Form 956: Appointment of a Registered Migration Agent, Legal Practitioner or Exempt Person — Complete Guide
Form 956 is the official form used to appoint a registered migration agent, legal practitioner (immigration lawyer), or exempt person to provide immigration assistance and act as your authorised recipient with the Department of Home Affairs. This form is essential because it authorises your representative to receive all correspondence from the Department, make submissions on your behalf, and attend interviews with you. Without a valid Form 956 on file, the Department will communicate directly with you — and if you miss a critical deadline or notice, the consequences can be severe.
Who can be appointed on Form 956?
Form 956 can only be used to appoint three categories of representative: a registered migration agent (registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority), a legal practitioner (a solicitor or barrister who holds a current practising certificate), or an exempt person (a person who is exempt from registration under the Migration Act, such as a member of parliament or a diplomat acting in an official capacity). If you want to appoint a family member or friend who is not a registered agent or lawyer, you need Form 956A (Appointment or Withdrawal of an Authorised Recipient) instead.
The difference between Form 956 and Form MR5
Form 956 is used for matters before the Department of Home Affairs — visa applications, visa cancellation responses, ministerial intervention requests, and other departmental proceedings. Form MR5 is used for matters before the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). These are separate appointments. If your visa is refused and you appeal to the ART, you will need to lodge a Form MR5 with the tribunal in addition to the Form 956 you already have on file with the Department. Your representative should handle both forms for you.
How to complete and submit Form 956
Form 956 requires the details of the applicant (or all applicants if it is a family application), the details of the representative being appointed, and the representative's registration number or practising certificate details. All applicants listed on the form must sign it. The form can be submitted through ImmiAccount or by post/email to the relevant processing centre. Your representative will typically prepare the form for you — you just need to review and sign it.
Changing or withdrawing your representative
If you want to change your representative, you lodge a new Form 956 appointing the new representative. This automatically revokes the previous appointment. If you want to withdraw your representative without appointing a new one, you can use the withdrawal section of Form 956. It is important to note that the Department will only communicate with the representative shown on the most recent Form 956 on file — so if you change representatives, ensure the new form is lodged promptly to avoid missing critical correspondence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not lodging Form 956 at all — meaning the Department sends critical notices directly to the applicant who may not understand them
- Lodging Form 956A instead of Form 956 (956A is for non-professional authorised recipients, not for lawyers or agents)
- Not updating Form 956 when changing representatives — the old representative continues to receive correspondence
- Missing signatures from all applicants listed on the form
- Not including the representative's registration number or practising certificate details
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Form 956 and Form 956A?
Form 956 is used to appoint a professional representative — a registered migration agent, legal practitioner, or exempt person. Form 956A is used to appoint a non-professional authorised recipient, such as a family member or friend, who can receive correspondence on your behalf but cannot provide immigration assistance. If you are appointing an immigration lawyer, you need Form 956.
Do I need a separate Form 956 for each visa application?
Yes. Each visa application requires its own Form 956. If you have multiple applications pending (for example, a bridging visa and a substantive visa), you should lodge a Form 956 for each one. Your representative will typically handle this for you.
Can I appoint more than one representative?
No. You can only have one appointed representative at a time for each application. If you lodge a new Form 956, it automatically revokes the previous appointment. However, your appointed representative may have colleagues who assist with your matter under their supervision.
Need help with Form 956?
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