Depending on the applicant nationality, the Australian Government requires certain biometric information as part of the Australian student visa application process. This biometric information includes digital photographs and fingerprints. Applicants must provide a biometric photograph when they submit their visa application. The photograph must be a recent passport-style photograph of the applicant and be taken against a light background.
Applicants must also provide fingerprints when they submit their visa application. Fingerprints are captured using an electronic scanner and are used to confirm the identity of the applicant. The Australian Government uses biometric information to help prevent visa fraud and to improve the efficiency of the visa application process. Biometric information is also used to help keep the Australian community safe by preventing people with criminal histories from entering the country. Since the government does not issue visas on arrival, applicants must comply with all rules and submit their applications before crossing the border into Australia.
The prerequisites could include (among other things), depending on the kind of permit being requested and the applicant’s nationality:
- Passport
- Photographs
- Evidence of Financial Stability
- Valid Health Records
- Data Biometrics
- Planned Routes
- Criminal History Record
- Evidence of Travel Motivations
Visitors from outside may discover comprehensive information on biometrics on this website, including what they are, who must submit them, and which kinds of Australian visas call for them. Travellers can seek guidance from their local Australian embassy or consulate if they are still unsure.
What Are Biometrics?
Biometrics are specific physical information about a person. The traits that are most frequently utilised as biometric data to identify a person are:
- Fingerprints
- Facial Features
- Iris (part of the eye)
- Voice
How Do Governments Utilise Biometric Data?
Biometric data is incredibly helpful in verifying people’s identities since it is distinctive and uncopyable. Because of this, law enforcement agencies worldwide employ biometrics to combat and prevent crimes like identity theft.
Thanks to microchip technology, some nations have begun storing biometric information in their passports (these documents are called biometric passports or smart passports).
Future estimates predict that smart passports will overtake paper passports as the preferred form of travel documentation since this data is much more trustworthy than the printed physical descriptions found on conventional paper passports.
How Australian Government Agencies Employ Biometrics
Following the Migration Act and Privacy Act guidelines, the Australian authorities gather and preserve biometrics (often face photos and fingerprints) for foreign nationals in secure databases. The goal of doing this is to:
- Keep fraudsters from using the foreigner’s identity
- Keep Australian citizens and borders secure
- Make sure that travellers are safe
- Verify the visitor’s identification, criminal history, and protection status
Who Is Required to Share Their Biometric Data?
Visa applicants may be obliged to participate in the biometric screening program if they apply for certain Australian visa types or are citizens of particular nations.Not all foreign nationals are required to supply the same information; some may be required to provide both their fingerprints and a photo, while others may only need to submit one of the two.
The biometric program excludes the following categories:
- Passport holders from New Zealand and permanent residents of Australia
- Individuals from nations not taking part in the program
- Several travellers ask for an electronic visa (such as the eTA for Australia and the eVisitor visa)
- Some people apply for visas while they are in Australia
- Holders of APEC Business travel cards
Exemptions From Biometric Programs
The following people are not required to have their data collected:
- Heads of state, government, and their families are sovereigns
- Government ministers travelling on official business with their families
- Travelling on official business: Government and intergovernmental organisation representatives
- Diplomatic personnel
- Holders of special-purpose visas
Without regard to their age, minors will have their pictures taken. Children under the age of five are exempt from giving their fingerprints, nevertheless. A guardian must be present during data collection if the applicant is under 16.
Which Visa Types Demand Biometrics?
Permanent Family Visas
- 100 – Partner
- 101 – Child
- 102 – Adoption
- 114 – Aged Dependent Relative
- 115 – Remaining Relative
- 116 – Carer
- 117 – Orphan Relative
Visitors and Other Temporary Visas
- 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)
- 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) – Government Agreement, Foreign Government, Domestic Worker (Diplomatic/Consular), and Privileges and Immunities streams
- 408 – Temporary Activity – Invited Participant, Australian Government endorsed event, exchange, sport, religious worker, domestic worker (executive), and research activity types
- 417 – Working Holiday
- 457 – Business (Long Stay)
- 462 – Work and Holiday
- 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage
- 491 – Skilled Work
- 494 – Skilled work (Employer Sponsored)
- 600 – Visitor Visa
- 602 – Medical Treatment
- 771 – Transit Visa
Temporary Family Visas
- 300 – Prospective Marriage
- 309 – Partner (Provisional)
- 445 – Dependent Child
- 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary)
- 870 – Sponsored Parent
Student Visas
- 500 – Student
- 590 – Student Guardian
Other Visas
- 200 – Refugee
- 201 – In-country Special Humanitarian
- 202 – Global Special Humanitarian
- 203 – Emergency Rescue
- 204 – Woman at Risk
- 785 – Temporary Protection
- 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise
- 866 – Protection
There are limitations, as mentioned above. This implies that not every applicant for the visas mentioned above will be required to give the Australian government their biometric data.
Which Biometric System Is Employed In Australia?
Australia declared the launch of a new biometric system in June 2020. Its name is EBIS (Enterprise Biometric Identification Service), and Unisys Corporation and IDEMIA worked together to develop it. The new system reportedly has the power to handle enormous amounts of data and collect identity data using IDEMIA’s facial and fingerprint recognition technologies. EBIS is also capable of voice, iris, face, and finger identification.
In 2019, more than 9.5 million individuals travelled to Australia. According to a statement from Unisys, EBIS is “a robust solution developed for high-volume (more than 100,000 transactions daily) and large-scale galleries (more than 100 million records). In addition to agreements with the New South Wales Police Force for a data program for offenders’ biometric information, Unisys has arrangements with the Queensland government for face image processing for local driver’s licences. New cloud infrastructure has also been developed by the international information technology business for the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
Getting Health Examinations Earlier Than Applying for a Visa (My Health Declarations)
Before submitting your visa application, you can finish your health checks via the My Health Declarations (MHD) program.
Avoid using MHD if:
- the MHD service does not currently list the visa you wish to apply for,
- you’ve already applied for a visa
The results of medical exams usually persist for a year. You might need to retake your health exams if you had them done before applying for a visa and there was a delay in completing your application. For this reason, before determining whether to utilise MHD, we advise that you consult the Visa processing timeframes page. Any medical exams you receive must be paid for. Inform the panel clinic when you arrive at your appointment if your circumstances change after you submit your MHD form but before you have finished your health checks.
Scheduling Your Physicals
When utilising My Health Declarations, remember to include your family. Family members may be listed on your My Health Declarations form. However, family members who are not moving with you should not be included. Your visa processing officer will notify you of any non-migrating family members who need medical exams after you submit your visa application.
Health Examinations After Submitting a Visa Application
You must wait until after filing for the visa to have your health tests if the visa subclass you want to apply for is not included as an option in the “My Health Declarations” form. If medical exams are necessary, you will be informed.
Your visa processing officer will inform you of any additional health examination requirements if you presently have or previously held one of the provisional visas indicated in the left-hand column of this table and apply for the permanent visa listed in the right-hand column.
Conclusion
The Australian Government requires certain biometric information from visa applicants as part of the study Australia visa application process. This biometric information includes fingerprints and a facial photograph. The biometric information is used to help verify the identity of visa applicants and to prevent identity fraud.StudyBird Australia has a combined total of almost 20 years of experience in Australian education. As a result, we are aware of the requirements and concerns that students may have before deciding to enrol in an Australian university or school. Discover how to get an Australia student visa today!
