The Australian Immi App is a free Department of Home Affairs mobile app that lets eligible visa applicants in 34 countries submit facial biometrics and passport details from their phone instead of attending a biometric collection centre. You must have previously provided fingerprints to Australia and received an invitation through ImmiAccount to use it.
- The Australian Immi App lets eligible visa applicants submit facial biometrics and passport details via smartphone, eliminating the need to visit a biometric collection centre
- Available in 34 countries including Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and many others (as of November 2025)
- Eligibility requirement: You must have previously provided fingerprints and a facial image to the Department of Home Affairs
- Cost: Free to download and use, saving applicants the time and expense of visiting a collection centre
- Not the same as the ETA app: The Australian ETA app is for applying for an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), a different product entirely
If you have been asked to provide biometrics for your Australian visa application, you may have assumed that means booking an appointment, travelling to a collection centre, and spending hours in a waiting room. For applicants in 34 countries, that is no longer the case.
The Australian Immi App allows eligible visa applicants to submit their facial biometrics and passport details directly from their smartphone. It is free to use, available 24/7, and removes one of the most inconvenient steps in the traditional visa process.
This guide covers what the app does, who can use it, how to complete your submission, and how it differs from the Australian ETA app (which is a common point of confusion).
What is the Australian Immi App?
The Australian Immi App is an official Department of Home Affairs mobile app that lets eligible visa applicants submit identity information digitally instead of attending an Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC).
Specifically, it captures:
- Your passport details (biographic page and electronic chip data)
- A live facial image taken with your phone's camera
This information is securely transmitted to the Department and linked to your visa application file.
Key fact: The Australian Immi App is now available in 34 countries.
The Immi App does not replace the visa application itself. You still apply through ImmiAccount as normal. The app only handles the biometric collection step for applicants who have already provided fingerprints in a previous application.
Who is eligible to use the Australian Immi App?
Eligibility depends on three factors: you must be in one of 34 eligible countries, you must have previously provided fingerprints to Australia, and you must receive an Immi App invitation in your ImmiAccount with a visa lodgement number beginning with "AUI".
1. Are you in an eligible country?
As of 24 November 2025, the Australian Immi App is available to applicants in 34 countries and regions:
Tern Tip
If your country is not listed, you will still need to attend an Australian Biometric Collection Centre in person.
2. Have you previously provided biometrics?
This is the crucial eligibility requirement that many applicants miss. The Immi App is only available to applicants who have already provided both fingerprints and a facial image to the Department in a previous visa application.
If this is your first time providing biometrics to Australia, you must attend an ABCC in person. The app cannot capture fingerprints, only update your facial image for subsequent applications.
3. Have you received an invitation through ImmiAccount?
You cannot simply download the app and use it. You must receive a "Requirement to provide personal identifiers (biometrics)" notification through your ImmiAccount after lodging your visa application. This notification will confirm whether you are eligible to use the app or need to attend a collection centre.
Tern Tip
Check the visa lodgement number (VLN) on your section 257A letter. If it starts with "AUI", you're eligible to use the Australian Immi App for your biometrics. If your VLN starts with anything else, you'll need to attend an Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC) in person instead.
How does the Australian Immi App differ from the Australian ETA App?
The Immi App submits biometrics for traditional visa applications already lodged through ImmiAccount, while the ETA App is itself the visa application for the Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority. They are two different apps from the same Department, and the names cause endless confusion.
If you hold a passport from the USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Brunei, or Taiwan, you likely need the Australian ETA App to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority, not the Immi App.
If you hold a passport from the Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, or other countries requiring a Subclass 600 visitor visa, and you have been asked to provide biometrics, you may be able to use the Immi App instead of visiting a collection centre.
How do I use the Australian Immi App step by step?
You use the app by downloading it, linking it to your ImmiAccount notification, scanning your passport with NFC, taking a live selfie, and submitting. The whole process takes about 10 to 15 minutes from a quiet, well-lit room.
What do I need before I start?
Make sure you have:
- A smartphone with iOS or Android and NFC capability
- Your valid passport (physical document)
- Your ImmiAccount notification confirming you can use the app
- Location services enabled on your phone
- Good lighting for the facial photo
How do I download the app? (Step 1)
The Australian Immi App is free to download:
- iPhone: Search "Australian Immi App" in the App Store
- Android: Search "Australian Immi App" in Google Play
Only download from official stores. The publisher should be "Australian Government Department of Home Affairs."
