Form 1257: Undertaking Declaration for a Visiting Child

What is Form 1257 — undertaking declaration for a child visiting Australia?

Form 1257 is completed by a responsible nominee: a person 21 or older whom a child's parents or legal guardians have nominated to look after the child while they stay in Australia. It's for children under 18 who won't be travelling with a parent or guardian, won't be staying with a relative, and aren't on an organised tour that provides for their care.

The nominee lists each child covered, gives their own identity, passport, residence status, contact and employment details, answers a set of character questions, and signs an undertaking to provide accommodation and take responsibility for the children's support and general welfare. The Department must be satisfied the nominee is of good character, and expects them to be in Australia for the whole stay.

FileIt fills the current Form 1257 (design date 10/20) in the Department's own PDF. Names and addresses with accents or letters such as ł and ș print correctly, longer answers are wrapped onto the form's ruled lines, and the finished form is saved to your FileIt vault. You sign it and give it to the Department yourself.

Who fills it: The responsible nominee — an adult aged 21 or over
Children covered: Up to 4 on the form; attach details of any more
Pages: 3 — children, nominee details, character questions and declaration
Signature: The responsible nominee
Goes with: The children's visa application, as the Department asks
Edition: Design date 10/20

Who needs to fill out Form 1257 — undertaking declaration for a child visiting Australia?

An adult in Australia nominated by a child's parents or guardians to look after them during their stay.
Hosts of overseas students or young visitors who aren't relatives and aren't part of an organised tour.
Family friends caring for one or several children from the same family — up to four fit on one form.

When to use Form 1257 — undertaking declaration for a child visiting Australia

When a child under 18 will stay in Australia without a parent or legal guardian and won't be staying with a relative.
When the Department asks the child's visa application for an undertaking from the person who will be responsible for them.
Not when the child travels with a parent or guardian, stays with a relative, or is on an organised tour that provides adequate care arrangements.

What you need before you start

Each child's name, date of birth and passport number as shown in their passport, and their Transaction Reference Number if they applied online.
Your own passport: number, country, issue and expiry dates, and the issuing authority.
Your residential and postal addresses, phone numbers and, if you agree to electronic contact, a fax number or email address.
Your place of birth, any other names you've used, and your relationship status.
Your status in Australia — citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or temporary resident — and your visa details if you're a temporary resident.
Your employer's name, address and phone number, if you're employed or self-employed.

What’s on Form 1257 — undertaking declaration for a child visiting Australia

The 2020 edition has 3 pages. FileIt asks for it in 8 parts, and it is signed by Responsible nominee:

Part A — The children (questions 1–2)Responsible nominee
Child 2Responsible nominee
Child 3Responsible nominee
Child 4Responsible nominee
Part B — Your details (questions 3–12)Responsible nominee
Your passport and status in Australia (questions 13–16)Responsible nominee
Character (question 17)Responsible nominee
Part C — Undertaking declaration (question 18)Responsible nominee

How to fill out Form 1257 — undertaking declaration for a child visiting Australia, step by step

1 Part A: the children

Give the number of children the undertaking covers, then each child's family and given names, date of birth, passport number and Transaction Reference Number. Child 1 is required; switch on Children 2 to 4 as needed.

2 Questions 3–12: about you

Your name, other names you've been known by, sex, date of birth, relationship status, residential and postal addresses, phone numbers, whether the Department may contact you electronically, and your place of birth.

3 Questions 13–15: passport and status

Your passport details, whether you're an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or temporary resident — and, for a temporary resident, whether you hold or are applying for a visa, with its label, grant and file numbers.

4 Question 16: employment

Choose employed or self-employed, retired, student, unemployed or other. If employed, give the employer or business name, address and phone number.

5 Question 17: character

Answer each of the 19 questions Yes or No. Any Yes needs details — the date of the charge, the outcome and any penalty — and you attach court documents and any declared orders.

6 Part C: the undertaking

Read the declaration, then sign and date it. By signing you undertake to live in Australia for the children's stay, make sure they have adequate accommodation and take responsibility for their support and welfare.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using this form when the child will stay with a relative or travel with a parent — it's only for children without either.
Giving the children's names differently from their passports.
Leaving a character question unanswered, or answering Yes without giving details and attaching the court documents.
Forgetting that the nominee must be 21 or older and in Australia for the whole of the children's stay.
Not telling the Department if your circumstances change or you withdraw the undertaking — the declaration says you must.

After you fill it out

Sign and date the declaration on page 3. Print it from FileIt and sign by hand, or send the PDF for e-signature.

Give the form to the children's parents or guardians, or provide it with the children's visa application as the Department asks. FileIt doesn't lodge it.

Keep a copy — it stays in your FileIt vault — and tell the Department in writing if you later withdraw the undertaking.

Fill out Form 1257 — undertaking declaration for a child visiting Australia online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 112 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Department of Home Affairs form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Form 1257 — undertaking declaration for a child visiting Australia now — it’s free

Form 1257 — undertaking declaration for a child visiting Australia: frequently asked questions

Who can be a responsible nominee?

A person 21 or older, nominated by the child's parents or legal guardians, whom the Minister believes is of good character. The form says they should be physically in Australia for the whole of the child's intended stay.

Can one form cover more than one child?

Yes. The form has room for four children; if the undertaking covers more, attach the extra children's details on a separate sheet.

What is the Transaction Reference Number?

The reference the Department gives a visa application lodged online. Give each child's TRN if they have one.

What if I answer Yes to a character question?

Give the details in the box beside question 17 — the date of the charge, the outcome and any penalty — and attach court documents and any declared orders. FileIt won't generate the form until the details are filled in.

Do I need to stay in Australia during the child's visit?

Yes. One of the things you declare is that you'll be living in Australia for the period of the children's stay.

Can the Department email me about the undertaking?

Only if you agree at question 11 and give a fax number or email address. The Department may need to contact you while it decides the application.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Department of Home Affairs: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1257.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1257.pdf
Edition shown on this page: Design date 10/20 (checked 2026-10-19).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Department of Home Affairs or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.