As of the 04th of April 2022, Filipinos will need to provide their biometrics at an Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) or an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) if Filipinos apply:
- for a visa that is part of the biometrics program
and
- from a country that is part of our biometrics program, the Philippines being one of them.
Filipinos may submit their visa application online where possible or by post, ONLY if allowed.
If the Department of Home Affairs sends a letter to advice the Filipino visa applicant that the department requires their biometrics to be processed and collect prior to their visa being granted, the Filipino visa applicant must arrange an appointment and present themselves to the nearest AVAC or ABCC so that these additional identification can be collected individually from them.
In the Philippines, there are two (2) Australian Biometric Collection Centres that provide this identification and collection service. One in Cebu and the other in Manila.
They organise, for a fee, process and collect the following:
- take a photo of your face with a digital camera,
and
- scan all 10 of your fingertips with a digital finger scanner.
Filipino applicants must have a parent or guardian with them if they are:
- aged under 16
and
- incapable of understanding biometrics collection.
Note: For Filipino applicants outside of Australia the Australian Biometric Collection Centres don’t collect fingerprints of children aged under 5 years of age. Only digital photographs are taken of children 5 years of age or less than…
If the Filipino applicant’s face or fingerprints are injured the Australian Biometric Collection Centres will wait until any temporary injury to your face or fingerprints has healed before the Australian Biometric Collection Centres collect and provide biometric information to the department.
If Filipino applicants are missing a finger, the Australian Biometric Collection Centres will collect fingerprints of their remaining fingers.
Note: Filipinos must contact their nearest Australian Biometric Collection Centre to find out if they can still give fingerprints if they have a mehndi or other temporary decoration of their hands or fingers.
If Filipino visa applicants wear glasses or a religious head covering, they must still have their face photographed.
Their face must be clearly visible from the bottom of your chin to above their eyebrows, including both cheeks and ears. The Filipino visa applicant may remove their head covering or glasses. If they do so then:
- their photo and fingerprints will be collected in private
and
- they can ask to have them collected by someone of the same gender.
The information collected through the biometrics process helps the department:
- protect Filipinos from identity fraud
- make travel to Australia safer
and
- secure Australia’s borders.
Filipino biometrics are safely stored and biometrics may be acquired again upon arrival in Australia and compare their currently stored biometrics from the Philippines, to confirm the Filipino visa applicant’s identity. All biometric information is stored and used in line with the requirements of the Migration Act and the Privacy Act and ONLY authorised departmental case officers can access the database.
Visa subclasses in the biometrics program that are likely to be requested are:
Permanent Family visas
- 100 – Partner
- 101 – Child
- 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
- 407 – Training
- 408 – Temporary Activity – Invited Participant, Australian Government endorsed event, exchange, sport, religious worker, domestic worker (executive), special program, entertainment activities, and research activity types
- 462 – Work and Holiday
- 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage
- 491 – Skilled Work
- 494 – Skilled work (Employer Sponsored)
- 600 – Visitor Visa
- 602 – Medical Treatment
- 771 – Transit
Temporary Family visas
- 300 – Prospective Marriage
- 309 – Partner (Provisional)
- 445 – Dependent Child
- 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary)
- 870 – Sponsored Parent
The Philippines is one of many countries biometrics program is used. In
For more information regarding visa applications to Australia from the Philippines please contact RESPALL (Migration) Australia and experience a remarkable and professional migration service so you may catch up with family, friends, and associates sooner, rather than later.
