The Minister for Immigration & Citizenship has announced further locations for biometrics collection. Visa applicants lodging paper-based visa applications in the following designated locations will be required to provide fingerprints and a photograph as part of their visa application:
- Syria ( Damascus ) – beginning April 2011
- Malaysia ( Kuala Lumpur ) – beginning April 2011
- France ( Paris ) – beginning May 2011
- Kenya ( Nairobi ) – beginning May 2011
- Jordan ( Amman ) – beginning May 2011
- Lebanon ( Beirut ) – beginning May 2011
All people lodging paper-based visa applications in the above designated locations will be required to provide fingerprints and a photograph as part of their visa application.
Applicants who lodge an online visa application or are eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority, or who are otherwise exempted under policy, will not need to provide their biometrics at this stage.
The biometrics in offshore visa processing program is an Australian Government initiative that has introduced the collection of biometrics from visa applicants lodging applications outside of Australia.
The program has been implemented to increase the Australian government’s capacity to identify overseas applicants which in turn will strengthen Australia’s national security.