Form 1257 explained: the undertaking for a child travelling to Australia alone
What Form 1257 is, who can be a responsible nominee, what the criminal history declaration covers, and how it differs from the student-specific Form 157N. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 A child under 18 travelling without a parent?
- 0:16 The responsible nominee agrees to be accountable
- 0:28 Who can be the nominee
- 0:50 The nominee declares their own criminal history
- 1:05 Only declare a protection order
- 1:16 Form 1257 vs Form 157N
- 1:30 Form 1257 is free
- 1:43 Complete it personally.
- 2:05 Where to read more
Transcript
A child under 18 is coming to Australia without a parent, and not staying with a relative. Someone else has to formally take responsibility for them. That's Form 1257.
Form 1257 is an undertaking declaration. It's signed by the responsible nominee: the adult who agrees to be accountable for the child's accommodation and welfare for the whole stay.
The nominee must be at least 21 years old, and must be nominated by the child's parent or legal guardian. They can't put themselves forward.
It only applies in one specific situation: the child's stay won't be with a parent or guardian, and won't be with a relative either. If a relative is involved, this form isn't the mechanism.
The nominee also declares their own criminal history: pending charges, convictions even if removed from official records, family or domestic violence history, arrest warrants, and any history of removal, deportation or visa overstay.
One detail catches people out. A personal protection order only has to be declared where the nominee was the respondent — not where the nominee was the person the order protected.
It's easy to confuse Form 1257 with Form 157N. Form 157N is different: it's specific to student guardianship arrangements for student visa applicants under 18.
Form 1257 is free, and it's downloaded from the Home Affairs form-listing page. It's lodged alongside the child's own visa application — in ImmiAccount if that application is online.
It should be completed by the nominee personally, with accurate answers on the criminal history section — not filled in for them without their input.
A straightforward case is usually something a family can manage alone. Get advice where there's something genuinely relevant to declare, or it's unclear whether 1257 or 157N applies to your situation.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.
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