Form 1243i - Personal information identifiers

Sep 18, 2026

Form 1243i explains the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s authority to collect personal identifiers from non-citizens in specific circumstances, including visa applicants, persons entering Australia, and people in immigration detention. It describes what identifiers may be requested, how they may be collected and protected, and how they can be used to support identity decisions. The form also outlines limits for minors and incapable persons and references related safeguarding information in Form 993i.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Personal identifier collection authority

What personal identifiers can be required

How identifiers are obtained

Special provisions for minors and incapable persons

Your personal identifying information Form 1243i This information form explains the authority of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (the department) to collect your personal information. It outlines why a personal 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 information form should be read in conjunction with form 993i Safeguarding your personal information. The department has authority under the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) to collect a range of personal identifiers from non-citizens in certain circumstances, including visa applicants and persons entering Australia, other non-citizens in Australia and persons in immigration detention. Detailed information specifically for persons in immigration detention can be obtained from form 1247i Information to be provided to a detainee about Identification Tests. The department also has the authority under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (the Australian Citizenship Act) to collect a range of personal identifiers from persons applying for Australian citizenship and evidence of Australian citizenship, seeking renunciation of their Australian citizenship, and for persons sitting the citizenship test. What personal identifiers can the department require? The Migration Act and the Australian Citizenship Act authorises the collection of one or more personal identifiers from non-citizens and citizenship applicants in a range of circumstances. Personal identifiers are defined as: • a photograph or other image of a person’s face and shoulders; • a person’s signature; • a measurement of a person’s height and weight; • fingerprints or handprints of a person; • an audio or a video recording of a person (Migration Act only) ; • an iris scan; • any other personal identifier prescribed in the regulations (provided it is not an identifier that would involve the carrying out of an intimate forensic procedure and provided it meets the description of an image, measurement or recording of an external part of the body) . This definition does not include DNA samples. Under the Australian Citizenship Act, a person seeking to sit the citizenship test must provide a photograph to the department or allow a photograph to be taken of them. Otherwise under the Australian Citizenship Act, a person is not obliged to provide a personal identifier to the department following a request for one. However, the information from a personal identifier can be used by the Minister to make a decision about a person’s identity. The Minister must not approve a person becoming an Australian citizen unless the Minister is satisfied of the person’s identity. If an applicant fails to provide person identifiers requested, the Minister may not be able to be satisfied of the applicant’s identity. How will the department obtain your personal identifier? As at the date of publication of this form, photos and signatures will continue to be the main personal identifiers collected from most visa applicants, who will generally be able to provide these personal identifiers to the department by attaching a photograph to the visa application form and signing it. For some visa applications no personal identifiers will be required, while from some non-citizens additional personal identifiers may be required. As at the date of publication of this form, all citizenship applications will continue to request photographs and signatures as the main types of personal identifiers. Citizenship applicants will generally be able to provide these personal identifiers to the department by attaching an endorsed photograph to the application, and then signing the application. Special provisions for minors and incapable persons (visa applicants only) • A minor who is aged under 15 years or an incapable person* cannot be required under the Migration Act to provide a personal identifier other than a photograph or

FAQs

What authority does the department have to collect personal identifiers?

The department is authorised under the Migration Act 1958 and the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to collect personal identifiers in specified circumstances, including for visa applicants and citizenship-related processes.

Which personal identifiers may be required from a person?

Personal identifiers can include photographs or images, signatures, height and weight measurements, fingerprints or handprints, certain audio/video recordings, iris scans, and other prescribed identifiers of external body parts. DNA samples are excluded.

Are there special rules for minors or incapable persons?

Yes. Under the Migration Act, a minor under 15 or an incapable person generally cannot be required to provide identifiers other than a face/shoulders image or height/weight measurement. During identification tests, a parent/guardian or independent person must be present, and consent may be required in some cases.

Sep 18, 2026

Upload by Emma Mercer