Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) officials will proceed with a biometric rollout at immigration detention centres following the signing of a four year contract with Unisys.

The project will use facial recognition and fingerprint scanning technology to authenticate refugees' identity. The project is part of DIMA's AU$50 million biometric security program.

Unisys announced the then-looming contract win in July. However, the company refused to disclose the value of the contract.

The biometrics will be delivered to detention centres first and then extended to refugee validation areas at Australian airports.

Unisys will lead a group of subcontractors on the project consisting: University of Canberra, Daon, the International Biometric Group, Cognitec, NEC, Tactics and Aulich & Co.

The contract follows DIMA's open tender for the biometrics solution in November last year.