ImmiAccount Guide: How to Create and Manage Your Account

ImmiAccount is the Department of Home Affairs online portal at online.immi.gov.au, free to create and required for most Australian visa subclasses in 2026. ImmiAccount is Australia's official immigration online system, operated by the Department of Home Affairs. Available 24/7, it is used to lodge applications, upload supporting documents, pay fees, and track application status. Sessions time out after a period of inactivity, so saving progress regularly is essential.

Quick Facts: ImmiAccount

Creating Your ImmiAccount

Step-by-Step Registration

1. Go to online.immi.gov.au and click "Create ImmiAccount". Home Affairs sets out the steps: enter your email address first, then the verification code emailed to you
2. Select whether you're an individual applicant or an organisation
3. Enter your details:
   • Family name (surname) — exactly as it appears on your passport
   • Given names — exactly as on your passport
   • Phone number with country code
   • Email address (use one you check regularly)
4. Create your login credentials:
   • Username — if you don't explicitly set one during registration, your username will be your email address
   • Password (minimum fourteen characters, maximum 100, using 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.)
5. Set up security questions (you'll need these if you forget your password)
6. Accept the terms of use
7. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) when prompted. After that, every login needs a 6-digit code

Account Creation Tips

Name accuracy matters: Your ImmiAccount name must match your passport exactly. If your passport says "ZHANG Wei" and you register as "Wei Zhang," this can cause processing issues. Use the same format as your passport's machine-readable zone.

Email address: Use a personal email you'll have access to for years — not a work email you might lose access to if you change jobs. The Department sends important notifications here.

Password management: Write down or securely store your password and security question answers. Account recovery can be time-consuming if you're locked out.

One account per person: Home Affairs doesn't publish a rule limiting you to one account, but avoid creating multiple ImmiAccount profiles — usernames are unique and can never be changed or re-used, even if you delete the account. If you've applied for an Australian visa before, you may already have an account. Try the "forgot password" function before creating a new one.

Navigating ImmiAccount

The Dashboard

After logging in, your dashboard shows:

• My applications: All visa applications linked to your account
• New application: Start a new visa application
• Import application: Link an existing application to your account
• Messages: Communications from the Department

Starting a New Application

1. Click "New application"
2. Select the visa category (e.g., "Work," "Visit," "Study," "Family")
3. Select the specific visa subclass
4. The system guides you through the application form in sections

You don't need to complete the application in one session. ImmiAccount saves your progress, and you can return to complete it later.

Application Sections

Most visa applications are divided into sections:

• Applicant details: Personal information, passport details, contact information
• Critical dates: Travel dates, course dates, employment start dates
• Additional applicants: Family members included in your application
• Health: Health declaration questions
• Character: Character declaration questions
• Documents: Upload supporting documents
• Payment: Fee payment
• Declaration and submit: Final confirmation and submission

Saving Progress

ImmiAccount auto-saves as you move between sections, but it's good practice to click "Save" regularly — especially before the session times out. Timed-out sessions can lose unsaved work.

Uploading Documents

Document Requirements

• Format: The accepted file types are .bmp, .dcm, .doc, .docx, .dot, .gif, .jpg, .png, .pdf, .ppt, .pptx, .rft, .txt, .xls and .xlsx. Encrypted or secured PDFs are not accepted — that often catches out forms downloaded straight from a website.
• File size: Maximum 5MB per document; digital photographs must be between 70KB and 3.5MB
• Number of documents: Up to 60 documents for each person on most visa and citizenship applications, and up to 100 for each person on a partner visa application
• Colour: Scan in colour where possible
• Resolution: High enough that every page is clearly legible
• Quality: Documents must be clear, legible, and complete (all pages)

How to Upload

1. Navigate to the "Attach documents" section of your application
2. Click "Attach document"
3. Select the document type from the dropdown menu (e.g., "Passport," "Bank statement," "Employment reference")
4. Add a description (optional but helpful)
5. Choose your file
6. Click "Attach"
7. Repeat for all documents

Upload Tips

Compress large files: If your PDF exceeds 5MB, use a PDF compression tool. Most bank statements and scanned documents can be compressed without losing readability.

Name files clearly: "Passport_Front_JohnSmith.pdf" is much easier to identify than "IMG_20260315_001.jpg" — both for you and for the case officer reviewing your application.

Combine related pages: Multi-page documents (bank statements, employment references) should be combined into single PDF files rather than uploaded as individual pages.

Upload everything at once: While you can add documents later, it's best to upload everything when you submit. This avoids delays caused by the Department waiting for outstanding documents.

Adding Documents After Submission

If you need to upload additional documents after submitting your application:

1. Log into ImmiAccount
2. Click on your application
3. Select "Attach documents"
4. Upload the new document
5. The Department will see the new attachment

This is also how you respond to requests for additional information.

Tracking Your Application

Application Status

ImmiAccount uses eleven statuses: Incomplete, Awaiting documents, Ready to submit, Awaiting payment, Submitted, Received, Initial assessment, Further assessment, Approved, Finalised and Discontinued. The ones people misread:

• 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 — and for citizenship by conferral you usually aren't a citizen until you attend the ceremony and make the pledge
• Finalised: a decision has been made. The status doesn't tell you which way; you're notified by email or post.

There is no "Draft" status and no "Information requested" status. When the Department needs something from you, it appears as "Actions required" next to your application.

