An invitation letter for an Australian visitor visa is not a formality. It is a piece of evidence that either supports or undermines how a case officer reads the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement under clause 600.211 of the Migration Regulations 1994. A letter that gets this right tells a clear, consistent story: the visitor is coming temporarily, they have real reasons to return home, and the host has the standing to invite them. A letter that gets it wrong, through vague language, emotional phrasing, or a mismatch with the rest of the application, is one of the more common reasons a straightforward visitor visa application ends with a refusal.
This guide covers both scenarios: when a personal invitation letter is enough, and when Form 1149 is required instead. It includes a free copy-paste template for direct family, a separate template specifically for cousins and friends, a breakdown of what Form 1149 actually does, and a section on what happens after you submit. For context on the Subclass 600 visa itself and how to apply, see our Australian Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) 2026 guide.
Quick answer: An invitation letter is not strictly mandatory for the Tourist stream, but is strongly recommended if your visitor is staying with you or you are providing financial support. For the Sponsored Family stream, Form 1149 replaces the personal invitation letter and is mandatory. For cousins, friends, fiances, and extended relatives, use a personal invitation letter through the Tourist stream. Form 1149 is not available to them.
Personal Invitation Letter vs Form 1149: The Actual Difference
The confusion between these two documents causes more problems than almost any other part of the Sponsored Family stream application. They are not interchangeable, and using the wrong one, or skipping one entirely, directly affects which stream the application falls under and how it is assessed.
| Feature | Personal Invitation Letter | Form 1149 (Formal Sponsorship) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa stream | Tourist stream (Subclass 600) | Sponsored Family stream (Subclass 600) |
| Legal status | Supporting evidence, not a legal obligation | Legally binding financial and accommodation guarantee |
| Who can write it | Any person legally in Australia: citizen, PR, 482, 500, 485 holder | Australian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18+, settled in Australia |
| Who it covers | Anyone: cousins, friends, parents, siblings, partners, any visitor | Specific eligible relatives only (see below) |
| Security bond | No bond | Home Affairs may request a bond; amount set case by case |
| How to submit | Uploaded as a PDF in the visitor's ImmiAccount application | Completed and signed by the sponsor, then uploaded to the visitor's ImmiAccount |
Source: Home Affairs, Sponsored Family stream (Subclass 600); Form 1149 (PDF, Home Affairs).
Can I Invite My Cousin or Friend? (The Answer Is Yes, With One Condition)
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Yes. Anyone legally residing in Australia, including international students on a Subclass 500, workers on a Subclass 482 or 485, as well as permanent residents and citizens, can write a personal invitation letter for a cousin, friend, fiance, or any extended relative through the Tourist stream. There is no requirement for the host to be a citizen or permanent resident to write a personal invitation letter.
What you cannot do is use Form 1149 for a cousin or friend. Form 1149 is reserved for the Sponsored Family stream only, and the eligible sponsor-relative relationships under that stream are specific: parent, child, spouse, de facto partner, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, and step-equivalents of any of these. If your relationship does not appear in that list, the Tourist stream with a personal invitation letter is the correct and only path.
The partner visa pathway: couples in relationships with Australian citizens or permanent residents often use a Visitor Visa while preparing a Partner Visa application. In the India-Australia corridor specifically, Partner Visa processing runs 15-25 months for the offshore pathway (Subclass 309/100) and 17-24 months onshore (Subclass 820/801). A Visitor Visa supported by a well-written personal invitation letter from the Australian partner is a legitimate, commonly-used interim step, provided the visitor departs before the visa expires and the Partner Visa is lodged separately. See our Partner Visa service for more on how that pathway works.
What Every Invitation Letter Must Include
Home Affairs does not publish a mandatory checklist for personal invitation letters, but refusal records consistently reference the same four gaps. Every letter should cover:
- Host credentials: full legal name, date of birth, residential address in Australia, contact number, Australian legal status (citizen, PR, or visa subclass and grant number), and occupation. Attach a copy of your passport, PR grant letter, or visa grant notice and VEVO check as supporting evidence.
- Visitor identifiers: full legal name matching the passport exactly, date of birth, passport number, relationship to the host, and home address.
- Visit specifics: exact arrival and departure dates, a specific purpose of visit (not just "sightseeing"), and where the visitor will stay.
