Form 956: My Complete Guide for Australian Visa Applicants
By Nilesh Nandan – Australian Immigration Lawyer, MyVisa® Immigration Lawyers
A practical guide to Form 956, including when you need it, how it differs from Form 956A, and how to lodge it correctly.
Table of Contents
- What Is Form 956?
- Form 956 vs Form 956A – What’s the Difference?
- When Do You Need Form 956?
- Who Can Use Form 956 – Agents, Lawyers and Exempt Persons
- How to Fill Form 956 Step-by-Step
- How and Where to Submit Form 956
- Real-Life Examples from My Practice
- Comparison Table: Form 956 vs 956A
- Form 956 Pre-Lodgement Checklist
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Book a Consultation
1. What Is Form 956?
Form 956 is formally called “Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person”. It is the form you use to tell the Department of Home Affairs that a particular person is officially helping you with your immigration matter and is authorised to deal with the Department about your case.
When you complete and lodge Form 956, you are:
- appointing a registered migration agent, an Australian legal practitioner, or an exempt person to provide immigration assistance; and
- authorising that person to liaise with Home Affairs on your behalf about that specific matter.
Form 956 can also be used to end an existing appointment and notify the Department that the person is no longer your representative. This is important when you change agents or lawyers, or when you decide to deal directly with the Department again.
Put simply, Form 956 is the official way of saying: “This is the person I want Immigration to deal with about my case.”
2. Form 956 vs Form 956A – What’s the Difference?
A lot of confusion online comes from people mixing up Form 956 and Form 956A. They are related but they do different things.
Form 956 – Appointment of migration agent, lawyer or exempt person
You use Form 956 when you are appointing a:
- registered migration agent
- Australian legal practitioner
- exempt person (in certain limited situations)
These people are allowed to provide you with immigration assistance – advice, preparation, submissions, and communication with the Department.
Form 956A – Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
Form 956A is for appointing or removing an authorised recipient. That person may not be a migration professional at all. Their role is to receive written communication from Home Affairs on your behalf – letters, emails, notices and so on.
They are not automatically providing immigration advice just because they are receiving correspondence.
Quick way to remember it
- Form 956 – “This agent, lawyer or exempt person is advising me and dealing with Immigration for me.”
- Form 956A – “This person will receive letters and emails from Immigration for me.”
In many cases, if you have a migration agent or lawyer, that person is both your adviser and your authorised recipient. In those situations, Form 956 is usually the correct form to use.
3. When Do You Need Form 956?
You generally need Form 956 when a migration agent, immigration lawyer or exempt person is:
- preparing or lodging your visa application
- managing a visa refusal review or ART appeal
- dealing with the Department about a Bridging Visa E or other bridging visa issue
- assisting with a complex immigration situation, such as ministerial intervention or compliance matters
Is Form 956 always mandatory?
In some policy documents, you’ll see language suggesting that the forms are not strictly “mandatory” in every scenario. In practice, though, if a professional is providing immigration assistance, the Department expects a Form 956 to be on the file.
It just makes life easier for everyone. It tells the Department clearly:
- who is acting for you, and
- who they should be talking to about your case.
If you’re unsure whether your situation requires Form 956, it’s usually safer to complete it than to leave things unclear – especially in higher-stakes matters such as partner visas or parent and skilled visas.
4. Who Can Use Form 956 – Agents, Lawyers and Exempt Persons
Registered migration agents
Registered migration agents are professionals regulated under the Australian migration framework. They have a Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN) and must comply with a professional Code of Conduct.
If you appoint a registered migration agent, Form 956 is how you officially record that appointment with Home Affairs.
Australian legal practitioners
Australian lawyers (like me) can also provide immigration assistance. When you appoint a legal practitioner, you can also use Form 956 to make it clear that your lawyer is your representative and, if you choose, your receiving contact for correspondence.
Exempt persons
“Exempt persons” are a special category defined in migration law and policy. In certain limited circumstances, close family members, sponsors, parliamentarians and some others can provide immigration assistance without being registered migration agents. Where that applies, they can also be appointed using Form 956.
If you are relying on an exempt person rather than a professional, be careful. They are not regulated the way migration agents and lawyers are, and if something goes wrong, it’s you who bears the consequences.
