ImmiAccount: How to Link an Existing Application (TRN, Receipt Number)
Updated: 18 May 2026
ImmiAccount: How to Link an Existing Application (TRN, Receipt Number) covers a single, specific task: pulling a visa application that was lodged outside your ImmiAccount — usually by a MARA-registered migration agent, sometimes by you before you created an account — into your own ImmiAccount so you can see status, view documents, and act on the file directly. The Department of Home Affairs calls this "importing" or "linking" the application, and the two terms refer to the same flow. For general portal use and account setup, see the ImmiAccount Guide: Create and Manage. To complete the link you need either your TRN (Transaction Reference Number) or your Receipt Number, plus identity details that match the lodgement exactly.
What information you need before you start
- Your TRN (Transaction Reference Number). It looks like
EGOFXXXXXX— alphanumeric, typically around 10 characters. Find it on the lodgement confirmation email from the Department, or in your agent's correspondence. Verify the exact format against your own confirmation. - OR your Receipt Number — the payment receipt issued for the Visa Application Charge (VAC) when the application was lodged.
- Your full name as it appears on the application — exact match. Middle names and capitalisation matter in some screens.
- Your date of birth as recorded on the application.
- Your passport number(s) used at the time of application — not necessarily your current passport.
- A working ImmiAccount login. If you don't have one yet, create it at https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login first.
If any of these fields disagree with what was actually submitted, the link will fail with a message similar to "details cannot be verified." The system does not tell you which field is wrong — you'll need to check each one.
Step-by-step: Link an application using your TRN
- Log in to ImmiAccount at https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login.
- From the home screen, look for the option labelled similar to "Import Application" or "Link Application" — wording can change, so confirm against the live UI.
- Choose to link by TRN.
- Enter your TRN exactly as it appears on your lodgement confirmation. Copy and paste where possible to avoid typos.
- Provide the matching identity details — name, date of birth, and passport number — as they were on the lodged application.
- Confirm. The application should appear under "My Applications" within a few minutes.
If the link fails, the most common cause is a typo in the TRN (zero vs the letter O, lowercase L vs the digit 1) or a name mismatch — usually a missing middle name, or a different order between given names and surname. Recheck the TRN character by character and try the name exactly as it appears in the passport's machine-readable zone.
Step-by-step: Link an application using your Receipt Number
- Log in to ImmiAccount.
- Choose to link by Receipt Number.
- Enter the Receipt Number from your VAC payment confirmation.
- Provide the matching identity details — name, date of birth, passport.
- Confirm.
The Receipt Number route only works cleanly when the payment was made by you or in your name. If your migration agent paid the VAC from their own card on your behalf, the Receipt Number may not match cleanly to your identity record. In that case use the TRN route instead — it's more reliable for agent-lodged applications.
Linking an application lodged by your migration agent
When a MARA-registered agent lodges your visa, their ImmiAccount holds the master record of the application. You can still link the same application into your personal ImmiAccount and view it in parallel.
- Ask your agent for your TRN. They must provide it. Giving the applicant their own TRN is industry norm and is consistent with the MARA Code of Conduct, which requires agents to keep clients informed about their application.
- You won't displace your agent. Linking the application into your ImmiAccount does not remove the agent's access. Both accounts retain visibility. The Department treats the agent's ImmiAccount as the primary contact unless you formally change representation.
- Red flag if your agent refuses. A registered migration agent withholding the TRN is a reason to escalate. Verify your agent's registration at https://www.mara.gov.au and use the same site to lodge a complaint if needed.
If the application was lodged before you had your own ImmiAccount, the same TRN-based flow works once you've created your account.
