Australia Visitor Visa 600 Biometrics: App or Appointment After a Request?
Not every Visitor visa (subclass 600) applicant is asked to provide biometrics. Act only if the Department of Home Affairs sends you a personal-identifier request. The letter sets out what you must provide, the deadline and the available method. A relative receiving a request does not mean you must book an appointment too.
Check the letter before booking
Confirm the requested information, the due date and your Visa Lodgement Number (VLN). Each person in a family application may have a different VLN, so check each letter separately. If the details do not match your passport, follow the Department’s instructions before submitting anything.
Can you use the Australian Immi App?
The App is available to eligible applicants in locations listed by Home Affairs. The current list includes Hong Kong SAR; it did not list mainland China or Taiwan when checked on 21 October 2026. Location alone is not enough: you also need a valid passport and a request letter with a VLN starting with AUI. If your VLN does not start with AUI, the Department says you must attend an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC).
What the App process involves
Follow the official App instructions to enter or scan the VLN, scan the passport data page and chip if the passport has one, check the passport details, take the applicant’s facial image and submit the identity check. Your phone needs NFC, camera and location access, plus a stable connection. The App confirms when information has been submitted; Home Affairs says ImmiAccount is usually updated within 24 hours. This App process uses passport details and a facial image; it is different from in-person fingerprint collection.
When to attend an ABCC
Book an ABCC appointment if your letter directs you there, your VLN does not start with AUI, or the App cannot complete the check. Overseas centres are operated by VFS Global under contract with Home Affairs. Bring the request letter and the valid travel document linked to the application. In-person collection generally includes a facial image and scans of all ten fingertips. A service fee may apply, and some applicants may need to travel to another country; confirm the current centre and arrangements before booking.
If you cannot meet the deadline
Arrange the required step early. If a temporary injury affects your face or fingerprints, Home Affairs advises waiting until it heals or making a written request for more time through ImmiAccount with the reason. A request does not guarantee an extension. A parent or guardian must accompany a minor under the local law where biometrics are collected, or a person who cannot understand the purpose of collection.
After submission
Providing biometrics completes a requested step; it does not mean the visa has been granted. Keep the App confirmation or appointment receipt and check ImmiAccount for the application status and any other outstanding requests. Home Affairs assesses the visa application separately.
Information checked on 21 October 2026. App locations, centre arrangements and individual instructions can change. Follow the latest Home Affairs letter and official pages before acting.
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