Official form guide
Form 956A: Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
Form 956A is used to notify the Department of Home Affairs that you are appointing an authorised recipient to receive documents on your behalf, or withdrawing that appointment. It is for situations where you want someone (other than a registered migration agent or exempt person) to receive correspondence about your immigration matter.
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Form Overview
Home Affairs Form 956A - Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
Form 956A is used to notify the Department of Home Affairs that you are appointing an authorised recipient to receive documents on your behalf, or withdrawing that appointment. It is for situations where you want someone (other than a registered migration agent or exempt person) to receive correspondence about your immigration matter.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Do not use this form if you are appointing a registered migration agent or legal practitioner – use Form 956 instead.
- 2Using Form 956A instead of Form 956 when appointing a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.
- 3Filling in the wrong part (Part A vs Part B) for your situation.
- 4Not getting the authorised recipient's signature, which makes the form invalid.
- 5Forgetting to include consent for electronic communication if you want emails or faxes.
Plain English
This form lets you tell the Department who should get letters and emails about your visa or immigration case. You can use it to name someone as your authorised recipient, or to cancel that arrangement. It is not for hiring a migration agent or lawyer – that is a different form.
Submission Date
- Filing date: Submit this form when you want to appoint or withdraw an authorised recipient. There is no specific deadline, but you should do it as soon as you decide, so the Department knows who to contact.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form to appoint an authorised recipient to receive documents from the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf.
- Use this form to withdraw a previously appointed authorised recipient.
- This form is for individuals who are not appointing a registered migration agent, Australian legal practitioner, or exempt person for immigration assistance.
- Do not use this form if you are appointing a registered migration agent, Australian legal practitioner, or exempt person – use Form 956 instead.
- The authorised recipient can receive documents for matters such as visa applications, visa cancellations, sponsorship processes, or ministerial intervention requests.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Appointing a registered migration agent, Australian legal practitioner, or exempt person
These professionals or exempt persons must use Form 956 to be appointed as your authorised recipient.
✓ Check the Department of Home Affairs website for the latest version of Form 956.
Need to provide immigration assistance but not as an authorised recipient
If you are providing assistance (not just receiving documents), you may need to be a registered migration agent or exempt person.
✓ Confirm your role and the correct form on the Department's website.
Appointing an authorised recipient for a matter not covered by this form
This form is specifically for appointing or withdrawing an authorised recipient for document receipt. Other matters may require different forms.
✓ Contact the Department or check the website for guidance.
Deadline or filing window
There is no fixed deadline, but submit the form promptly after your decision to avoid delays in receiving important documents.
Before you submit
- 1Complete all relevant sections: Part A (if appointing) or Part B (if withdrawing), and Part C (your contact details).
- 2Provide your full name, date of birth, and other identifying details as required.
- 3If appointing, provide the authorised recipient's full name and contact details.
- 4If withdrawing, provide the authorised recipient's details and the matter reference (e.g., visa application number, TRN, or HA ID).
- 5Sign and date the form. If multiple people are appointing or withdrawing the same recipient, each person must sign.
- 6Keep a copy of the completed form for your records.
- 7Submit the form to the Department office responsible for your matter, or the nearest office if unsure.
How to file this form
- 1Download or obtain a copy of Form 956A from the Department of Home Affairs website.
- 2Read the Privacy Notice (Form 1442i) and the instructions on the form.
- 3Complete the relevant parts: Part A for new appointment, Part B for withdrawal, and Part C for your contact details.
- 4Sign and date the form. If multiple people are involved, ensure all signatures are provided.
- 5Submit the completed form to the Department office handling your matter, or the nearest office if you are unsure which office to use.
- 6Keep a copy of the submitted form for your records.
Known limitations
- 1This form cannot be used to appoint a registered migration agent, Australian legal practitioner, or exempt person – use Form 956 instead.
- 2An exempt person (e.g., close family member, sponsor, MP, or official) must not charge a fee for providing immigration assistance; doing so is an offence with penalties up to 10 years imprisonment.
- 3The form is for appointing or withdrawing an authorised recipient to receive documents – it does not authorise the recipient to provide immigration assistance or make decisions on your behalf.
- 4The Department may still communicate with you directly in certain circumstances, even if you have an authorised recipient.
- 5The form must be submitted to the correct Department office – submitting to the wrong office may delay processing.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Applicant
3 items
Your name exactly as shown in your passport.
Your date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY).
Passport number, country of issue, and expiry date.
Contact
1 items
Current residential address, postal address, email, and phone number.
Request
1 items
The visa, citizenship, or sponsorship request this form relates to.
Evidence
1 items
Certified copies of identity and other documents required for the request.
Declaration
1 items
Declare that the information is true and correct, then sign and date.
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->This form is current as of the design date 03/21. No updates or changes are noted in the provided source.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Check the design date on the form – the source shows 03/21. Ensure you are using the most recent version.
- Verify that you are not using this form when you should be using Form 956 (for migration agents, legal practitioners, or exempt persons).
- Read the Privacy Notice (Form 1442i) before completing the form, as required.
- Confirm the correct Department office to submit the form – the office handling your matter or the nearest office if unsure.
Quick Facts
Downloads & source
Sources
- SRCForm 956A design date 03/21confirmed from source.
- SRCForm is for appointing or withdrawing an authorised recipientconfirmed from source.
- SRCDo not use for registered migration agents, legal practitioners, or exempt personsuse Form 956 – confirmed from source.
- SRCExempt persons cannot charge a feeoffence with up to 10 years jail – confirmed from source.
- SRCPrivacy notice is Form 1442iconfirmed from source.
- SRCSubmit to the office responsible for the matter or nearest officeconfirmed from source.
- SRCParts A, B, C and signature requirementsconfirmed from source.
- SRCContact details and communication preferencesconfirmed from source.
Common confusion points
Part A vs Part B: Part A is for new appointments, Part B is for withdrawals. Do not complete both unless you are doing both actions.
Who signs: If you are appointing or withdrawing on behalf of multiple people (e.g., a family), each person must sign the form.
Exempt persons: Some people (close family, sponsors, MPs, officials) do not need to be registered migration agents, but they still cannot charge a fee. This form is not for appointing them – use Form 956.
Authorised recipient vs migration agent: An authorised recipient only receives documents; they do not provide immigration assistance. If you need assistance, appoint a migration agent using Form 956.
Contact details: Ensure you provide correct contact details for yourself and the authorised recipient, as the Department will use these to send documents.
Privacy notice: You must read Form 1442i before completing this form – it explains how your personal information is handled.
Source transparency
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