Key takeaways
- 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 mobile application from the Australian Department of Home Affairs that allows eligible visa applicants to 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:
1. You must be 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. You must have 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. You must have received an invitation
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?
This is one of the most common points of confusion. Australia has two different government apps with similar names:
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.
Step-by-step guide to using the Australian Immi App
Before you 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
Step 1: Download the app
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."
Step 2: Set up the app
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
Step 3: Scan your passport
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.
Step 4: Take a live facial photo
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.
Step 5: Review and submit
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 submission?
Once your biometric information is successfully submitted:
- 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
Benefits of using the Australian Immi 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.
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.
Submit 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.
24/7 availability
The app works any time. No need to take time off work or arrange travel during business hours.
Common issues and troubleshooting
"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)
"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
"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
"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
The bigger picture: 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.