- Financial responsibility: a clear, explicit statement of who is paying for what. If the host is covering all costs, say so and attach bank statements. If the visitor is self-funding, say so and note that the host is providing free lodging only.
Three Phrases That Trigger a GTE Failure
Home Affairs case officers look for specific risk factors when assessing the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) criteria under clause 600.211. Avoiding these three common phrasing traps can significantly strengthen your application.
"They have no real reason to go back home."
Why it fails: Any language suggesting the visitor has weak or absent ties to their home country directly undermines the GTE assessment under clause 600.211. Statements about a lack of employment, family, or property back home are read as an overstay risk by a case officer.
Emphasize existing ties back home, such as approved employment leave, enrolled studies, family commitments, or owned property, showing clear reasons for return.
"We will cover everything they need."
Why it fails: If the host claims 100% financial responsibility but does not support that claim with bank statements and payslips, the declaration contradicts itself. If the visitor's own application also shows personal financial capacity, the inconsistency raises doubts about fund origins.
Be explicit about funding boundaries (e.g., "Host provides free accommodation; visitor self-funds daily expenses and return flights") and attach proof for all claimed funding.
Requesting 12 months with no specific reason.
Why it fails: A 12-month request without a coherent itinerary or explanation of how the visitor will be absent from employment, family, and property in their home country for that entire period looks implausible to a case officer.
Request a duration that directly aligns with a concrete itinerary. A well-justified 3-month request is far more likely to succeed than an unjustified 12-month request.
Free Templates: Copy, Paste, and Edit
Template A: Direct Family Visit (Tourist Stream or Sponsored Family Stream)
[Date]
To: The Visa Processing Officer
Department of Home Affairs, Australia
Subject: Letter of Invitation in Support of Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) Application for [Visitor Full Name]
Dear Officer,
I am writing to formally invite my [relationship, e.g., mother / brother / spouse], [Visitor Full Legal Name] (Date of Birth: [DD/MM/YYYY], Passport No: [XXXXXXXX]), residing at [Visitor's Full Home Address, Country], to visit me in Australia from [Arrival Date] to [Departure Date].
1. Host Status and Living Arrangements
I am currently an [Australian Citizen / Permanent Resident / holder of a Subclass [XXX] visa, granted [date]], residing at [Your Full Residential Address, City, State, Postcode, Australia]. I work as a [Your Job Title] at [Employer Name]. I have attached a certified copy of my [Australian Passport / PR Grant Letter / Visa Grant Notice and VEVO check] as proof of my legal status in Australia.
2. Purpose of Visit and Itinerary
The purpose of [Visitor First Name]'s visit is to [specific purpose, e.g., attend my university graduation ceremony on [date] / spend the school holiday period with our family / meet their grandchild, born [date]]. During their stay, [Visitor First Name] will reside with me at the address listed above. We plan to [brief itinerary, e.g., spend time in Sydney, travel to Melbourne in the third week, and visit the Blue Mountains during the final week].
3. Financial and Accommodation Arrangements
[Select the option that applies and delete the other:]
Option A: I will provide accommodation and cover all food, local transport, and daily living costs during [Visitor First Name]'s stay. I have attached my last three months of bank statements and recent payslips as evidence of my financial capacity to do so.
Option B: [Visitor First Name] will be self-funding their return flights and daily living costs. I am providing free lodging at my residence for the full duration of their stay.
4. Return Intentions and GTE Assurance
[Visitor First Name] is currently employed as a [Visitor's Job Title] at [Employer Name] in [City, Home Country] and has received approved leave from [start date] to [end date]. They hold [family commitments / property ownership / ongoing employment] in [Home Country] and intend to return before the expiry of their visa. They are fully aware of all visa conditions, including Condition 8101 (No Work), and will comply fully.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.
Yours sincerely,
[Host Signature]
[Host Full Name]
[Host Residential Address, City, State, Australia]
[Host Phone Number] | [Host Email Address]
Template B: Cousin, Friend, Fiance or Extended Relative (Tourist Stream Only)
[Date]
To: The Visa Processing Officer
Department of Home Affairs, Australia
Subject: Personal Letter of Invitation for [Visitor Full Name], Subclass 600 Tourist Stream
Dear Officer,
I am writing to invite my [cousin / close friend / fiance], [Visitor Full Legal Name] (Date of Birth: [DD/MM/YYYY], Passport No: [XXXXXXXX]), to visit me in Australia for a [holiday / family visit] from [Arrival Date] to [Departure Date].
