How much money do I need to sponsor a Visitor Visa applicant?
The short answer is that you, as the sponsor, are NOT required to provide financial support. When you’re looking at sponsoring a family member under the Subclass 600 Visitor Visa sponsored family stream, it is the visa applicant who must show they have access to funds to support themselves throughout their stay in Australia.
However, if your family member does not have sufficient funds, you may volunteer to provide financial support, and the onus is on your family member, the visa applicant, to show they have access to these funds. It’s not a legislated requirement imposed on you, the visa sponsor, by the Immigration authorities.
Does this apply in all cases?
In some circumstances, such as when you are sponsoring a relative who is outside your immediate family unit, you may be asked by the department to provide a security bond. This request is usually made when the department is already reviewing your family member’s Visitor Visa application.
What is the reason for this?
The purpose of the security bond is to maximize the chances that your sponsored family member complies with their applicable visa conditions, such as to not work or overstay.
How much money would I have to guarantee for the bond?
The value requested by the department is usually between the ranges of $5,000 to $15,000. You may also express an intention to provide the bond as part of your sponsorship when your family member is about to lodge their visitor visa application. Following this, the department decides whether or not to accept this offer at their discretion.
If you have any questions about this issue or it relates to your own circumstance, please feel free to add your questions in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you and connect and will reply to your questions. Our friendly, experienced, professional Registered Migration Agents are standing by – remember, it’s never too early or too late to get good advice!
IMPORTANT: Please note, this does not constitute Immigration advice. Always seek advice from a Registered Migration Agent before applying for an Australian Visa. Migration Law is constantly changing. This information is accurate only at the time of publication.
