Australia Visa Biometrics Now Mandatory in India: What Every Applicant Must Know from 26 October 2026
Fingerprints and a facial photograph are now part of the Australian visa process for most applicants in India. Here is who has to give them, what it costs, how long you get, and how to clear this step without losing a single day of your travel plans.
For years, applying for an Australian visa from India was a purely online affair. You filled in the ImmiAccount form, uploaded your documents, paid the charge and waited for an email. Nobody asked you to go anywhere. That changed on Monday, 26 October 2026, when India joined Australia's biometrics collection program. Most people lodging a new Australian visa application from India will now be asked for a facial photograph and, in most cases, their fingerprints before the Department makes a decision.
The change is not dramatic on paper. In practice, it adds a real step to your timeline, a modest fee per person, and a deadline you cannot afford to miss. Families travelling together, parents flying out to see children in Sydney or Melbourne, and students working towards a fixed course start date will feel it most. We have gone through the official guidance from the Australian High Commission in New Delhi and the Department of Home Affairs, and put everything you need into one place, written for travellers in Mumbai, Thane and across India.
A quick word on "mandatory". You do not book biometrics on your own the moment you apply. Home Affairs reviews your application and sends a formal request if biometrics are needed. Once that request arrives, though, it is not optional. You must complete it within the time given, or your application can be refused.
What exactly changed on 26 October 2026
On 26 October, the Australian High Commission announced that people lodging a new Australian visa application in India may be required to provide biometrics, which means a facial image and fingerprints. The rule covers only applications lodged on or after that date. Visas that have already been granted are not touched, and neither are applications lodged before 26 October, even if they are still waiting for a decision.
Australia already collects biometrics from visa applicants in nearly 60 countries, including India's neighbours Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Bringing India into the program lines it up with what frequent travellers already know from UK, US, Canada and Schengen applications. If you have given fingerprints at a VFS centre for a UK or Canada visa, this will feel very familiar.
Why Australia is doing this
Biometrics let the Department confirm that the person who applied is the same person who later lands at Sydney or Perth airport. That shuts the door on identity fraud and protects genuine applicants whose documents could otherwise be misused by someone else. The High Commission has also framed it as support for the steady growth in travel between the two countries. On privacy, Home Affairs says biometric information is managed under Australian legislation and applicable local laws, and kept in a secure departmental database that only authorised officers can access.
Who needs to give biometrics, and who does not
The short answer: if you lodge a new application from India on or after 26 October 2026, plan on being asked. The Department decides case by case and tells you in writing.
Expect a request if you are
- Lodging a new Australian visa application in India on or after 26 October 2026
- A tourist or a parent applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600)
- Applying in another stream, such as student, work or family, from India
- Part of a family group: every member, children included, is assessed on their own
You are not affected if
- Your visa was already granted before 26 October 2026
- You lodged your application before 26 October 2026, even if it is still in processing
- Home Affairs has not sent you a biometrics request letter
- Your letter allows the Australian Immi App, in which case you may not need a centre visit at all
What is collected, by age
| Applicant | Facial photograph | Fingerprints |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 | Yes | No |
| Applicants aged 5 and older | Yes | Yes, for most applicants |
Children and minors attend with a parent or legal guardian. Older applicants, or anyone with a disability or health condition, can be accompanied for assistance. The photo is taken with a digital camera and fingerprints are captured on a digital scanner. No ink, no mess, and in our experience with similar programs, the actual capture takes only a few minutes.
The biometrics process, step by step
Here is how the process runs from the day you hit "submit" to the day your application moves into assessment.
Lodge your application in ImmiAccount
Nothing changes here. You still apply online, upload your documents and pay the Visa Application Charge to Home Affairs.
Wait for the biometrics request letter
Home Affairs emails the letter to you or your authorised agent, and it also appears in ImmiAccount. The High Commission is clear on this: do not book an appointment or try the app until the letter arrives.
Read which route the letter gives you
Most first-time applicants will be directed to an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC). Some eligible applicants may be told they can use the Australian Immi App instead.
Book on the official VFS Global website and pay Rs 1,425
The collection fee is charged per person at the time of booking. Book the earliest slot that suits you; waiting until the deadline is close only adds risk.
