What Sponsors Must Do
When you sponsor someone for an Australian visa, you take on legal obligations. These vary by visa type but generally include: ensuring the sponsored person has adequate accommodation, providing financial support if they cannot support themselves, repaying any social security payments they receive during the assurance period, and not engaging in family violence.
Assurance of Support (AoS)
Required for some visa types (parent visas, some family visas). You must lodge a bond with Centrelink — typically $10,000-15,000 per person. The bond is held for 10 years and returned if the sponsored person doesn't access certain government payments during that period. If they do access payments, the bond is used to repay those costs. You must also demonstrate sufficient income to support the sponsored person.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
If you fail to meet sponsor obligations: you may be barred from sponsoring others in the future, financial penalties may apply, and in cases of family violence, criminal charges may result. Take sponsorship seriously — it's a legal commitment, not just a form. Ensure you can genuinely meet the financial obligations before sponsoring someone.