A former Australian intelligence official charged with mishandling classified documents will be allowed to visit his wife in China, after a request to the ACT Magistrates Court.

Key points: Roger Uren is facing 32 charges over classified documents he printed from work to take home with him

Roger Uren is facing 32 charges over classified documents he printed from work to take home with him He was today given permission to fly to China to visit his wife and seek work from a former employer

He was today given permission to fly to China to visit his wife and seek work from a former employer Mr Uren insists no one ever saw the classified information he took home with him to work on

Roger Uren, 72, was an assistant director at the intelligence analysis agency, Office of National Assessments (ONA).

His home was raided in 2015, but he was not arrested or charged until a few weeks ago.

Mr Uren is facing 32 charges under the Intelligence Services Act and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act.

Details of the case were revealed today when his lawyer, John Purnell, told the court how a police affidavit noted multiple classified documents had been stored around the home in an unsecured way, mostly in stacks.

A police officer told the court none of the documents were more recent than 2001, when Mr Uren left ONA.

'No one ever saw papers' Uren took home to read

Commonwealth lawyers also told the court there was no suggestion Mr Uren had shared the material.

Mr Purnell said Mr Uren had simply printed out the material and taken it home to read, because he was working on it.

He said Mr Uren had told him he had no idea he held so much of "this stuff" in his cupboards.

Mr Purnell said his client maintains no one ever saw the papers, and there was never any intention to harm national security.

Today he asked the court to vary Mr Uren's bail conditions so he can travel to China to see his wife, who is caring for her elderly parents in Beijing.

Mr Uren appeared at the ACT Magistrates court today to have his bail conditions varied so he could visit his wife in China, and attempt to find work there. ( ABC News )

Mr Uren is married to Chinese-Australian lobbyist Sheri Yan, who was jailed in the United States for bribing then-president of the United Nations General Assembly John Ashe.

He also wants to visit his former employer in Hong Kong to try to negotiate a new contract.

Mr Purnell said his client has travelled out of Australia 39 times since the original raid, showing he can be trusted to return, and is offering his home as surety.

"What he is offering the court is enormous," he said.

The Commonwealth noted that it was one thing to travel knowing there might be charges and another once charges were laid.

But acting Chief Magistrate Glenn Theakston said he wouldd grant the request on condition appropriate documents including an itinerary were supplied.

The case will be back in court next month.