Visa Information

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:

NB: Eligibility for an eVisitor visa and ETA will be determined by the country of passport that the applicant holds.

Visitor (subclass 600) Business visa applicants should include as much information as possible to support their visa applications (see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/business-visitor-stream#HowTo).  In addition, visa applicants should include the following information:

  • 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 of this type/nature.

A speaker, presenter, exhibitor, or other contributor 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:

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.

NB: 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.

NB: These are the visa options available presently but the Department reserves the right to change regulations.

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

Health and Character Requirements:

Most visa applicants must meet minimum health standards before they can be granted ​a visa, and the department may assess your health as part of the visa application process.  This is referred to as ‘meeting the health requirement’.  For more information regarding health requirements please see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health

Applicants must be of good character to visa Australia, and must meet the character requirements in order to be granted ​a visa.  For further information regarding character requirements please see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/character

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

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 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.

NB: IECN assistance will NOT guarantee a visa grant. Visa applicants must demonstrate that they meet all the legislative requirements for an Australian visa.

To assist timely processing by Australia’s visa offices overseas, you can complete the attached bio-data collection sheet as event participants are invited to your event and email it to: iecn@homeaffairs.gov.au

NB: In accordance with Australia’s Privacy Act 1988, any information an event organiser or participant provides to the IECN will only be used to facilitate visa processing with the relevant Australian visa office overseas.  

Travellers should familiarise themselves with Australia’s border and entry requirements.  For further information, see ‘Entering and leaving Australia’ at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/entering-australia

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