The Australian Immi App is the official mobile application of the Australian Department of Home Affairs, designed to collect identity data as part of the visa application process. It allows eligible applicants to submit two types of information:
- Passport details (identity page, and electronic chip if applicable)
- A recent facial image, taken directly with the phone’s camera
In practice, the app replaces, for some applicants, the need to visit an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC), where photos and biometric data were previously collected. Authorities highlight reduced costs and faster processing times for visa applicants, along with a smoother overall experience.
The Australian Immi App now available in many more countries
The Department of Home Affairs announced earlier this week that the Australian Immi App has been expanded to a new group of countries, now covering parts of the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
The 19 new eligible countries are:
- Algeria, Bahrain, Colombia, Egypt, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
With these additions, the Australian Immi App is now available in 34 countries in total, a number expected to increase as the program moves toward full implementation by early 2026.
Before this latest expansion, the app was already operational in the following countries:
- Fiji, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, as well as for third-country nationals residing in New Zealand.
Who can use the Australian Immi App?
Access to the app remains restricted to a specific group of users. According to the Department of Home Affairs, applicants must:
- Have previously provided their biometric data (photo and fingerprints) to the department in an earlier visa application;
- Hold a valid passport;
- Reside in one of the 34 countries currently covered under the offshore biometric collection program.
In addition, use of the app is only possible if the applicant has received a “Requirement to provide personal identifiers (biometrics)” letter containing a Visa Lodgement Number (VLN) beginning with AUI or AUH. If the VLN does not start with these letters, the applicant must still appear in person at an ABCC.
Authorities remind applicants that not all visa applicants are required to provide biometrics. Collection requirements depend on the applicant’s country’s participation in the Biometrics Collection Program, which currently covers 56 countries. In regions where no digital process is available yet, applicants may need to travel to a neighboring country to access a biometric collection center.
Technical requirements: a recent and secure smartphone
The Australian Immi App is free to download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
To use the app, your phone must:
- Be a smartphone running iOS or Android;
- Have a stable internet connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi);
- Allow camera access;
- Have NFC (Near-Field Communication) enabled to read the passport’s electronic chip when present;
- Permit location services for the app.
Authorities note that device compatibility can be verified via the technical details listed in the respective app stores.
A five-step process on your smartphone
The department outlines a five-step process to follow in the app:
- Enter the Visa Lodgement Number (VLN)
- The code appears on the biometrics request letter.
- It can be entered manually or scanned from the barcode on the letter.
- Each family member has their own VLN.
- Scan the Passport Identity Page
- Open your passport to the personal data page.
- Hold your phone above the page so the entire area, including the MRZ code lines at the bottom, is captured.
- The app will indicate when the framing is correct and validate the scan.
- Read the Electronic Chip (if applicable)
- If your passport has the e-passport symbol, place your phone directly on the cover to allow the chip to be read via NFC.
- The screen will display a progress bar or reading message and recommend not moving the device during the process.
- Verify and Confirm Passport Information
- Extracted data (name, date of birth, passport number, etc.) appear on the screen.
- The applicant must check for accuracy and redo the scan if errors appear.
- Take and Submit the Applicant’s Photo
- Stand in front of a light-colored background, with no visible objects behind you.
- Center your face within the oval displayed on screen, eyes open, looking directly at the camera, and remove glasses if possible.
- The app automatically captures the image when positioning is correct. Multiple attempts are allowed.
After completing these steps, users can enter an email address to receive a submission confirmation.
At final validation, the Australian Immi App sends the passport details and facial images directly to the Department of Home Affairs. The department states that:
- Data are not stored in the app after submission;
- If transmission errors occur, the app will prompt the user to retry;
- Once the process is complete, the applicant’s ImmiAccount should be updated within about 24 hours.
If additional information is required, the department will contact the applicant directly with further instructions, which may include a visit to a biometric collection center.
What does this mean for Australian Biometrics Collection Centers?
The expansion of the Australian Immi App does not eliminate Australian Biometrics Collection Centres (ABCC), but it reduces their use for certain applicants.
- Those eligible to use the app can complete the biometric portion remotely and no longer need to visit a center, unless specifically requested by authorities.
- Other applicants, for example those whose VLN does not begin with AUI or AUH, or who have never provided biometrics, must still go through an ABCC.
In some countries, this may mean traveling to a neighboring state.
This coexistence of both systems reflects a transition phase, as digital biometric collection continues to expand across the entire program.
Traveling to Australia without a visa: eVisitor and ETA unchanged
The expansion of the Australian Immi App does not affect existing schemes allowing travel to Australia without a traditional visa, namely the eVisitor (subclass 651) and the Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). These electronic travel authorizations, available to travelers exempt from visa requirements for short-term tourism or business visits, do not involve biometric collection.
The eVisitor, which is free of charge, is reserved for citizens of the European Union and certain associated European countries. It is fully completed online via an ImmiAccount.
The ETA, on the other hand, is available through a dedicated mobile app for certain nationalities, primarily close Australian partner countries like the U.S., Canada, Japan, and South Korea.
In both cases, travelers do not need to use the Australian Immi App or visit a biometric center.
These two systems therefore remain independent from the offshore biometric collection program and continue to be the preferred pathways for eligible tourists and business travelers seeking quick entry into Australia.
