Eligible Relative Sponsorship – Eligibility

You must be sponsored by an eligible relative if you do not have a nomination from a participating state or territory government.

Who can be a sponsor?

Your sponsor must be at least 18 years of age and usually resident in Australia as one of the following:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an Eligible New Zealand citizen.

See: General Skilled Migration Definitions

You or your partner must be related to your sponsor as one of the following:

• a child – including a stepchild
• a parent – including a step–parent
• a brother or sister – including adoptive or step-sibling
• a niece or nephew – including adoptive or step–niece or nephew
• an aunt or uncle – including adoptive or step–aunt or uncle
• a grandparent or first cousin.

Where can a sponsor be living?

If you are being sponsored by an eligible relative, your sponsor must be usually a resident in a designated area of Australia at the time of the sponsorship.
See: Designated areas of Australia

Evidence to attach to your application

You will need to include the following documents with your application.

Proof of sponsor's citizenship or permanent residency

Sponsor's citizenship or residency status	Evidence required
Australian citizen	One of the following: certified copy of their citizenship certificate a full, certified copy of their birth certificate (if born in Australia).
Australian permanent resident	All of the following: certified copy of their visa certified copy of their passport personal particulars page certified copy of their visa grant letter (if available).
Eligible New Zealand citizen	Sponsors do not need to provide any documentary evidence unless they hold a certificate issued under the Social Security Act 1991. Sponsors falling under this category should submit a certified copy of this certificate. Note: If your sponsor is an Eligible New Zealand citizen, they may be required to undertake medicals and provide police clearances. The case officer processing your application will advise your sponsor if this is necessary.

Evidence of your relationship to your sponsor

Documents which can demonstrate this include:

• birth certificates
• marriage certificates
• family registers
• school records.

It may also help if you include a family tree to show how you are related to your sponsor.

Evidence of name change (if applicable)

If you, or your sponsor, have legally changed your names you should provide evidence of this.

Evidence that you are sponsored

Your sponsor must complete a Form 1277 and provide this to you.
See: Form 1277 Application for sponsorship under general skilled migration (226KB PDF file)

Evidence that your sponsor is living in a designated area

Your sponsor will need to provide evidence of their current residential address to prove that they live in a designated area at the time the sponsorship is signed. Documents may include, but are not limited to:

• property titles
• leases
• bills such as telephone, gas, electricity that show a date and your sponsor's address.

If you do not have an eligible relative sponsor

If you do not have an eligible relative sponsor, you will need to be nominated by a state or territory government.
See: State or Territory Government Nomination

Before lodging an application, please read all related requirements.
See: Eligibility