Mandatory biometrics collection for Australia visa applicants

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 12:24

Business IT - Security

The Federal Government has announced it will begin collecting biometric identification from people applying for visas.

Chris Bowen, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, announced today that a digital photograph and fingerprint scans will be collected from everyone applying for a protection visa within Australia.

"This initiative will assist in establishing the identity of protection visa applicants who arrive in Australia but are often unable to provide sufficient documentation to prove their identity, and strengthen our ability to detect inconsistent immigration claims," he said.

Biometric acquisition stations are available at Department of Immigration and Citizenship offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. According to the Minister, arrangements are in place for applicants in remote areas.

The government is also beginning a similar program covering all paper-based visa applications lodged outside Australia. It will begin this month in  Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

"Additional countries in Europe and Asia will be included in the program over the coming months," said Mr Bowen. An agreement with the United Kingdom will allow people seeking Australian visas to meet the new requirements and lodge their applications through certain UK Border Agency visa application centres.

Some other countries already routinely collect fingerprints either as part of the visa application process or at the point of entry.