How do I set up the app? (Step 2)
Open the app and follow the initial prompts:
- Accept the terms and conditions
- Enable location services when prompted
- Allow camera access
- Connect to the notification you received in ImmiAccount
How do I scan my passport? (Step 3)
The app will guide you through scanning your passport:
- Place your passport's biographic page (the photo page) face-up on a flat surface
- Use your phone's camera to capture the page
- If your passport has an electronic chip (look for the chip symbol), hold your phone against the passport to read the chip via NFC
- Verify that the captured information matches your passport
Tern Tip
If the chip scan fails, try removing your phone case and holding the phone steady against different areas of the passport cover. Chip placement varies by passport type.
How do I take the live facial photo? (Step 4)
The app will then prompt you to take a selfie:
- Find a well-lit area with a plain background
- Hold your phone at eye level
- Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed
- Remove glasses, hats, or anything covering your face
- The app will automatically capture when positioning is correct
The photo must match passport standards: clear, front-facing, with your full face visible.
How do I review and submit? (Step 5)
Before final submission:
- Check that your passport details are correct
- Review the facial image quality
- Confirm all information matches your visa application
Once you submit, the app will display a confirmation screen. Your ImmiAccount will be updated within 24 hours.
What happens after I submit my biometrics?
ImmiAccount usually updates within 24 hours to confirm receipt, and you do not need to attend a collection centre. Your visa application then continues normal processing, and the Department will only contact you if there is an issue with the submission.
- ImmiAccount update: Your account will show that biometrics have been received (usually within 24 hours)
- No ABCC visit required: You do not need to attend a collection centre
- Processing continues: The Department will continue assessing your visa application
- Contact if needed: If there are any issues with your submission, the Department will contact you through ImmiAccount
What are the benefits of using the Australian Immi App?
The app saves the time and travel cost of an ABCC visit, lets you submit biometrics within minutes of receiving your ImmiAccount invitation, and is free where the ETA app charges AUD $20. Together those four advantages remove one of the most inconvenient steps in the traditional visa process.
How does the app save time?
Traditional biometric collection requires booking an appointment, travelling to a centre, waiting, and completing the process. With the app, you can submit from home in under 10 minutes.
How does the app save money?
Depending on your location, visiting an ABCC might require significant travel. The app eliminates transport costs entirely. The app itself is free, unlike the ETA app which charges AUD $20.
Can I submit biometrics immediately?
Instead of waiting for the next available appointment (which can be weeks away in busy periods), you can submit your biometrics as soon as you receive your ImmiAccount notification.
Is the app available 24/7?
The app works any time. No need to take time off work or arrange travel during business hours.
What are common Immi App issues and how do I fix them?
The most common issues are missing invitations in ImmiAccount, NFC chip scan failures, rejected facial photos, and eligibility errors despite past biometrics. Most of these have simple workarounds before you fall back to attending an ABCC.
What if I cannot find the invitation in my ImmiAccount?
Check your messages section in ImmiAccount. If no biometric request appears, you either:
- Have not yet reached the biometric stage of processing
- Are not required to provide biometrics for this visa
- Must attend an ABCC (not eligible for the app)
What if the passport chip will not scan?
- Remove your phone case
- Try different positions on the passport (front cover, back cover, data page)
- Ensure NFC is enabled in your phone settings
- Some older passports do not have chips. You can still proceed without the chip scan
What if my facial photo keeps being rejected?
- Improve lighting (natural daylight works best)
- Use a plain background
- Remove glasses and head coverings
- Ensure your entire face is visible and centered
- Keep your expression neutral
What if I previously provided biometrics but the app says I am not eligible?
The system may not have your previous biometrics on record, or there may be a data matching issue. In this case, you will need to attend an ABCC. Contact the Department through ImmiAccount if you believe this is an error.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Immi App fit Australia's digital visa transformation?
The Australian Immi App is part of a broader shift toward digital immigration processing. The Department of Home Affairs has been progressively introducing technology to reduce in-person requirements, speed up processing, and improve the applicant experience.
For visitors from countries requiring biometrics, this is genuinely good news. What once required international travel to a collection centre can now be done from your living room. That is a meaningful reduction in both cost and stress.
However, the app does not change the underlying visa assessment. You still need to meet all eligibility requirements, provide supporting documents, and satisfy the genuine temporary entrant requirement. The app simply removes one friction point from the process.
If you are planning to visit Australia:
- Check whether you need an ETA, eVisitor, or Subclass 600 visa based on your passport
- If you need a Subclass 600 and are asked for biometrics, the Immi App may save you time
- Use our Visa Time Checker to estimate how long your application will take
Ready to apply? Start your visitor visa application with Tern. Our platform guides you through document preparation, flags potential issues before submission, and provides immigration lawyer oversight on every application.