5. How to Fill Form 956 Step-by-Step
You should always download the latest version of Form 956 from the official Home Affairs website. Do not rely on old saved copies or versions you find on random forums.
Step 1 – Identify the matter you are appointing for
Form 956 is normally completed for a particular “matter” – for example:
- a visitor visa for your parents
- a partner visa application
- a visa refusal review at the ART
- a bridging visa or status resolution process
Make sure the visa subclass or matter is clearly described. For complex cases, one Form 956 may cover a group of related applications, but this should be handled carefully.
Step 2 – Complete your personal details accurately
Your details must match what appears in your visa application and your passport. This includes:
- full legal name (no nicknames)
- date of birth
- passport and nationality details where requested
- client ID or file reference, if you have one
Any mismatch can slow things down or raise unnecessary questions about identity.
Step 3 – Representative’s details
The person you are appointing will usually complete their own section. They will provide:
- their full name and contact details
- their Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN), if a migration agent
- their legal practice details, if a lawyer
- the basis on which they are an exempt person, if applicable
Check that their contact details are correct – Immigration correspondence for your matter may be sent there.
Step 4 – Declaration by the appointed person
Your migration agent, lawyer or exempt person must sign the form to confirm that they agree to act and that they understand the responsibilities that come with providing immigration assistance.
Step 5 – Declaration by you (the client)
You must sign the client section to confirm that you are appointing that person and authorising them to receive information and communicate with the Department about your case.
If you are helping your parents or relatives overseas, remember this: they are the client, and it is their appointment, even if you are the one organising everything in the background.
Step 6 – Ending an appointment using Form 956
Form 956 can also be used to end an existing appointment – for example, if:
- you change migration agents or lawyers
- you decide to handle your matter yourself
- your relationship with the representative has broken down
Using Form 956 to clearly withdraw an appointment helps prevent confusion about who can speak to Immigration about your case.
6. How and Where to Submit Form 956
How you submit Form 956 will depend on how your underlying visa or review matter has been lodged.
Submitting Form 956 via ImmiAccount
For most online visa applications, you can:
- Log into your ImmiAccount.
- Open the relevant visa or citizenship application.
- Go to the “Attach documents” section.
- Attach the signed Form 956 under the appropriate document category (often labelled “Immigration assistance / Form 956” or similar).
This ensures the form is linked directly to the correct application.
Submitting Form 956 by email or other channels
In some contexts – such as certain ministerial intervention requests, status resolution matters, or older paper-based processes – you may be asked to email or send Form 956 to a specific departmental address.
Always follow the instructions specific to your case. If the Department or Tribunal has given you a particular email address or upload portal, use that.
If you are not sure where to submit Form 956 for your situation, get advice before you send it. A form sitting in the wrong inbox does you no good.
7. Real-Life Examples from My Practice
Example 1 – Helping parents with a visitor visa
Priya lives in Australia and wants her parents in India to apply for a visitor visa. She engages a migration agent to manage the process. The agent prepares the forms, uploads documents through ImmiAccount, and deals with Immigration queries.
Priya’s parents complete Form 956 to formally appoint the agent. This way, the Department knows exactly who is acting for them and directs correspondence to the correct person.
Example 2 – Partner visa with a lawyer
A client comes to me for advice on a partner visa. I review their circumstances, help build the evidentiary record, prepare submissions, and respond to any departmental requests for information.
To make that work, the couple appoints me using Form 956, which tells the Department that I am authorised to deal with them on the couple’s behalf.
Example 3 – Changing migration agents
Sometimes an applicant starts with one agent, becomes unhappy with the service, and wants to move to another professional.
In this scenario, Form 956 can be used to withdraw the previous appointment and appoint the new migration agent or lawyer. This gives the Department clarity about who currently represents the client.
Example 4 – ART review and Form 956
If you appeal a visa decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), you may need to lodge a new Form 956 if a migration agent or lawyer represents you in the review. The form allows both the ART and the Department to clearly recognise who is authorised to act for you.
