Withdrawing visa application & sponsorship application

Withdrawing visa application & sponsorship application – you may withdraw your visa application or sponsorship application at any time before the visa is granted or sponsorship is approved.

If you are withdrawing visa application or sponsorship application, you will need to complete Form 1446 or notify the Department in writing.

When withdrawing visa application, you will need to provide the following information:

• Application ID or File Reference Number or Transaction Reference Number
• the type of visa you have applied
• the visa Subclass
• the date you lodged the application
• the main applicant’s names, date of birth and passport number
• any secondary applicants’ names, date of birth and passport number
• applicants’ nationality, current address, email address and contact number
• the reason for withdrawing (optional)

You can authorise someone to help you with your withdrawing visa or sponsorship application.

If you have completed form 1446, you can either attach it to your application via your ImmiAccount or email it to the place processing your application.

Withdrawing as a sponsor

If you are sponsoring someone for a Partner visa and your relationship has ended, you can withdraw as the sponsor for your ex-partner’s Partner visa. You will need to write to the Department and provide the following information:

• your full name and date of birth
• Application ID or File Reference Number or Transaction Reference Number
• a statement that you are withdrawing sponsorship from the Partner visa application

You will have to email your withdrawal letter to the Department. The Department will then contact your ex-partner of your withdrawal and will require them to comment how this will affect their visa application. You should be aware that once your ex-partner is granted the visa, you cannot withdraw your sponsorship (click here to learn more about Subclass 309 or Subclass 820 or Subclass 100 or Subclass 801 visa).

Removing your application on your ImmiAccount does not withdraw it. You must notify the Department in writing that you are withdrawing your visa application or sponsorship application.

You should note that once the visa is granted, you cannot withdraw the application. To cause the visa to cease, you will need to apply for a different visa.

If you are withdrawing visa application while you are in Australia and you were granted a bridging visa, that bridging visa will cease 35 days after the withdrawal is accepted.  

There is no fee for withdrawing visa application or sponsorship application.

If you have paid a visa application fee, it is unlikely (only in very limited circumstances) that the Department will refund the fee.

Australian migration law is complex and difficult to understand, contact our immigration lawyer for a consultation (fee applies) to help you decide on withdrawing visa application or sponsorship application.

This article is not intended to be or taken as migration legal advice. The author of this article disclaims any liability for any action or omission on the information provided or not provided in this article. You should always consult an immigration lawyer or a registered migration agent to form an informed opinion on your immigration matter.