biometrics

Biometrics now required for Australian visas

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All applicants, regardless of nationality, who are in South Africa at the time of making a visa application to enter Australia, will be required to provide their biometrics along with their application, unless otherwise excluded or exempted from doing so under Australian Government policy effective immediately.

Australian visa applicants will need to make an appointment at any one of the four Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs) to provide their biometrics. These AVACs managed by the Australian Government’s Service Delivery Partner TLScontact, are located in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Appointments can be made by contacting an AVAC or by visiting their website https://au.tlscontact.com/

 

Applicants will still be able to lodge their visa application through any one of the AVACs located across South Africa, where they will also be able to provide biometrics at the same time. Alternatively, visa applicants who send their application by mail or lodge online will be sent a letter requiring them to attend an AVAC to provide their biometrics. Applicants will need to take this letter with them to an AVAC when providing biometrics so the AVAC is able to match their application with the biometrics collected.

 

Some applicants may be fully or partially exempt from providing biometrics under Australian Government policy. Applicants fully exempt from providing biometrics include diplomatic representatives and their dependants, and government officials acting as a representative of a foreign government. Applicants who may be partially exempt from biometric collection include minors less than five years old (photo only required) and mentally or physically incapable persons (photo only required).

 

Currently, Australia is collecting biometric data from visa applicants in 33 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas and will continue to expand globally in the future. The collecting of biometrics from visa applicants will improve visa integrity, reduce identity fraud and improve security and safety for travellers and the Australian community.

 

A new fee structure has also been implemented:

 

  • Primary Applicant Service Delivery Fee                   1017 ZAR
  • Secondary Applicant(s) Service Delivery Fee             814 ZAR
  • Biometric collection only Service Delivery Fee          811 ZAR