The Australian Government requires certain visa applicants to provide biometrics — fingerprints and a facial image — as part of the visa application process. Biometrics are used for identity verification, both when the visa application is assessed and when the visa holder arrives at an Australian port of entry. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will notify an applicant if biometrics are required — not all applicants in all countries are required to provide them.

Biometrics must be provided before DHA can finalise the assessment of the application. Failure to provide biometrics when directed may result in the application not being processed. For the current list of countries and visa types where biometrics are required, refer to the DHA biometrics page.

• Migration Act 1958, s 5A and related provisions — the authority for DHA to collect personal identifiers (biometrics) from visa applicants and holders
• Migration Regulations 1994 — regulations specifying the classes of persons required to provide personal identifiers
• DHA: Biometrics — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/biometrics
• DHA: Australian Immi App — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/immi-app

Who must provide biometrics

The requirement to provide biometrics is not universal — DHA will specifically notify an applicant if biometrics are required for their application. The requirement depends on the applicant's country of nationality or residence and the visa subclass being applied for. When biometrics are required, they must be provided before DHA can complete the assessment of the application.

Each person included in a visa application may have an individual biometrics requirement — the requirement for the primary applicant does not automatically extend to all secondary applicants, and vice versa. The biometrics declaration and consent must be signed by each person aged 16 years or over who is required to provide biometrics.

What is collected

Biometrics collected for Australian visa purposes include:

• Fingerprints: typically all ten fingerprints, collected using a digital scanner
• Facial image: a live photograph taken at the collection point or via the Immi App

Method 1 — Australian Immi App

The Australian Immi App is a DHA smartphone application that allows eligible applicants to provide their passport details and a live facial image without attending a collection centre. To be eligible to use the Immi App, the applicant's Visa Lodgement Number (VLN) must begin with "AUI". If the VLN does not begin with "AUI", the applicant must attend an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre instead.

The Immi App uses the smartphone camera to capture the facial image and NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology to scan the e-Passport chip on compatible devices. The app is available in a number of countries. For the current list of countries where the Immi App is available and device compatibility requirements, refer to the DHA Immi App page.

Method 2 — Australian Biometrics Collection Centres (ABCCs)

Where the Immi App is not available or the applicant's VLN does not begin with "AUI", biometrics are collected at an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC). DHA contracts VFS Global to operate ABCCs in many countries. At an ABCC, a trained officer collects fingerprints and a facial image using dedicated equipment. The biometric data is then transmitted directly to DHA.

To find the nearest ABCC, refer to the VFS Global appointment booking system linked from the DHA biometrics page. Appointments may be required and fees may apply for ABCC attendance (separate from the visa application charge).

How biometric data is used

Biometric data collected during the visa application process is used to:

• Verify the identity of the applicant when the visa is assessed
• Verify the identity of the visa holder when they arrive at an Australian port of entry
• Support compliance and integrity activities across the visa system

The collection and storage of biometric data is governed by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Migration Act 1958. Applicants can review DHA's privacy notice for information on how their biometric data is handled.

Student visa biometrics enquiry

For student visa applicants with specific questions about their biometrics requirement or the status of their biometrics collection, DHA provides an online biometrics enquiry form.

Biometrics requirements can change — the list of countries where biometrics are required, and the available collection methods, are updated periodically by DHA. Always check the current DHA biometrics page for the latest requirements rather than relying on information from a previous application.

Applicants who are unable to provide fingerprints (for example, due to a medical condition) should contact DHA for guidance before the application deadline — there are separate processes for applicants who cannot physically comply with the standard biometrics collection process.