Attend with your original passport and the letter
Carry the passport used in your application, your appointment confirmation and the request letter. Staff verify your identity, take the photo and scan your fingerprints.
Your application continues
Home Affairs says processing times are not expected to be adversely affected, as long as you complete the biometrics step promptly after receiving the request.
Visiting a centre or using the Immi App: which one applies to you?
Collection centre (ABCC)
- Who: most applicants, especially anyone giving Australian biometrics for the first time
- Cost: Rs 1,425 per person, paid to VFS Global
- Where: one of 16 centres across India
- Carry: original passport, request letter, appointment confirmation
Australian Immi App
- Who: only applicants Home Affairs says are eligible, typically people who have given biometrics to the Department before and hold a valid passport
- Cost: no charge to use the app
- Where: your own smartphone
- Remember: your letter decides the route, not your preference
What it costs: the full picture
The biometrics fee sits on top of your visa charge. It does not replace it, and it is paid to a different organisation at a different stage.
| Item | Amount | Paid to | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Application Charge | Depends on visa subclass | Department of Home Affairs | When you lodge in ImmiAccount |
| Biometric collection fee | Rs 1,425 per person | VFS Global | When you book the appointment |
| Australian Immi App | No charge | Not applicable | Only if your letter allows it |
| Optional VFS add-ons | Varies | VFS Global | Chosen at booking, entirely optional |
A real-world example. A Thane family of four, two parents and two children aged 8 and 12, plans a December holiday to the Gold Coast. If all four are asked to attend a centre, the biometrics fees come to:
4 x Rs 1,425 = Rs 5,700
That is in addition to the four Visa Application Charges. Optional VFS services do not speed up your visa or change the outcome, so there is no need to buy them unless convenience genuinely matters to you.
The 14-day clock, and how to plan around it
Temporary visa applicants generally get 14 days from the request to provide their biometrics. Your letter states the exact deadline that applies to you, so treat that date as fixed. If biometrics are not provided in time, the application can be refused, and the visa charge is not something you get back.
- Add buffer to your lead time. Whatever lead time you planned for an Australian visa before, add at least a week or two now. The request letter, the appointment and the centre visit all take time.
- Keep your passport at home. You need the original at the appointment. Do not lodge your Australia application while your passport is sitting with another embassy for a different visa.
- Clear your calendar. Keep the two weeks after lodging free of long trips, so you can attend the centre without juggling plans.
- Watch the season. December and January are peak months for Indian families heading to Australia for the summer. Metro centres could get busy, so lodge early.
The 16 collection centres across India
VFS Global runs all 16 Australian Biometrics Collection Centres in India. Travellers from Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and the wider MMR will use the Mumbai centre, with Pune as the other option within Maharashtra.
Panaji and Puducherry operate with reduced hours, so check their working days before you book. For every centre, confirm the exact address and timings on the official VFS Global Australia page for India at the time of booking.
Before and after: how your application changes
| Stage | Before 26 Oct 2026 | From 26 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| How you apply | Online in ImmiAccount | Online in ImmiAccount (no change) |
| Identity check | Documents and passport details | Plus facial photo and fingerprints |
| Centre visit | Not required | Required for most, unless the Immi App is allowed |
| Extra cost | None | Rs 1,425 per person to VFS Global |
| Extra deadline | None | Generally 14 days for temporary visas |
What this means for you
Parents visiting children
Each parent needs their own appointment. Book both on the same day so you make one trip to the centre, and bring a family member along if either of you needs help.
Students
Lodge as soon as your CoE and documents are ready. Your course start date does not move, so the biometrics window has to fit inside your timeline, not after it.
Families on holiday
Check the request for each family member separately. Children attend with a parent or guardian, so a single family booking slot saves a lot of running around.
Business travellers
Short-notice trips carry the most risk now. Keep your passport available and apply the moment the meeting is confirmed.
Repeat visitors
If you have given biometrics to the Department before, your letter may allow the Immi App. Read it carefully before you pay for a centre slot.
Pending applicants
Lodged before 26 October? Your application continues under the old process. You do not need to do anything new.
Seven mistakes we expect to see, and how to avoid them
- Booking before the letter arrives. The High Commission specifically asks applicants to wait. An early booking can waste time and money.
