The Department must be informed (in writing) of any
address change for either you or your authorised person.
Passport information
Most visa applicants will be required to hold a valid passport
before they can be granted a visa. It is strongly recommended
that the passport be valid for at least 6 months.
If you change your passport after you have been granted the visa
you must notify the nearest Australian mission or office of the
Department.
If you do not provide us with the details of any new or
additional passports you use to travel to Australia, you
may experience significant delays at the airport and may
be denied permission to board your plane.
Do NOT send your passport with your visa application.
Provide with your visa application a certified copy of the page from
your passport showing your photo and details. We will advise you
if your application has been approved. Please keep a copy of the
Visa Grant Notification in a safe place for your reference.
Important information about privacy
The Privacy Act 1988 contains 13 Australian Privacy Principles
which regulate the way that the Department collects and handles
personal information. Information about how the Department
collects, uses and discloses personal information for its key
functions can be found in form 1442i Privacy notice. More
information about the Department’s general information handling
practices (including form 1442i) can be found in the Department’s
Privacy policy at https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-and-
accountability/our-commitments/privacy
Form 1163i Health requirement for temporary entry to
Australia provides additional information on Australia’s visa
health requirements. Form 1163i is available from the
Department’s website www.homeaffairs.gov.au/allforms/
When sponsorship is required for your visa subclass, the
outcome of your application may be made known to the
person/organisation who has submitted a sponsorship form
regarding your application.
Immigration assistance
A person gives immigration assistance to you if he or she uses, or
claims to use, his or her knowledge or experience in migration
procedure to assist you with your visa application, request for
ministerial intervention, cancellation review application,
sponsorship or nomination.
In Australia a person may only lawfully give immigration
assistance if he or she is a registered migration agent or is exempt
from being registered. Only registered migration agents may
receive a fee or reward for providing immigration assistance.
If an unregistered person in Australia, who is not exempt from
registration, gives you immigration assistance they are
committing a criminal offence and may be prosecuted.
Migration agents in Australia
Migration agents in Australia must be registered with the Office
of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (Office of the
MARA) unless they are exempt from registration.
Migration agents outside Australia
Migration agents who operate outside Australia do not have to be
registered. The Department may give some overseas agents an
ID number. This number does not mean that they are registered.
Note: Some Australian registered migration agents operate
overseas.
Migration agent information
A migration agent is someone who can:
• advise you on the visa that may best suit you;
• tell you the documents you need to submit with your
application;
• help you fill in the application and submit it; and
• communicate with the Department on your behalf.
If you appoint a migration agent, the Department will assume
that your migration agent will be your authorised recipient,
unless you indicate otherwise.
Your migration agent will be the person with whom the
Department will discuss your application and from whom it will
seek further information when required. You are not required to
use a migration agent. However, if you use a migration agent, the
Department encourages you to use a registered migration agent.
Registered agents are bound by the Migration Agents Code of
Conduct, which requires them to act professionally in their
clients’ lawful best interests.
Information on migration agents, including a list of registered
migration agents, is available on the Office of the MARA website
www.mara.gov.au
You can also access information about migration agents on the
Department’s website https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-
support/who-can-help-with-your-application/using-a-
migration-agent
Exempt persons
The following people do not have to be a registered migration
agent in order to provide immigration assistance, but they must
not charge a fee for their service:
• a close family member (spouse, de facto partner, child, parent,
brother or sister);
• a member of parliament or their staff;
• an official whose duties include providing immigration
assistance (eg. a Legal Aid provider);
• a member of a diplomatic mission, consular post or
international organisation.