Do I Need Biometrics for a Partner Visa?

Who needs to give biometrics for a partner visa?

The applicants who need to give biometrics for a partner visa are those the Department asks in writing. Requests are common for applicants outside Australia lodging a Subclass 309/100 application, depending on their country, and can also be made to applicants in Australia. Dependent children included in the application may also be asked. Our article on the offshore partner visa explains where biometrics fit in the offshore process.

When will the Department ask for biometrics?

The Department usually asks for biometrics soon after a partner visa application is lodged, through a letter sent to ImmiAccount or to the authorised recipient. The letter names the place to attend and the time allowed, and that time is short and strictly applied. Applicants should not wait for a reminder. Our guide to the partner visa online application explains where Department correspondence appears.

Where do partner visa applicants give biometrics?

Partner visa applicants outside Australia usually give biometrics at an Australian Visa Application Centre or another collection point named in the request letter. The applicant takes the request letter and their passport to the appointment. Applicants who live far from a collection point should plan travel early, because the deadline does not change for distance. Some collection centres require an appointment to be booked in advance, and appointments can fill quickly. The applicant should check that the name and passport details used for the appointment match the passport on the partner visa application exactly. Where the applicant has a new passport since lodgement, the Department should be told about the new passport before the appointment. Our page on the Subclass 309 visa explains the other steps that run alongside biometrics.

What happens if I miss the biometrics deadline?

Missing the biometrics deadline can lead to the Department deciding the partner visa without the biometrics, which can mean refusal. An applicant who cannot attend in time for a genuine reason, such as illness or closure of the collection centre, should tell the Department before the deadline passes and keep evidence of the reason. Our article on partner visa processing delays explains how missed steps slow an application.

Do biometrics show the partner visa is nearly decided?

A biometrics request does not show that a partner visa is nearly decided. It is an identity step that usually happens early in processing, and the Department still assesses the relationship, health and character requirements afterwards. Couples should keep adding relationship evidence while they wait. Our guide on the partner visa checklist explains what else the Department will look at.

How does My Migration Lawyers manage biometrics requests for clients?

My Migration Lawyers receives Department correspondence as the authorised recipient, so the firm sees a biometrics request when it arrives and tells the sponsor and the applicant what to do and by when. Where attendance is difficult, the firm advises on contacting the Department before the deadline and keeps a record of compliance on the file. Sponsors in Australia can speak with our partner visa lawyers about managing every step of an offshore application.