Australia Expands Biometric Collection for Indian Visa Applicants and Modifies Training Visa Lodgement
Effective October 26, 2026, Australia has expanded its biometric collection requirements for certain visa applicants in India, including those applying for Subclass 400 and 482 visas. This means that after lodging their visa applications, individuals may be requested by the Department to provide biometric information. While Subclass 482 visa applications typically do not require biometrics, the Department now has the discretion to make such a request. These new requirements apply only to new visa applications submitted from October 26, 2026, and will not impact applications already lodged. Additionally, from November 12, 2026, Training (Subclass 407) visa applications will require offshore lodgement. This reform is intended to curb the practice of using successive temporary visa applications to extend a person's stay in Australia, building on previous Subclass 407 reforms implemented throughout the year. The Minister may specify exemptions from offshore application and grant requirements, but no specific e...