Australia Introduces New Visa Biometric Rules for Indian Travellers, Making Fingerprints and Facial Scans Part of Screening

Australia is introducing an additional identity-verification step for Indian travellers planning holidays, higher education, employment or longer stays, bringing changes to the country’s visa application process from October 26, 2026. The updated requirements mean that some people applying for a new Australian visa in India may have to provide fingerprints and a facial photograph before their applications can proceed. For travellers already preparing their documents and planning their journeys, understanding who needs to complete these checks and where they can do so will be important.

New Biometric Requirements Apply to Fresh Visa Applications

The Australian Government’s expanded biometric collection programme came into effect in India on October 26, 2026. Under the new arrangement, applicants submitting Australian visa applications in India may be asked to provide personal biometric information, including fingerprints and a digital facial image.

However, the requirement does not automatically apply to every applicant. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs will determine who needs to complete the additional verification and communicate the instructions through an official notification, generally sent by email to the applicant or their authorised representative.

The change also has a clear application-date distinction. It covers new visa applications lodged on or after October 26, while applications submitted before that date and visas already granted remain unaffected. The expansion forms part of Australia’s existing international biometric programme, which already operates across nearly 60 countries.

Sixteen Indian Cities Provide In-Person Biometric Services

Applicants instructed to complete biometric collection in person can visit an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC). The Australian Government has identified 16 locations across India, with VFS Global operating the centres under contract with the Department of Home Affairs.

The collection network covers Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Panaji, Puducherry, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram.

At an appointment, authorised staff collect a digital photograph of the applicant’s face and scan all 10 fingertips using a digital fingerprint scanner. Applicants should carry the valid passport associated with their visa application and the official biometric requirement letter.

The government advises applicants to follow the appointment instructions carefully. Some locations, including Panaji and Puducherry, operate as pop-up centres with reduced hours, so checking current availability before travelling is important.

Australian Immi App Offers a Digital Alternative

Not everyone who receives a biometric request will necessarily have to visit a collection centre. Eligible applicants may be able to complete an identity-verification process through the Australian Immi App, offering a digital alternative to an in-person appointment.

The facility is not universally available. The Department of Home Affairs specifies that applicants need a biometric requirement letter containing a Visa Lodgement Number (VLN) beginning with the letters AUI, along with a valid passport.

The process requires a compatible smartphone with an NFC-enabled connection, internet access, camera permissions and location services. Applicants enter or scan their VLN, scan the passport’s information page and electronic chip where available, verify their passport details and capture a live facial photograph before submitting the information.

Importantly, the app’s described process is based on passport and facial verification rather than the physical collection of all 10 fingerprints at a biometric centre. Applicants whose VLN does not begin with AUI must attend an ABCC.

The Australian Government has also indicated that eligible applicants who previously provided biometrics at an ABCC and hold a valid passport may use the digital facility without an additional charge.

Visa Processing Times and Personal Data Protection

The expansion is not expected to adversely affect Australian visa processing times, according to the High Commission, provided applicants complete their biometric requirements promptly after receiving instructions.

This makes it important for travellers to monitor their registered email addresses and ImmiAccount after submitting applications. Applicants should avoid independently booking biometric appointments or attempting to use the app before receiving the official requirement letter.

The government has also addressed concerns surrounding the handling of sensitive personal information. Under Australia’s Migration Act 1958 and Privacy Act, biometric information is collected and managed through established legal safeguards. The Department of Home Affairs stores fingerprints and facial images in a secure database accessible to authorised officers.

These records may be checked against Australian and international agencies to verify identity, criminal history and immigration history. The High Commission has further stated that personal information is processed and transmitted through encrypted channels.

What Indian Travellers Should Know Before Applying

For Indian tourists planning visits to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or other Australian destinations, the revised process adds another requirement to check while preparing a visa application. Students arranging university admissions and workers preparing employment-related travel should also account for any biometric notification they receive.

Applicants should rely on communications from the Department of Home Affairs, use the official government instructions and complete any requested verification without unnecessary delays. Purchasing optional services from a visa service provider does not improve the chances of approval or guarantee faster processing.

For travellers, the most useful step is to understand that a visa application may now involve more than submitting documents and waiting for a decision. A timely response to an official identity-check request can help keep the process organised, leaving applicants better prepared for the journey they hope to make to Australia.

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