Form

Your personal identifying information 1243i

This information form explains the authority of the Department How will the department obtain your personal identifier?
of Immigration and Border Protection (the department) to
Biometric information (personal identifiers) may be collected
collect your personal identifiers. It outlines why a personal
and/or verified from individuals:
identifier can be collected, how it may be collected, how it may
be used, how it is protected and how it may be disclosed. This • at airports when traveling;
information form should be read in conjunction with form 1442i • who are visa applicants, including protection visa applicants;
Privacy notice for general information on the collection, use
and disclosure of personal information more broadly. • who are immigration detainees;

The department has authority under the Migration Act 1958 • who are Australian citizenship applicants.
(the Migration Act) to collect a range of personal identifiers For more information on the department’s biometric initiatives,
from citizens and non-citizens, including citizens and non- refer to Fact sheet Biometric Initiatives, which is available from
citizens entering and departing Australia, visa applicants and the department’s website
other non-citizens in the Australian community and persons in www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-
immigration detention. sheets/84biometric
The department also has the authority under the Australian Photos and signatures will continue to be the main personal
Citizenship Act 2007 (the Australian Citizenship Act) to collect identifiers collected from most visa applicants, who will
a range of personal identifiers from persons applying for generally be able to provide these personal identifiers to the
Australian citizenship and evidence of Australian citizenship, department by attaching a photograph to the visa application
seeking renunciation of their Australian citizenship, and for form and signing it. For some visa applications no personal
persons sitting the citizenship test. identifiers will be required, while from some non-citizens
additional personal identifiers may be required.
What personal identifiers can the department require? All citizenship applications will continue to request photographs
Under the Migration Act, a citizen or a non-citizen may be and signatures as the main types of personal identifiers.
required to provide the department with personal identifiers. Citizenship applicants will generally be able to provide these
personal identifiers to the department by attaching an endorsed
Under the Australian Citizenship Act, a person seeking to sit the photograph to the application, and then signing the application.
citizenship test must provide a photograph to the department
or allow a photograph to be taken of them.
Why does the department collect personal identifiers?
Otherwise under the Australian Citizenship Act, a person is not
obliged to provide a personal identifier to the department The department has authority under the Migration Act and the
following a request for one. However, the information from a Migration Regulations 1994 to collect personal identifiers for
personal identifier can be used by the Minister to make a the following reasons:
decision about a person’s identity. The Minister must not • identification and authentication of identity;
approve a person becoming an Australian citizen unless the • improving the integrity of Australia’s entry programs,
Minister is satisfied of the person’s identity. If an applicant fails including passenger processing at Australia’s border;
to provide the personal identifiers requested, the Minister may
not be able to be satisfied of the applicant’s identity. • facilitating a visa-holder’s access to their rights under the
Migration Act or the regulations;
For the purposes of the Migration Act and the Australian
Citizenship Act, a ‘personal identifier’ is defined to mean any of • improving the department’s procedures for determining visa
the following (including any of the following in digital form): applications and protection claims;
• fingerprints or handprints of a person (including those taken • enhancing the department’s ability to identify non-Australian
using paper and ink or digital live scanning technologies); citizens who have a criminal history or who are of national
security or character concern;
• a measurement of a person’s height and weight;
• combating identity and document fraud in immigration
• a photograph or other image of a person’s face and matters;
shoulders;
• detecting forum shopping by applicants for visas;
• an audio or a video recording of a person (Migration Act
only); • ascertaining whether protection visa applicants or offshore
entry persons making claims for protection have had
• an iris scan; sufficient opportunity to avail themselves of protection before
• a person’s signature; arriving in Australia;
• any other identifier prescribed by the Migration Regulations • to assist in determining whether a person is an unlawful non-
1994 or the Australian Citizenship Regulations 2007 citizen or a lawful non-citizen;
(whichever is relevant), other than an identifier the obtaining • complementing anti-people smuggling measures;
of which would involve the carrying out of an intimate
forensic procedure within the meaning of section 23WA of • satisfying home governments of the identity of removees and
the Crimes Act 1914 (provided it meets the description of an deportees.
image, measurement or recording of an external part of the
body).

© COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, 2016 1243i (Design date 02/16) - Page 1

