Official form guide
Form 1281: Australian values statement
Form 1281 – Australian Values Statement is a declaration that must be signed by the main visa applicant and any adult family members included in the visa application. It confirms you understand and will follow Australian societal values and laws.
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Form Overview
Home Affairs Form 1281 - Australian values statement
Form 1281 – Australian Values Statement is a declaration that must be signed by the main visa applicant and any adult family members included in the visa application. It confirms you understand and will follow Australian societal values and laws.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Most people forget to get signatures from all adult family members.
- 2Leaving out an adult’s signature
- 3Submitting a blank or unsigned form
- 4Not reading the Life in Australia booklet before signing
- 5Failing to attach the signed pages to the visa application
Plain English
Before you lodge a visa, you’ll need to read (or have explained) the Life in Australia booklet, then sign a short statement saying you’ll respect Australian values and obey the law. Everyone 18 years or older on the application must sign.
Submission Date
- Filing date: Sign and attach the statement before you submit your visa application, or as soon as the case officer asks for it during processing.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- When your visa application includes the main applicant and any adult family members (18 years or older).
- When the Department of Home Affairs asks you to confirm you understand Australian societal values and will obey Australian law.
- If you have already signed the values statement on the visa application form, you do not need to sign again on Form 1281.
- If you need the content of the Life in Australia booklet explained, you can have a friend or relative do so before signing.
- Use this form for temporary and permanent visas that require a values statement, not for citizenship applications.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Applying for a visa that does not require a values statement
The Department does not ask for Form 1281
✓ Verify visa subclass requirements on ImmiAccount
Applying for Australian citizenship
Citizenship applications use a different pledge form
✓ Check the Australian Citizenship website for the correct form
Applying for a visa where all adults have already signed on the main visa form
Signature already captured on the visa application
✓ Confirm signatures are present before attaching Form 1281
Deadline or filing window
The statement must be submitted with your visa application; there is no separate deadline, but any delay will postpone the visa processing.
Before you submit
- 1Read the Life in Australia booklet or have it explained to you.
- 2Confirm every person aged 18 years or over in the visa application has a signature on the form (unless already signed on the visa form).
- 3Enter your full name exactly as it appears on your passport in the signature block.
- 4Write the date of signing in the format day month year.
- 5Leave all ‘Office use only’ fields empty for the processing office.
- 6Scan or upload a clear, colour‑accurate copy of the completed form via ImmiAccount.
- 7Keep a printed copy for your records.
- 8Check that the form is attached to the correct visa subclass application before final submission.
How to file this form
- 1Download or request the Life in Australia booklet from www.homeaffairs.gov.au.
- 2Read the booklet or have a friend/relative explain its contents.
- 3Complete the statement section on Form 1281, confirming you understand the listed values.
- 4Sign and date the form yourself and have each adult applicant sign and date it.
- 5Leave the ‘Office use only’ section blank.
- 6Upload the completed form as part of your visa application in ImmiAccount.
- 7Save a copy of the uploaded file for future reference.
Known limitations
- 1Only required for visa applicants with adults; not needed if all adults have already signed on the visa form.
- 2The form is a declaration, not a legal oath or citizenship pledge.
- 3Must be completed in English; translations are not accepted on the form itself.
- 4The form does not replace the need to meet other visa criteria (e.g., health, character).
- 5Signatures must be original; electronic signatures are not accepted unless specifically permitted by the portal.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Applicant
3 items
Your name exactly as shown in your passport.
Your date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY).
Passport number, country of issue, and expiry date.
Contact
1 items
Current residential address, postal address, email, and phone number.
Request
1 items
The visa, citizenship, or sponsorship request this form relates to.
Evidence
1 items
Certified copies of identity and other documents required for the request.
Declaration
1 items
Declare that the information is true and correct, then sign and date.
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->Form 1281 was designed in October 2020 and remains the current Australian Values Statement used for visa applications that require a values declaration.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Confirm the form you are using is the 2020 design (design date 10/20).
- Verify the values list matches the current booklet (respect, freedom, rule of law, parliamentary democracy, equality of opportunity, a ‘fair go’, English language).
- Check that the ‘Office use only’ fields are left blank for the applicant to fill later.
- Ensure the statement includes the commitment to make reasonable efforts to learn English if it is not your native language.
- Confirm the signature block includes space for name, signature, and date (day, month, year).
Quick Facts
Downloads & source
Sources
- SRCForm number 1281, design date 10/20verified from source page header.
- SRCStatement must be signed by main applicant and each person 18 years or oververified from page 2 text.
- SRCValues list (respect, freedom of religion, rule of law, parliamentary democracy, equality of opportunity, ‘fair go’, English language)verified from page 1 and page 2.
- SRCRequirement to read or have the Life in Australia booklet explainedverified from page 1.
- SRCCommitment to make reasonable efforts to learn Englishverified from page 2.
- SRCOffice use only fields (client identifier, file number, visa class, processing office, signatures)verified from page 2.
- SRCNo mention of electronic signaturesnot confirmed in official source.
- SRCNo mention of citizenship applicationsnot confirmed in official source.
Common confusion points
Thinking the form is needed for citizenship – it is only for visa applications.
Signing the form when an adult has already signed on the main visa application.
Leaving the ‘Office use only’ fields filled in, which should be blank for the applicant.
Using a scanned copy of a handwritten signature that is illegible.
Failing to read or have the Life in Australia booklet explained before signing.
Assuming the form can be submitted in a language other than English.
Not dating the signature correctly (day month year).
Submitting the form as a separate attachment when the portal requires it to be combined with the visa application.
Source transparency
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