On 24 September 2024, the Australian Department of Home Affairs is introducing a new self-service capability for visa applicants to provide a facial image and passport details to support their visa application: the “Australian Immi App”.
The Australian Immi App will streamline visa applicants’ experiences by providing the option for them to use the app rather than attending an Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC) for subsequent visa applications.
It has the potential to decrease visa processing times as applicants will be able to provide their facial image immediately after lodgement rather than waiting for an appointment and travelling to a collection center.
It also reduces the costs associated with a visa application as there is no charge to use the app.
The app provides the ability for applicants to scan the biographic page of their passport, read their passport e-chip (where available) and capture a facial image.
After submitting their visa application, eligible applicants will receive correspondence outlining the option to use the app or attend an ABCC to provide their information.
To be eligible to use the app, applicants must have previously provided their biometrics at an ABCC and hold a valid passport. All children under five years of age are also eligible to submit their facial biometrics and passport details through the app, even those who have not previously attended an ABCC.
The app will initially be launched to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and third country nationals from New Zealand. After evaluation, usage will be expanded in early 2025 to all countries where biometrics are currently collected.
