How to Apply for the NDIS: The Access Request Form, Step by Step (2026)

Home » How to Apply for the NDIS: The Access Request Form, Step by Step (2026)

How to apply for the NDIS: the NDIA sets out five steps. Connect with an NDIS partner, gather evidence from your treating health professional, complete your application (usually on the NDIS Access Request Form, the NDIS application form), submit it, then wait for the NDIA’s decision, which it says it will make within 90 days once your application and all your evidence are in. This guide takes you through each step and the form section by section.

How to Apply for the NDIS in 5 Steps

Connect with an NDIS partner. A local area coordinator (ages 9 to 64) or an early childhood partner (children younger than 9). Call 1800 800 110 or use the NDIA’s office finder if you’re not sure who yours is.
Gather evidence from your treating health professional about your disability and how it affects your everyday life.
Complete your application with your partner, or fill in the Access Request Form yourself. The NDIA says you don’t need to complete the form to apply: your partner can help you apply another way.
Submit it through your partner, the NDIA’s service hub, by post, or in person at an NDIA office.
Wait for the decision. 90 days once everything is in; if the NDIA asks you for more information, 14 days after you give it.

The steps come from the NDIA’s page on how to apply (current as of 27 August 2026).

What Is the NDIS Access Request Form?

The NDIS Access Request Form is the NDIA’s application form. It asks about you, your disability and your situation, so the NDIA can decide whether you meet the age, residence and disability or early intervention requirements. You can download it from the NDIA’s page on the access request form. It has two sections:

Section 1 is completed by you (the applicant) or your representative.
Section 2 is completed by your treating health professional.

Before You Start: Three Things to Get Ready

Missing documents and thin functional evidence are avoidable problems, and our guide to the functional capacity assessment explains what that evidence actually has to show. Before you open the form, gather:

Proof of identity. Drivers licence, passport, Medicare card, birth certificate, or another government-issued ID.
Proof of residence. The NDIA can usually confirm this from your Centrelink record if you consent. If not, you’ll need documents showing you are an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a Protected Special Category visa holder (see the NDIA’s residence requirements).
Diagnostic and functional evidence. Reports from your treating GP, specialist, or allied health professional. The NDIA says it helps if they have worked with you for at least 6 months.

If you are unsure whether you meet the NDIS eligibility criteria, work through our NDIS eligibility checklist first. The form asks for evidence that you meet the age, residence, and disability or early intervention requirements.

The NDIS Access Request Form, Section by Section

The current form on ndis.gov.au has two sections. Here is what each part asks for, in the form’s own order.

Section and part	Who completes it	What it asks
Section 1, Part A: Applicant’s information	You	Your details and where you live, including age and residence (citizenship or visa)
Section 1, Part B: Privacy and consent declaration	You	Whether you consent to the NDIA collecting your information
Section 1, Part C: Contact methods	You	How you want the NDIA to contact you or your representative
Section 1, Part D: Parent, legal guardian or representative	Parent, guardian or representative	Only if you’re applying for a child under 18 or as a legal representative. Not needed if you’re just helping someone fill in the form
Section 1, Part E: Overview of disability	You	Information about your disability and how you’ll provide evidence
Section 1, Part F: Signature and declaration	You or your representative	Your signature
Section 2, Part A: Treating professional’s information	Treating professional	Name, qualifications and how long they have treated you
Section 2, Part B: Evidence of disability	Treating professional	Your disability, its likely permanence and treatment
Section 2, Part C: Early intervention	Treating professional	Whether early intervention supports are needed
Section 2, Part D: Existing assessments	Treating professional	Copies of assessments already done
Section 2, Part E: Evidence of functional capacity	Treating professional	How your disability affects mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care and self-management
Section 2, Part F: Additional notes	Treating professional	Anything else relevant
Section 2, Part G: Signature and declaration	Treating professional	Their signature

Section 1: filling in your parts

Write your name exactly as it appears on your identity documents; you can add a preferred name. Part D is only for a parent, legal guardian or legal representative, not for someone who is simply helping you. If you want to appoint a formal NDIS nominee, that is a separate process: see our NDIS plan nominee guide. Read the privacy and consent declaration in Part B carefully before you sign.

