How it works

An Assurance of Support is a legal agreement you make with us to help someone get a visa to live in Australia.

Documents we need

For an organisation to be an assurer, it must have:

• an Australian address
• financial scope to give an Assurance of Support.

If you’re an incorporated organisation you need to give us, one of the following:

• proof the organisation is on the Australian Business Register website
• proof showing the organisation has made a profit over the past 2 financial years, before the current financial year that is at least equal to the annual maximum basic Jobseeker Payment rate for each for adult that the Assurance of Support will cover
• proof showing the organisation has at least $5,000 in readily available funds for each adult that the Assurance of Support will cover at the time you submit your application.

If you’re an unincorporated organisation you need to give us both:

• proof detailing the names of all members of the organisation. We’ll also need a copy of the rules of the association, if it has one
• proof showing the organisation has at least $5,000 in readily available funds for each adult that the Assurance of Support will cover at the time you submit your application.

You also need to give us all the following:

• proof of identity documents for the person applying on behalf of the organisation
• proof the authorised person can sign on behalf of the organisation
• proof your organisation has an address in Australia, this can be an active Australian Business Number
• proof of 2 years recent trading history for your organisation, a tax return or a letter from a registered accountant.

For proof of trading for the past 2 financial years we can accept organisations’ tax returns.

Check if you’re eligible

Your organisation must meet a financial capacity test. This must show either:

• evidence of profit over the past 2 years that equals the annual rate of Job Seeker Payment per adult assuree
• the organisation has at least $5,000 in funds per adult assuree.

We base the minimum income on the annual rate of Job Seeker payment for adults, and the rate of Family Tax Benefit (Part A) for dependent children.

This may increase, based on the number of dependent children you have, and the number of assurees that you support.

If you’re already an assurer for someone else, the income you need will increase.

We review the income threshold every year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

Contact us to find out what the up-to-date threshold is.