Important Announcements from the Australian Government

Novel Coronavirus

The Australian Government announces travel restrictions. See the latest information below.


4 December 2023

From Monday 18 December 2023, VFS Global will be the Australian Department of Home Affairs service delivery partner for the Americas and will be responsible for biometric collection and other services. Appointments for biometric collection through CSRA can be made up to Friday 15 December 2023.

To make an appointment for biometric collection after 18 December 2023 please visit Offices outside Australia . From Monday 11 December 2023, VFS Global will be accepting bookings for biometric collection appointments occurring on or after 18 December 2023.

Further information may be found at the VFS Global website.

Biometric collection services for visa applicants for Australia are now available in Medellin

6 February 2023

The Australian Government is pleased to announce that Biometric collection services for visa applicants for Australia are now available in Medellin starting from 8 February 2023.

The service is provided by appointment only. Please schedule an appointment by following these steps:

  1. Create an account on this website https://australia.visaops.net/en-co
  2. Make an appointment to provide your biometric data at the ABCC.
  3. Pay Service fees at the ABCC. Please visit https://australia.visaops.net/en-co/information/visa_fees for details on the fee amount and payment method.

Important update for Bogota

9 September 2022

There has been a significant improvement in wait times for biometric appointments.

As such all visa applicants are required to provide their personal identifiers within the time specified in the request they receive from the Department of Home Affairs.

If an applicant has valid reasons for being unable to provide their personal identifiers within the time specified, then they must advise the Department of this, and when they will complete the requirement, via their ImmiAccount within the required time period.


Changes to Entering and Leaving Australia

7 July 2022

The Australian Government has made changes to requirements for entering and leaving Australia.

From July 6th, 2022, the way you travel to and from Australia has changed. All travellers should be aware that:

  • People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status.
  • People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration.
  • People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status.
  • Unvaccinated visa holders do not need a travel exemption to travel to Australia.
  • Masks are still required on flights travelling to Australia.
  • It is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/entering-and-leaving-australia


Important Information for Bogota:

27 June 2022

There is currently substantial demand for biometric collection services. Wait times to secure an appointment and to receive biometric collection services at our local centre may take 3 to 4 weeks.

Visitor/Tourist visa applicants

If you are unable to provide your personal identifiers within 8 weeks of receiving the request from the Department of Home Affairs, you must attach a letter explaining the circumstances to your ImmiAccount.

All other types of visa applicants

If you are unable to provide your personal identifiers within the time specified by the Department of Home Affairs, you should attach a letter explaining the circumstances to your ImmiAccount.


Important Announcement about entry measures to the facilities of the Biometric Capture Center in Peru:

10 December 2021

Due to the new Peruvian Supreme Decree N° 168-2021-PCM, starting on December 10th, the general public entering a closed environment facility will need to prove that they already have two vaccination doses by showing the vaccination card physically or digitally. We appreciate your understanding.


Important Information for Bogota:

23 April 2021

The ID restrictions have been extended until May 3rd, 2021 by the Mayor of Bogota in order to reduce the number of contagious Covid-19 cases.

The applicants with a national ID number ending in an odd number will not be able to enter the Australian Biometrics Collection Center in Bogota on odd days. The applicants with a national ID ending in an even number will not be able to enter the Australian Biometrics Collection Center on even days.

We kindly ask you to schedule your appointment based on your ID number for the corresponding day.


Important Information for Bogota:

7 April 2021

Due to a new decree (Decree # 135), the following identification restrictions were implemented to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Bogota from April 6th, 2021 to April 19th, 2021.

The applicants with a national ID number ending in an odd number will not be able to enter the Australian Biometrics Collection Center in Bogota on odd days. The applicants with a national ID ending in an even number will not be able to enter the Australian Biometrics Collection Center on even days.

We kindly ask you to schedule your appointment based on your ID number for the corresponding day.


Updated travel requirements from 22 January, 2021

20 January 2021

Please be advised that from 22 January, new requirements will be introduced for people travelling to or transiting through Australia. Passengers will be required to provide evidence of a negative COVD-19 test (PCR) result to the airline, taken 72 hours or less before the scheduled departure.

For further information please visit the Departments COVID -19 website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/.


Important Information for Bogota:

21 December 2020

Due to a new decree (Decree # 293), the following identification restrictions were implemented to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Bogota from December 21st, 2020 to January 15th, 2021:

The applicants with a national ID number ending in an odd number will not be able to enter the Australian Biometrics Collection Center in Bogota on odd days. The applicants with a national ID ending in an even number will not be able to enter the Australian Biometrics Collection Center on even days.

We kindly ask you to schedule your appointment based on your ID number for the corresponding day.


CSRA has been authorized to resume providing the Biometric collection service starting on Monday October 19th in Colombia

15 October 2020

Please note Travel restrictions are in place and subject to change. You cannot come to Australia unless you are in an exempt category or you have been granted an individual exemption to the current travel restrictions. Please check the Department of home affairs website for more information https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions.


Important Information

18 September 2020

Australian operations are temporarily suspended. Please continue to monitor the Home Affairs website, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/, for updated information regarding travel to Australia.