Section 2: the treating professional’s parts

This is where a diagnosis is turned into functional impact. The NDIA says the treating professional should be the most appropriate person to give evidence about your disability, registered with AHPRA or the relevant professional body, and ideally someone who has worked with you for at least 6 months. That might be your GP, a specialist, or an allied health professional such as an occupational therapist, psychologist or speech pathologist.

The six functional capacity areas in Section 2, Part E

Section 2 asks the treating professional to describe the impact of your disability across six functional domains. These are the same domains used in NDIS eligibility decisions:

Mobility: Can you move around your home, your community, and use transport safely?
Communication: Can you understand others and make yourself understood in everyday conversations?
Social interaction: Can you make friends, maintain relationships, read social cues, and manage emotions in social settings?
Learning: Can you understand and remember new information, follow instructions, and apply skills?
Self-care: Can you manage personal hygiene, dressing, toileting, eating, and medications?
Self-management: Can you make decisions, plan, solve problems, and manage your own affairs?

The NDIA looks for a substantial reduction in your ability to do everyday tasks in one or more of these areas.

What “specific” looks like in Section 2

The NDIA wants concrete, observable, daily-life detail. Compare these two descriptions of the same person:

Too vague (will likely trigger more information requests)	Specific (decision-ready)
“John has trouble with mobility.”	“John relies on a power wheelchair for distances over three metres. Within three metres he uses a walking stick and requires verbal cueing from a carer. He cannot transfer from chair to bed without two-person assistance.”
“He sometimes needs help with personal care.”	“John requires daily prompting and physical assistance for showering, dressing, and toileting. He cannot prepare meals safely and requires meal supervision to prevent choking.”
“Communication is difficult for him.”	“John uses single words and gestures to communicate basic needs. He cannot follow multi-step verbal instructions and cannot use the telephone independently. He requires assistance from a known support person for any medical or financial conversation.”

The pattern is consistent. Be specific about what the person cannot do alone, what support is required, how often it is needed, and what happens without support. Vague phrases like “needs some help” or “struggles with daily tasks” do not give the NDIA enough to make a decision.

Children and early intervention (Section 2, Part C)

Part C covers the early intervention requirements. Children younger than 6 with developmental delay may be eligible under them, and the NDIA’s guideline says a child younger than 7 diagnosed with a condition on its List D meets them without further assessment. Families of children younger than 9 usually start with an early childhood partner. From 1 October 2026, Thriving Kids also begins rolling out state services for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs; NDIS eligibility doesn’t change on that date. See our Thriving Kids explainer.

Evidence to Attach With Your Access Request Form

Even a perfectly completed form will be delayed if the supporting evidence is thin. Here is the evidence the NDIA’s guidance points to. The NDIA’s page on examples of disability evidence lists the preferred assessments for each type of disability.

Evidence type	What it shows	Where to get it
Specialist diagnostic report	Confirms the condition, severity level (e.g. DSM-V level for autism, GMFCS level for cerebral palsy)	Diagnosing specialist (psychiatrist, paediatrician, neurologist, etc.)
GP letter or report	Confirms ongoing management, treatment history, current medications	Your usual GP
Functional Capacity Assessment	Demonstrates substantially reduced functional capacity across the six domains	Occupational therapist, psychologist, or other allied health professional
Allied health reports	Speech, OT, physio, psychology assessments where relevant	Treating allied health team
Hospital or emergency presentation summaries	Demonstrates severity, treatment history, and unmet support needs	Hospital medical records team
School reports (children)	Evidence of learning impact, behaviour, social participation	School wellbeing or learning support team
Evidence of treatments tried	The NDIA considers treatments you’ve tried when deciding whether an impairment is likely to be permanent	Treating professionals, pharmacy records

If your reports are old and your condition has changed, ask your treating professional for a short update letter confirming the current position.

How to Submit the NDIS Access Request Form

Your NDIS partner can submit your application for you, or you can submit it yourself through the service hub, by post, or in person. Choose the one that suits you.

