ImmiAccount is the Australian Government's online system for lodging and managing visa applications. Operated by the Department of Home Affairs, it's the primary platform where applicants submit visa forms, upload supporting documents, pay fees, and track application progress. If you're applying for almost any Australian visa, you'll need an ImmiAccount. It's available at online.immi.gov.au and is free to set up.
What Is ImmiAccount?
ImmiAccount is a secure web portal that acts as your central hub for all interactions with the Department of Home Affairs regarding visa applications. Think of it as your personal dashboard for Australian immigration.
Before ImmiAccount existed, visa applications were submitted on paper or through various disconnected systems. Now, the vast majority of visa subclasses require online lodgement through this single platform.
What you can do with ImmiAccount:
- Lodge new visa applications
- Pay visa application charges (VAC)
- Upload supporting documents (identity, qualifications, health, character)
- Check the status of current applications
- Respond to requests for additional information
- Link and manage multiple applications
- Update your contact details and correspondence preferences
- Receive official correspondence and decision notifications
How to Create an ImmiAccount
Setting up an account is straightforward and takes about 10 minutes. Here's what you'll need:
Step 1: Go to online.immi.gov.au Click "Create ImmiAccount" on the login page.
Step 2: Enter your personal details You'll provide your full legal name (as it appears on your passport), date of birth, phone number, and email address. If you don't explicitly set a username during registration, your username will be your email address — so pick one you'll check regularly, because that's where all notifications go. Usernames are unique, and you can never change or re-use one, even if you delete the account.
Step 3: Set your password and security questions Your password must be a minimum of fourteen characters and a maximum of 100, and use at least three of these four sets: lowercase letters, uppercase letters, digits, and punctuation or special characters. Passwords can't be reused for eight password changes. You'll also set secret questions for account recovery — they are what both the password reset and the MFA recovery link check, so save the answers somewhere safe.
Step 4: Verify your email You'll receive a verification link. Click it to activate your account.
Important: Use your own email address, not a shared one. If you're using a registered migration agent, they can lodge on your behalf through their own account, but you should still have access to yours.
Understanding Your TRN (Transaction Reference Number)
Once you start a visa application in ImmiAccount, the system generates a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). This is your application's unique identifier and it's worth keeping somewhere safe.
What the TRN is used for:
- Tracking your specific application within the system
- Referencing your case when contacting Home Affairs
- Linking your application to health examinations and biometrics
- Connecting related applications (e.g., family members included in one application)
The TRN follows a specific format and is different from your visa grant number (which you receive only after approval). Don't confuse the two — before a decision is made, the TRN is your reference point.
Lodging a Visa Application
The application process within ImmiAccount follows a consistent pattern across most visa types, whether you're applying for a student visa with OSHC or an employer-sponsored visa.
The general workflow:
- Select your visa type — Choose the correct subclass from the list
- Complete the application form — Answer all questions honestly and completely
- Attach documents — Upload certified copies, translations, and evidence
- Review and submit — Check everything before paying
- Pay the VAC — Visa application charges are paid online via credit/debit card or other accepted methods
- Receive confirmation — You'll get a TRN and acknowledgement letter
Document Upload Tips
ImmiAccount accepts .bmp, .dcm, .doc, .docx, .dot, .gif, .jpg, .png, .pdf, .ppt, .pptx, .rft, .txt, .xls and .xlsx — but not encrypted or secured PDFs. Documents can be up to 5MB each, digital photographs must be between 70KB and 3.5MB, and you can attach up to 60 documents for each person on most visa and citizenship applications (up to 100 each on a partner visa application).
Best practices:
- Label documents clearly before uploading
- Combine related pages into single PDF files
- Upload colour scans, not black-and-white
- Certified translations must accompany documents not in English
- Don't wait until the deadline to upload — the system can be slow during peak periods
Managing Multiple Applications
One of ImmiAccount's most useful features is the ability to manage several applications from a single account. This matters if you're:
- Applying for a new visa while your current one is still being processed
- Managing applications for family members
- A migration agent handling client applications
- Transitioning between visa types (e.g., from a student visa to a skilled visa via SkillSelect)
Each application appears as a separate entry on your dashboard with its own TRN, status, and document history. You can switch between them without logging in and out.
