Visa Information

Letters of Invitation for Visa applications:

Please complete your registration online to receive your letter of invitation. Invitations will be issued automatically as part of the registration confirmation process.

Visa Options for Conferences, Congresses, Trade Fairs, Seminars of Expos

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:

Participants including 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:

  • 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
  • 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 see: 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 Application Process 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.

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