1. About the Host
My name is [Your Full Name]. I am an [Australian Citizen / Permanent Resident / holder of a Subclass [XXX] visa], residing at [Your Full Address, City, State, Postcode, Australia]. I work as a [Job Title] at [Employer Name]. I have known [Visitor First Name] for [X years] through [family connection / shared background / professional relationship]. Copies of my [Australian Passport / PR Grant Letter / Visa Grant Notice and VEVO check] are attached as proof of my legal status.
2. Purpose of Visit and Itinerary
[Visitor First Name] is visiting for [specific reason, e.g., a two-week holiday to coincide with a family gathering / to attend my engagement celebration on [date] / a leisure trip to visit Australia's east coast cities]. During their stay, they will reside with me at the address above. We plan to [brief, concrete itinerary, e.g., visit Sydney Harbour and the Blue Mountains in the first week, travel to Melbourne in the second week, and return via Brisbane].
3. Financial Arrangements
[Visitor First Name] will be self-funding their return flights and personal expenses throughout the trip. I am providing free lodging at my residence for the duration of their visit. [If applicable: I will also be covering [meals / day-to-day expenses], and I have attached bank statements confirming my capacity to do so.]
4. Return Intentions and GTE Assurance
[Visitor First Name] is employed as a [Job Title] at [Company Name] in [City, Home Country] and has received approved leave for this trip from [date] to [date]. They hold [employment / family commitments / property ownership] in [Home Country] and will return before the expiry of their visa. They fully understand and will comply with all visitor visa conditions, including Condition 8101 (No Work).
Please contact me at [Phone Number] or [Email Address] if further information is required.
Yours sincerely,
[Host Signature]
[Host Full Name]
[Host Residential Address, City, State, Australia]
Want both templates as a ready-to-fill document?
Our free Invitation Letter Pack includes both letter templates with every field marked out, a reference card covering the five phrases most likely to trigger a GTE failure, and a four-question check on whether you can sponsor under Form 1149.
Form 1149: What It Is, Who Needs It, and How to Submit It
What Form 1149 is: officially titled "Application for Sponsorship for Sponsored Family Visitors," Form 1149 is the mandatory document for all sponsors under the Sponsored Family stream of the Subclass 600 visa. It is not an invitation letter and does not replace one in the Tourist stream. It is a legal sponsorship declaration in which the sponsor formally accepts responsibility for the visitor's compliance with their visa conditions. Download it here: Form 1149 (PDF, Home Affairs).
Who is eligible to be a sponsor under Form 1149: the sponsor must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or over, and settled in Australia. The eligible sponsor-relative relationships are: parent, child, spouse, de facto partner, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, and step-equivalents of any of these. One Form 1149 covers an entire family group travelling together for the same trip.
Can you fill Form 1149 online? No. It is a static PDF document. Download it from the Home Affairs website, complete and sign it in full, scan it, and upload the completed PDF into the visitor's ImmiAccount portal alongside their Subclass 600 application. It cannot be submitted electronically in any other way.
Is Form 1149 mandatory for the Sponsored Family stream? Yes, without exception. A Sponsored Family stream application cannot be approved without a completed Form 1149 signed by an eligible sponsor.
Understanding Security Bond Requests
When a Sponsored Family stream application is lodged, Home Affairs has the discretion to request a security bond from the sponsor. The amount is set on a case-by-case basis (typically ranging between AUD $5,000 and $15,000 per visitor).
A bond request is not a visa refusal—it indicates that the application is progressing through assessment. The bond is fully refunded once your visitor departs Australia before their visa expires.
What about Form 1419? Form 1419 was the traditional paper-based application form for the Visitor Visa Tourist stream. Almost all Subclass 600 applications now go through ImmiAccount online, and Form 1419 is largely obsolete for most applicants. If you encounter references to it on older guides or community forums, treat them as outdated. The current process requires lodgement through ImmiAccount (Home Affairs).
Do You Need Form 1149? A Quick Decision Guide
After You Submit: What Actually Happens
Once the application is lodged in ImmiAccount, the case officer assesses it against the GTE requirement. For Tourist stream applications with a personal invitation letter, this is generally straightforward if the documentation is complete and consistent. For Sponsored Family stream applications, the process is longer because the officer independently verifies sponsor eligibility, the declared relationship, and financial capacity.