Response Timeframes

When the Department requests additional information, they set a deadline. The deadline is shown in the request. Missing the deadline can result in a decision being made without the requested information, which usually means refusal.

VEVO

Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) is a separate tool that lets you check your current visa status, conditions, and expiry date. Access it at vevo.homeaffairs.gov.au with your passport details and date of birth (or your VEVO grant number).

Managing Multiple Applications

If you've applied for multiple visas (e.g., a student visa previously and now a skilled visa), all applications appear in your ImmiAccount dashboard. Each application has its own TRN and status.

If you applied for a visa before ImmiAccount existed (or through a different system), you can import that application into your current account using the "Import application" function. You need the main applicant's application ID or TRN, their date of birth, and their passport number and country. Each application can only be imported up to three times, and partner visa applications — including partner sponsorship applications — cannot be imported at all.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

"Session Expired"

ImmiAccount times out after a period of inactivity. Your work should be auto-saved, but if it's not:

• Log back in
• Navigate to "My applications"
• Open your draft application
• Continue from where you left off

Prevention: Save your progress regularly and don't leave the tab inactive for extended periods.

"Payment Failed"

Common causes:

• Credit card limit exceeded
• International transaction blocked by your bank
• Temporary system issues

Fix: Contact your bank to authorize international transactions to the Australian government. Try a different card. Wait and try again if it's a system issue.

"Document Upload Failed"

Common causes:

• File exceeds 5MB
• Unsupported file format
• System overload

Fix: Compress your file, check the file type is on the accepted list (Word, Excel and PowerPoint files are accepted as they are, so there's no need to convert them), check a PDF isn't encrypted or secured, or try at a different time (Australian business hours can be busier).

"Name Mismatch"

If your passport name doesn't match what you entered in ImmiAccount:

Fix: You generally cannot change the name on a submitted application yourself. Contact the Department of Home Affairs to request a correction. Provide evidence (passport copy) to support the change.

"Forgot Password"

1. Click "Forgotten password?" on the login page
2. Enter the username for your ImmiAccount — the forgotten-password flow asks for your username, not your email address. (Forgotten that too? The "Forgotten username" link asks for your email address, and the email it sends back lists the usernames of every account registered to that address.)
3. Answer your secret questions
4. Reset your password via the email link. Home Affairs cannot email you a temporary password, so treat any email containing one as a scam.

If you've forgotten both your password and security answers, you'll need to contact the Department's technical support for account recovery.

"Application Not Visible"

If you can't see a previously submitted application:

• Ensure you're logged into the correct ImmiAccount
• Check if the application was submitted under a different email
• Use the "Import application" function with your TRN

Security Best Practices

• Use a strong, unique password (don't reuse passwords from other sites)
• Don't share your ImmiAccount login with anyone except your registered migration agent
• Log out after each session, especially on shared computers
• Keep your email account secure (it's the gateway to password resets)
• Be wary of phishing emails — the Department will never ask for your password via email

Using ImmiAccount with a Migration Agent

If you've engaged a registered migration agent, they can:

• Lodge applications on your behalf through their own ImmiAccount
• Manage document uploads and correspondence
• Track your application status

Your agent will have their own professional ImmiAccount. You can still access your personal ImmiAccount to view your application, but any actions should be coordinated with your agent to avoid confusion.

Troubleshooting and Advanced ImmiAccount Help

Ran into trouble with ImmiAccount? These step-by-step guides cover the most common issues we see:

• Locked out or forgotten password? See ImmiAccount Password Reset and Locked Account: Step-by-Step Recovery. Covers the 4-hour auto-unlock rule, MFA fixes, and how to escalate via the official Technical Support Form.
• Need to link an application your migration agent lodged for you? See ImmiAccount: How to Link an Existing Application (TRN, Receipt Number). Covers what the import screen actually asks for, and the migration-agent special case.
• Got an error message? See ImmiAccount Error Codes Explained: What Each Message Means and How to Fix It. Covers login, MFA, payment, session, document upload, and application errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ImmiAccount free to use?

Yes. Creating and using ImmiAccount is free. You only pay when you submit a visa application (the visa application charge).

Can I apply for all Australian visas through ImmiAccount?

Most visas are applied for through ImmiAccount. A few exceptions exist — some visas can only be applied for in person at an Australian Embassy or Consulate, or through specific programs. The ETA, for example, uses its own app rather than ImmiAccount.

Can I have two ImmiAccount profiles?

You shouldn't. Home Affairs doesn't publish a rule limiting you to one account, but multiple accounts cause confusion and processing issues — and usernames are unique and can never be changed or re-used, even if you delete the account. If you already have an account from a previous application, use that one.

What browsers work best with ImmiAccount?

Home Affairs doesn't publish a supported-browser list. Use a current version of a mainstream browser, avoid very old versions, and make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled. If a page won't load, the Department's own first-line fix is to clear your temporary internet files, cookies, browsing history and download history, then try a different browser.

Can I access ImmiAccount from my phone?

Yes, ImmiAccount is accessible from mobile browsers, though the experience is better on a desktop or laptop due to the complexity of the forms and the need to upload documents. For document uploads in particular, a computer with access to your files is more practical.

What happens if the system is down?

ImmiAccount occasionally goes offline for maintenance. Planned outages are announced on the ImmiAccount login screen, so check there before assuming something is wrong with your account, then wait and try again later.