Australia Biometrics Appointment in India: Step-by-Step Guide for Kochi and Kerala

Australia biometrics appointment: how it works

If you lodge an Australian visa application in India on or after 26 October 2026, the Department of Home Affairs may ask for your biometrics. This guide explains each step of an Australia biometrics appointment, from the request letter to checking your submission. For who needs biometrics, the full centre list and costs, see our overview of Australia's biometrics rules for India.

5 steps at a glance

1. Read your biometrics request letter in ImmiAccount.
2. Check whether you can use the Australian Immi App.
3. If not, book an appointment with VFS Global.
4. Prepare what to bring.
5. Attend the centre, then check ImmiAccount.

Step 1: Read the request letter

The Department sends the letter to your ImmiAccount after you lodge a valid application. Do not book before it arrives.

• Check your name and details match your passport exactly.
• If they do not match, update your ImmiAccount. Then phone the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196 to ask for a new letter. A new letter is not issued unless you call.
• Note your deadline. Temporary visa applicants generally have 14 days.
• In a family application, check that there is a request for each person.

Step 2: Can you use the Australian Immi App?

You can use the app only if the Department says you are eligible. India is on the app's list of eligible countries. Eligible applicants are generally valid passport holders who have given fingerprints and a facial photo to the Department before. Children under 5 may use it without a previous collection.

Your letter must show a Visa Lodgement Number (VLN) starting with AUI. If your VLN does not start with AUI, you must attend a centre.

You need a smartphone (iOS or Android) with a steady internet connection, camera access allowed, NFC turned on and location services on. In the app you:

1. Enter your VLN.
2. Scan your passport data page and chip.
3. Confirm your passport details.
4. Take the applicant photo.
5. Submit.

The app is free. VFS also offers optional Australian Immi App assistance for INR 750 at all 16 centres. If you have never given biometrics to Australia, expect to attend a centre unless you are under 5.

Step 3: Book with VFS Global

• Book only on the official site: visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/aus.
• In Kerala, choose Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram.
• Pay the INR 1,425 service fee per person when you book.
• Online, pay by debit or credit card. At the centre, VFS accepts INR by credit card, debit card or QR. Amex and Diners are not accepted.
• Home Affairs says you should be able to get an appointment within 5 business days.
• Choose any optional services at booking. They cannot be added at the centre. Premium Lounge (INR 4,000) is available at Kochi, not Thiruvananthapuram.
• Travel agents can book appointments for clients but cannot go inside the centre with you.
• Groups book through the VFS website.

Optional services do not speed up your visa or affect the decision.

Step 4: Prepare for the appointment

VFS asks you to bring:

• Your appointment letter (electronic or paper).
• Your original, valid passport.

Our advice: also carry a copy of your biometrics request letter.

• Face: it must be clearly visible from the bottom of your chin to above your eyebrows, including both cheeks and both ears.
• Glasses and head coverings: you may need to remove glasses or a religious head covering. You can ask for collection in private or by a staff member of the same gender.
• Mehndi or henna: contact VFS before you attend if you have mehndi, henna or other temporary decoration on your hands or fingers. This matters in Kerala's wedding season.
• Injuries: if a temporary injury affects your hands or face, wait until it heals. If that means missing the deadline, ask for more time in ImmiAccount.
• Phones: allowed on silent or vibrate. They must be switched on when you enter; devices that cannot be switched on cannot be taken in.
• Who can enter: only applicants with an appointment. A parent or guardian with a child, or a person supporting an applicant who cannot manage alone, may also enter.
• Children: under 16s must attend with a parent or guardian.
• Kochi access: VFS lists wheelchair ramps or lifts, an undercover waiting area, temperature control, gender-specific washrooms and drinking water. The centre is near public transport and the metro.

Step 5: At the centre and after

Staff take a facial photo with a digital camera. They scan all your fingerprints with a digital scanner. Children under 5 give a photo only.

After your appointment, log in to ImmiAccount and check that your biometrics show as submitted.

Running late or have a problem?

The best protection is to apply for your visa as soon as you know you need to travel.

Visa at your Doorstep from 2027

VFS Global plans a Visa at your Doorstep service in India, expected from January 2027, according to Home Affairs. It will let you give biometrics at your home, office or another location for an extra fee. Fees and booking details will be on the VFS website once it starts.

5 mistakes to avoid

1. Booking through unofficial websites. Use only visa.vfsglobal.com and Home Affairs sites.
2. Ignoring a name or passport mismatch on the letter.
3. Waiting until the last days before your deadline.
4. Expecting to add Premium Lounge or other services at the centre.
5. Not checking the request for every family member.

How Visa Xpert helps

Visa Xpert is an independent visa consultancy in Kochi, working since 2015. Our office is opposite HDFC House, North Mulloth House, Ravipuram Junction, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Ernakulam 682016, close to the Kochi biometrics centre. We help you lodge your application, read your request letter and plan your appointment. Travel agents can book appointments for clients but cannot go inside the centre with you.

See our Australia visa services in Kochi, or start with the Australia Tourist Visa or Australia Business Visa.

Call or WhatsApp us on +91 89211 53604 or message us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book an Australia biometrics appointment?

Wait for the biometrics request letter in ImmiAccount, then book on the official VFS Global website at visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/aus. You pay the INR 1,425 service fee per person when booking.

What is the AUI number?

It is the start of your Visa Lodgement Number (VLN) on the biometrics request letter. If your VLN starts with AUI, you may be able to use the Australian Immi App; if not, you must attend a centre.

What happens if I miss my biometrics deadline?

Upload a letter in ImmiAccount explaining why and asking for more time. If you have urgent travel and no suitable slot, VFS offers a walk-in service for an extra INR 4,000.

What should I bring to my Australia biometrics appointment?

VFS asks for your appointment letter, electronic or paper, and your original valid passport. We also suggest carrying a copy of your biometrics request letter.

Can my travel agent come inside the biometrics centre with me?

No. Travel agents can book appointments for clients but cannot go inside the centre. Only applicants with an appointment may enter, plus a parent or guardian with a child or a person supporting an applicant who needs help.

Can I give Australia biometrics with mehndi on my hands?

Contact VFS Global before attending if you have mehndi, henna or other temporary decoration on your hands or fingers. They will tell you whether you can still provide fingerprints.

Can I take my phone into the Australia biometrics centre?

Yes. VFS allows mobile phones on silent or vibrate. They must be switched on before you enter, and devices that cannot be switched on are not allowed in.