Australian Department of Home Affairs

What Australian Department of Home Affairs does

The Australian Department of Home Affairs is a Commonwealth government department established in December 2017 through the consolidation of the former Department of Immigration and Border Protection with emergency management and national security functions. Headquartered in Canberra, ACT, it employs approximately 15,000 staff across immigration, customs, citizenship, cybersecurity, and emergency management mandates, and coordinates a broader Home Affairs Portfolio that includes the Australian Border Force, National Emergency Management Agency, Australian Federal Police, ASIO, AUSTRAC, and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. Its digital platform comprises ImmiAccount (central visa and citizenship application portal), VEVO (real-time visa verification for employers and education providers), the myVEVO mobile app, the Immi App (now available in 34 countries for biometric and passport submission), and the Document Verification Service, with biometric facial recognition deployed across the Global Entry Program and the South Africa citizenship reinstatement portal.

The Department is funded primarily through parliamentary appropriations and supplements this through Visa Application Charges, citizenship application fees, and sponsorship/nomination fees, with a recent doubling of the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) fee from AUD $2,300 to AUD $4,600 effective March 2026. It serves multiple customer segments including international visa applicants, Australian citizens, sponsoring employers, education providers, travellers, and multicultural communities, distributing services directly via digital portals, overseas offices, embassies and consulates, and channel partners including VFS Global and Bupa Medical Visa Services. Its mandate continues to widen with new regulatory authority over critical infrastructure cybersecurity (including mandatory AI incident reporting from April 2026) and the establishment of the Cyber Incident Review Board in May 2026, positioning it as Australia's central authority for immigration, border security, and increasingly, national cyber resilience.

Name

Australian Department of Home Affairs

Legal name

Department of Home Affairs (Commonwealth of Australia)

Website

https://homeaffairs.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Australian Department of Home Affairs is a Commonwealth government department headquartered in Canberra that manages immigration, border security, customs, citizenship, cybersecurity, and emergency management, serving visa applicants, citizens, employers, and travellers through digital platforms including ImmiAccount, VEVO, and a global office network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Immigration and Border Security Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (92812), Public Administration (92)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigration, Citizenship & Border Administration (Civil) (BPAIAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Health & Border Health Authorities (including quarantine stations) (HLAJAAAF), Visa, Immigration Liaison & Travel Document Policy (Foreign Affairs) (BPAIAIAL), International Student Advising & Compliance (SEVIS/UKVI/IRCC) (EDALANAA)

Keywords

• Immigration processing services
• Border security enforcement
• Citizenship administration
• Customs and biosecurity
• National cybersecurity policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Visa Application Charges: The department collects visa application fees (VAC) for processing visa applications across all visa subclasses. These fees vary by visa type and are non-refundable if the application is refused.
2. Government Budget Allocation: Funded through annual government appropriations for border security, immigration, customs, and national security functions
3. Citizenship Fees: Fees collected for citizenship applications, including certificate corrections and processing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Australian Department of Home Affairs is the Commonwealth agency responsible for managing Australia's immigration, citizenship, customs and border security functions. It administers visa processing, citizenship applications, border enforcement, critical infrastructure protection and multicultural affairs through the ImmiAccount digital platform, VEVO verification system, overseas offices, and contracted service partners. The department also coordinates national security, cybersecurity policy, and emergency management across its portfolio agencies.

Product overview

The Australian Department of Home Affairs operates a comprehensive digital services platform for immigration, citizenship, border security, and national security functions. The core platform consists of ImmiAccount, a unified online portal for visa and citizenship applications, complemented by specialized services including VEVO for real-time visa verification, the Visa Finder tool for applicant guidance, and the myVEVO mobile app. The department's product suite includes the ImmiCard for visa holder identification, the APEC Business Travel Card for business travellers, and TIS National/Free Translating Service for language support. Biometric-based offerings include the Global Entry Program using facial recognition, the Document Verification Service (DVS), and Face Matching Services for national security. The Border Watch program enables community reporting of suspicious border activity. Recent additions include an online citizenship reinstatement portal for South Africa and expansion of the Immi App to 34 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ImmiAccount: Online portal for visa and citizenship applications
• VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online)
• Border Watch
• ImmiCard
• myVEVO
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
• Free Translating Service

