Form 1149: Sponsorship for Sponsored Family Visitors

What Form 1149 is (and isn't)

Form 1149, "Application for sponsorship for Sponsored Family Visitors", is completed by a person in Australia to sponsor an eligible family member's Subclass 600 visitor visa application under the Sponsored Family stream. It is not the visa application — the family member overseas still lodges their own Subclass 600 application separately; the sponsorship form supports that application by confirming someone in Australia is formally taking responsibility for aspects of the visit.

The sponsorship is assessed alongside the visitor visa application itself. A weak or incomplete Form 1149 can affect the outcome even if the visitor's own application is otherwise in order.

Who can sponsor

Eligible sponsors are generally Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens, aged 18 or over. Home Affairs also looks at how long the sponsor has been living in Australia — reported guidance commonly cites a minimum period of residence (around two years) as part of the assessment, alongside the sponsor's own immigration and character history.

Eligible family relationships typically cover parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and some extended family such as aunts, uncles and nephews or nieces — each visiting family member needs their own separate visa application supported by evidence of the relationship, even if several relatives are visiting together.

What the visa allows

The Subclass 600 Sponsored Family stream is a temporary visitor visa, commonly granted for stays of up to 12 months depending on individual circumstances. It doesn't permit work, and study is limited (commonly reported as up to three months). It's a visiting visa, not a pathway to permanent residence — families planning a longer-term or permanent arrangement for a parent or other relative should look at the dedicated parent visa options instead, covered in our parent visa guides.

The security bond

Home Affairs may require the sponsor to pay a security bond as a financial guarantee before the visa is granted — reported figures commonly sit in the roughly $5,000-$15,000 range, though the exact amount (and whether one is required at all) depends on the case, including assessment of risk factors for the individual application. The bond is intended to be refunded if the visitor complies with their visa conditions, including leaving Australia before their visa expires; it can be forfeited if they don't. Confirm the current bond policy and amount, if any, directly with Home Affairs or a MARA-registered migration agent for the specific application — this isn't a fixed fee published the way a visa application charge is.

Sponsor obligations — read this before you sign

Completing Form 1149 is a genuine commitment, not paperwork. By sponsoring, you're formally confirming to Home Affairs that you'll support the visitor's stay and that you believe their intention to visit temporarily and depart is genuine — your own credibility as a sponsor becomes part of what's assessed. If a security bond is required and later forfeited because the visitor didn't comply with their visa conditions, that cost falls on you as the sponsor, not the visitor.

Think through the practical and financial reality of the visit before signing — accommodation, day-to-day support if needed, and your own ability to absorb a forfeited bond if things go wrong — the same way you would for any binding undertaking.

Fee and how to lodge

The visitor visa application itself (lodged by the family member overseas) carries its own charge — commonly reported in the roughly $190-$195 range for the main applicant, though this should be confirmed on Home Affairs' Visa Pricing Estimator before applying, since visa charges are indexed and reviewed. Form 1149 sponsorship processing is separate from, but assessed alongside, that application. Lodge through ImmiAccount where available; the current form is downloaded free from the Home Affairs form-listing page if a paper lodgement applies to your situation.

Do I need to fill in the visa application myself if I sponsor with Form 1149?

No. Form 1149 is completed by the sponsor in Australia. The family member visiting still lodges their own Subclass 600 visitor visa application separately from overseas; the sponsorship form supports that application.

Who can sponsor a family visitor under Form 1149?

Generally an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over, who has been living in Australia for a period Home Affairs considers sufficient (commonly reported around two years) and who meets the assessment criteria.

What is the security bond for a sponsored family visitor visa?

Home Affairs may require the sponsor to lodge a security bond, commonly reported in the roughly $5,000-$15,000 range, as a financial guarantee. It's generally refundable if the visitor complies with their visa conditions and can be forfeited if they don't. Confirm the current position for your case directly with Home Affairs.

Can a sponsored family visitor work in Australia?

No. The Subclass 600 Sponsored Family stream doesn't permit work, and study is limited (commonly reported as up to three months). It's a temporary visiting visa, not a work or study pathway.

What if I want to bring a parent to live in Australia permanently, not just visit?

Form 1149 and the Sponsored Family visitor visa are for temporary visits only. For a permanent or longer-term arrangement, look at the dedicated parent visa pathways instead — see our parent visa options guide.