Lodging now, adding evidence later: attachments after you submit

Attaching after you submit

Home Affairs' help text says the Attach documents screen lets you attach supporting documents to an application after it has been submitted, and view a list of documents already attached. It says you can attach documents to a visa application after you have submitted and paid for it.

The help text lists these steps: select the applicant's name, select the category, choose the best description (and optionally add your own), select the files, then select Attach. There's more on this screen in how to organise partner visa evidence for ImmiAccount.

Home Affairs also says not to email documents to the department.

Until when: finalised

Home Affairs says you cannot attach documents to finalised applications. An Australian Embassy page on ImmiAccount describes the status Finalised as meaning a decision was made on the application.

Partner visas have a temporary and a permanent visa (for example, subclass 820 is the first step towards subclass 801, and 309 towards 100). This guide covers attaching documents in general, not how the permanent stage works. For that, see Home Affairs' partner visa pages.

Documents needed before you submit

Home Affairs says the application form tells you what documents to attach and whether to attach them before or after you submit. Its help text says some application types require documents to be attached before you can pay and submit.

The help text also says that attaching documents as soon as possible after submitting will assist the department in processing the application, and that some applications may be refused if documents weren't attached at the time of lodgement. What applies to your application is shown in your own ImmiAccount.

What the Migration Act says

Section 55 of the Migration Act 1958 says that until the Minister has decided whether to grant or refuse a visa, the applicant may give any additional relevant information, and the Minister must have regard to it in making the decision.

Section 55 also says this doesn't mean the Minister has to delay a decision because the applicant might give, or has said they intend to give, further information.

Section 56 says the Minister may get any information they consider relevant, and may invite the applicant to give additional information in a specified way.

Requests for more information

If the department sends correspondence asking for information, Home Affairs says to attach it as soon as possible. When you've provided everything requested, select the control labelled I confirm I have provided information as requested. Home Affairs says this lets processing staff know the application is ready to assess.

If you don't select it, Home Affairs says the application will be assessed on the information available after the time you were given to provide it has expired.

For new documents in general, Home Affairs says processing staff will assess new information as soon as possible after you provide it, and that high workloads may mean you still don't hear about your application for some time. You won't receive an acknowledgement for each attachment.

Attachments are permanent

Home Affairs says documents are permanently saved to the application when you select Attach. A file can't be removed once attached, because attachments form part of the application, and Home Affairs asks applicants not to contact the department to have one deleted.

The next time you open the page, documents you've already provided are listed under a Received heading. Home Affairs says you can still attach documents for a category under Received.

File limits and file rules

Home Affairs' help text says there is a limit on the number of files that can be attached for each applicant, but doesn't give a number. Reported figures are in ImmiAccount upload rules.

Home Affairs has a separate online form, Attach additional documents to visa applications in ImmiAccount. It says to use it if you've reached the ImmiAccount document limit for all visa applicants on the application, or if you or an accompanying family member are otherwise prevented from attaching documents in ImmiAccount.

For visa applications (including sponsorship and nomination applications), the help text says files can be up to 5 MB, in accepted file types only; compressed files and encrypted PDFs can't be accepted; and documents not in English must come with an English translation. See ImmiAccount upload rules.

You can't open them again

Home Affairs says you will not be able to access your supporting documents from ImmiAccount after uploading, and to keep your own copies.

Keeping track of later additions

This part is about record-keeping only. It isn't about what to add, how much, or when.

• Keep a copy of each file exactly as you attached it. Home Affairs says you can't access uploaded documents from ImmiAccount afterwards.
• Keep a log of each upload. For example: the filename, whose list it went into, the evidence type and description you chose, and the date you attached it. Home Affairs doesn't send an acknowledgement for each file.
• Check the log before attaching. Attachments can't be deleted, so it helps to know what's already there.
• Give later files distinct names. A 2017 Department tip sheet says to use only letters, numbers, dashes and underscores in filenames. A distinct name for each file, such as Joint_lease_2026.pdf alongside an earlier Joint_lease_2025.pdf, keeps a log unambiguous.
• Note requests separately. If the department asks for something, a note of the request date, the files you attached for it, and when you selected the confirm control keeps it in one place.

An example log entry, with made-up details:

• 2026-11-14 · Joint_lease_2026.pdf · applicant's list · [evidence type] · [description] · not in response to a request

Glossary

• Submit / lodge. When the application is submitted and paid for. Depending on the application, documents may be needed before this point, after it, or both.
• Finalised. A decision was made on the application. Documents can't be attached after this.
• Received. The heading that documents you've provided are listed under. You can still attach more for those categories.
• Request for information. Correspondence from the department asking for information. Home Affairs says to attach it, then select the confirm control.

This guide passes on what Home Affairs and the Migration Act say about attaching documents after an application is submitted. It isn't migration advice and doesn't cover what or how much evidence to submit, when to submit it, or how it's assessed. For advice about your situation, talk to a registered migration agent or lawyer. The instructions in your own ImmiAccount application are authoritative. See the Home Affairs Attach documents help page.