You will need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply or you can wait until we tell you to have them.

Find out the examinations you need and how to arrange them before you apply

Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:

• a registered migration agent
• a legal practitioner, or
• an exempt person.

You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.

We need proof of your identity. If you cannot prove your identity:

• we will refuse your visa application
• we might not grant you another visa for 10 years
• we might not grant any family members you listed on your application a visa for 10 years

Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.

Also provide proof of change of name, if this applies.

Documents that prove a change of name include:

• a marriage or divorce certificate
• change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
• documents that show other names you have been known by
• deed poll certificate
• statutory declaration if the differences are small

• For TSS skills assessment by Trades Recognition Australia , you must have the skills assessment reference number. Your application is not valid if it is not provided.
• For the occupations of Project and Program Administra tor or Specialist Manager not elsewhere classified, we need the reference number for your VETASSESS Skills Assessment . Your application is not valid if it is not provided.
  • We do not accept VETASSESS Qualifications-only assessment for Temporary Graduate visas (subclass 485).
• Qualification certificates (professional and educational).
• Registration, licence or professional membership, if you need it to work in Australia. Documents from the relevant authorities must show that you hold, or can get the registration, licence or membership. The documents must specify:
  • the type of registration or licence held
  • the name and contact details of the authority
• References from previous employers must cover a period long enough to show the needed skill level and experience. See the length of experience needed for your occupation on the Australian Bureau of Statistics  website. References should be on the employer's letterhead and have:
  • the name, title and contact details of the referee
  • details of your position and the dates of service.
• Your curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé should cover at least the last 5 years and shows:
  • full employment and educational history
  • dates and positions held
  • the name, title and contact details of referees
  • that you meet the 2 years work experience if this applies.

Show us you have the level of English language required by the labour agreement

If you are an existing TSS or subclass 457 visa holder who is seeking to change employer, you may also have to show your prospective standard business sponsor evidence of your English language proficiency.

You will need to provide evidence of adequate health insurance for you and any secondary applicants for the duration of your stay in Australia.

Reciprocal healthcare agreements

Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreement.

Provide an Australian police certificate if you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16.

We only accept complete disclosure National Police Certificates issued by the Australian Federal Police. We do not accept standard disclosure certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police.

For immigration purposes, Australian police certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Also provide:

• an overseas police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16
  • if required, penal check letters are available by contacting espd@homeaffairs.gov.au and include the words “Front end load – Penal Check Letter” in the subject line of your email.
• military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country

Further information is available at: Character requirements for visas

We will tell you if you also need to complete and provide the following forms:

• Form 80 – Personal particulars for character assessment (596KB PDF)
• Form 1221 Additional personal particulars information (331KB PDF)

Provide:

• identity documents
• character documents
• documents about other relationships, if applicable

Provide either:

• your current marriage certificate or
• enough documents to prove you are in a de facto relationship with your partner

Documents that prove your de facto relationship include:

• joint bank account statements
• billing accounts in joint names
• joint leases or mortgages
• documents that show you have lived at the same address as your partner

For every dependant under 18 years old who is applying with you, provide:

• the pages of their current passport showing their photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates (if your child is under 5 years old you can include them in the application without a passport)
• copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents of all your dependent children
• copies of the adoption papers, if applicable
• character documents, if applicable.

Parental responsibility documents

You must get consent for the child to come to Australia from anyone who:

• has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
• is not coming to Australia with the child

They must complete either:

• Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (276KB PDF)
• a statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to visit Australia on this visa

Include a document with the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a:

• passport
• driver’s licence

For every dependant 18 years old or older who is applying with you, provide:

• identity documents
• documents about their other relationships, if applicable
• character documents

Proof of dependency

Where you need to prove that a person is dependent on you, provide:

• a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over (205KB PDF) (307KB PDF)
• proof of your relationship with the dependent such as a birth certificate or adoption papers

You must also prove this person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply. You could provide:

• proof they live with you
• their tax records
• proof they are currently studying

To nominate someone to:

• receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
• provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.

We can’t give updates on applications within the standard processing time.

We might ask for more information. You can check if we need more information from you in ImmiAccount. We are not obligated to request further information or documents and can make a decision on the information provided.

Do not arrange to travel to Australia until we let you know, in writing, that we have granted you the visa.

If you didn't send us all documents when you applied, send them via ImmiAccount as soon as.

We might also ask you to provide more information. We are not obligated to request further information or documents and can make a decision on the information available.

If you are in Australia, make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application. You must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, Bridging B or Bridging C visa for your visa application to be processed.

If you were in Australia when you applied for this visa, you may have been  granted a Bridging visa. If your current visa expires before we decide on your application, the Brdiging visa will start. You can stay in Australia on the Bridging visa while we process your new visa application.

Do not ask us to cancel your current visa. If your visa is cancelled, you will:

• be staying in Australia unlawfully
• not be eligible for a Bridging visa.

Learn more about travelling on your visa.

Learn about visa expiry

Refer to Include other family members for details of family members who can be included in your visa application.

You can't add family members to your visa application after it has been submitted.

If you have submitted your visa application and we are processing it, certain family members that were not included in your visa application can submit a subsequent entrant application.

Alternatively, if we have granted you a visa, certain family members may apply to join you in Australia later as a subsequent entrant.

Let us know if you no longer want someone to:

• receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
• provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.

For more information see Who can help you with your application.

Tell us if things change after you apply but before we've made a decision.

Things you need to let us know about include:

• changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
• changes to your marital or de facto status
• the birth of a child
• you want to withdraw your application

See how to tell us if your situation changes