Which forms do I need for a Subclass 114 application in 2026?

Plain-language guide · general information, not immigration advice

A Subclass 114 paper application rests on three forms before anything else: Form 47OF (Application for migration to Australia by other family members), completed by you; Form 40 (Sponsorship for migration to Australia), completed by your sponsor; and Form 47a (Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over), completed for every adult dependant included with you. Everything beyond those three is triggered by who is actually in the application — a child under 18, someone helping you with the paperwork, or a change you need to report after posting. This follows the Australian Department of Home Affairs official Aged Dependent Relative visa (Subclass 114) page, as of its August 2026 version.

Quick map: which form does what

Form	Who completes it	What it covers	When you need it
Form 47OF	The main applicant	The migration application itself	Always
Form 40	Your sponsor	Sponsorship, which the Department must approve	Always
Form 47a	Main applicant, per person	An adult dependant's details and dependency	Each dependant aged 18 or over
Form 1229	Person with parental responsibility who is not migrating	Consent for a child under 18 to be granted the visa	A child under 18 applies
Form 1257	The person the child will live with	Undertaking declaration	Child under 18 will not stay with a relative or legal guardian
Form 956 / 956A	You	Authorising someone to assist, or to receive correspondence	Optional, but must be lodged in writing
Form 1436	Main applicant	Adding an applicant after lodgement	Only after you have applied
Form 1023	Main applicant	Notifying an incorrect answer	Only after you have applied

Which form actually starts the application?

Form 47OF is the application. The main applicant completes it, in English, and it carries the details of everyone being proposed for migration. The form is also where you'll find the postal address you must use — paper applications go by post or courier to the Parent, Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth.

The form alone doesn't travel well. It is one part of a pack that has to arrive complete: if any step is incomplete, the Department of Home Affairs may treat the application as invalid, and invalid applications are not processed.

What does the sponsor have to sign?

Form 40 is the sponsor's form, not yours, and it is the piece most often discovered late. Your sponsor is the relative (or relative's partner) putting their own eligibility on the line. To be eligible they must be:

aged 18 or over
settled in Australia
an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen

A sponsorship is assessed on its own terms — the Department must approve it — so a missing or unsigned Form 40 cannot be cured by anything written into Form 47OF.

When does Form 47a come in?

Any dependent family member aged 18 or over who applies with you needs their own Form 47a, and for most families this is where applications become incomplete rather than wrong. Alongside the completed form you prove:

the relationship to you (for example a birth certificate or adoption papers)
financial dependency on you for at least the 12 months before you apply — evidence can include proof you live together, their tax records, or proof they are currently studying

Age still frames dependency. A child or stepchild generally needs to be under 23 to be included. Someone over 23 can still be included if a physical or cognitive limitation stops them earning a living to support themselves, and you provide information about that limitation.

What if a child under 18 is in the application?

Consent becomes a form requirement. Anyone who has the legal right to decide where the child lives — and who is not coming to Australia with the child — must give consent, using either:

Form 1229 (Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years), or
a statutory declaration giving consent for the child to stay in Australia on this visa

Two alternatives appear on the official page instead of consent paperwork: an Australian court order allowing the child to migrate, or evidence that the laws of your home country allow it. With whichever route you use, include an identity document showing the signature and photo of the person signing, plus adoption papers or court documents where relevant.

If the child will not be staying with a relative or legal guardian, Form 1257 (Undertaking declaration) adds a second signature — the person they will be staying with must sign it.

Do you need a form just to nominate help?

Yes, if anyone is acting for you. Two different forms cover two different jobs:

Form 956A appoints (or withdraws) an authorised recipient for your correspondence — anyone can be appointed for this.
Form 956 appoints a registered migration agent, legal practitioner, or exempt person to give immigration assistance — assistance can only come from one of those three.

Both belong with the paper application, either as the completed form or as written notification.

Which forms only apply after you have posted it?

Two changes have their own paperwork:

Adding someone to the application before a decision is made: Form 1436, plus evidence of the relationship and that family member's passport. Anyone added this way must be in Australia at the time they are added, and must meet the health and character requirements.
Correcting something you already answered: Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers), which the Department asks you to use promptly for mistakes on an application.

If you have imported the paper application into ImmiAccount, both forms can be uploaded there. ImmiAccount import is available after you receive your acknowledgement letter, using your application ID, date of birth, and identity document number.

How do the forms physically get lodged?

Subclass 114 is a paper-only visa, and the mechanics matter as much as the paperwork:

You must be outside Australia when you apply — and outside Australia when the decision is made.
Complete the forms in English.
You cannot pay in person. The first instalment must be paid before submission through the ImmiAccount online payment portal, with evidence of payment included with the application.
Send everything by post or courier to the Perth processing centre address printed on Form 47OF. There is no in-person submission.
Send certified copies only, never original documents, and keep your own copy of the whole submission.

Form numbers and versions do change, so treat this grouping as general information about how the pieces fit together rather than advice tailored to your circumstances — confirm the current form set against the Department's official visa page before anything goes in the envelope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Form 40 if I am being sponsored by my sibling's partner?

Yes. Sponsorship can come from your eligible relative or your relative's partner, and either way the sponsor must complete and sign Form 40. The same eligibility test applies: 18 or over, settled in Australia, and an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Is Form 47a required for a 19-year-old who is still studying?

Yes, if they are being included as your dependant. Anyone aged 18 or over needs a Form 47a, evidence of the relationship to you, and proof of at least 12 months of financial dependency — "currently studying" is listed on the official page as one way to support dependency, alongside proof you live together and their tax records.

Who should sign Form 1229?

The person who has a legal right to decide where the child lives and who is not migrating to Australia with the child. That may be a parent staying behind rather than your sponsor. Their signed form needs to travel with an identity document showing their photo and signature.

Will a statutory declaration do instead of Form 1229?

Yes. The official page lists Form 1229 and a statutory declaration giving consent as alternatives to each other. Instead of either, you can show an Australian court order allowing the child to migrate, or that your home country's laws permit it.

Which forms apply once the application has already been mailed?

Form 1436 if you want to add a family member before a decision, Form 1023 if you need to correct an answer you gave, and Form 956 or 956A if you want to change who assists you or receives your correspondence. All three can usually be uploaded in ImmiAccount once the paper application has been imported.

Do I send original documents with the forms?

No. Send certified copies only, and keep your own copy of the completed application and supporting documents. Originals stay with you; the request for any further documents comes later, in writing.