Which Visas Require ImmiAccount?
Almost all of them. The list of visa subclasses that still accept paper applications is very short and shrinking. These include:
Visa types lodged through ImmiAccount:
- Skilled migration visas (189, 190, 491)
- Employer-sponsored visas (482 SID, 494, 186)
- Student visas (500)
- Partner visas (309/100, 820/801)
- Visitor and tourist visas (600)
- Working holiday visas (417, 462)
- Parent visas (most subclasses)
- Protection visas (866)
Notable exceptions: Some visa types lodged outside Australia (particularly certain diplomatic or special purpose visas) may use different channels. Offshore humanitarian visas have their own processes. But if you're reading this, chances are your visa needs ImmiAccount.
Checking Your Application Status
After lodging, you can log into ImmiAccount at any time to check where things stand. The status indicators typically include:
- Received — The Department has your application
- Initial assessment — An initial check of your application has been completed. It does not mean a case officer is working on your file.
- Further assessment — The Department is assessing your application
- Approved — Citizenship applications only
- Finalised — A decision has been made. The status doesn't tell you which way; you're notified by email or post.
The full set of eleven also includes Incomplete, Awaiting documents, Ready to submit, Awaiting payment, Submitted and Discontinued. There is no "Information Requested" status — when the Department needs something from you, it appears as "Actions required" next to your application.
For a more detailed check on your existing visa conditions (rather than a pending application), you'd use VEVO instead.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Locked account: After 5 incorrect username or password attempts, your account locks for 4 hours. You don't have to wait it out — running the "Forgotten password" flow and answering your secret questions correctly unlocks it immediately. If you've forgotten the secret questions too, contact the ImmiAccount technical helpdesk.
Session timeouts: ImmiAccount sessions expire after a period of inactivity. Save your progress regularly, especially when filling out long application forms. The system does auto-save in some sections, but don't rely on it completely.
Payment failures: If your payment doesn't go through, the application isn't submitted. Try a different card or contact your bank. Some international cards are blocked for overseas transactions by default.
Browser compatibility: Home Affairs doesn't publish a supported-browser list. If you're experiencing display issues or buttons not responding, clear your temporary internet files, cookies, browsing history and download history, then try a different browser, with pop-up blockers disabled for the site.
Why ImmiAccount Matters for Your Immigration Process
ImmiAccount isn't optional — it's the gateway to Australia's visa system. Having a well-managed account means:
- Faster responses to information requests (delays here slow everything down)
- Clear records of every document you've submitted
- Real-time visibility into your application progress
- Secure communication with the Department of Home Affairs
If you're working with a registered migration agent, they'll typically manage the ImmiAccount process on your behalf. But it's still worth understanding how the system works — after all, it's your visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than one ImmiAccount?
You shouldn't. Home Affairs doesn't publish a one-account rule, but usernames are unique and can never be changed or re-used, and duplicates cause confusion and processing delays. If you suspect you've created duplicates, the "Forgotten username" email is how you find them — it lists every username registered to that email address. Contact the technical helpdesk to sort them out.
Is ImmiAccount the same as myVEVO?
No. ImmiAccount is for lodging and managing visa applications. VEVO is for checking existing visa details and conditions. They're separate systems run by the same department.
Can I lodge a visa application on behalf of someone else?
Yes. You can add family members to your own application, or a registered migration agent can lodge on your behalf. Parents can manage applications for children under 18.
What happens to my ImmiAccount after my visa is granted?
It stays active. You can use it for future visa applications, and it retains records of previous applications. There's no need to close it.
How do I get my TFN after arriving on my visa?
Your TFN (Tax File Number) is a separate process handled by the Australian Taxation Office, not through ImmiAccount. You'll apply for it after arrival.
