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Australia Expands Visa Biometrics Requirements in India
Australia has expanded biometric collection for new visa applications in India from 26 October 2026. The Australian High Commission says applicants may be asked to provide fingerprints and a facial image. The individual request from the Department of Home Affairs determines what a person must do.
Who is affected by the change?
The announcement concerns new applications lodged from the commencement date. Earlier applications are not affected by this expansion. Applicants should follow their own request rather than assume that every applicant must attend a collection centre.
Collection centre or Australian Immi App?
Collection may involve an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC), while eligible applicants can use the Australian Immi App. The High Commission identifies a no-cost app option for eligible people who previously provided biometrics at an ABCC and hold a valid passport.
Home Affairs specifies an important app check: the biometric request letter must contain a Visa Lodgement Number (VLN) beginning AUI. A letter with a different VLN prefix requires an ABCC visit. Being in India alone does not establish app eligibility.
The app requires a compatible smartphone and a valid passport. Each family member must use their own VLN; a parent's reference should not be reused for another applicant.
What this means for Indian applicants
Keep the request letter, passport and application details together before choosing a collection method. This can help avoid booking a centre visit when an app option is available, or attempting the app when the letter requires attendance. These are identity checks; completing them does not itself establish visa eligibility or approval.
The High Commission does not expect the expansion to affect processing where applicants respond promptly. This is not an individual processing-time guarantee.
Related reading: Australia Visitor visa guidance for Indian applicants.
Official sources
Discuss your application with Peerless
For a review of your circumstances and the documents relevant to this update, contact PEERLESS IMMIGRATION SERVICES. No invitation, nomination or visa outcome is guaranteed.
Call +91-8595010514 or email info@peerlessimmigration.com.
Frequently asked questions
Does every applicant in India need an ABCC appointment?
No. The individual request and app eligibility determine the required method.
What VLN prefix is needed for the app?
Home Affairs specifies AUI. Other prefixes require attendance at an ABCC.
Does the expansion affect applications lodged earlier?
The High Commission says earlier applications are not affected by this change.
Is the app option free?
The announcement identifies a no-cost option for eligible previous ABCC users with a valid passport. This does not mean every collection service is free.
