Here is an actionable, step-by-step compliance guide for generating a BPAY invoice inside the Australian Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount portal.

When you reach the final submission page for an Australian visa application on ImmiAccount, the standard default reaction is to reach for a credit or debit card.

However, paying via card triggers a mandatory 1.40% card surcharge fee. On a major application like a Subclass 500 Student Visa or a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa, that markup adds up quickly.

To avoid the extra fee, many applicants select BPAY—Australia’s electronic bill payment system. Choosing BPAY switches your application state to generate a dedicated tax invoice complete with a unique Biller Code and Customer Reference Number (CRN).

Here is exactly how to safely generate your BPAY invoice and process the payment without breaking your visa timeline.

1. The 3-Day Red Zone Rule

Before choosing this payment path, you must check your calendar. BPAY payments take up to three business days to clear between your financial institution and the Department of Home Affairs. Your visa application is not legally valid until the funds completely clear.

Do NOT use BPAY if:

• Your current substantive visa expires in the next 3 days.
• You are up against a strict application deadline.
• You are applying for a Bridging Visa and intend to travel internationally within the next 7 days.

2. Step-by-Step: How to Generate and Find Your BPAY Details

If you have ample time left on your current visa, use this sequence to transition your digital file into an official invoice document:

The Invoice Generation Sequence

1.Select BPAY on the ImmiAccount Payment Screen: Application Checkout.

Navigate through your completed application pages and click Submit. When the secure checkout portal loads displaying the final fee summary, bypass the credit card fields and select the radio button marked BPAY.

2.Record Your Unique Biller Code and Reference Number: Data Capture.

The system will immediately refresh to display a temporary invoice block. Do not close your browser tab. Carefully copy the BPAY Biller Code (usually 141689 for Home Affairs) and your highly specific, multi-digit Customer Reference Number (CRN).

3.Locate Your Printed PDF via ‘My Payments’: Document Retrieval.

If you lose your screen placement or want a copy for your records, go to the top dashboard menu of ImmiAccount. Click the My Payments drop-down tab, select Manage Payments, and search for your transaction.

4.Execute ‘Print Invoice’ Under the Actions Tab: Invoice PDF Generation.

Locate your application ledger line, which will display a yellow status tag reading “Awaiting Payment.” Look to the right side of the screen, click the Actions button, and select Print Invoice to download your official PDF bill summary.

3. How to Process the BPAY Invoice via Your Bank

Once you have generated the paper slip or recorded the credentials, you must push the payment through an Australian financial institution (either your own account or a trusted family member’s local account).

1. Log into your Australian mobile banking app or internet banking portal.
2. Select Pay Bills or the dedicated BPAY transfer feature.
3. Input the Biller Code and paste your unique Reference Number exactly as written on the ImmiAccount PDF. Do not input any additional letters or application text into the reference field.
4. Input the exact AUD invoice value down to the cent and hit submit.

Clearing Times & Troubleshooting Status Tags

What to do if you change your mind: If you generate a BPAY invoice but later realize you are running out of time and need to pay instantly via credit card, do not panic. Simply return to the Manage Payments view in ImmiAccount, track down the item listed as “Awaiting Payment,” select Actions -> Make Payment, and choose a card instead. This will instantly override the invoice and allow you to pay immediately.