ImmiAccount Australia: How to Set Up, Log In and Use the Home Affairs Portal

What ImmiAccount Is and What It Is Not

ImmiAccount is the Australian Department of Home Affairs' online portal for visa applicants and sponsors. It is operated by the Department, hosted at online.immi.gov.au, and is the primary digital channel through which most Australian visa applications are now lodged and managed. ImmiAccount is not MyGov. MyGov is a separate Australian Government portal for federal services like Medicare, Centrelink, the Australian Taxation Office, and My Health Record. The two systems do not share a login, do not share data, and are operated by different agencies. You can have a MyGov account and an ImmiAccount simultaneously — most permanent residents and citizens with both visa history and Medicare will. They simply live in different places. ImmiAccount is also not a visa application itself. It is the platform through which applications are lodged. Creating an ImmiAccount does not start a visa application — it gives you the workspace in which to start one.

How to Set Up an ImmiAccount

ImmiAccount is free to create. Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and follow the 'Create an account' link, or go directly to the ImmiAccount login page at online.immi.gov.au and select 'Create an ImmiAccount'. You will need a working email address (this becomes your username), a password meeting the Department's complexity requirements, and a set of security questions and answers. The Department will send a confirmation email to the address you provide; clicking the link in that email activates the account. Set-up takes around five minutes. Use an email address you control and will continue to control throughout your visa process — and your subsequent visa life if you become a permanent resident or citizen. Changing the email address on an ImmiAccount later is possible but more involved than just registering with the right address initially. Avoid using a work email that you might lose access to. Since 18 June 2025 multi-factor authentication (MFA) has been mandatory for all ImmiAccount users — at set-up you will choose between an authenticator app (preferred; any standard TOTP app works, including Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, LastPass Authenticator or Duo Mobile) or email-based codes; see `/blog/immiaccount-mfa-setup-recovery` for the full setup walkthrough, how to change methods, and what to do if you lose your device. Each user must have a unique email address; the Department does not permit shared email accounts on ImmiAccount and account sharing is prohibited under the ImmiAccount Terms and Conditions. If a family is applying together, the primary applicant's account holds the application and other family members are added as dependants inside that one account — not by sharing logins.

What You Can Do in ImmiAccount

ImmiAccount supports several distinct activities for visa applicants and sponsors. You can start a new visa application using one of the visa-application forms in the portal — these are interactive online forms tailored to the visa subclass you are applying for. You can continue a draft application that you started earlier but did not finish. You can attach supporting documents (identity, evidence of relationship, employment, qualifications, financial, health, character) to a lodged application. You can pay visa application charges by credit or debit card. You can link an existing visa that was granted under your name and passport — useful for tracking grant details, expiry dates, and visa conditions. You can view correspondence the Department has sent about your application, including requests for further information. You can update your contact details (postal address, phone, email) for an in-progress application. You can withdraw an application — though depending on the visa type, fees may not be refundable. Sponsors and nominators (typically employers) have their own ImmiAccount workflow for managing sponsorship and nomination applications.

Lodging a Visa Application Through ImmiAccount

To lodge a new visa application, sign in to ImmiAccount and select 'New Application' from the dashboard. The portal shows a list of visa categories grouped by purpose (Family, Visitor, Student, Skilled, Work, Refugee and humanitarian, etc.). Selecting a category surfaces the specific visa subclasses available within it. Choosing a subclass starts an online application form for that visa. The form walks you through identity, relationship, qualification, employment, character and health questions appropriate to the subclass. You can save and resume the form at any point — partly completed applications appear in your dashboard as drafts. When you finish the form, you submit and pay the visa application charge to lodge. After lodgement the application moves out of 'draft' status into 'submitted' and the Department begins its assessment. Supporting documents can be attached at the time of lodgement and added afterwards from the application page within ImmiAccount. Some visa categories — including some humanitarian and refugee streams — are not lodged through ImmiAccount and require paper forms or alternative channels; the Department documents these exceptions on its main visa-listing pages.

Linking an Existing Visa to Your ImmiAccount

If you hold an Australian visa that was granted in the past — whether you are currently in Australia on it or it grants you re-entry rights — you can link it to your ImmiAccount so you can view grant details, conditions, and expiry. To link an existing visa, sign in to ImmiAccount and select 'Link your visa'. The portal asks for your passport number, transaction reference number (TRN) where you have it, or visa grant number, plus identity details. Home Affairs notes that you may not have a searchable electronic record if you migrated to Australia before 1990 and have not travelled out of Australia since — in that case, the Department's published guidance covers how to request an electronic record of your permanent visa. There is also an important distinction many applicants conflate: linking an existing granted visa (so you can view it in your dashboard) is different from importing an in-progress application that your migration agent lodged through their own ImmiAccount. The agent-lodged-application case is covered separately in our 'mirror account' guide. Once linked, the visa appears in your dashboard. You can also use VEVO — a separate portal for visa entitlement verification — to confirm or share visa status without needing to log into ImmiAccount.

