The Australian Government has introduced a new mobile application designed to simplify the visa application process for Pacific nations, as announced in a joint statement from Fiji’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
The “Australian Immi App” aims to enhance access, mobility, and migration opportunities for Pacific Island countries in a cost-effective manner. This application will significantly ease the process for Fijians applying for visas, minimizing the need to travel to collection centers and expediting processing times.
Fiji, along with Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and third-country nationals from New Zealand, will be among the first to test the “Australian Immi App.” Following an evaluation, the app’s usage is expected to expand in early 2025 to all countries where biometrics collection is currently conducted.
The announcement of Fiji’s inclusion came during Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s visit to Australia last year. The app is offered free of charge and will streamline the biometric collection process for visa applicants, ultimately saving them both time and money.
With the new app, applicants will no longer need to visit an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre in Suva or Lautoka for each new visa application. Instead, the app enables users to scan their passport’s biographic page, read their passport e-chip (when available), and capture a facial image.
Pio Tikoduadua, Fiji’s Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, praised the Australian Government’s initiative, noting that it represents a significant opportunity for Fijians wishing to visit or work in Australia. He emphasized that the launch of the ‘Australian Immi App’ aligns with Fiji’s objectives of improving connectivity and economic opportunities while strengthening the Vuvale Partnership between the two nations.
“We look forward to seeing how this technology will benefit our people and further promote the strong ties between Fiji and Australia,” Tikoduadua stated. The app promises to lower the costs associated with the visa process since it does not require any fee for usage.
Additionally, the app has the potential to shorten visa processing times, allowing applicants to submit their facial images immediately after submitting their applications, rather than waiting for an appointment at a collection center. After filing a visa application, eligible users will receive communication indicating whether they can use the app or must visit an ABCC for their information.
Ewen McDonald, the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji and Special Envoy for Pacific and Regional Affairs, expressed the importance of facilitating travel for economic development. “This app delivers on our shared goal of improving mobility across the region. We are pleased to be working with Fiji under our renewed and elevated Vuvale Partnership.”
To utilize the app, applicants must have previously provided their biometrics at an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre and possess a valid passport. Notably, all children under five years old can also submit their facial biometrics and passport details through the app, regardless of whether they have been to an ABCC before.