Visitors/Tourists Category
Sponsored Family Visitor Visa (Subclass679)
This visa allows people to travel to Australia to take a holiday or visit their family. The applicant must have an eligible relative in Australia or an Australian Government official willing to sponsor them. The sponsor provides a guarantee that their visitor will leave Australia before the visa expires. Support from the sponsor is taken into account by the visa decision-maker
About this visa
## Who is this visa for? This visa is for you if you want to visit your family in Australia or to holiday in Australia for reasons other than business or medical treatment. You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa. ## How much will this visa cost? A non-refundable visa application charge must be paid when your visa application is lodged. Your sponsor will make the payment on your behalf when they lodge the application in Australia. In some cases a financial security bond may also be requested. See: Tourist Visa Charges ## What does this visa let me do? You can visit Australia once, usually to stay for a period of up to three (3) months or six (6) months, but in certain circumstances a stay of 12 months may be granted. While in Australia you can: Visit family and/or friends Engage in tourist activities Study for up to three (3) months.
How this visa works
> To apply for this visa, you must have an eligible sponsor and each family member must complete an application form. The application is lodged in Australia by the sponsor and the correspondence by the department is usually with the sponsor. Important: A sponsor is only able to sponsor one person or, if a relative, one family unit at a time. A family unit normally includes the head of the family, spouse and dependent children. Other relatives may be included in the family unit if they can provide evidence that they are fully dependant on the head of the family. See: Definitions of a Family Unit To be a sponsor for this visa, you must be: An Australian citizen or permanent resident Aged 18 years or over Settled in Australia. You must also be one of the following: A relative (parent, child, adopted child, spouse, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle niece, nephew, or 'step' equivalent of any of these) A member of an Australian parliament (Commonwealth, State or Territory) An authorised person representing a Commonwealth, State or Territory department or instrumentality A local government mayor. ## Visa validity period This visa allows you to travel to Australia, usually to stay for a period of up to three (3) months. In certain circumstances the visa may be granted for a stay of up to 12 months. You are only allowed one entry to Australia for the validity of the visa and you will not be able to extend your stay. It is important to ask for a visa period to cover all your activities. Example: If you wish to visit Australia to attend a wedding, make sure you ask for a period of stay that will also cover any other family events around that time. If you wish to visit Australia more than once you can apply for another Sponsored Family Visitor visa once you leave Australia. You could also apply for a Tourist visitor visa instead of a Sponsored Family Visitor visa. ## Sponsorship validity period If you are granted a visa, the sponsorship remains in place until you leave Australia. If you choose not to travel to Australia then the sponsorship remains in place until the visa expires. A sponsor cannot have their sponsorship cancelled while the visa is still valid. ## Security bond The visa processing officer decides, on a case by case basis, whether to request a security bond. This bond is an added assurance that the visa holder will depart Australia and is normally requested where there are some concerns that an applicant may not comply with their visa conditions. The amount of the security bond is determined on a case by case basis and usually ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per person. However, any amount may be requested. If a security bond is required, a letter outlining the process for lodging the bond will be sent to the sponsor. It must be paid in full in Australia before a final decision can be made on the application. Refunds are arranged once the visitor has left Australia having complied with all visa conditions. Information on refunds is provided at the time the bond is requested. See: Security Bond Information ## Study With this visa you can undertake study or training in Australia for up to three (3) months. If you plan to study in a classroom for longer than four (4) weeks, you may be required to have a health examination before your course starts. ## Work With this visa you cannot work in Australia. If you want to work you should consider applying for a work or business visa. See: Workers & Employers ## Responsibilities The table below outlines the responsibilities in obtaining a Sponsored Family Visitor visa.
> Person | Responsibilities
> --- | ---
> Sponsor | Lodges the sponsorship form in Australia. Lodges a visa application form for each member of the family unit. Pays the visa application charge. Arranges a security bond for each member of the family unit, if required. Usually acts as the contact person for further information required during the processing of the visa application.
> Applicant | Completes and signs a valid application form (family unit members visiting Australia together each complete separate forms). Sends application form and supporting documents to the sponsor in Australia. Provides any further information requested during the processing of the visa application. Arranges for the visa label to be placed in their passport at an overseas office, if visa is granted.