Option 1: Through Your NDIS Partner (Recommended for First-Time Applicants)

The NDIA’s preferred route is to connect with an NDIS partner first. Call 1800 800 110 to find your nearest partner, then meet with them in person, over the phone, or virtually through Microsoft Teams. They will help you complete the application, gather the evidence the NDIA needs, and submit the application on your behalf. This route also gives you a head start on the planning conversation if you are approved, because your NDIS partner becomes your my NDIS contact.

Option 2: Service Hub (Online Submission)

If you complete the form yourself, you can submit it through the NDIA’s service hub, linked from its how to apply page.

Option 3: Post

Mail your completed form and supporting documents to:

National Disability Insurance Agency
GPO Box 700
Canberra ACT 2601

Keep a copy of everything you send.

Option 4: In Person at an NDIS Office

You can take your form and documents to your local NDIS office. Find your nearest office through the office finder at ndis.gov.au or by calling 1800 800 110.

The 90-day decision timeframe starts once your application and all your supporting evidence are submitted, not when a partial application is received. If you submit through your NDIS partner, the partner makes sure your application is complete before lodging.

What Happens After You Submit

The NDIA reviews your application

The NDIA checks your application and evidence against the requirements:

That you meet age and residence requirements
That you meet either the disability or early intervention requirements
That you are likely to need NDIS supports for life (or that early intervention now will reduce your need later)

The 90-Day Decision

The NDIA says it will tell you whether you are eligible within 90 days once your application and all your supporting evidence are submitted. This is its Participant Service Guarantee timeframe. There are three possible outcomes:

Approved. You become an NDIS participant. The next step is the NDIS planning meeting (or planning conversation) to build your first plan.
Request for more information. The NDIA writes asking for specific additional evidence or reports. Once the NDIA has been given the information, its timeframe to decide is 14 days.
Not approved. The NDIA decides you do not meet the access criteria. You can ask for an internal review (see below).

If Your Application Is Not Approved

A “not approved” decision is not the end. You have three paths forward.

Internal review

You can ask the NDIA to review the decision within 3 months of receiving it. Someone who wasn’t involved in the original decision reviews it, along with any new evidence you provide.

To ask for a review, call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or email enquiries@ndis.gov.au, saying which decision you want reviewed and why, and attach any new evidence.

External review through the Administrative Review Tribunal

If the internal review still rejects your application, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). The ART replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) on 14 October 2024 and reviews most NDIA decisions independently. Time limits apply to external review applications, so check the current deadline at art.gov.au or with a free advocate before you lodge. Do not leave it to the last week.

The NDIS Appeals Program (funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) provides free support to help you through the external review process.

Submit a fresh application

If new diagnostic or functional capacity evidence becomes available, you can submit a fresh NDIS Access Request Form at any time. This is often the simplest path when you can show meaningful new information that was not available at the first application.

Common Mistakes That Slow Down or Sink Applications

Watch for these avoidable problems:

Diagnosis without functional detail. A specialist report that confirms the condition but does not describe its impact across the six functional domains. Always pair diagnostic evidence with a functional capacity assessment.
Vague language in Section 2. Phrases like “needs some help” or “has difficulty with daily tasks”. Be concrete: what is the support, how often, by whom, and what happens without it?
Missing identity or residence documents. The NDIA cannot proceed until residence is confirmed.
Outdated evidence. Reports that no longer describe your current situation. Ask for an update letter.
No treatment history. The NDIA considers treatments tried when deciding whether an impairment is likely to be permanent.
One source of evidence. Evidence from more than one treating professional can give the NDIA a fuller picture.
Unsigned sections. Section 1, Part F and Section 2, Part G both need signatures.

What If You Are Already a Participant Helping Someone Else?

If you are an NDIS participant and you are helping a family member or friend with their access request, you cannot complete Section 2 yourself. That section must be signed by a treating professional. You can, however, help with Section 1, gather supporting documents, and submit the form on the applicant’s behalf. Writing an NDIS carer statement describing the support you already provide is another way to add weight to the application.

If you are a support coordinator helping a prospective participant, the same rules apply: you can help prepare the application but you cannot sign as the treating professional. For Centre of Hope clients, we work with your treating team to ensure the evidence is comprehensive and clearly written.

