Visa information

Learn more information about visa applications if you are travelling from overseas.

The Department of Home Affairs advises that congress participants should apply for their visa’s at least 8 weeks prior to their intended dates of travel.

Visa applications

Under Australia’s universal visa system, all visitors to Australia must have a valid visa to travel to and enter Australia (other than New Zealand passport holders who will normally be granted a Special Category visa on arrival, provided they meet health and character requirements; and permanent residents of Norfolk Island who may be granted a Permanent Resident of Norfolk Island visa on arrival).

There are many visa options available to people wishing to visit Australia. The appropriate visa option will depend, amongst other things, on the person’s purpose for visiting Australia.

Invitation letter

The Congress Manager can provide invitation letter to those who require it for visas processes. Please forward a copy of your registration confirmation email and receipt of registration payment to Lucy and request for the invitation letter.

Types of Visa

As a participants/ attendees/ speakers/ exhibitors

If you are planning to visit Australia to attend a business event such as a conference, seminar, trade fair or expo as a participant or an attendee (that is, you will not be working, entertaining, or being paid to contribute), you may be eligible for one of the following Visitor visas. Eligibility for an eVisitor visa and ETA will be determined by the country of passport that the applicant holds.

Visitor (subclass 600)(Business stream) visa. For more information see, please click here.
Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). For eligible passport holders and more information, please view here.
eVisitor (subclass 651)(Business Stream) visa. For eligible passport holders and more information see, please click here.

Attendees, speakers and exhibitors that will be working, or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible to apply for one of the following visa options:

Temporary Activity (subclass 408)(Invited Participant) visa (where there is an inviting Australian organisation). For more information, please view here.Please note that a the letter of support from an Australian organisation is a legislative requirement for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408)(Invited Participant) visa.
Temporary Work (subclass 400)(Short Stay Specialist) visa (where there is no inviting Australian organisation). For more information, please click here.

Exhibitors working at an event which targets a specific industry, and which does not involve selling goods or services directly to the public, may also be eligible for the Visitor visa options provided above.

As a Media

Journalists or other media personnel travelling to Australia to cover an event, at the invitation of an Australian organisation, and where the production or broadcast is intended for Australian audiences may be eligible to apply for a:

Temporary Activity (subclass 408)(Entertainment) visa. For more information, please view here.

Journalists or other media personnel travelling to Australia to cover an event, where the production/broadcast is not intended for Australian audiences may be eligible to apply for a:

Temporary Work (subclass 400)(Short Stay Specialist) visa. For more information, please refer to this page.

Visas for Accompanying Family Members

Accompanying family members of congress delegates may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:

Visitor (subclass 600)(Tourist stream) visa. For more information, please click here.
Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). For more information, including eligible passport holders, please refer to this page.
e Visitor (subclass 651)(Tourist Stream) visa. For more information, including eligible passport holders, please view here.

Visas for minors or persons under 18 years of age

The Department of Home Affairs must be satisfied when assessing visa applications for minors (applicants under the age of 18 at time of visa application) of parental consent from all responsible parent(s) or guardian(s) to the grant of an Australian visa. Form 1229 – Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years, will be required to be submitted as part of the application for a visa as evidence of this consent. Form 1257 – Undertaking declaration, will also be required for a person nominated as a person responsible for the support and general welfare of a person under 18 years of age. Minors who are travelling without their parent and/or guardian may need to provide additional documentation with their visa application, even if they are travelling with other family members. For further information please click here to read more and this page.

General information for visa applicants

Applying for a visa

Visa application forms are available on the Department’s website and many applications can be lodged online. Details about how to apply are included in the information about the particular visa you wish to apply for. A list of visas is available on the Department’s website.