Common reasons the link fails
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
TRN typo — 0 (zero) vs O, l vs 1 |
Copy and paste the TRN from your confirmation email. Re-check character by character. |
| Name doesn't match lodgement | Try with and without middle names. Match capitalisation if the form is case-sensitive. Use the order in your passport. |
| Date of birth mismatch | Confirm the exact DOB your agent submitted. Format conventions (DD/MM/YYYY vs MM/DD/YYYY) can be entered wrongly at lodgement. |
| New passport since lodgement | Use the old passport number that was on the application to link. You can update passport details inside ImmiAccount after the link succeeds. |
| Application lodged on paper | Paper applications cannot be linked through this flow. Wait for a digital transition or contact the Department's Technical Support. |
| Receipt Number paid by your agent's card | Switch to the TRN route. |
| Application already linked to another ImmiAccount | The Department only allows one applicant-side ImmiAccount per application in addition to the agent's. Contact Home Affairs if you believe the link is on the wrong account. |
After linking — what you can do
Once the application appears under "My Applications," you gain direct, applicant-side control over the file:
- View the application status — Received, Initial Assessment, Further Assessment, Information Requested, Finalised, Granted, Refused (exact wording depends on the visa subclass).
- View documents already submitted by you or your agent.
- Upload additional documents, subject to the permissions configured on the file by your agent.
- Receive correspondence from the Department of Home Affairs directly to the email registered on your ImmiAccount.
- Update your address, contact details, and passport if the application is still open. Form 929 (change of address) and Form 1022 (change of circumstances) flows are available within ImmiAccount.
- Pay outstanding charges — for example, the second instalment of the Visa Application Charge (VAC2) for English language tuition on some partner and skilled streams.
A linked application gives you read and limited-write access. Strategy decisions and substantive submissions should still be coordinated with your agent while they remain on record.
Unlinking an application
There is no self-service "unlink" button. You generally cannot detach an application from your ImmiAccount yourself. If you need to do this — for example, you're switching migration agents, transferring management to a family member, or you linked the wrong file by mistake — submit the Department's Technical Support Form and explain the situation. Provide your TRN, your ImmiAccount username, and the reason you need the link removed. Allow several business days for the Department to action it.
Switching agents is a separate process and is handled through Form 956 (Appointment of a registered migration agent) or Form 956A (Appointment of an authorised recipient) lodged through ImmiAccount.
FAQ
Where do I find my TRN?
On your lodgement confirmation email from the Department of Home Affairs, sent the moment the application is submitted and paid. The subject line typically references the visa subclass and includes the TRN in the body. If your migration agent lodged on your behalf, ask them for a copy of the lodgement confirmation, or for the TRN by itself. The TRN is also printed on the acknowledgement PDF that ImmiAccount generates at lodgement.
Can I link multiple applications to one ImmiAccount?
Yes. There is no practical limit. Each application has its own TRN and its own status, and all of them appear under "My Applications." This is normal for applicants with a student visa history followed by a graduate visa, then a skilled visa, for example. Use one ImmiAccount across your full visa history.
Will linking remove my agent's access to my application?
No. Linking is additive. Your agent's ImmiAccount keeps full access to the application. The Department continues to treat the agent's account as the registered representative unless you formally change representation through Form 956. Linking gives you a parallel view, not an exclusive one.
What if the application was lodged before I had an ImmiAccount?
Create your ImmiAccount, then run the TRN link. The TRN is permanent and stays valid regardless of when the ImmiAccount is created. If you originally applied through a paper form or a legacy system that predates ImmiAccount, the TRN route may not work — in that case, contact the Department's Technical Support to ask whether the file can be migrated digitally.
Can I link an application that was refused or withdrawn?
Usually yes, for record-keeping purposes. Finalised applications — including refusals, withdrawals, and grants — generally remain visible in ImmiAccount and can be linked using the same TRN flow. You won't be able to act on a refused or withdrawn file (there's nothing to do), but you can view the history, the decision record, and any documents on file. This is useful when you're appealing through the Administrative Review Tribunal or preparing a fresh application.
Related: ImmiAccount Password Reset and Locked Account · ImmiAccount Error Codes Explained