Application Status Meanings

When an application is in ImmiAccount, its status changes through several published states. 'Received' means the Department has received the application and recorded it in the system. 'Initial assessment' means the application is in the queue or in early review — at this point the Department may be checking that mandatory documents and fees are complete. 'Further assessment' means a case officer is actively considering the application — at this point requests for additional information (sometimes called 'natural justice' letters or 'request to comment' letters) commonly arrive. 'Finalised' means the Department has made a decision — either grant, refusal, or withdrawal. The precise wording of the status indicators can change as Home Affairs updates its system. Status is not the same as processing time. An application can sit at 'Initial assessment' for months on simpler visa categories and 'Further assessment' for years on complex ones. The Department publishes processing time ranges for each visa subclass — those public ranges are the right benchmark, not the status indicator alone.

Paying Visa Application Charges Through ImmiAccount

Visa application charges are paid at the time of lodgement, through the ImmiAccount payment page. Accepted payment methods are credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, UnionPay) and debit card supported by the major schemes. There is a card-payment surcharge applied by the Department — currently between 0.98% and 1.99% depending on card scheme. BPAY and PayPal are not currently supported through ImmiAccount. Failed payments are a common applicant problem: a card declines, the page errors out, but the cardholder sees a hold or pending charge on their statement. In most failed cases the pending charge drops off within 3-7 business days because the transaction was never completed at the Department's end. If the charge has settled (not just pended) and the application did not lodge, contact your card issuer first; if the issuer confirms the transaction settled, contact the Department through the ImmiAccount enquiry form or the published Department contact channels. Visa application charges are non-refundable once the application has been lodged, except in very specific circumstances set out in the Migration Regulations.

Attaching Documents to an Application

Supporting documents can be attached to an application within ImmiAccount, both at the time of lodgement and afterwards. From the application page, select 'Attach documents' and choose the document category that fits each file. Categories vary by visa subclass — for a partner visa they include relationship evidence, financial evidence, household evidence, social evidence and statutory declarations; for a skilled visa they include skills assessment outcome, English language test results, qualifications and employment evidence; for a student visa they include Confirmation of Enrolment, financial capacity evidence and the Genuine Student declaration. Accepted file formats are typically PDF, JPG, GIF, BMP, TIF, PNG, DOC and DOCX. The published maximum file size per attachment is 5 MB. The Department publishes specific document checklist guides for each visa subclass — referring to these directly is more reliable than guessing what to attach. Once attached, documents cannot be deleted from the application by the applicant — they form part of the case file.

Linking a Migration Agent or Authorised Recipient

If you want a registered migration agent to act on your behalf, you authorise them using Form 956A — Appointment of a Registered Migration Agent. The agent uploads the signed form to the application through ImmiAccount (or in some cases provides it to the Department directly). Once Form 956A is on file, the agent is the Department's primary point of contact for that application — Departmental correspondence is sent to the agent, the agent can attach further documents, and the agent can respond to requests for further information. You retain the right to access your own ImmiAccount and view the application. Form 956 (without the 'A') appoints an 'authorised recipient' — typically a family member, lawyer or other support person who is not a registered migration agent but who is authorised to receive correspondence on your behalf. The two forms perform different functions and are not interchangeable. If you want to remove a migration agent later, you complete a new Form 956A appointing a different agent (or yourself), and the Department updates the file accordingly.

Family Applications and Adding Dependants

Most Australian visa applications can include dependent family members alongside the primary applicant. In ImmiAccount, when you start a new application you indicate the family members to be included, and the form prompts for their identity, relationship, health and character information. Dependants typically include spouses or de facto partners and dependent children. Some visa subclasses also allow other dependent family members (parents in some streams, dependent adult children with disability). The application charges are calculated per applicant — a primary applicant charge plus secondary applicant charges that vary by visa subclass and applicant age. After lodgement, adding a new family member to an existing application is possible but the process and any additional fees depend on the visa subclass and the stage of assessment. Removing a family member from an in-progress application (for example after a separation) is also possible and is sometimes important for the integrity of the application — particularly for partner visa or family visa subclasses where the relationship to a specific person is the basis of the application.

Correspondence From the Department

The Department's correspondence about an in-progress application is delivered through ImmiAccount in the 'Messages' area. This includes acknowledgement letters, requests for further information, requests to comment on adverse material (the so-called natural justice letters under section 359A of the Migration Act 1958), and the eventual grant or refusal notification. Email notifications are sent to the registered email address when new correspondence appears, but the messages themselves live inside ImmiAccount — clicking the email link takes you to a sign-in page. Letters and decisions in ImmiAccount are PDF documents you can download for your records. Time-limited responses — particularly to natural justice letters — are critical. The deadline stated in the letter is calculated in calendar days, and missing it generally allows the Department to make a decision on the material as it stands, often resulting in refusal. If you have a registered migration agent on file (Form 956A), correspondence is sent to the agent in the first instance and you may not see it in your own ImmiAccount until the agent uploads a response. Check with your agent how the correspondence flow is configured for your matter.

