Visa Options
Letters of Invitation
Please complete your registration online to receive your letter of invitation. Invitations will be issued automatically as part of the registration confirmation process.
Visa Types
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).
If you are planning to visit Australia for a business event such as a conference, trade fair, seminar or expo, there may be different visa options available to you. The appropriate visa will depend, amongst other things, on your purpose for visiting Australia.
To explore visa options and get information on visa’s appropriate for you, visit the Department of Home Affairs website and answer a few short questions.
Visa Options
Participants, attendees and speakers that WILL NOT BE working, performing or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:
1. Visitor (subclass 600)(Business stream) visa
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/business-visitor-stream
2. Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601)
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601
3. eVisitor (subclass 651)(Business Stream) visa
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651
Participants, speakers, exhibitors and other contributors 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:
1. Temporary Activity (subclass 408)(Invited Participant) visa (where there is an inviting Australian organisation). 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.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-activity-408/invited-for-other-social-and-cultural-activity
2. Temporary Work (subclass 400)(Short Stay Specialist) visa (where there is no inviting Australian organisation)
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-work-400
Things to consider before lodging an application
Entering and leaving Australia
Travellers should familiarise themselves with Australia’s border and entry requirements. For further information, see ‘Entering and leaving Australia’ at: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/entering-and-leaving-australia
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, 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: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/biometrics
Invitation and registration to attend the event
Although this is a separate process to lodging your visa application, when assessing whether you meet the criteria for the grant of a visa, the department may take into account whether you are registered or were invited to attend the event.
Confirmation of registration, or a copy of your letter of invitation, should accompany visa applications. For online subclass 400 and subclass 600 applications, information about documents that need to be attached will be provided as part of the application process.
To request a letter of invitation please contact the secretariat.
Visa Applications and 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.
More information about visa processing times please see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/overview.
For this reason, we would advise that visa applications be lodged at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to a person’s intended date of travel.
TENSYMP 2023 