Visa information
Visa Options for International Delegates
This is a general guide outlining the most common visa options for participants travelling to Australia to attend business events, conferences, and Congresses.
There are many visa options available to those wishing to visit Australia. The appropriate visa will depend, among other things, on the purpose of the visit.
To ensure you choose the correct visa, please use the official Visa Finder on the Department of Home Affairs website. This tool will guide you through the options and help you identify the most suitable visa for your situation.
Visa Options for Conference Delegates
Attendees and speakers
Attendees and speakers that will not be working, performing or otherwise be paid to contribute at the congress may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:
Visitor (subclass 600)(Business stream) visa. For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/business-visitor-stream
- Online visa application
- AUD$150 visa application charge (VAC)
- Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
- Applicants must have a supporting letter from an International Society/Association or conference organisers providing the reasons for the visit
- Applicants must satisfy visa criteria and requirements. For information regarding supporting documents to be provided with this visa application see the information provided at the end of this document under the heading ‘Supporting documents’.
Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). For more information, including eligible passport holders, see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic- travel-authority-601
- Apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. For more information, see the ‘step by step’ guide on the ETA webpage as provided above
- AUD$20 service provider charge
- There is no VAC Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
- Applicants must have an eligible passport to apply for an ETA.
e Visitor (subclass 651)(Tourist Stream) visa. For more information, including eligible passport holders, see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651
- Online visa application
- There is no VAC, or service provider charges
- Applicants must have a supporting letter from an International Society/Association or conference organisers providing the reasons for the visit
- Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
- Applicants must have an eligible passport to apply for an eVisitor visa.
Attendees and speakers that will be working, performing or otherwise be paid to contribute at the congress may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:
Temporary Activity (subclass 408)(Invited Participant) visa (where there is an inviting Australian organisation). For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-activity-408/invited-for- other-social-and-cultural-activity
- Online visa application
- AUD$325 VAC
- Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
- Applicants must be invited by an Australian organisation to participate in an event , and must provide a letter of support from an Australian organisation
Temporary Work (subclass 400)(Short Stay Specialist) visa (where there is no inviting Australian organisation). For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-work-400
- Online visa application
- AUD$325 VAC
- Applicants must have a contract or other proof of their engagement
- Applicants must have access to enough money to support themselves and any dependents who travel with them during their stay in Australia
Foreign Government Representatives
Foreign government representatives may be eligible for the Visitor visa options as provided for conference delegates.
The visa application charge (VAC) for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) may be waived for an applicant who applies in the course of acting as a representative of a foreign government and provides the department with supporting evidence. In most cases, such persons will identify themselves at time of application by presenting a diplomatic, or official, passport, however applicants can also provide other types of supporting evidence, such as a third person note of support from their government.
Exhibitors and Retail Vendors
For some specialised conferences that are not open to the general public, international exhibitors may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:
Visitor (subclass 600)(Business stream) visa. For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/business-visitor-stream
- Online visa application
- AUD$150 visa application charge (VAC)
- Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
- Applicants must have a supporting letter from an International Society/Association or conference organisers providing the reasons for the visit
- Applicants must satisfy visa criteria and requirements. For information regarding supporting documents to be provided with this visa application see the information provided at the end of this document under the heading ‘Supporting documents’.
Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). For more information, including eligible passport holders, see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic- travel-authority-601
- Apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. For more information, see the ‘step by step’ guide on the ETA webpage as provided above
- AUD$20 service provider charge. There is no VAC
- Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
- Applicants must have an eligible passport to apply for an ETA.
e Visitor (subclass 651)(Tourist Stream) visa. For more information, including eligible passport holders, see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651
- Online visa application
- There is no VAC, or service provider charges
- Applicants must have a supporting letter from an International Society/Association or conference organisers providing the reasons for the visit
- Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
- Applicants must have an eligible passport to apply for an eVisitor visa.
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 see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-activity- 408/entertainment-activities
- Online visa application
- AUD$325 VAC
- Applicants must have a contract or other proof of their engagement
- Applicants must provide evidence that their sponsor or supporter has consulted with the
- relevant union or unions before engaging the applicant
- Applicants must have access to enough money to support themselves and any dependents who travel with them during their stay in Australia
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 see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-work-400
- Online visa application
- AUD$325 VAC
- Applicants must have a contract or other proof of their work engagement
- Applicants must have access to enough money to support yourself and any dependents who travel with you during your stay in Australia
- Applicants must satisfy other criteria and requirements for this visa
Biometrics
Visa applicants outside of Australia will need to provide biometrics when they apply for a visa that is part of the Australian biometrics program, and are from a country, 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: Biometrics
Health and Character Requirements
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.
Visa Application Process and Processing Times
Processing times may be impacted by changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, complex cases, and incomplete applications.
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 additional 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
Visa applications should be lodged at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to an event participant’s intended date of travel to Australia.
For more details regarding supporting documents and other visa options, please refer to this.