PIC 4020: I Lied About My Identity on My Visa Application

When applying for a new Australian visa, there is one rule every applicant must meet: the honesty test, commonly known as Public Interest Criteria (PIC) 4020. While PIC4020 covers false and misleading information, its most serious aspect concerns identity. If the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) believes you have lied about who you are, the consequences can last for a decade.

What Is an Identity Lie?

Lying about your identity is not just about using a completely fake name. DoHA considers any of the following to be an identity breach under PIC4020:

Using a fake name or an alias you haven’t disclosed.
Providing a false date of birth.
Hiding your true nationality or citizenship.
Using a passport that was not legally issued to you.
Hiding the fact that you have used a different identity for an Australian visa in the past.

PIC4020 Consequence for Identity Lie: The 10-Year Ban

For most false information, like a fake employment reference, the consequence under PIC4020 is a 3-year ban on being granted another visa.

However, if the lie is about your identity, the law is much stricter. If you are refused a visa because DoHA is not satisfied with your identity, you will face a 10-year visa ban. For 10 years, you and any members of the family unit (MoFU) included in your application will likely be unable to obtain almost any Australian visa.

PIC4020: One Fails, All Fail Rule

If you are applying for a visa as a family, for example, a husband, wife and children, and only one person lies about their identity, the entire family’s visa is refused. Even if the others were honest, one person's identity fraud would affect the entire application and trigger a visa ban for everyone.

How does the Department find identity fraud?

Many people think they can hide their past by changing their name or getting a new passport. However, DoHA has the technology to find the truth:

Your fingerprints and facial scans are checked; even if you change your name, your fingerprints remain the same.
Australia shares migration information with many other countries, including the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand. If you used a different name in another country, Australia could find it out.
The Department has experts who can determine whether a passport or birth certificate has been altered or is counterfeit.

Can a PIC4020 Refusal Due to Identity be Fixed?

There is no waiver option for a PIC4020 refusal due to identity fraud. Get professional guidance from an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law on what you can do next for your visa application.

Read:

What if I Already Made a Mistake?

If you have already lodged a visa application with incorrect identity details, do not wait for the Department to discover your mistakes. Withdrawing the application or correcting the record before DoHA finds the error is a complex legal strategy that requires professional assistance. Once the Department sends you a Natural Justice (S57) letter under PIC4020, your options become very limited.

Read our clients’ testimonials on Agape Henry Crux and Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, Jason Ling.

How Can Agape Henry Crux Help

A single lie about your name, age, or past can result in a 10-year ban that separates you from your family and career in Australia. If you have concerns about your identity history, the only safe path is to seek legal advice and be honest with the Department. Get tailored professional advice from Jason Ling or Angela De Silva by scheduling an appointment at Agape Henry Crux for your complex immigration matter. You can book a consultation with us by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing us at info@ahclawyers.com.

We speak fluent English and Mandarin. If this isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.

Our founder and principal lawyer, Jason Ling, is recognised in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™ and the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™. Agape Henry Crux is named as Best Immigration Law Firm 2025 - Sydney by APAC Insider Awards and the 2027 edition of The Best Law Firms™ - Australia.

This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.

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