- Names that do not match the passport. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport and your ImmiAccount application.
- Leaving the original passport behind. A photocopy or a phone photo will not do. Carry the original.
- Using unofficial booking websites or touts. Book only on the official VFS Global site. If anyone promises a guaranteed visa or a "special slot", walk away. We have written about this in our guide to the "100% guaranteed visa" trap.
- Assuming one booking covers the family. Each person who is asked must have their own appointment and pay their own fee.
- Waiting until day 13. If something goes wrong on the day, such as illness or a document issue, you have no room left. Book within the first few days.
- Ignoring the route in the letter. If the letter says centre, the app will not work for you, and the reverse also applies.
How Beyond Travels can help
Beyond Travels has been helping Indian travellers with Australian visas since 2013. We are IATA and TICO certified, with offices on Ghodbunder Road in Thane and in Scarborough, Toronto. With biometrics now part of the process, here is what we take off your plate:
- A full document review before you lodge, so the application goes in right the first time
- Lodging the application and keeping an eye on ImmiAccount for the request letter
- Reading the letter with you and booking the correct VFS slot for every family member
- Planning your travel dates, flights, hotels and travel insurance around the visa timeline
We will be straight with you on one point: no agency decides visas. Only the Department of Home Affairs does. What we do is make sure your application is complete, honest and on time. For the full visitor visa process, see our Australia Tourist Visa (Subclass 600) guide, or read how we helped the Sinha family get four visas with no travel history.
Frequently asked questions
Is biometrics now mandatory for Australian visa applicants in India?
Yes, for most new applications. From 26 October 2026, people who lodge a new Australian visa application in India may be asked by the Department of Home Affairs to give a facial photograph and fingerprints. Once you receive the request, you must complete it within the stated time.
I applied before 26 October 2026. Do I need to give biometrics?
No. Applications lodged before 26 October 2026 are not affected, even if they are still being processed. Visas already granted are not affected either.
How much is the Australia visa biometrics fee in India?
The collection fee is Rs 1,425 per person, paid to VFS Global when you book your appointment. It is separate from, and in addition to, the Visa Application Charge you pay to Home Affairs.
How long do I have to give my biometrics?
Temporary visa applicants generally have 14 days from the date of the request. Your request letter states the exact deadline that applies to you.
Can I book my biometrics appointment right after I apply?
No. Wait until you receive the official biometrics request letter by email or in ImmiAccount. The letter tells you whether to visit a collection centre or use the Australian Immi App.
Do children need to give fingerprints?
Children under 5 give a facial photograph only. Most applicants aged 5 and older give both a photograph and fingerprints. Children attend with a parent or legal guardian.
Can I use the Australian Immi App instead of visiting a centre?
Only if your request letter says you are eligible. This is typically for people who have given biometrics to the Department before and hold a valid passport. There is no charge to use the app.
Will biometrics slow down my Australian visa?
Home Affairs says processing times are not expected to be adversely affected if you provide biometrics promptly after the request. Delays are more likely if you leave it close to the deadline.
Where can I give biometrics if I live in Mumbai or Thane?
Applicants from Mumbai, Thane and the wider MMR can use the VFS Global Australian Biometrics Collection Centre in Mumbai. Pune is the other centre in Maharashtra. Confirm the address and hours on the official VFS Global website when you book.
Planning Australia this season? Let us handle the paperwork, the letter and the appointment.
Talk to our Australia visa desk before you lodge. We will review your file, plan your biometrics and line up your travel around it.
India Office | Thane (Mumbai)
Phone: +91 93728 95892
Phone: +91 99875 62218
Ghodbunder Road, Thane, Maharashtra
Email: [email protected] | Instagram: @beyondtravels.co.in
Book a Visa ConsultationAustralia Visa GuideInformation in this article is based on the Australian High Commission statement of 26 October 2026 and Department of Home Affairs guidance, checked on 27 October 2026. For the latest official rules, see the Department of Home Affairs biometrics page. Visa rules, fees and centre details can change, and we confirm the current position before every application. Beyond Travels is an independent, IATA and TICO certified travel and visa consultancy. We are not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian High Commission or VFS Global, and visa decisions are made only by the Department of Home Affairs.