Form 1424 Visa Application Charge Refund Request in Australia

What is Form 1424?

Form 1424, also known as the Refund request form, is used to request a refund from the Australian Department of Home Affairs for certain immigration, citizenship, sponsorship, nomination, visa evidence, or other departmental fees.

Many applicants search for Form 1424 after paying a Visa Application Charge, often called a VAC, and later discovering that their visa application was withdrawn, refused, invalid, duplicated, incorrectly charged, or affected by other circumstances.

However, it is important to understand that not every visa application charge is refundable. In most cases, the Department of Home Affairs does not refund a visa application charge simply because an application is refused, withdrawn, unsuccessful, or because the applicant has changed their mind.

At Emigrate Lawyers, we assist visa applicants, sponsors, employers, and families to understand whether they may have a valid basis for a refund request and how to prepare a properly supported Form 1424 submission.

“not every visa application charge is refundable”

When can you use Form 1424?

Form 1424 may be relevant if you are seeking a refund for one of the following types of payments:

• Visa Application Charge, also known as VAC
• Sponsorship fee
• Nomination fee
• Skilling Australians Fund levy
• Citizenship application fee
• Visa evidence charge
• APEC Business Travel Card fee
• Certificate of Evidence of Residence Status fee
• Freedom of Information fee
• Other Department of Home Affairs fees or charges

The form asks you to identify the type of refund you are requesting and the reason why you believe a refund should be paid.

Who can request a refund using Form 1424?

Generally, the refund request should be made by the person who originally paid the fee. This is usually the person named as the cardholder, BPay account holder, PayPal account holder, or payer on the Department of Home Affairs receipt.

If someone else paid the visa application charge on your behalf, they may need to complete and sign parts of Form 1424 to authorise the refund.

This is especially important where:

• A family member paid the visa fee
• A friend paid the visa fee
• An employer paid a sponsorship or nomination fee
• An agent or migration representative made the payment
• The original payer has passed away
• The refund is being requested into a different bank account

If the refund is to be paid to someone other than the original payer, the Department may require additional authority, identity documents, and bank account evidence.

Common reasons people apply for a refund

The Department of Home Affairs only grants refunds in limited circumstances. Some common reasons listed in Form 1424 include:

1. The fee was paid twice

A refund may be available where the visa application charge or other fee was accidentally paid or charged twice.

This can happen where an applicant experiences a payment error, attempts the payment more than once, or receives duplicate charges.

2. The wrong fee was paid

A refund may be available where the fee paid was greater than the prescribed amount or the wrong charge was paid.

This may occur where an applicant or sponsor selects the wrong fee category or pays the incorrect amount.

3. No fee was actually due

In some circumstances, a person may pay a charge when no fee was required. If no fee or charge was due, a refund request may be appropriate.

4. No valid application was lodged

Form 1424 refers to situations where a fee was paid but no application was lodged, or the application was deemed invalid.

This is different from a visa refusal. If a visa application is validly lodged and then refused, the visa application charge is generally not refundable simply because the application was unsuccessful.

5. The applicant passed away before a decision

A refund may be available where the visa applicant died before a decision was made on the application. Supporting evidence, such as a certified copy of the death certificate, will usually be required.

6. Departmental error

If the refund request is based on an error by the Department of Home Affairs, the reason should be clearly explained and supported with documents.

7. Certain withdrawn employer-sponsored visa applications

Form 1424 includes specific refund categories for some employer-sponsored visa applications, including certain withdrawn applications involving:

• Skill in Demand Visa, subclass 482
• Employer Nomination Scheme visa, subclass 186
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa, subclass 187
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa, subclass 494

Depending on the circumstances, this may involve refund requests for a visa application fee, sponsorship fee, nomination fee, or Skilling Australians Fund levy.

These refund categories can be technical. Employers and applicants should obtain professional advice before assuming that a refund will be available.

Can I get a refund if my visa was refused?

Usually, no.

A visa application charge is generally paid so that the Department can assess the application. If the Department assesses the application and refuses it, the visa application charge is usually not refunded.

There may be exceptions in very limited circumstances, but a refusal alone is not normally enough.

Can I get a refund if I withdraw my visa application?

Not always.

Withdrawing a visa application does not automatically create a right to a refund. Form 1424 includes some specific refund categories involving withdrawn applications, but the availability of a refund depends on the type of application, the reason for withdrawal, the stage of processing, and the applicable refund rules.

Before withdrawing an application for the purpose of seeking a refund, it is important to get advice.

What information is required in Form 1424?

Form 1424 asks for detailed information about the original payment, the application, the refund reason, and the account where the refund should be paid.

You will generally need to provide:

• Full name of the original payer
• Date of birth of the payer
• Address and contact details
• Applicant’s full name
• Visa subclass, if applicable
• TRN, application ID, file number, client ID, or request ID
• Date of application
• Receipt number
• Receipt date
• Amount paid
• Currency
• How the application was lodged
• Reason for requesting the refund
• Supporting documents
• Bank account details
• Signature of the payer or authorised person

The Department may delay assessment if the form is incomplete, unsigned, or missing required documents.