 The department also has the authority under the Australian • to locate the person whose identity information it is
Citizenship Act and Citizenship Regulations to collect personal (Migration Act only);
identifiers for the following purposes: • for the purposes of citizenship or migration legislation;
• identification and authentication of identity; • for a purpose where the department has your written
• combating identity and document fraud in citizenship consent;
matters. • required by Australian law.
This allows, for example, the department to identify you for the The department is authorised under the Migration Act to collect
purposes of sitting a citizenship test. a range of personal identifiers including a facial image,
fingerprints and a signature, from non-citizens, including from
Important information about privacy visa applicants. The department requires personal identifiers to
Your personal information is protected by law, including the assist in assessing your identity. The department is authorised
Privacy Act 1988 (the Privacy Act). Important information about to disclose your personal identifiers and information relating to
the collection, use and disclosure (to other agencies and third your name and other relevant biographical data to a number of
parties, including overseas entities) of your personal agencies including law enforcement and health agencies and
information, including sensitive information such as personal other agencies who may need to check your identity with this
identifiers, is contained in form 1442i Privacy notice. Form department. Where the department obtains personal identifiers
1442i is available from the department’s website they will become part of your official record with the
www.border.gov.au/allforms/ or offices of the department. department.
You should ensure that you read and understand form 1442i. The department is involved in international information
exchanges with a number of countries pursuant to international
To whom can the department give your agreements. These information exchanges may involve the
sharing of personal identifiers, including facial images and
personal identifying information? fingerprint data. For an up to date list of the countries which
The department has authority under the Migration Act and the Australia has agreements with, refer to Fact sheet Biometric
Australian Citizenship Act to disclose your personal identifiers Initiatives, which is available from the department’s website
and related information to other agencies (Australian and www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-
overseas) in certain circumstances for the following purposes: sheets/84biometric
• data-matching in order to achieve certain outcomes (for If, as a result of this sharing between countries, there is a match
example, to combat identity fraud) (Migration Act only); with your personal identifiers, the department will disclose your
• data-matching to identify or authenticate the identity of a biographical data, copies of travel and other identity documents
person. For instance, where you apply for a travel document or information from such documents, your immigration status
from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and immigration history (which may include any immigration
the department will forward to DFAT: abuse and offences) and any criminal history information
relevant to immigration purposes. The purpose of such
– your facial image (if available); disclosure would be to help confirm your identity and
– personal and visa related information; and determine if you have presented to the department and the
other agency under the same identity and with similar claims.
– details of your travel document (if available);
If you are making an offshore humanitarian or protection visa
• administering or managing the storage of identifying
application, the department will only disclose this information
information;
if none of these countries is a country of claimed persecution
• making the information available to specified foreign and only if the department is reasonably satisfied that this
governments, bodies of a foreign country, international information will not be disclosed to your country of claimed
organisations and bodies of the Commonwealth, a state or a persecution, unless:
territory for one or more of the purposes set out in section
• you have requested or agreed to return to the foreign country
336F of the Migration Act (Migration Act only);
in respect of which your application or claim is made; or
• making the information available to the person to whom it
• your application for a protection visa has been refused and
relates;
the application is finally determined (within the meaning of
• to an agency of the Commonwealth or of a state or territory subsection 5(9) of the Act); or
in order to verify that person’s citizenship or visa status;
• you are an offshore entry person who makes a claim for
• reasonably necessary for the enforcement of criminal law; protection under the Refugees Convention as amended by
• exchanging identifying information under an arrangement the Refugees Protocol, and is found not to be a person to
with an agency of the Commonwealth, a state or territory or whom Australia owes obligations under the Refugees
an agency of the state or territory under an arrangement for Convention as amended by the Refugees Protocol.
the exchange of identifying information;
• making the information available to a proceeding before a Accessing your personal information
court or tribunal relating to the person to whom the You have a right to access your personal information under the
identifying information relates; Privacy Act and to access copies of documents (except exempt
• relating to an investigation by the Australian Information documents) held by the department and other Australian
Commissioner or Ombudsman relating to an action taken by Government departments under the Freedom of Information
the department; Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
• relating to an inquiry by a prescribed body (for example, the Under the Privacy Act you may obtain original documents you
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission or the have given to the department or copies of personal documents
Australian National Audit Office) (Migration Act only); on your file which you have provided to the department or that
the department has sent to you. You or someone authorised to
• to identify the person whose identifying information it is;
access your information on your behalf can apply to do this at
any office of the department.
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The FOI Act also enables you to access documents containing Your rights
your personal information. You or someone authorised to access
If you believe the department has wrongly collected or handled
your information on your behalf can apply to do this at any
your information, you can complain to the privacy officer at any
office of the department in Australia – fees and charges may
office of the department. Your complaint will be investigated
apply.
and you will be advised of the outcome.
More information on how to make a request under the Privacy
If you are not satisfied with the department’s response, you can
Act or the FOI Act is given on form 424A Request for access to
write to the Australian Information Commissioner or to the
documents or information, which is available from an office of
Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Office. The Australian
the department or the department’s website
Information Commissioner or the Ombudsman Officer can
www.border.gov.au/allforms/
investigate complaints about the protection of personal
information, order compensation to be paid where warranted
Amendment or annotation of your personal information and direct departments to change the way they handle personal
If you are seeking an amendment or annotation of your personal information. You can write to the Australian Information
information held by the department, please obtain form 424C Commissioner at:
Request for amendment or annotation to personal records GPO Box 5218
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 from an office of SYDNEY NSW 2001
the department or from the department’s website
Or call the free privacy hotline – 1300 363 992.
www.border.gov.au/allforms/
Or you can write to the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Office
at:
Correction and associating a statement
GPO Box 442
You can ask the department to correct the personal information
CANBERRA ACT 2601
it holds about you if you think that the information is
incomplete, incorrect, out of date or misleading, and has been, Telephone: (02) 6276 0111
is being, or is available to be used for an administrative purpose,
and does not give rise to any questions about your identity. Interpreter assistance
How the department corrects or associates a statement on a Interpreter assistance is available via the department’s
record depends on a number of circumstances. More Translating and Interpreting Service, which provides a national
information about those circumstances is available from the 24 hour a day, 7 days a week telephone interpreting service on
department’s website a national telephone number – 131 450.
www.border.gov.au/about/access-accountability/privacy

Home page www.border.gov.au

General enquiry Telephone 131 881 or the Citizenship
and citizenship information line on 131 880 during business
information lines hours in Australia to speak to an operator
(recorded information available outside these
hours). If you are outside Australia, please
contact your nearest Australian mission.

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