Visa applicants in India may now be required to provide fingerprints and a facial image as part of an Australian visa application. The requirement applies to new applications lodged from October 26, 2026 and does not affect applications that had already been submitted, according to the Australian High Commission in New Delhi.
India is one of nearly 60 countries included in an expansion of Australia’s biometric collection requirements, which the High Commission described as part of an ongoing commitment to a secure, efficient and trusted visa system. The Department of Home Affairs will tell applicants whether they need to provide biometrics and how to complete the process.
Depending on their circumstances, applicants may be asked to attend an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) in person or to provide biometrics through the Australian Immi App, the department’s smartphone app. Applicants who have previously given biometrics at an ABCC and hold a valid passport may be able to use the app at no cost.
Home Affairs lists 16 ABCC locations in India, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, with pop-up centers operating reduced hours in Panaji and Puducherry. VFS Global operates the centers under contract with the department, and they charge a service fee for biometrics collection. At an appointment, staff take a digital image of the applicant’s face and scan all 10 fingertips.
Under the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994, visa applicants may be required to provide “personal identifiers,” which include fingerprints and an image of the face. Home Affairs says it uses biometrics to identify applicants, protect them from identity fraud and secure Australia’s borders, and that it may check them with other Australian or international agencies to verify a person’s identity, criminal history and immigration history.
The department stores the biometrics it collects in a secure database that only authorized officers can access. When a person enters Australia or applies for another visa, it may take their biometrics again and compare them with the stored records to confirm identity. The High Commission said visa processing times are not expected to be affected, provided applicants complete any biometric requirements promptly.
Sources: Australian High Commission in India, Department of Home Affairs
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