What supporting documents should be attached?

The required supporting documents depend on the reason for the refund request. Common documents may include:

• A copy of the Department of Home Affairs receipt
• Bank statement showing the payment
• Evidence that the fee was paid twice
• Evidence that the incorrect fee was paid
• Evidence that no valid application was lodged
• Withdrawal confirmation, if relevant
• Death certificate, if the applicant or payer has passed away
• Statutory declaration, where the original receipt is unavailable
• Identity document showing the payer’s photo and signature
• Bank statement for the account receiving the refund
• Documents explaining or proving the reason for the refund request

The reason for refund should be clear, accurate, and supported by evidence. A vague statement such as “I no longer need the visa” or “my application was refused” may not be enough.

How long does a Form 1424 refund take?

There is no fixed processing time for a Form 1424 refund request.

Refund requests are assessed individually. The timeframe can depend on the complexity of the request, the type of fee, the evidence provided, whether the payer details match the receipt, and whether the Department needs more information.

Providing a complete and well-supported request from the beginning may reduce delays.

How is the refund paid?

If the refund is approved, the Department generally pays the approved amount back using the appropriate payment method.

In many cases, the refund may be paid back to the same account or card used for the original payment. However, the Department may require bank account evidence where:

• The original card has expired
• The original account has closed
• The original payment was made more than a certain period ago
• The original payment was made by BPay
• The refund is being paid to a different person or account
• The original application was lodged through an agent but paid using the applicant’s own card or BPay

Care should be taken when entering bank account details. Incorrect details may delay payment.

Is there review if the refund is refused?

A refund refusal may not always have merits review rights. However, the Department has an internal refund decision review process in certain circumstances.

If your refund request has been refused, you should obtain advice quickly. A refusal may be due to missing evidence, incorrect categorisation, an incomplete form, or a misunderstanding of the refund basis.

Common mistakes with Form 1424

Many refund requests are delayed or refused because of avoidable errors.

Common mistakes include:

• Using the wrong refund category
• Not attaching the original receipt
• Not providing bank statement evidence
• Failing to explain the refund reason properly
• Assuming a visa refusal automatically means a refund is available
• Assuming withdrawal automatically means a refund is available
• Not obtaining the payer’s signature
• Asking for payment into another person’s account without authority
• Providing incomplete application details
• Forgetting to sign and date the declaration
• Not attaching evidence of duplicate payment or incorrect payment

A strong Form 1424 request should clearly connect the facts of your case to one of the recognised refund grounds.

How Emigrate Lawyers can help with Form 1424

At Emigrate Lawyers, we assist clients with Australian immigration matters, including refund requests involving visa application charges, sponsorship fees, nomination fees, and related Department of Home Affairs charges.

We can help you:

• Assess whether your situation may fall within a refund category
• Review your Department of Home Affairs receipt and payment evidence
• Identify the correct refund reason
• Prepare a clear written explanation for the refund request
• Check whether supporting documents are sufficient
• Assist with complex refund requests involving employers, sponsors, deceased payers, agents, or withdrawn applications
• Advise on next steps if your refund request has been refused

A refund request is not just an administrative form. The way the request is categorised and supported can make a significant difference.

Need help with Form 1424?

If you are unsure whether you are eligible for a Department of Home Affairs refund, or if you need help preparing Form 1424, contact Emigrate Lawyers for professional immigration law assistance.

Our team can review your circumstances and advise whether a refund request is likely to be appropriate.

Contact Emigrate Lawyers today for advice about Form 1424 refund requests, visa application charge refunds, sponsorship refunds, nomination refunds, and Australian immigration fee refund matters.

Frequently asked questions about Form 1424

What is Form 1424 used for?

Form 1424 is used to request a refund from the Department of Home Affairs for certain visa, citizenship, sponsorship, nomination, visa evidence, and other departmental fees.

Is a visa application charge refundable?

Usually, a visa application charge is not refundable simply because the visa is refused, withdrawn, or unsuccessful. Refunds are only available in limited circumstances.

Can I use Form 1424 if I paid the wrong fee?

Yes, Form 1424 may be relevant if the wrong fee was paid, the amount paid was greater than the prescribed charge, or a fee was paid when no fee was required.

Can I get a refund if I accidentally paid twice?

A refund may be available if a fee was accidentally paid or charged twice. Evidence of both payments should be provided.

Can someone else receive the refund?

Possibly. If someone other than the original payer is to receive the refund, the payer may need to provide written authority and supporting identity and bank documents.

Do I need a lawyer for Form 1424?

You are not required to use a lawyer, but legal assistance can be helpful where the refund basis is unclear, the amount is significant, the payment was made by an employer or agent, or the Department has refused the refund.

What happens if my Form 1424 refund request is refused?

There may be limited options depending on the reason for refusal. In some circumstances, an internal review request may be available. You should seek advice before lodging further material.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information only and is not legal advice. Refund eligibility depends on your individual circumstances, the type of fee paid, the timing of the application, and the Department of Home Affairs requirements at the time of your request. You should obtain advice before making decisions about your visa, sponsorship, nomination, or refund request.