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Fact Sheet 84 – Biometric Initiatives

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As part of a broader identity management strategy to strengthen identification processes for non-citizens entering Australia, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is introducing biometric technology into some of its programs and processes. This includes facial recognition and fingerprint matching technology.

With identity fraud estimated to cost the Australian community over $1.1 billion per year, enhanced identity checking using biometrics wil reduce the opportunity for identity fraud to be used for fraudulent entry into Australia.

The main aim of collecting biometrics is to assist the department to check or confirm a client's identity, and to detect identity fraud. More information about a client's identity and history will help the department assess a client's visa or citizenship application.

Definition of biometrics

The term 'biometrics' commonly refers to a measurable, physical characteristic or personal behaviour trait that is unique to an individual. Examples include fingerprints, the iris, ear shape, the way a person walks or a person's voice. These physical characteristics can also be referred to as 'personal identifiers'.

Personal identifiers can be acquired biometrically (or subsequently converted into biometric templates), allowing them to be measured (for example, by using a computer-generated template or algorithm) and compared to other biometrics of the same type of personal identifier.

Legislation

The Migration Act 1958 and the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 provide the legislative basis for collecting personal identifiers, including photographs, signatures and fingerprints, which enhance the department's capability to establish and authenticate the identity of non-citizens at various stages of immigration, detention and citizenship processing.

Special provisions in the Migration Act 1958 govern the collection of personal identifiers from minors under the age of 15 years and incapable persons. These include:

  • restricting the personal identifiers that can be formally required to photographs and measurements of height and weight
    and
  • having to obtain consent of a parent or guardian or an independent person before obtaining the personal identifiers.

Both the Migration Act and the Australian Citizenship Act specifically exclude the use of intimate test procedures such as taking blood tests or saliva samples.

The legislation also provides safeguards, including specifying the purposes for which personal identifiers can be used and disclosed, and establishing a strict regime for their storage and management. There are also provisions to ensure that identifying information will not be disclosed in certain circumstances and limiting the disclosure of the information to other countries.

Collection of biometrics from immigration detainees

The department introduced the collection of biometric facial images and fingerprints into the immigration detention process in December 2007. If a person is detained because it is reasonably believed that they are unlawfully in Australia they are required to provide a biometric facial image and fingerprints.

The purpose of collecting this biometric information is to enhance the integrity of the detention process by facilitating the identification of detainees and minimising the possibility of inadvertently detaining people who are lawfully in Australia.
See: Form 1247i – Information to be provided to a detainee about identificaton tests ( 57KB PDF file)

Collection of biometrics from applicants for Australian citizenship

The department commenced the collection of biometric facial images from citizenship applicants during the citizenship test process in December 2007. Under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, a person seeking to sit the citizenship test must provide a photograph to the department or allow a photograph to be taken of them.

Under the Australian Citizenship Act the minister must not approve a person becoming an Australian citizen unless the minister is satisfied of the person's identity. Facial images are collected and used to identify, or authenticate the identity of, a person seeking to sit a citizenship test and to assist in combating document and identity fraud in citizenship matters.
See:

  • Form 993i – Safeguarding your personal information ( 74KB PDF file)
  • Form 1243i – Your personal identifying information ( 63KB PDF file)
  • Form 1300t – Application for Australian citizenship – General eligibility (285KB PDF file)

Collection of biometrics from onshore protection visa applicants

The department commenced the collection of biometric facial images and fingerprints from eligible protection visa applicants in December 2009.

The collection of biometrics may help clients who do not have identity documents in establishing an identity. It may also stop people taking someone else's identity or nationality. Protection visa applicants are not always able to provide documentary evidence of their identity and/or nationality. This may be due to circumstances such as the applicants fleeing from persecution in their home country, their documents being destroyed in conflict, or arriving on fraudulent documents.
See:

Offshore biometrics program

In a major strengthening of Australia's visa and border security, a total of $69 million over four years has been included in the 2010–11 Budget announcements to introduce new visa lodgement and biometric checking processes for visa applications being processed in the selected overseas locations.

The department is phasing in the use of biometrics in a risk-based, staged approach to improve identity management for visa applicants. Biometrics is an important tool in the fight against identity crime and is rapidly becoming a mainstream part of identity management processes globally.

Under the new program, all people, regardless of nationality, who lodge paper-based visa applications in the designated locations will be required to provide fingerprints and a photograph as part of their visa application. At this stage, applicants who lodge an electronic visa or Electronic Travel Authority, or who are otherwise exempted under policy, will not need to provide their biometrics.

The program is being undertaken in collaboration with the United Kingdom Government, which has a similar scheme already in operation. The existing United Kingdom Border Agency contracted service delivery partners will be initially used for the provision of visa application lodgement and biometric collection services.

Biometric data matching

Facial images and fingerprints collected are automatically compared against other facial images and fingerprints acquired by the department from non-citizens under the Migration Act 1958 or Australian Citizenship Act 2007 and other fingerprints held on a national database.

In some cases, where the department has concerns about a client's identity, their fingerprints and/or facial image may be compared with other agencies' or countries' databases.

 

Further information is available on the department's website.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national general enquiries line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (recorded information is available outside these hours).

Fact Sheet 84. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 29 October 2010.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.