Supporting Documents

Please note that it is the responsibility of the applicant to lodge a complete visa application including all required documents. The department may decide a visa application without requesting further information from the applicant. Applicants must include as much information as possible to support their applications including:

Attendees and Speakers documents:

Applicants should tell the department what business visitor activities they plan to do in Australia by providing:

an invitation from a host organisation (Please forward a copy of your registration confirmation email and receipt of registration payment to Lucy and request for the Invitation letter)
conference registration details
a letter from your employer stating why you are visiting
your plans for your stay and details of your Australian business contacts
proof of your current employment and professional qualifications
evidence your company is an active business, such as an annual report
evidence of prior contact with Australian businesses

Conference participants applying for the Visitor (subclass 600) Business stream visa should provide additional information and documents to support their visa applications including, but not limited to:

evidence of any international travel outside of their own country (for example, copies of visas and passport pages containing entry and departure stamps)
information and evidence of attendance at similar events, conferences, or congresses of this type
evidence of family composition overseas
information and evidence of any property or assets they have in their own country.

Visitors Visa Documents

Applicants should provide as much proof as possible to show they are visiting Australia as a temporary visitor only:

proof they have enough money for their stay, and to leave Australia, such as:
- itemised personal bank statements showing a 3 month period
- pay slips
- audited accounts
- tax records
- term deposits
- credit card statements
the applicant’s plans while in Australia.

Applicants should show the department that they are a genuine visitor and have reasons to return home by providing:

a letter from their employer stating they expect them to return to their job
proof they are enrolled at a school, college or university in their home country
proof they have close family members in their home country
evidence of their right to return to their home country
proof they own property or other assets in their home country

Health and character requirements

All visa applicants must be assessed against Australia’s health and character requirements. These requirements are designed to protect the safety and security of the Australian community.

Health Requirements

As part of the visa application process you may be required to undertake a medical examination, chest x-ray and/or other health checks.
The Department will advise you of the applicable health checks (if any), based on your individual circumstances. Information on health checks which may apply to you is available on the Department’s website.

Character Requirements

As part of your visa application, you might be required to provide a police clearance certificate or other evidence to satisfy character requirements. Information about character requirements and police certificate requirements is available on the Department’s website.

Biometrics collection

Visa applicants outside of Australia will need to provide biometrics when they apply for a visa that is part of the Australian biometrics program, or where they are from a country, or located in a country at time of application that is part of the Australian biometrics program.

For information regarding Australia’s biometric program including visas and countries that are part of the program, please see here.

Visa processing times

Visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and actual processing times can vary due to individual circumstances including:

whether the applicant has lodged a complete application, including all necessary supporting documents and paid associated visa application charges
how promptly the applicant responds to any requests for additional information
how long it takes to perform required checks on the supporting information provided
how long it takes to receive information from external agencies, particularly in relation to health, character, and national security requirements
when the application is lodged taking the current global visa processing times into account

Processing times are impacted each month by cases that are complex, changes to volume of applications and changes to Ministerial Directions. More information about visa processing times please refer here. For this reason, we would advise that visa applications be lodged at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to a person’s intended date of travel.

Immigration clearance requirements

On arrival in Australia, you must identify yourself, present your travel documents, and complete an Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). The IPC requires travellers to declare their health status and any prior criminal convictions (amongst other declarations). If you do not meet immigration clearance requirements, you may be refused entry to Australia. Information about Australia’s immigration clearance processes is available on the Department’s website.

Obligations of visa holders

Visa holders must comply with their visa validity and visa conditions while in Australia. When granted an Australian visa, they are issued with a visa grant notice that explains the conditions of the visa, including the approved period of stay in Australia and entry requirements. A visa may be cancelled if the visa holder breaches any of the conditions of the visa. Visa holders should carry a copy of their visa grant notice when travelling for their own reference. It is the visa holder’s responsibility to be aware of, and abide by, any conditions of the visa as explained in the visa grant notification. This includes the number of entries to Australia permitted under their visa, and the period of time they can remain in Australia. If the visa ceases while the holder is still in Australia, the holder will become an unlawful non-citizen and may be detained and removed from Australia. The visa holder may also be subject to an exclusion period, which could prevent further travel to Australia for a specified time.

Travel sanctions

For information on countries subject to travel sanctions, please refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) website. Nationals of these countries may not be permitted to travel to and enter Australia. For further information about travel sanctions, please refer to this page.

COVID-19 and the border travel restrictions and exemptions

For the latest information regarding travel restrictions and exemptions, please visit this link.