Form · Immigration & Migration Law
Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient: when to use it instead of Form 956
Link to the Department's Form 956A with a guide to who may be an authorised recipient, the one-recipient rule, deemed receipt of documents, the limits on what the Department will discuss, and when Form 956 is used instead.
- Kind
- Form. A form to complete, or a guide to completing an official one.
- Where it applies
- Australia, Commonwealth
- AI use
- Yellow AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at
- 18 October 2026
- Status
- Maintained. Checked on 18 October 2026 against the official form at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and the 2 authorities it cites, for Australia and Commonwealth.
- Version
- 1
- Source
- Link to the official form. Licence: © Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs). Link only: download the current form from the Department each time; do not copy or adapt it.
Where this comes from
The official form is published by immi.homeaffairs.gov.au; this page is a completion guide. Last checked on 2026-10-18.
When to use it
Use when a visa applicant, sponsor or other person wants documents from the Department sent to someone who is not giving them immigration assistance, or wants to withdraw that appointment. Where a registered migration agent, Australian legal practitioner or exempt person is giving immigration assistance and will also be the authorised recipient, use Form 956.
How AI may be used
AI may check the form details against the client file and flag when Form 956 is the right form; the lawyer or agent checks each form and explains deemed receipt to the client.
AI may
- Check names, dates of birth and file references on the form against the client file and list mismatches
- Flag when the proposed recipient is also giving immigration assistance, so Form 956 is needed instead
AI must not
- Must not sign or lodge the form
- Must not advise whether a person is an exempt person
The lawyer checks
- Form 956A is correct (not Form 956)
- Only one authorised recipient for the application or matter; the Department sends documents to the most recent one
- Client understands documents sent to the recipient are taken to have been received by them, and may contain health and character information
- Dependent applicants aged 16 or over who want a different recipient are dealt with as the form requires
Method: how the Green, Yellow and Red levels are decided. This is guidance for planning, not legal advice.
Official form
Open the official form. Always use the current version from the issuer. Licence: © Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs). Link only: download the current form from the Department each time; do not copy or adapt it..
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The summary, the law it rests on and the AI-use guidance above stay public. Privacy.
More in Immigration & Migration Law
- Form 1022 Notification of changes in circumstances (Migration Act s 104): when to notify and how to complete it
- Form 956: appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (completion guide)
- Application to the Administrative Review Tribunal for review of a migration decision (forms M1, M2, R1): guide
- Appointment of representative or authorised recipient in an ART immigration review (Form MR5): guide
- Response to an invitation to comment on adverse information (Migration Act s 57)
- Representations on a character notice under section 501 or a revocation request under section 501CA (Direction no. 123)
- Client services agreement and costs disclosure for immigration assistance (with AI-use clause)
- Client notice: AI translation and AI-drafted statements in visa applications
All precedents for Immigration & Migration Law · Tasks and AI use in this area