Will the case officer contact you directly? They may, particularly in Sponsored Family applications where financial capacity requires verification. Use a current, reachable phone number on the invitation letter throughout the processing period.
How to Handle an Application Stall or Request for Further Information (RFI)
If your visa application status stops moving or Home Affairs issues a formal Request for Further Information (s56 RFI), it does not mean your visa has been refused. However, the quality, structure, and completeness of your response within the given deadline are critical to preventing a refusal.
When an RFI is issued, the case officer is signaling a specific doubt—most commonly regarding financial proof, genuine temporary stay intent, or host relationship verification. Responding effectively requires addressing the exact clause referenced in the notice with supporting documentation rather than standard generic statements. If you receive an RFI or experience an extended processing delay, ensure your response directly aligns with your original application details before uploading final documents to ImmiAccount.
Can a sponsor withdraw Form 1149 after it has been submitted? Yes. If circumstances change, the sponsor can apply to withdraw their sponsorship through the Home Affairs online enquiry form for sponsored family stream withdrawal, if they are unable to attach a withdrawal letter directly to the ImmiAccount application.
Current Processing Times (August 2026)
The figures below are drawn from the Department of Home Affairs global processing times tool and reflect recently decided applications. They are not guaranteed timeframes. Applications with complete documentation, specific itineraries, and clear GTE evidence consistently process faster than incomplete ones.
| Stream | 50% of applications | 75% of applications | 90% of applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist stream (offshore) | 16 days | Approx. 24 days | 33 days |
| Sponsored Family stream | 38 days | 54 days | 79 days |
| Business Visitor stream | Approx. 6 days | Approx. 16 days | 26 days |
Source: Home Affairs, global visa processing times tool. Check the live tool before planning your application timeline, as these figures shift monthly.
Where to Go From Here
If you have read this far, you already know what most hosts and applicants find out only after a refusal: the letter is only as strong as the story it tells, and the story has to hold up across every other document in the application. The GTE assessment is not about the letter alone. It is about whether the whole file adds up.
At EazyViza, a certified agent prepares your application and a lawyer reviews the complete file before anything is submitted. One fixed fee from the start, no hourly billing, no surprises. If your situation has any complexity, a previous refusal, extended stay, or financial arrangements across two countries, that is exactly the kind of case our team handles every day.
Last reviewed: 8 August 2026. This guide is general information only, not legal advice. Immigration rules and requirements change. Always verify current details directly with the Department of Home Affairs or a qualified migration professional before acting on anything in this guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is an invitation letter mandatory for an Australian visitor visa?
It is not strictly mandatory for the Tourist stream, but it is strongly recommended if your visitor is staying with you or you are providing financial support. For the Sponsored Family stream, Form 1149 replaces the personal invitation letter and is mandatory without exception.
Can a student visa holder invite their parents to Australia?
Yes. A Subclass 500 student visa holder can write a personal invitation letter for their parents through the Tourist stream. Attach your student visa grant notice, your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), and current university enrolment confirmation as proof of your legal status in Australia.
Can I invite my cousin to Australia on a Sponsored Family stream visa?
No. Cousins are not within the eligible sponsor relationships for the Sponsored Family stream and cannot be covered by Form 1149. Your cousin applies through the Tourist stream with a personal invitation letter from you instead. There is no sponsorship requirement and no security bond for the Tourist stream.
Can I fill out Form 1149 online?
No. Form 1149 is a static PDF. Download it from the Home Affairs website, complete and sign it in full, then scan and upload the signed PDF into the visitor's ImmiAccount portal alongside their Subclass 600 application.
Does an invitation letter need to be notarised?
No. A personal invitation letter does not require notarisation. Attaching a statutory declaration or a certified copy of your identity document as a supporting attachment adds weight to the letter by independently confirming the information provided.
Can a sponsor withdraw Form 1149 after submitting it?
Yes. If circumstances change after Form 1149 has been submitted, the sponsor can apply to withdraw their sponsorship through the Home Affairs online enquiry form for the Sponsored Family stream withdrawal, if they cannot attach a withdrawal letter directly to the ImmiAccount application.
