Form 1446: Withdrawal of a Visa Application

When people withdraw a visa application

Common reasons include deciding to apply for a different visa subclass instead of the one currently on foot, a change in personal or work circumstances that means the original application no longer fits, wanting to correct a serious error by starting again rather than trying to amend an existing application, or being advised that a refusal looks likely and preferring to withdraw before that happens.

That last reason is worth treating carefully. Withdrawing to avoid a refusal can make sense in some circumstances, but it is not automatically the safer option — whether it actually helps depends on your visa type, your current status, and what a refusal versus a withdrawal would mean for your future applications. This is exactly the kind of judgment call a registered migration agent is useful for.

How withdrawal actually happens

If you applied online, you can generally withdraw the application directly within ImmiAccount before the Department makes a decision, without needing to attach a separate form. Where that option isn't available — for example with some paper-lodged applications — Form 1446 is completed and either attached within ImmiAccount or sent to the relevant processing office, depending on how your application was lodged. Check the current process on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au or in your ImmiAccount, since exactly how withdrawal requests are submitted can change.

For a combined application covering multiple people, withdrawal by one applicant does not automatically withdraw the applications of the others. Generally, each applicant aged 18 or over needs to give their own written notice of withdrawal — so a family application with several adult applicants may need more than one signature or notice, not just one from the primary applicant.

What happens to your visa application charge

The Department's own position is direct on this: the visa application charge is not usually refunded, even if the application is refused or withdrawn. If you have paid an application in instalments, withdrawing before the second instalment is due generally means you are not required to pay it — but the amount already paid is not refunded just because you withdrew.

There are narrow refund circumstances that exist separately from withdrawal — for example, where an application was unnecessary at the time it was made or was affected by a departmental error — but these are the exception, not something that follows automatically from withdrawing. If you believe your situation might qualify, a refund request is a separate process from the withdrawal itself; check the current refund policy and eligibility criteria on the Home Affairs website before assuming either way.

What withdrawal does and doesn't do

Withdrawing an application is legally different from having it refused. Consequences like the section 48 bar — which can restrict the ability to apply for further visas onshore — are generally triggered by a refusal or cancellation while you hold certain visa types, not simply by choosing to withdraw an application before a decision is made. Whether a withdrawal changes your options compared with letting the application run to a possible refusal depends on your specific circumstances and visa history, and this is not something to assume your way through — check with the Department or a registered migration agent.

If you are in Australia on a bridging visa linked to the withdrawn application, that bridging visa typically ceases a set number of days after the withdrawal takes effect. The exact cessation period depends on when the bridging visa was granted and its specific conditions, so check the details on your bridging visa grant notice or with the Department rather than assuming a fixed timeframe — this is a detail worth getting right before you act, since being without a valid visa in Australia has serious consequences of its own.

Withdrawal also does not erase the application from your immigration history. Future visa applications may still ask about previous applications, and being accurate about a prior withdrawal is part of giving a complete and honest answer.

Alternatives to withdrawing, and when to get advice

Withdrawing is not the only option if something about your application needs to change. Depending on the visa and the stage you're at, it may be possible to update or correct information on the existing application (see Form 1022, used to tell the Department about a change in circumstances), request more time to respond to a request for information, or in some cases simply wait for the outcome rather than pre-empting it.

Because the right choice depends so heavily on individual visa history, current bridging visa status, and what you plan to do next, this is a genuinely good moment to get advice rather than guess. A registered migration agent can look at your specific application and advise whether withdrawing, amending, or waiting is the better path — Migratio lets you compare MARA-registered agents and their consultation fees if you want that advice before you act.

What is Form 1446?

Form 1446, "Withdrawal of a visa application," is the Home Affairs form you use to give formal written notice under section 49 of the Migration Act 1958 that you're withdrawing a visa application. It's a free PDF from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, attached in ImmiAccount or sent to the processing office handling your case.

Do I need Form 1446 if I applied through ImmiAccount?

Often not — many online applications can be withdrawn directly within ImmiAccount before a decision is made, without a separate form. Form 1446 exists as the formal written-notice option, including for applications where the ImmiAccount withdrawal option isn't available. Check your account or the current Home Affairs guidance for your situation.

Will I get my visa application charge back if I withdraw?

Generally no. The Department does not usually refund the visa application charge for refused or withdrawn applications. If you paid in instalments, you're generally not required to pay a second instalment that wasn't yet due, but amounts already paid are not automatically refunded.

Does withdrawing trigger the section 48 bar?

The section 48 bar is generally triggered by a visa refusal or cancellation while you hold certain visa types, not by withdrawing an application before a decision is made — but whether withdrawal affects your specific future options still depends on your visa history and circumstances. Check with the Department or a registered migration agent rather than assuming.

Can I withdraw for just one person in a combined application?

Withdrawal by one applicant in a combined application does not automatically withdraw the applications of the others. Generally, each applicant aged 18 or over needs to give their own written notice of withdrawal.

What happens to my bridging visa if I withdraw?

A bridging visa linked to the withdrawn application typically ceases a set number of days after the withdrawal, with the exact period depending on when it was granted and its conditions. Check your bridging visa grant notice or the current Home Affairs guidance for the specific timeframe that applies to you.