Applying for an Australian visa from India now comes with an extra identity check. From October 26, 2026, Australia has expanded its biometric collection requirements to visa applicants in India, and some people lodging new applications will be asked to provide fingerprints and a facial image.
The change was announced by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi on Monday. It does not cancel any visa already granted, and it does not reopen applications lodged before October 26. It applies only to new applications lodged on or after that date, and only to applicants the Department of Home Affairs notifies.
What has changed from October 26
Australia has added India to a wider expansion of biometric collection covering nearly 60 countries. The High Commission described the move as part of its commitment to a secure, efficient and trusted visa system. Biometrics, in this case, means fingerprints and a facial image, the physical identifiers used to confirm that the person applying is the person named in the application.
The Department of Home Affairs will tell each applicant whether biometrics are required and will issue instructions by email, directly or through an authorised agent. Wait for that message. It carries the instructions for your own case.
The High Commission said the expansion is meant to protect legitimate applicants from identity misuse, reduce fraud and strengthen the integrity of the migration system. A biometric check gives officials a reliable way to verify identity at the application stage, rather than relying on documents alone.
Who needs to give biometrics
Not every applicant will necessarily be asked. The official wording is careful: applicants may be required to provide biometrics. The Department will decide case by case and notify the person concerned. No list of affected visa categories has been published, so do not assume you are exempt, and do not assume you are covered, until you receive your notification.
What is clear is the cut-off. The requirements apply to applications lodged on or after October 26, 2026. Applications submitted before that date remain unaffected, as do visas already granted. Some repeat applicants may use the digital route instead: people who have previously provided biometrics at a collection centre and hold a valid passport may be able to complete the process through the Australian Immi App at no additional cost, if eligible.
Two ways to complete the check
Depending on individual circumstances, applicants may be asked to visit a centre in person or to submit biometrics digitally through the Australian Immi App. Both routes lead to the same check. Which one applies to you will be set out in your notification.
- In person: Visit one of the 16 Australian Biometrics Collection Centres across India, managed by VFS Global. Book only after you receive the Biometrics Requirement Letter, and follow the appointment instructions in that letter.
- On the app: Eligible applicants can provide biometrics digitally through the Australian Immi App.
- Repeat applicants: If you have given biometrics at a centre before and hold a valid passport, you may be able to use the app at no extra cost. Check your notification before travelling to a centre.
- Before the cut-off: Applications lodged before October 26, 2026, and visas already granted, are not affected.
The 16 centres give applicants a physical option across the country, including VFS Global centres in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. For many first-time applicants, the in-person visit will still be the expected route.
Will it slow down visa processing?
According to the Department of Home Affairs, visa processing times are not expected to be affected, provided applicants complete the required biometric procedures promptly. In practice, any delay is most likely to come from waiting to book or missing the notification, not from the check itself.
Watch the email address used in the application, including the spam folder. If biometrics are required, completing them quickly keeps the application moving. The High Commission has also said biometric information will be collected, stored and managed in accordance with Australian legislation and applicable local laws, with privacy safeguards in place.
What Indian applicants should do now
If you are about to apply, lodge the application as usual through ImmiAccount and wait for the Department’s notification. Do not rush to a centre before you are told to, because the instructions, including whether you can use the app, come with that notification. If you applied before October 26, carry on as before unless you receive a specific instruction to the contrary.
FAQs
Does the new rule apply to my old application? No. It applies only to new applications lodged on or after October 26, 2026. Earlier applications and visas already granted are not affected.
Will every Indian applicant have to give fingerprints? Not necessarily. The Department will notify each person if they must. Wait for your notification.
Can I use the Australian Immi App instead of visiting a centre? Some eligible applicants can. Your notification will confirm eligibility.
Where are the biometric centres in India? There are 16 Australian Biometrics Collection Centres across India, managed by VFS Global. Your notification will give the booking instructions for your case.
Will biometrics delay my visa? Processing times are not expected to be affected if you complete the requirements promptly after receiving your notification.
Australia’s new biometric step is a change in how identity is checked, not in who can travel. For most applicants, it will mean one notification, one check, and then the application carries on as before.