Eligibility to apply
# Applicant Eligibility Each applicant must lodge their own visa application and have an eligible sponsor. You must also meet the following requirements. ## Eligible sponsor You must have an eligible sponsor. A sponsor can only sponsor one person, or one family unit at a time. See: Sponsor Eligibility If you do not have an eligible relative who can sponsor you, or if you want a visa which allows multiple entry to Australia, you may be eligible to apply for another Visitor visa. See: Visitors ## Genuine visit You must have a genuine intention to only visit family in Australia or holiday for reasons other than business or medical treatment. A genuine visit is where the applicant: intends to depart Australia before their visa expires will not work will not study beyond what is permitted by the visa Example: No more than three (3) months during their total stay in Australia. ## Health requirements You must meet certain health requirements and you may be asked to undergo a health examination. If you are 70 years or over you must also provide: evidence from your doctor that you are fit to travel evidence that you have health insurance to cover your stay in Australia. See: Health Requirements ## Health insurance Medical treatment in Australia can be very expensive. As a tourist you are not covered by Australia's national health scheme, unless there is a reciprocal health care agreement between Australia and your country. Health care for visitors to Australia is explained on the Medicare Australia website. See: Medicare Australia Health Care for Visitors to Australia It is recommended that you take out health insurance for yourself and your family for the duration of your stay in Australia. If you are 70 years or over, you must have health insurance to cover your stay in Australia in order to satisfy the financial requirements for this visa. Applicants are advised not to purchase health insurance until requested by the visa processing officer. More information about Australian private health insurance is available. See: Department of Health and Ageing Private Health Insurance Administration Council ## Character requirements You must meet character requirements. See: Character Requirements ## Financial requirements You must have access to sufficient funds to cover all costs for the duration of your stay in Australia, including health insurance if required. You may be asked to provide evidence of your funds. If another person is financially supporting your visit then they should provide evidence of their funds. Examples: Personal bank statements, pay slips, audited accounts, taxation records, traveller cheques, credit card limit. ## Children under 18 years of age Applications for children under 18 years of age must include a consent form signed by the non-accompanying parent or legal guardian if the child is travelling: Alone With only one parent or legal guardian. See: Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (125KB PDF file) Note: Evidence must be provided to confirm family relationship or guardianship. ### Support and accommodation Applications for children under 18 years of age must include a declaration signed by the person who will be responsible for them in Australia if the child is travelling alone and: Not staying with a relative or Not part of an organised tour group. The person nominated as responsible for the child in Australia must: Be 21 years of age or older Provide the child with accommodation, support and general welfare Remain in Australia while the child is in Australia. See: Form 1257 Undertaking declaration (152KB PDF file) ## Debts to the Australian Government To enter Australia you must: have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government. Before lodging an application, please read all related eligibility requirements. See: Other eligibility # # Sponsor Eligibility To be a sponsor for this visa, you must be: An Australian citizen or permanent resident Aged 18 years or over Settled in Australia. You must also be one of the following: A relative (parent, child, adopted child, spouse, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or 'step' equivalent of any of these) A member of an Australian parliament (Commonwealth, State or Territory) An authorised person representing a Commonwealth, State or Territory department or instrumentality A local government mayor. There are no provisions for a fiance(e), same sex partner, cousin or friend to be a sponsor for this visa. Special Category (Subclass 444) visa holders, eligible New Zealand citizens, New Zealand citizens and New Zealand permanent residents are also not able to sponsor an applicant under this visa subclass. Family members of New Zealand citizens who hold a Special Category (Subclass 444) visa may be eligible to apply for the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Subclass 461) visa. See: New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Subclass 461) visa You cannot be an in-law of the visa applicant, unless you are sponsoring a family unit, and the family head is your relative. You are only able to sponsor one person (or one family unit) at a time. If: You have already provided a sponsorship for another visitor, you must wait until they depart Australia before you can be eligible to provide another sponsorship The visitor you sponsored chooses not to travel to Australia then the sponsorship remains in place until that visa expires. A sponsor cannot have their sponsorship cancelled while the visa is still valid. If you have previously sponsored a visitor as a sponsored visitor, and your visitor did not abide by the conditions of their visa, you will be ineligible to sponsor another visitor in the same visa class for five (5) years. There are only limited circumstances under which you can apply to have the five (5) year bar on further sponsorships lifted. Before lodging an application, please read all related eligibility requirements. See: Other eligibility
Terms & Conditions for this Category
If the visa is granted, the following requirements must be met. ## Sponsor obligations The sponsor should be confident that the applicant intends to abide by their visa conditions. Sponsors must, to the best of their ability: guarantee that their visitors will comply with all the conditions of their visa while in Australia, including departing Australia before their visas expire take responsibility for all financial obligations to the Australian Government incurred by their visitor during their stay in Australia. If a visitor does not comply with all the conditions of their visa, the sponsor in most cases will: be unable to sponsor another visitor for this visa for five (5) years lose their security bond. ## Applicant obligations With this visa, a visitor can enter Australia once only. They can stay for the period specified on the visa label in their passport. A sponsored family visitor is not able to: work in Australia undertake study or training in Australia for longer than three (3) months Note: If a visitor intends to study in a classroom for longer than four (4) weeks, they may be required to have a health examination before their course starts. remain in Australia beyond the expiry date of their visa extend their stay in Australia. Note: This visa has a 'No Further Stay' condition. This means the visitor can not apply for any other visa while in Australia, except in exceptional circumstances.
Applying for this visa
If the sponsor and visitor are eligible, willing and able to meet their obligations under this visa, they can commence the two-step application process. ## Step 1 - Visitor completes application form The visitor completes and signs the visa application form and sends it to the sponsor in Australia, with all supporting documentation. See: Step 1 - Visitor Completes Application Form ## Step 2 - Sponsor completes sponsorship form and lodges application The sponsor completes the sponsorship form. The sponsor then submits all application forms, sponsorship form, supporting documentation and a non-refundable visa application charge (fee) on behalf of the visitor. See: Step 2 - Sponsor Completes Sponsorship Form and Lodges Application ## After you lodge your application Information about what happens after the sponsor lodges the application in Australia. See: After You Lodge Your Application

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