Common ImmiAccount Problems and Troubleshooting

Several issues come up regularly. Forgotten password — use the 'Forgot password' link on the login page; you will need access to the registered email address to reset. Locked account after multiple failed login attempts — the account is locked for a defined period (commonly 30 minutes) before login is allowed again. File upload failures — confirm the file is within the 5 MB limit and in an accepted format; very long file names or special characters can also cause uploads to fail, so rename files using simple alphanumeric characters before uploading. Application page won't load or appears blank — clear browser cache, try a different browser, or use the Department's published browser compatibility list (ImmiAccount supports current versions of major browsers; older browsers may have issues). Lost transaction reference number (TRN) — the TRN appears in the ImmiAccount dashboard under each application; it is also included in lodgement-confirmation emails. Cannot link a visa granted overseas — overseas-granted visas can usually still be linked if you have the visa grant number and passport details; check the Department's published linking guidance for the visa subclass. For all unresolved issues the Department publishes its current contact channels (online enquiry form, phone, postal) at homeaffairs.gov.au.

When ImmiAccount Is Enough and When You Need a Migration Agent

For straightforward visa applications with clear eligibility and no complicating factors, lodging through ImmiAccount directly is workable. Visitor visa applications (Subclass 600 and the ETA Subclass 601), simple student visa renewals, and resident return visa applications with clean travel histories are typical examples where DIY through ImmiAccount succeeds for most applicants. The portal walks through the questions, the documentation requirements are well-documented, and the Department's online help is usually sufficient. Where ImmiAccount works less well is in complex cases. Prior visa refusals that must be addressed; character or health issues; complex relationship evidence for partner visas; skills assessment disputes; ART (Administrative Review Tribunal) appeals after a refusal; employer sponsorship applications involving multiple parties; cases close to the points-test invitation threshold where every point matters. In these cases a registered migration agent can be added to your ImmiAccount through Form 956A and handle the application strategy, evidence preparation and correspondence on your behalf. The agent uses the same ImmiAccount portal — what they add is professional judgement, accountability under the MARA Code of Conduct, and experience with how the Department actually assesses the visa category. ImmiAccount is the platform; the question is whether you have what the platform needs you to bring.

What is the ImmiAccount login URL?

The official ImmiAccount login URL is online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login, or you can access it from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au by selecting the ImmiAccount link. Bookmark either page rather than typing the URL each time — phishing pages mimicking ImmiAccount have appeared in search results and email scams, so going through your bookmark or the official Home Affairs site is safer than clicking links in unsolicited emails.

Is ImmiAccount free?

Yes. Creating and using an ImmiAccount is free. The charges you pay through ImmiAccount are the visa application charges set by the Department for each visa subclass — the platform itself does not charge a fee.

Can I use the same ImmiAccount for multiple visa applications?

Yes. A single ImmiAccount can hold multiple applications and multiple linked existing visas. The dashboard shows all of them. This is useful when, for example, you lodge a new visa application while still holding a current visa, or when you have applications for multiple family members under one primary ImmiAccount.

Do I need a migration agent to use ImmiAccount?

No. ImmiAccount is designed to be used directly by visa applicants. For straightforward applications many applicants lodge successfully without an agent. For complex cases — prior refusals, character or health issues, complex relationship evidence, ART appeals — a registered migration agent can be added to your ImmiAccount through Form 956A to handle the application on your behalf.

Can I share my ImmiAccount login with a family member or agent?

Sharing your password is not the intended way to give others access. For family applications, the primary applicant lodges the application that includes other family members. For a migration agent or authorised recipient, the formal route is Form 956A (registered migration agent) or Form 956 (authorised recipient). Sharing your password creates accountability problems if something goes wrong with the application.

Is ImmiAccount the same as VEVO?

No. ImmiAccount is for lodging and managing visa applications. VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) is a separate portal for confirming the status of a granted visa — typically used by visa holders, their employers, landlords, banks and other third parties to verify visa conditions and work rights. The two portals serve different purposes and have separate sign-in flows.

Can I lodge any Australian visa through ImmiAccount?

Most Australian visa subclasses are lodged through ImmiAccount, but not all. Some humanitarian and refugee visa applications, certain Ministerial intervention requests, and a small number of specialised applications still require paper forms or alternative channels. The Department's visa-listing pages at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au identify the correct lodgement channel for each visa subclass.

Is there an ImmiAccount app?

No — ImmiAccount is browser-based. There is no consumer ImmiAccount mobile app. The portal works on mobile browsers but most applicants find it easier on a desktop, particularly for document uploads. Home Affairs publishes two unrelated apps that are sometimes confused with an 'ImmiAccount app': the Australian Immi App is used for passport-chip and identity checks tied to a specific application; myVEVO is the mobile version of VEVO for checking an existing visa. Neither lodges a visa application — for that, use the ImmiAccount portal in a browser.