Important information for international delegates
Visa & ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) Requirements
Before you start planning your trip, you’ll need to obtain a Visa to gain entry into Australia. To make your journey smooth and hassle-free, we've put together this comprehensive guide to help you secure your Conference Visa.
Here's what you need to know:
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for a Visa, you must:
Have a genuine invitation to participate in a conference or seminar in Australia.
Intend to attend the conference for a specific period.
Be of good character and health.
Have sufficient funds to cover your stay in Australia, including accommodation, transportation, and living expenses.
Meet all other relevant criteria as specified by the Department of Home Affairs
Important Tips:
Apply for your visa well in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. We recommend participants should apply for their visa’s prior to the close of early bird registration. This facilitates applicants that may be required to undertake additional applications requirements such as medical checks and biometric collection. Late applications may not permit the applicant to respond to any requests for additional information or attend biometric appointments, and will not provide an opportunity to rectify any visa application problems or discrepancies. Ensuring timely lodgement of visa applications mitigates or reduces the rate of visa applications requiring escalation or visa processing to be expedited.
Ensure your passport has at least six months of validity remaining.
Purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover unexpected events during your stay.
Familiarise yourself with Australian customs and regulations to ensure a smooth entry into the country.
Useful Links:
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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:
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
Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601) Approved visitors from the following countries can apply for a subclass 601 and have no visa fees (small admin charge may apply) – Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican City. For eligible passport holders and more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601
eVisitor (subclass 651)(Business Stream) visa. Approved visitors from the following countries can apply for a subclass 601 and have no visa fees (small admin charge may apply) – Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Republic of San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City. For eligible passport holders and more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651
Please note: Eligibility for an eVisitor visa and ETA will be determined by the country of passport that the applicant holds.
NB: These are the visa options available presently but the Department reserves the right to change regulations.
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Getting your Visa is a straightforward process:
Invitation: First, ensure you have an official invitation to the conference from the event organizer. This invitation letter can be found in the dashboard of your registration profile once you have paid in full. Should your visa be denied for any reason, a refund will be given.
Online Application: Visit the official Australian Government website (https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/) to apply for your visa online.
Required Documents: Prepare the necessary documents, including a valid passport, conference invitation, proof of funds, and health insurance. You may be required to provide biometrics as part of your application process. Please see below for more information.
Payment: Pay the visa application fee as specified on the website.
Lodging the Application: Submit your application and documents through the online portal.
Health and Character Assessment: Depending on your nationality and circumstances, you may be required to undergo health and character checks.
Decision: Wait for the Department of Home Affairs to process your application. You will be notified of the outcome.
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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
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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 before the close of Early Bird Registration (31 January 2024) to ensure adequate time for the visa application process.
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.
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
Letter of Invitation for Visa Applications
Invitation letters can be downloaded from your registration dashboard. This letter assists with your Visa application. You will be able to download an invitation letter once you have paid for your registration fee in full and have entered in your passport details.
How to download the invitation letter:
Log on to the registration dashboard as a return delegate by entering your email and password.
Scroll the menu to the 'Document' section and select the button 'Enter Details'.
Every field must be filled in for a Visa letter to be generated. Once all details have been filled in, click 'GO'. You will be taken back to the main screen and now a button 'Download Letter' will appear and by clicking this it will generate a PDF visa letter.
Please email the Conference Secretariat if you are having difficulties downloading a Letter of Invitation from your dashboard.