Australia visa biometrics are now part of the process for many applicants in India. From 26 October 2026, Australia can ask Indian applicants to give fingerprints and a facial image with a new visa application. So if you are planning a holiday, a family visit or a study move, this step may now sit between lodging your form and getting a decision.

The change comes from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs. It covers nearly 60 countries, and India is one of them. The Australian High Commission in New Delhi has set out the details in a notice for applicants.

Who needs Australia visa biometrics

Not every applicant has to give them. Instead, Home Affairs tells each person whether biometrics are needed, and then explains how to complete them. In practice, you should watch your email and your online application closely after you apply.

The rule also applies only to applications lodged on or after 26 October. So if you applied earlier, your file is not affected. Here, biometrics means two things: your fingerprints and a photo of your face.

Two ways to complete the step

Depending on your situation, Home Affairs will point you to one of two routes. The first is an in person visit to an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre, known as an ABCC. The second is a digital identity check through the Australian Immi App on your phone.

The app route has conditions, however. According to the Home Affairs page on the Immi App, you need a biometrics request letter with a Visa Lodgement Number that starts with “AUI”. You also need a valid passport. If your number does not start with AUI, you must visit a centre instead.

The app also asks for a few phone settings. For example, NFC must be on, because the app reads the chip in your passport. Then it takes a photo of your face against a plain, light wall. If the photo keeps failing, your letter explains how to visit a centre.

Meanwhile, there is a saving for repeat visitors. The High Commission says people who gave biometrics at an ABCC before, and who hold a valid passport, may be able to use the app at no cost.

Will this slow down your visa?

Australia says it does not expect processing times to change. Still, that holds only if applicants finish the biometrics step promptly. So a late centre visit could push back your decision.

Timing matters most for people with fixed dates. For example, a student with a course start date or a family booking a year end trip should apply early. Then they can act on the request letter as soon as it arrives.

A short checklist before you apply

  • Apply well ahead of your travel date, because the extra step can add days.
  • Keep your passport valid, since both routes depend on it.
  • Read the request letter closely. Your Visa Lodgement Number decides whether the app is an option.
  • If you need a centre visit, book it soon after the letter arrives.
  • If you gave biometrics to Australia before, check whether the free app route applies to you.

Your data, and where to get help

In short, this adds one step rather than a new type of visa. The High Commission says Australia handles biometric data under its own laws and applicable local laws, with privacy safeguards in place. Business Today, which reported the change on 26 October, also notes that earlier applications stay outside the new rule.

For questions, Home Affairs runs a visa and citizenship helpline on +61 2 6196 0196 from Monday to Friday. The High Commission in New Delhi also lists its own number, +91 11 4139 9900. Australia is not alone in changing its process this month, either. Elsepost recently explained how China visa applications in India are moving to its embassy and consulates.

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