---
title: "Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient: when to use it instead of Form 956"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/immigration-and-migration-law/form-956a-authorised-recipient"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a30-form-956a-authorised-recipient"
area_id: "A30"
kind: "form"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-18"
---

# 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…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/immigration-and-migration-law/form-956a-authorised-recipient  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-18

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

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.

## Key facts

- Kind: Form. A form to complete, or a guide to completing an official one.
- Practice area: [Immigration & Migration Law](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/immigration-and-migration-law.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia, Commonwealth
- AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-18
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-18 against the official form at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and the 2 authorities it cites, for Australia and Commonwealth.

## 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

## Authorities

- [Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 494D (giving documents to an authorised recipient)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C1958A00062/latest/text)
- [Department of Home Affairs, Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/956a.pdf)

## Official form

[Official form](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/956a.pdf)

## 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.

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/immigration-and-migration-law/form-956a-authorised-recipient and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*