The Sponsored Family Stream of the Subclass 600 visitor visa allows people to visit Australia when they are sponsored by a family member who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen. Unlike the Tourist stream of the Subclass 600 (where applicants apply independently), the Sponsored Family Stream involves a formal sponsorship process: the person in Australia (the sponsor) lodges Form 1149, providing an undertaking to be responsible for the visitor's maintenance and departure. The visitor then applies using Form 1415. The stream allows stays of 3, 6, or 12 months and is subject to the standard visitor visa conditions, including no work (condition 8101) and the genuine visitor assessment. In some cases, condition 8503 (no further stay) is imposed — preventing the visitor from applying for certain visas while in Australia. This page explains the sponsorship process, the sponsor's obligations, and how the Sponsored Family Stream differs from other Subclass 600 streams.

For current information on the Sponsored Family Stream, refer to the DHA Visitor visa Sponsored Family Stream page.

• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Subclass 600 — Sponsored Family stream — visitor visa criteria and conditions for family-sponsored visitors
• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 8, Condition 8101 — must not work in Australia
• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 8, Condition 8503 — no further stay (no application for certain visas while in Australia)
• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 8, Condition 8558 — must not engage in work in Australia (another variant of the work restriction)
• DHA: Visitor visa (Subclass 600) Sponsored Family Stream — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visitor-600-sponsored
• DHA: Form 1149 — Application for Sponsorship for Sponsored Family Visitors — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-1149

How the Sponsored Family Stream differs from the Tourist Stream

The Subclass 600 has several streams — the Tourist stream, the Business Visitor stream, the Frequent Traveller stream, the Sponsored Family stream, and the Approved Destination Status stream. The Sponsored Family Stream is distinct in that it:

• Requires a family member in Australia who formally sponsors the visitor and accepts financial responsibility
• Involves a two-step process: the sponsor lodges Form 1149 first (or concurrently), and the applicant then lodges Form 1415
• Imposes a financial undertaking on the sponsor — the sponsor agrees to be responsible for the visitor's maintenance, accommodation, and any removal costs
• Is intended for visitors who will be staying with or visiting family in Australia — not for independent tourism

The Tourist stream does not require a sponsor — applicants apply independently and are assessed on their own ties to their home country, financial circumstances, and visitor intent. The Sponsored Family Stream adds a layer of accountability through the sponsoring family member.

Who can sponsor a family visitor

A sponsor for the Sponsored Family Stream must be:

• An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Resident in Australia at the time of sponsorship
• The visitor's family member — the relationship can include spouses/de facto partners, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and in some cases extended family; the definition of "family member" for sponsorship purposes should be checked against the current DHA guidance as it can differ from other visa contexts

The sponsor must be able to demonstrate financial capacity to meet the undertaking — to maintain the visitor and cover departure costs if necessary.

The sponsorship application — Form 1149

The sponsor lodges Form 1149 (Application for Sponsorship for Sponsored Family Visitors) to DHA. The form requires:

• Details of the sponsor and their Australian immigration status
• Details of the visitor (the person to be sponsored)
• Details of accommodation arrangements in Australia
• An undertaking by the sponsor to ensure the visitor complies with visa conditions and departs at the end of the authorised stay, and to bear the costs of maintenance and any removal if the visitor does not

Sponsorship approval is not guaranteed — DHA may decline to approve the sponsorship if the sponsor does not meet the requirements, or if there are concerns about the bona fides of the visit. Approval of the sponsorship does not automatically mean the visitor's visa will be granted — the visitor must still meet all visa criteria.

The visitor's application — Form 1415

After the sponsorship is approved (or concurrently), the visitor lodges their visa application using Form 1415 (Application for a Visitor Visa), applying in the Sponsored Family Stream. The visitor must demonstrate:

• A genuine intention to visit Australia temporarily and depart at the end of the visa period
• Sufficient funds to support themselves (in addition to the sponsor's undertaking)
• Health and character requirements
• Strong ties to their home country that will compel them to return — employment, property, family, business interests

The sponsorship supports the application by providing a clear reason for the visit and a responsible party in Australia, but it does not replace the genuine visitor assessment. Applicants who are assessed as likely to overstay may be refused even with a sponsor.

Visa conditions — work restriction and no-further-stay

Sponsored Family Stream visa holders are subject to standard visitor visa conditions:

• Condition 8101 (no work): the visitor must not work in Australia during their stay
• Condition 8503 (no further stay): this condition may be imposed, particularly for visitors from countries identified as higher-risk for overstay. Condition 8503 prevents the visitor from applying for most substantive visas while they are in Australia — they must depart and apply from overseas. If condition 8503 is not imposed, the visitor may be able to apply for certain visas from within Australia, though this can affect perceptions of their genuine visitor intent

For information on applying for a waiver of condition 8503, see the no-further-stay waiver page.

Children visiting Australia — parental consent

If the visitor is a child under 18, the visa application must also address parental consent. Where a child is travelling to Australia to stay with one parent (where the other parent has custody rights), Form 1229 (Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18 years) must be completed by the non-sponsoring parent, or evidence of a court order permitting the child to travel must be provided. This requirement exists to prevent international parental child abduction and applies to the Sponsored Family Stream as it does to other family migration pathways.

The Sponsored Family Stream is frequently used when a family member in Australia wants to bring an elderly parent, or a relative from a country where independent tourist applications have lower approval rates, to visit. The sponsor's undertaking is a significant commitment — if the visitor overstays or incurs costs of removal, DHA can seek recovery from the sponsor. This distinguishes it from the Assurance of Support (which is required for certain migration visas involving long-term financial dependency) — the Form 1149 undertaking is less formal than an Assurance of Support but creates real financial exposure for the sponsor. Sponsors should be realistic about whether they can genuinely meet the undertaking if things go wrong. A common error is sponsors assuming that their undertaking will guarantee a visa — DHA still applies the genuine visitor assessment, and visitors from countries with high overstay rates may face greater scrutiny regardless of the sponsorship. For current Form 1149, Form 1415, DHA processing times, and current country-specific guidance on the Sponsored Family Stream, refer to the DHA Sponsored Family Stream page.