Form 956 – Appointment of a Registered Migration Agent, Legal Practitioner or Exempt Person

Introduction

In Australian immigration matters, paperwork is not a formality; it is the architecture of your legal rights. Form 956 is the instrument that allows you to appoint a registered migration agent, an Australian legal practitioner, or an exempt person to give immigration assistance and, crucially, to communicate with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf. When used correctly, Form 956 creates a clean channel between your authorised representative and the Department. When used poorly, it can cause missed notices, invalid consent, or delays that undermine an otherwise strong application.

I write this guide in a professional, legal voice with the goal of precision and clarity. My focus is to help you understand when to use Form 956, how to complete it properly, and how it differs from Form 956A. I also include a step-by-step checklist, comparison tables, and worked examples so you can avoid the predictable pitfalls that I see weekly in practice.

What Form 956 Does (and Why It Matters)

Form 956 is the Department’s formal record that you have appointed a person or firm to provide immigration assistance and to receive correspondence about your matter. When accepted by the Department, the form authorises your appointed representative to:

• make written submissions, upload documents, and respond to requests on your behalf;
• receive notices, procedural fairness letters, and decisions;
• act as your primary point of contact for the visa, nomination, citizenship, or review file;
• withdraw when appropriate and notify the Department if the appointment ends.

This is not administrative trivia. If the Department sends a critical notice to the wrong email because a prior representative was not properly revoked, you may miss a deadline. A valid Form 956 protects you against that risk by making the communication pathway clear, current, and lawful.

Who Should Use Form 956 vs Form 956A

Form 956 is used when the person assisting you is a registered migration agent, an Australian lawyer, or an exempt person (for example, a parliamentarian or a close family member in specific circumstances). If your helper is not a registered agent or a practising lawyer and is not an exempt person, then you are dealing with non-commercial assistance and will likely use Form 956A instead, which appoints an authorised recipient for correspondence but does not permit immigration assistance in the regulated sense.

In short: Form 956 appoints a professional (or exempt) representative to give immigration assistance. Form 956A appoints an authorised recipient for communication only. Mixing them up can create confusion about who is allowed to do what.

Form 956 vs Form 956A – Side-by-Side Comparison

How and Where to Submit Form 956

The method depends on the stage and platform of your matter. The goal is to lodge the 956 where it is unmistakably linked to your file so the Department’s communications pivot to your representative without delay.

Tip: keep a single PDF containing the signed 956 and any authority letters. When staff rotate inside an office, a consolidated file saves time and reduces misfiling.

Documents, Evidence & Identity – What to Prepare

Form 956 does not require you to re-prove your entire visa case, but identity and authority still matter. I prepare the following as standard practice:

• Identity evidence: passport biodata page for the client; if a guardian signs, attach guardianship or parental responsibility evidence.
• Representative credentials: migration agent registration (MARN) or lawyer practising certificate details; firm letterhead where appropriate.
• Authority to act: if you are a corporate client or joint applicants, include a short authority letter naming who may give instructions.
• Contact consolidation: one email and one postal address for the representative throughout the pack; avoid mixing addresses across pages.
• Record-keeping: save the signed PDF in the same folder as the underlying application so future staff can locate it quickly.

Common Errors and How I Prevent Them

Worked Scenarios (Real-World Style Examples)

1) Switching from a consultant to a lawyer mid-process

A skilled visa applicant began with a consultant overseas. Later, after receiving a complex natural justice letter, they appointed me. We executed a new 956, lodged it via the portal against the live application, and requested acknowledgement. As a result, the Department re-routed all communication to my office; we responded to the letter on time and the case progressed without duplication.

2) Family with a parent acting for a minor

A parent lodged a citizenship application for a 15-year-old. However, they wanted a lawyer to manage a request for more information about identity evidence. The parent signed the client section; I signed as legal practitioner with scope limited to that file. The Department issued the notice to my office; we coordinated school and birth records and resolved the query.

3) Company appointing an agent across multiple linked files

An employer ran a 482 nomination and an associated employee visa. We lodged one 956 that referenced both file numbers and listed a single representative email. This ensured nomination notices and visa notices arrived at the same inbox, preventing either file from drifting.

4) Ending an appointment cleanly

A client returned overseas and wanted to resume direct handling. In the same way, we filed a short written notice withdrawing the 956 and confirming the new contact details. The Department acknowledged the change in writing, avoiding any ambiguity about who could provide instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Form 956 in Australia?

Form 956 is the Department of Home Affairs form you use to appoint a registered migration agent, an Australian legal practitioner, or an exempt person specifically to provide immigration assistance and to receive communications about your matter.

Who should sign Form 956?

The client (or a parent/guardian for a minor) and the appointed representative must both sign and date the form. If authority is held by a company officer, include evidence of their capacity to sign.

How do I submit Form 956?

Preferably via the relevant online application portal so it links to your file, or via the Department’s webform with your file number. For paper or legacy matters, follow the address/instructions in your last correspondence.

Can I email Form 956 to the case officer?

If a direct email channel has been established, you may. However, the safer approach is to upload the form to the file or use the webform so the authority updates across systems, not just a mailbox.

What’s the difference between Form 956 and Form 956A?

Form 956 appoints a professional (or exempt) representative who can give immigration assistance. Also, Form 956A appoints an authorised recipient to receive mail only and is commonly used where a friend or relative helps with correspondence.

How long does it take for a Form 956 to take effect?

Often within a few business days after a clean upload to the correct file. Meanwhile, check the portal for updated contact details or wait for written acknowledgement.

Do I need a new Form 956 for every application?

Best practice is yes—one form per matter (e.g., the nomination and the visa) so each file contains a current authority trail. It avoids confusion when files are handled by different teams.

Can my representative withdraw?

Yes. They may file a withdrawal notice or a new representative can take over with a fresh 956. You should always be notified of any change.

What if the Department keeps writing to my old agent?

File a new 956 and request written confirmation of the update. Ensure your representative follows up until the contact route is corrected in all systems.

Does Form 956 cover tribunal or court matters?

It covers Department communications. Review bodies may require their own forms or a separate notice of appearance. Your lawyer will advise on the correct instrument for each forum.

Related Guides & Internal Links

• Visa Refusal – Federal Court Appeals
• Partner Visa – Evidence, Timing & Strategy
• Form 956 – Official PDF (Home Affairs)

Book a Consultation

Authority and communication decide outcomes. If your representative is not appointed correctly, the strongest submission can be undermined by a missed notice. I help clients and businesses put the appointment on a sound legal footing, align the 956 with the correct file, and implement clean withdrawal/change procedures so your matter stays organised and defensible.

Book a consultation with me today and let’s ensure your Form 956 is valid, current, and working for you.

By Nilesh Nandan — Australian Immigration Lawyer, MyVisa®️ Immigration Lawyers

This blog is intended for discussion purposes only and does not constitute advice. You should seek independent legal advice before relying on any information provided on this site. Immigration policies, systems, and processes can change without notice. I’d like to know your own experience with the immigration challenges noted above — feel free to contact me.

MyVisa: Nilesh Nandan, Attorney at Law
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) GDLP MBA(IntBus)
Head of Practice