Sponsorship and Assurance of Support

If a relative agrees to sponsor an application, they are undertaking to provide adequate accommodation and financial assistance as required by the visa holder during the first 2 years stay in Australia. They also agree to provide information and advice to help the visa holder and family settle in Australia such as information in relation to housing, living costs etc.

An Assurance of Support will also need to be lodged. This does not necessarily have to be supplied by the sponsor (in fact they may not even meet the requirements as an Assurer) but can be provided by any Australian citizen or permanent resident (does not need to be related).

An Assurance of Support is a commitment to provide financial support to the applicant and family so that the applicant will not have to rely on any government forms of support.

The Assurer must have a minimum annual income of $30,806.00 and this amount is increased by $2,000 for each dependent adult and $624 for each dependent child in the Assurer's family. It is also increased again by $2,000 for each adult and $624 for each child included in the migration application.

A bond is also required to be paid at the time of approval of the application which is lodged with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. This bond is held for 2 years from the date the person arrives in Australia. This money will be released at the end of the 2 year period, less any claims made for benefits or allowances from the government.

The bond payable is $3,500 for the principal applicant and $1,500 for each other person included in the application who is aged over 18 years.