8. Comparison Table: Form 956 vs 956A
| Feature | Form 956 | Form 956A |
|---|---|---|
| Who is being appointed? | Registered migration agent, Australian legal practitioner or exempt person | Any authorised recipient (not necessarily a professional) |
| Main purpose | To appoint someone to provide immigration assistance and communicate with Home Affairs | To appoint or remove a person who receives written communication from Home Affairs |
| Provides immigration advice? | Yes – the appointed person is giving immigration assistance | Not necessarily – they may only receive correspondence |
| Used to end an appointment? | Yes – you can use Form 956 to withdraw an appointment | Yes – you can use Form 956A to end an authorised recipient arrangement |
| Typical scenarios | Using a migration agent or lawyer for a visa, review, bridging visa or complex matter | Authorising a family member or employer to receive letters/emails from the Department |
If you are paying someone to provide immigration advice, Form 956 is usually the form you should be looking at first.
9. Form 956 Pre-Lodgement Checklist
Before you upload or send Form 956, run through this quick checklist:
- ✔ You downloaded the current version of Form 956 from the official Home Affairs website.
- ✔ The correct visa subclass or immigration matter is clearly described on the form.
- ✔ Your personal details (name, date of birth, passport) match your visa application.
- ✔ Your migration agent, lawyer or exempt person has completed their section fully and accurately.
- ✔ Any MARN or legal practice details are correct and legible.
- ✔ The representative has signed their declaration.
- ✔ You have signed the client declaration in the correct place.
- ✔ If you are changing representatives, the form clearly indicates that an old appointment is being withdrawn.
- ✔ The scanned copy is clear, readable, and not password-protected.
- ✔ You are lodging it through the correct channel – usually ImmiAccount or the specific address given for your matter.
If you get stuck on any of these points, it’s a signal that you may need professional advice rather than guessing.
10. Frequently Asked Questions About Form 956
What is Form 956?
You use Form 956 to officially appoint a registered migration agent, Australian legal practitioner, or exempt person to provide immigration assistance and deal with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf for a specific immigration matter.
What is the difference between Form 956 and 956A?
Form 956 is for appointing a migration agent, lawyer or exempt person who is giving you immigration advice and assistance. Form 956A is for appointing or removing an authorised recipient, who may simply receive correspondence from the Department without providing professional immigration advice.
How do I fill Form 956?
You fill in your personal details, identify the visa or immigration matter, and ensure your migration agent, lawyer or exempt person completes their section and signs the declaration. You then sign the client declaration. All details must be accurate and consistent with your visa application.
How do I submit or upload Form 956?
For most online applications, you upload the signed Form 956 in your ImmiAccount under the relevant application’s “Attach documents” section. In some cases, the Department may instruct you to email it or send it to a particular address. Always follow the directions the Department gives you.
When do I need Form 956?
You generally need Form 956 when a migration agent, immigration lawyer or exempt person is providing immigration assistance and representing you in relation to a visa, citizenship, bridging visa, status resolution or review matter.
Do I need Form 956 for my visa?
If you are using a migration agent or immigration lawyer, you will almost always need Form 956 so that Immigration recognises them as your appointed representative for that matter.
Can I use Form 956 for my parents or relatives overseas?
Yes. Form 956 is commonly used when parents or relatives outside Australia appoint a migration agent or lawyer in Australia to assist with their visitor visas, parent visas, or other applications. The parent or relative is the client and signs Form 956 to appoint the representative.
What happens if I lodge the wrong form – 956 instead of 956A, or vice versa?
If you lodge the wrong form, the Department may still work out what you intended, but you risk delays and confusion over who is authorised to advise you and who should receive correspondence. It is always better to use the correct form and seek advice if you are unsure.
11. Book a Consultation
If you are unsure whether you need Form 956, Form 956A, or both—or if you are concerned about how you appointed your representative—I can help you put a clear, compliant strategy in place.
I regularly advise on:
- partner visa strategies where agents or lawyers are involved
- visa refusal and ART review matters where representation is critical
- bridging visa and status resolution situations, including Bridging Visa E
- cases where additional forms such as Form 80 interact with your overall visa strategy
Book a consultation with me to get tailored advice about your Form 956 and your broader visa situation.
Legal Disclaimer
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
