Who can get an ImmiCard in Australia in 2026 and what does it prove?

According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' ImmiCard eligibility official page and Check visa conditions online (VEVO) official page (as at October 2026), an ImmiCard helps certain visa holders access government services in Australia and is an official travel document that helps eligible visa holders travel to and enter Australia for the first time. If you are in Australia and hold one of a specified list of visas—such as a Bridging (removal pending) visa (subclass 070), a Bridging (Trafficking) visa (060) or a Bridging visa E granted to unauthorised maritime arrivals (subclass 050 or 051)—you may be eligible for an Evidence of Immigration Status ImmiCard; if you are outside Australia as a Refugee and Special Humanitarian Programme visa holder, the Department issues an Australian Migration Status ImmiCard before you travel. Government agencies can use the ImmiCard to check a visa holder's commencement of identity in Australia. This is general information only and is not personalised advice for your circumstances; if your situation depends on your own visa history, check the current official pages or speak to a qualified adviser.

What is the difference between the two types of ImmiCard?

There are two types. The Evidence of Immigration Status ImmiCard is for people who are already in Australia and hold one of the visas on the eligibility list, or who fall into one of two extra groups explained below. The Australian Migration Status ImmiCard is issued to people who are outside Australia as Refugee and Special Humanitarian Programme visa holders; the Department issues it before travel, and once the holder is in Australia they can use the ImmiCard to access government services.

The first type is the one most relevant to people on bridging, trafficking-related or protection-related visas who need to show their status inside Australia. The second type is an offshore travel and status document for humanitarian entrants before their first arrival.

Which visas qualify for an Evidence of Immigration Status ImmiCard?

If you are in Australia, you may be eligible if you hold one of these visas:

The page also states you can apply if you hold a Document for Travel to Australia (DFTTA) or a Visa Evidence Card (PL056) and need to replace it. For people described as undocumented immigration detainees living in the community without a visa, the page says the next step is to talk with their case manager.

What does an ImmiCard actually prove?

The ImmiCard is evidence of your immigration status for the groups listed above. Government agencies can use the ImmiCard to check a visa holder's commencement of identity in Australia, which is the practical reason it helps you access government services when other records are hard to check.

It is also an official travel document that helps eligible visa holders travel to and enter Australia for the first time. It is not a citizenship document: the VEVO page notes that Australian citizens cannot use VEVO to confirm citizenship and instead use a copy of an Australian citizenship certificate or an Australian passport.

How is an ImmiCard different from a VEVO check?

VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) lets visa holders, employers, education providers and other organisations check visa conditions online, and lets visa holders send proof of their conditions to others such as landlords or another country's government. VEVO can only give current information about visa holders whose details are available in the Department's systems.

Some people may not have a searchable VEVO record, including people who migrated to Australia before 1990 and have not travelled out of Australia. The VEVO page says some people may have an ImmiCard issued by the Department, and government agencies can then use the ImmiCard to check a visa holder's commencement of identity in Australia. That is why the card matters for cohorts whose status is not easy to verify online.

What if you migrated to Australia before 1990?

If you migrated to Australia before 1990 and have not travelled overseas since, you may not have an electronic visa record of your permanent visa. The ImmiCard eligibility page refers people in this situation to the Department's Proof of Permanent Residence page for more information. The VEVO page similarly notes that such a person may need to request an electronic record of their permanent visa.

This is a separate issue from the visa list above. A missing electronic record for a pre-1990 permanent resident is about proving permanent residence, not about qualifying for an ImmiCard under the subclasses listed earlier.

How do you use the ImmiCard when dealing with government agencies?

Carry your ImmiCard with your other identity documents. Show the ImmiCard when a government agency asks for evidence of your status. The agency can use the card to check your commencement of identity in Australia. Keep the card in a safe place, because it is your evidence of status. Use it to access the government services you are eligible for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an ImmiCard the same as a visa?

No. The ImmiCard is evidence of immigration status and, for eligible holders, an official travel document that helps them travel to and enter Australia for the first time. It helps certain visa holders access government services in Australia. It does not replace the visa conditions themselves, which can be checked through VEVO where a record exists.

Which bridging visa holders can get an Evidence of Immigration Status ImmiCard?

The list includes a Bridging visa E granted to unauthorised maritime arrivals (subclass 050 or 051), a Bridging (Trafficking) visa (060) and a Bridging (removal pending) visa (subclass 070). Several humanitarian and protection visas are also on the list, such as the Temporary Protection visa (785) and the Safe Haven Enterprise visa (790). Holders of these visas are considered while they are in Australia.

I am outside Australia with a Refugee and Special Humanitarian Programme visa. What card applies to me?

The Department issues an Australian Migration Status ImmiCard before you travel to Australia. Once you are in Australia, you can use that ImmiCard to access government services. This is the offshore card, rather than the Evidence of Immigration Status ImmiCard used by people already in Australia.

Does an ImmiCard prove I am an Australian citizen?

No. The ImmiCard is issued to holders of specific visas and helps them access government services; it is not a citizenship document. Australian citizens prove citizenship with a citizenship certificate or Australian passport, and VEVO cannot be used to confirm citizenship. If you are a permanent resident who migrated before 1990 and have no electronic visa record, the Department points to its Proof of Permanent Residence page instead.

What if I migrated to Australia before 1990 and have no electronic visa record?

You may not have a searchable VEVO record if you migrated before 1990 and have not travelled out of Australia. The ImmiCard eligibility page refers people in this situation to the Proof of Permanent Residence page, and the VEVO page notes you may need to request an electronic record of your permanent visa. That is a separate issue from holding one of the visas that qualify for an ImmiCard.

I hold a Document for Travel to Australia (DFTTA) or a PL056 card. Can I replace it with an ImmiCard?

Yes. The ImmiCard eligibility page says you can apply for an Evidence of Immigration Status ImmiCard if you hold a DFTTA or a Visa Evidence Card (PL056) and need to replace it. This applies to people in Australia. The eligibility section does not set out a general application form for this group beyond the replacement route, so the current process should be confirmed on the official page.

References

• Australian Department of Home Affairs — ImmiCard eligibility
• Australian Department of Home Affairs — Check visa conditions online (VEVO)