ImmiAccount is the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) online portal through which the majority of Australian visa applications, citizenship applications, and sponsorship applications are lodged and managed. Most applicants for Australian visas are required to lodge online through ImmiAccount — paper applications are available only for specific visa subclasses where DHA has not enabled online lodgement. ImmiAccount provides applicants with the ability to create and submit applications, upload supporting documents, pay application charges, monitor application progress, respond to correspondence and requests for information from DHA, and receive the outcome of the application. Access to ImmiAccount requires multi-factor authentication (MFA). The Immi App is a companion mobile application used for biometric data collection where required. This page explains how ImmiAccount works, who should create an account, the key functions available through the portal, and what applicants should be aware of during and after the application process.

For access to ImmiAccount, account creation, and troubleshooting guidance, refer to the DHA online applications page.

• Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 — the legal basis for the requirement to lodge a valid visa application with the Minister; the regulations provide for electronic lodgement of applications as a valid means of making an application under the Act; an application lodged online through ImmiAccount is a valid application for the purposes of the Migration Act
• DHA: Applying online in ImmiAccount — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/applying-online
• DHA: Access your ImmiAccount — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-immiaccount
• DHA: Manage your ImmiAccount — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/manage-immiaccount

Creating an ImmiAccount

To lodge a visa or citizenship application, an applicant first creates an ImmiAccount:

• An ImmiAccount is created at the DHA website using an email address and password; DHA will send a verification email to the registered address
• Each person (applicant) should have their own ImmiAccount — sharing accounts between multiple applicants is not appropriate; for family applications, the main applicant typically creates the account and adds secondary applicants to the application
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is required — once an account is created, applicants must set up MFA (using an authenticator app, SMS, or email code) before they can log in and access applications; MFA is a mandatory security requirement for all ImmiAccount users
• Migration agents (OMARA-registered) use a separate migration agent account type — clients do not share an account with their agent; the agent lodges on behalf of the client using the agent's account and the client's details

Lodging a visa application

Once logged in to ImmiAccount, an applicant can start a visa application:

• Select the visa subclass to apply for — the application form for that visa subclass is available within ImmiAccount
• Complete the application form, providing personal details, travel history, immigration history, health and character declarations, and other required information
• Upload supporting documents — ImmiAccount allows documents to be uploaded in common file formats; DHA specifies document size and format requirements
• Pay the visa application charge (VAC) — the VAC is paid through ImmiAccount at the time of lodgement; payment may be by credit/debit card or other accepted methods; the application is not considered lodged until the VAC is paid (unless a fee exemption applies)
• Submit the application — once submitted, the application is registered with a transaction reference number (TRN) that serves as the application identifier

Managing an application after lodgement

After lodgement, ImmiAccount is the primary interface between the applicant and DHA during processing:

• Application status: the application status is displayed in ImmiAccount; status updates reflect where in the processing queue the application is; DHA processing times are published on the DHA website and are not displayed in ImmiAccount
• Requests for information: if DHA requires additional documents or information during processing (under section 56 of the Migration Act), the request will appear in ImmiAccount; the applicant must respond by the deadline specified in the request; failure to respond to a request for information can result in the application being decided on the information available
• Health and character requirements: ImmiAccount will indicate when the applicant needs to complete a health examination or provide police clearances; instructions for health examinations direct the applicant to a panel physician
• Correspondence: DHA communicates with the applicant through the ImmiAccount inbox and the registered email address; applicants should check both regularly to avoid missing communications
• Application outcome: when the application is decided, the outcome (grant or refusal) is communicated through ImmiAccount and email; for a visa grant, the visa details can be confirmed through VEVO (the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system)

The Immi App — biometrics collection

The Australian Immi App is a mobile application developed by DHA for biometric data collection as part of the visa application process:

• Where biometrics are required for a visa (fingerprints and a facial photograph), DHA will instruct the applicant through ImmiAccount to use the Immi App or attend a biometric collection point
• The Immi App allows biometrics to be collected remotely using a mobile device's camera — the app guides the applicant through the facial scan and, where applicable, fingerprint collection
• Not all visa applicants are required to provide biometrics — whether biometrics are required depends on the visa subclass, the applicant's nationality, and whether biometrics have previously been collected; refer to the biometrics page for further detail
• The Immi App is a separate download from ImmiAccount — it is not a replacement for ImmiAccount but a supplementary tool for one specific requirement

Online vs paper applications

DHA's general policy is that visa applications should be lodged online through ImmiAccount. Paper applications (on a printed form) are only available where:

• DHA has not made the visa subclass available for online lodgement (some protection visas, offshore humanitarian visas, and certain other subclasses)
• The applicant has a specific accessibility need that prevents online lodgement

Applicants should check the DHA visa listing page for their specific visa subclass to confirm whether online or paper lodgement is available or required. Lodging on paper when online lodgement is available does not prevent the application from being valid, but online lodgement is strongly preferred by DHA and is the standard process for most visas.

Technical issues and support

DHA provides a technical support service for ImmiAccount issues — applicants who experience technical difficulties lodging or managing an application can submit a technical support form through the DHA website. If a technical issue prevents lodgement before a visa expiry or a deadline, applicants should document the technical issue and contact DHA as soon as possible — technical issues with the portal do not automatically extend visa validity or lodgement deadlines.

ImmiAccount is the central operational interface for virtually every Australian visa application — understanding how to use it correctly is a practical prerequisite for any applicant or practitioner. The mandatory MFA requirement catches applicants who do not set up authentication correctly at account creation, sometimes creating delays when a login is needed urgently. The section 56 request for information through ImmiAccount is one of the most time-sensitive obligations in the visa process — deadlines are strict and missing them can result in the application being decided on incomplete information. For cases involving a registered migration agent, the agent manages the application through their agent account, but applicants should retain their own ImmiAccount access so they can monitor progress independently. For ImmiAccount access instructions, troubleshooting, and current guidance on online vs paper lodgement for specific visa subclasses, refer to the DHA online applications page.