NDIS Access Request Form FAQ

How long does it take to complete the NDIS Access Request Form?

It varies. Gathering supporting evidence (specialist reports, functional capacity assessments, school reports) usually takes longer than the form itself, and your treating professional needs time for Section 2.

Can I complete the form myself or do I need help?

You can complete it yourself, with a family member or friend, or with help from a Local Area Coordinator (LAC), Early Childhood Partner, disability advocate, or support coordinator. Section 2 must be completed by a treating professional regardless of who helps with Section 1.

Does it cost anything to apply for the NDIS?

The NDIA does not charge a fee to lodge an access request. You may pay your GP, specialist, or allied health professional for the reports they prepare for Section 2 and the supporting evidence. Ask your professional about costs before they prepare reports.

What if my GP says they cannot complete the form?

Some GPs are not familiar with the form. Show them the NDIA’s page on the access request form, which explains what Section 2 asks for. You can also ask a treating specialist or allied health professional to complete Section 2 instead. The treating professional does not have to be a GP, as long as they have current knowledge of your disability.

Can I submit the NDIS Access Request Form online?

Yes. The NDIA’s service hub at ndis.gov.au lets you upload a completed form and supporting evidence online. You can also submit through your NDIS partner (who may use online tools on your behalf), by post to GPO Box 700 Canberra ACT 2601, or in person at your local NDIS office.

What is the difference between the Access Request Form and the Supporting Evidence Form?

The current NDIA form is one document with two sections: Section 1 for you and Section 2 for your treating professional. Section 2 is sometimes called the supporting evidence section.

What is the latest version of the form for 2026?

Download the form from the NDIA’s page on the access request form, and avoid third-party copies that may be out of date.

Is the NDIS application form the same as the Access Request Form?

Yes. The NDIA calls its NDIS application form the Access Request Form. You can use it to apply yourself, or apply with your NDIS partner, who can help you apply without filling in the form.

What if I am applying for the NDIS as a person with psychosocial disability?

Psychosocial disability applications work the same way but the evidence usually comes from a combination of GP, psychiatrist, and allied mental health professional (psychologist, mental health social worker, or mental health occupational therapist). Show the impact across the six functional domains and the history of treatment tried. For more on the recovery-coaching support route once you are a participant, see our work on recovery coaching versus support coordination.

Do the 2026 reforms change how I apply?

The application form itself has not changed substantially in 2026. What is changing is the framework for assessing eligibility. From 1 October 2026, Thriving Kids begins rolling out state services. NDIS eligibility does not change on that date. Separately, the NDIA will begin introducing a new way of planning from April 2027, and NDIS access arrangements change from 1 January 2028 for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism at low to moderate support needs. For details on the reform package, see our 2026 NDIS Planning Changes guide.

How Centre of Hope Can Help

Centre of Hope is a registered NDIS provider in New South Wales. We support people who are already participants in the NDIS through:

Support Coordination (Level 2): Helping you understand your plan, choose providers, and use your funding well.
Specialist Support Coordination (Level 3): Coordinating complex supports across multiple services for participants with high needs.
Psychosocial Recovery Coaching: Specialist support for participants with mental health conditions.
Employment Coaching: Finding, applying for, and keeping a job that fits your goals.
Justice and Re-Entry Support: Specialist support for participants involved in the justice system.

If you are applying for the NDIS for the first time, we recommend starting with your Local Area Coordinator or a free disability advocacy service, since access decisions sit with the NDIA. Once you are an approved participant, Centre of Hope can help you make the most of your plan.

Your goals. Your plan. Our support.

The NDIS Access Request Form is the door. Behind it is a plan, a budget, and the chance to build the life you want with the right support. Take the time to do it well: gather the evidence, write specifically about your daily life, and lean on the people who can help.

If you are a New South Wales participant looking for a support coordinator who explains your plan in plain English and advocates for what you actually need, get in touch.

Call us: 0432 250 900
Visit: centreofhope.com.au
Email: hello@centreofhope.com.au
Refer: Submit a referral