Immigration Dob-in Service

What types of activities should you report?

The department encourages the community to provide information about:

• a person you think:
  • has overstayed their visa (such as no longer having a valid visa)
  • is working illegally
    Example: A tourist visa holder who is working
  • has breached their visa conditions
    Example: A student visa holder who is working more hours than their visa permits
  • deliberately lied on their visa application
  • provided false documents to the department
  • arrived in Australia without a valid visa
  • is
    • on a student visa but is not studying
    • in a fake marriage or relationship to obtain a visa
    • a non-Australian citizen who has been convicted of a serious crime
    • providing immigration advice but is not a registered migration agent
    • a registered migration agent who has committed fraud against the department
    • an education agent who has committed fraud against the department
    • helping people to remain or work in Australia unlawfully
    • fraudulently obtaining any benefit or allowance from the department
• a business, employer or organisation you think is:
  • exploiting its employees
  • breaching its sponsorship obligations
  • allowing people to work illegally
  • an education provider that has committed fraud against the department
• a person or organisation you think is:
  • involved in sexual servitude or deceptive recruiting
  • involved in identity fraud
• a security risk to Australia
  Example: Involved in terrorist activities or associated with a terrorist organisation
• employing or organising employment for people who have no right to live or work in Australia
• facilitating immigration fraud or gaining a financial benefit from it
• involved in organised fraud, people smuggling or people trafficking
• a person committing any other type of fraud against the department such as falsely claiming money
• an employee of or another person working for the department who is committing fraud of any type.

What information should you provide to us?

The department collects and records all information relating to immigration and citizenship offences and fraud provided to us. Usually the department requires a certain amount of information before starting an investigation.

The following table details information to be provided with your report.
Note: You are not required to respond to questions or provide information you do not know the answers to.

Who allegation relates to:	Information to be provided:
An individual	Their: name (including any aliases or nicknames) age or date of birth gender (male or female) nationality telephone numbers (home, work and mobile) email address marital status spouse/partner name and date of birth home address and details of when they are usually at home work address and details of when they are usually at work. Please also provide: the name of their employer a physical description of the person any character issues such as criminal background or history of violence passport number date of arrival and type of visa held details of the person’s vehicle (registration number, make, model and colour) details of any pets (especially dogs) at the person’s residence or workplace The reason why you think the person has committed an immigration or citizenship offence or fraud.
Business, employer or organisation	The business, employer or organisation's: business name (registered and trading) street address, phone number, email and website address the name of the business owner, employer and/or sponsor The reason why you think the business/employer/organisation has committed an immigration or citizenship offence or is committing fraud.

What will we do with the information you provide?

The department may only collect information relevant for the investigation of matters relating to Australian immigration and citizenship law and fraud against the department. Examples include information relating to immigration or other fraud, or a person living or working illegally in Australia. We are happy to assist you in redirecting your call should the information you provide be relevant to another government agency.

The department takes seriously our obligation to protect your privacy. The department will take all measures to protect your identifying information, however, the information you provide may be disclosed to other government agencies and legal authorities, including courts, in accordance with the Privacy Act.
See: Freedom of Information and Privacy

For more detailed information about how the department handles personal information you should read information form 993i Safeguarding your personal information, which is available from the department's website.
See: Safeguarding your personal information ( 74KB PDF file)

Information provided by the community is sometimes too general for us to investigate. However, it can still help to identify immigration fraud trends, high-risk industries and issues that should be monitored.

When handling allegations about immigration offences the department treats clients fairly and with respect. Our approach is outlined in our Client Service Charter. The department checks the accuracy of allegations by seeking independent information.
See: Client Service Charter

Please read the department’s general privacy statement and security of information before providing information to the department.
See: Privacy

Can you remain anonymous?

Yes, you can remain anonymous. However, if you decide to provide your name and contact details we will treat this in the strictest confidence. It can greatly assist an investigation if we can contact you at a later time to request further information.

Will we advise you on the progress or outcome of our investigation?

For privacy reasons, no information can be provided to you on the progress or outcome of our investigations.

How to make a report to the Immigration Dob-in Service

There are several ways you can make a report to the Dob-in Service, including telephone, face-to-face, fax, online report and post.

Contact method:	Contact details:
Telephone	Telephone: 1800 009 623 – toll free Note: If English is not your preferred language, we will arrange for an interpreter to help you.
Online report	Please refer to section titled ‘What information should you provide to us?’ then complete an online report. See: What information should you provide to us? Immigration Dob-in Service Online Report
Fax	1800 009 849 – toll free
Post	Please mark all written correspondence ‘in confidence’ and post to: Information Collection Unit Department of Immigration and Citizenship GPO Box 241 Melbourne VIC 3001
In person	Locations of departmental offices in Australia and overseas are available. See: Departmental offices Note: You may need to make an appointment to attend an office.

Note: If you are providing follow up information please include the:

• the name of the person or organisation you are reporting
• the date the original report was was made
• how the report was originally made.
  Example: Fax, online report.