New Australian visa biometrics checks begin in India: what applicants should do

Applications lodged in India from 26 October 2026 may now trigger a biometrics request. Here is how to check your instructions, understand the app option and plan the next steps.

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Australia's expanded visa biometrics requirements took effect in India on 26 October 2026. Home Affairs will contact applicants who need to complete an identity check. Australian High Commission announcement

Who this is for: Australian visa applicants lodging new applications in India from 26 October 2026, including prospective students. Follow individual Home Affairs instructions; this is not a worldwide Indian-passport rule.

Which applications are affected?

Only new applications lodged in India from 26 October 2026 are covered. Earlier submissions are unaffected by this expansion.

The announcement concerns applicants in India; it does not establish a blanket requirement for every Indian passport holder worldwide. Nor does it say every applicant must attend a collection centre. An individual's instructions determine the next step. Australian High Commission announcement

Students: check the request and its deadline

For prospective students, keeping track of correspondence is particularly important. Home Affairs' Student visa (subclass 500) guidance says most applicants who need biometrics are notified immediately after applying, with a letter and a request visible in ImmiAccount.

That guidance gives applicants 14 days to provide biometrics. Read your own request promptly and follow its deadline rather than assuming the same timeframe applies to every visa. Home Affairs also advises student applicants to check ImmiAccount regularly and avoid booking travel before their visa is finalised. Student visa: after you apply

Can you use the Australian Immi App?

Some eligible applicants who previously gave biometrics at an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) and have a valid passport may be offered the free app route. Australian High Commission announcement

Home Affairs' current app guidance lists India. To use it, you need a valid passport and a biometrics request letter with a Visa Lodgement Number (VLN) beginning AUI. If the number does not start with AUI, the guidance directs you to an ABCC.

The app captures passport information and a live facial image. It is not an option to choose simply because travelling to a centre is inconvenient. Follow the route assigned in your letter.

Complete every submission step and check for the success screen. Home Affairs says ImmiAccount should update within 24 hours after submission. For family applications, take care to use each person's own VLN. Australian Immi App guidance

If you need an appointment

Biometrics are identifying features such as fingerprints and facial images. Home Affairs specifies which information an applicant must provide. Home Affairs biometrics guidance

Home Affairs contracts VFS Global to operate collection centres, which charge a service fee. Book an appointment and take the valid passport or travel document linked to your application. Check the selected centre's current fee and requirements before attending. Home Affairs biometrics guidance · VFS Global's Australian biometrics directory

VFS says applicants should book after receiving their biometrics requirement letter. Check that the personal details in the letter match your identity document. If they do not, notify Home Affairs through ImmiAccount and contact its Global Service Centre about a corrected letter before your appointment. VFS biometric collection guide

Families should not assume every person has identical requirements. Home Affairs says a parent or guardian must accompany applicants who are minors under the law where collection takes place, or who cannot understand the purpose of biometrics. Follow the child's individual instructions rather than relying on unverified age-exemption claims. Home Affairs biometrics guidance

A practical checklist

1. Check your email and ImmiAccount for the request and deadline.

2. Read the instructions for each applicant separately.

3. Check the VLN before deciding whether the app is available to you.

4. For an appointment, confirm your letter and passport details match, and check the centre's fee and attendance requirements.

5. Keep checking ImmiAccount after providing biometrics; collection is not a visa grant. Home Affairs student guidance, app guidance and VFS collection guide

The High Commission expects processing times to remain unaffected if applicants complete the requirements promptly. That is an expectation, not a guaranteed decision date for an individual application. Australian High Commission announcement

Important information

Information checked: 28 October 2026.

This article provides general information, not legal or migration advice. Requirements can change. Follow current Home Affairs instructions and seek qualified advice for your circumstances.

Official sources