Aussies Leverage Mobile IDV to Streamline Visa Application Process for Pacific Islanders

The Australian Government has launched a new mobile app designed to streamline the visa application process for Pacific Island countries. Dubbed the “Australian Immi App,” it’s aimed at providing a cost-effective solution that enhances mobility and migration opportunities for citizens of Pacific nations, starting with a trial in select countries.

The app is expected to simplify the visa process for Fijians, Papua New Guineans, Samoans, Tongans, and third-country nationals residing in New Zealand, with the possibility of expanding to all countries where biometrics are collected by early 2025.

For Fijians, the app is expected to significantly reduce the burden associated with visa applications. Until now, applicants were required to travel to Australian Biometrics Collection Centres (ABCC) in cities such as Suva and Lautoka to provide biometric details like facial images and passport scans. The Immi App eliminates the need for these trips, as users can now scan their passport, read the e-chip (if available), and capture a facial image directly from their mobile device.

The app is free to use and expected to reduce visa processing times by allowing applicants to submit facial biometrics immediately after lodging their visa application, rather than waiting for an in-person appointment at a biometrics centre.

The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Ewen McDonald, emphasized that this app is a direct response to the region’s call for improved travel mobility, a critical component of economic development. “This app delivers on our shared goal of improving mobility across the region,” he said.

In terms of eligibility, applicants who have previously submitted their biometric details at an ABCC are allowed to use the app. Additionally, children under the age of five are eligible to submit their facial biometrics, even if they have not previously attended an ABCC.

It isn’t yet clear which vendor or vendors were involved in the development of the new Immi App. An Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) app launched in 2018 was developed collaboratively by experts from the Australian Department of Home Affairs, SITA, and the Arq Group.

Source: Islands Business

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September 27, 2024 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team