Products and services

• ImmiAccount Online portal allowing visa and citizenship applicants to create accounts, submit applications, track status, upload documents, and communicate with the Department. Used by individuals, employers, education providers and registered organisations.
• Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) Free online service allowing visa holders, employers, education providers and other organisations to check visa details and conditions in real-time. Used to verify work rights and visa entitlements.
• Immi App Mobile application allowing visa applicants to submit biometric and passport details via smartphones. Available in 34 countries, enabling remote visa application submissions without visiting a biometrics centre.
• Visa Finder Online tool helping visa applicants explore visa options suited to their circumstances, including work, study, family, and travel visas. Provides a guided question flow to recommend appropriate visa subclasses.
• Border Watch Community reporting program for suspicious immigration, customs and border-related activity including immigration fraud, customs violations, and human trafficking. Allows anonymous reporting through online form or phone.
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) Free 24/7 interpreting service available at 131 450 for non-English speakers communicating with government agencies and businesses. Operates under the Department.
• Free Translating Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Australia's international education exports valued at AUD $50 billion annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cyber Incident Review BoardcoreOthers · 7 May 2026Seven-member board established to conduct no-fault post-incident reviews of significant cybersecurity incidents, drawing on lessons to strengthen national resilience. Includes chair Narelle Devine from Telstra.
• Australian Border Force (ABF)coreOthersABF is an operational agency under the Home Affairs portfolio responsible for border enforcement, customs, and immigration detention. Works closely with the department on visa cancellation, compliance, and border security operations.
• National Emergency Management AgencycoreOthersNEMA is the federal agency responsible for coordinating disaster response and emergency management, operating under the Home Affairs portfolio.
• Australian Federal PolicecoreOthersAFP operates as a portfolio agency providing law enforcement services including counter-terrorism, transnational crime, and international police cooperation related to immigration matters.
• Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)coreOthersASIO is Australia's intelligence agency operating within the portfolio, responsible for detecting and preventing espionage, foreign interference, and terrorism threats.
• Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)coreOthersAUSTRAC is the financial intelligence unit operating under the portfolio, responsible for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
• Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)coreOthersACIC operates under the portfolio, providing criminal intelligence and supporting law enforcement operations.
• Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC)coreOthersCISC operates under the department to protect Australia's critical infrastructure from cyber threats, managing reporting obligations under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018.
• AusCheckcoreOthersAusCheck is a statutory agency under the department helping to treat trusted-insider risks in Australia's security-sensitive critical infrastructure sectors.
• Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA)coreOthersOMARA regulates migration agents in Australia, protecting consumers of migration advice services. Operates under the department's portfolio.
• Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF)coreOthersPSPF sets Australian Government policy across six security domains and operates under the department's oversight.
• Bupa Medical Visa ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBupa contracted as the migration medical services provider for processing health examinations of visa applicants within Australia.
• VFS GlobalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party service provider contracted to operate Australian Biometrics Collection Centres in many countries, collecting biometric data for visa applications.
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTIS National provides free interpreting services for people who do not speak English, operating under the department. Available at 131 450.
• Australian Red CrossminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered for distributing emergency financial assistance to people affected by the Hamas-Israel conflict (AUD $3 million between April 2024 and June 2025).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA): Singapore statutory board operating immigration, citizenship, and border checkpoint control. Highly digital (MyICA, eIAP) and a benchmark for biometric border processing relevant to the Department's Immi App and Global Entry Program.
• Japan Immigration Services Agency: Japanese agency under the Ministry of Justice handling residence, border control, and refugee recognition. Comparable in scope of residence/visa categories and recent digital transformation of application workflows.
• New Zealand Immigration (INZ): New Zealand's business unit within MBIE managing visa applications, residence, and border processing. Closest geographical peer, with comparable skilled migrant category (Skilled Migrant Category vs Australia's points-tested visas) and shared labour mobility under trans-Tasman arrangements.

Direct peers

• UK Home Office: British ministerial department responsible for immigration, passports, border security, counter-terrorism, and cyber policy. Operates UK Visas and Immigration and is the closest functional equivalent in a Five Eyes partner country.
• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA): Canadian agency managing border enforcement, customs, and detention — parallel to the Australian Border Force within the Home Affairs portfolio. Both are bundled into the same parent department as immigration policy and visa processing.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: U.S. federal department consolidating immigration enforcement (USCIS, ICE, CBP), border security, customs, and cybersecurity (CISA). Directly comparable in mandate, scale, and cross-agency portfolio structure to the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): U.S. agency within DHS that adjudicates visa petitions, naturalization, and citizenship applications. Closest analogue to the Department's ImmiAccount-driven adjudication function and fee-funded operating model.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): Canadian federal department handling visas, permanent residency, citizenship, and refugee resettlement. Comparable in digital-first application platform (IRCC Portal), Express Entry, and student visa programs aligned with Australian skilled migration streams.
• Germany Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF): German federal agency administering asylum, integration, and migration programs. Comparable in scale and policy exposure to the Department's humanitarian, settlement, and skilled migration functions.
• UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI): Operational arm of the UK Home Office running visa application services, biometric enrolment, and sponsor licensing. Comparable to the Department's ImmiAccount/VEVO platform paired with VFS Global-style outsourced biometrics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/aushomeaffairs
• Facebookfacebook.com/aushomeaffairs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-department-of-home-affairs

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Australian Department of Home Affairs