A Business (Short Stay) Visa (subclass 456)
A Business (Short Stay) Visa (subclass 456) enables genuine business people who need to visit Australia for business, or for a mix of business and tourism, to visit Australia for up to a maximum of three months from the date of entry into Australia. Business purposes include exploring business opportunities or conducting business negotiations, site visits, equipment inspections, signing business contracts or attending conferences, events or meetings in relation to their field of employment.
Work may also be allowed in limited circumstances, i.e. where it is:
- highly specialised in nature and not ongoing or
- an emergency or urgent situation and not ongoing or
- in Australia's interest.
The application form 456 - Application for a Business (Short Stay) Visa is available from Australian overseas missions and from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website at: www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/456.pdf. Applications may only be lodged at an Australian overseas visa office, not in Australia. Applicants may also be required to supply a range of documentation in support of their business visa application.
General information about the requirements for lodging a business visitor visa application can be found at: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/456/index.htm
The subclass 456 Visa may be valid for single or multiple entries and permits a stay of up to three months from the date of each entry into Australia. The travel validity for the multiple entry visa is generally granted with a one year validity period, however, a visa may be made valid for up to ten years or the life of the passport, whichever is the shorter. This visa attracts a Visa Application Charge of A$100.
A Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) Visa (subclass 459)
A Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) Visa (subclass 459) also enables genuine business people who need to visit Australia for business, or for a mix of business and tourism, to visit Australia for up to a maximum of three months from the date of each entry into Australia. Business purposes include exploring business opportunities or conducting business negotiations, site visits, equipment inspections, signing business contracts or attending conferences, events or meetings in relation to their field of employment.
Work may also be allowed in limited circumstances, i.e. where it is:
- highly specialised in nature and not ongoing or
- an emergency or urgent situation and not ongoing or
- in Australia's interest.
The difference between this and the standard Business Visitor visa is that the application and sponsorship must be lodged together at the local DIAC Business Centre in Australia by the vouching or sponsoring business organisation. This provides a faster processing time and more streamlined service for Australian business and a greater certainty of outcome for the visa applicant.
The sponsorship and application forms are available from the DIAC website at: www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1235.pdf and www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1238.pdf
General information about the requirements for lodging a Business Visitor visa (subclass 459) application can be found at: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/459/index.htm
The subclass 459 visa may be valid for single or multiple entries and permits a stay of up to three months from the date of arrival in Australia. The travel validity for the multiple entry visa has a validity period of one year (with three month stays maximum on each entry). This visa attracts a Visa Application Charge of A$100.
General Information on Business Electronic Travel Authorities
A Business Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is an electronic or invisible visa that is available to passport holders from 33 countries and locations. There are two types of Business ETA available. Eligibility can be checked at the DIAC website at: www.eta.immi.gov.au/. There are no application forms to complete for a business ETA.
Business ETA holders can only undertake work in very limited circumstances, i.e. where it is:
- highly specialised in nature and not ongoing; or
- an emergency or urgent situation and not ongoing; or
- in Australia's interest.
Passport holders from countries with whom Australia does not have an ETA arrangement will need to apply for a Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 456) or a Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) visa (subclass 459).
Business ETA - Short Validity 977
There is no Australian Government charge for this ETA. It can be obtained from travel agencies or airlines when making travel bookings, or it can be applied for over the Internet at the Australian Government's Electronic Travel Authority website at: www.eta.immi.gov.au/. The ETA is free of charge. However, this attracts an Internet service charge of A$20.
This ETA is valid for multiple entries into Australia, permits a maximum stay of up to three months, and is valid for travel to Australia within twelve months from the date of issue.
Business ETA - Long Validity 956
This ETA can be obtained from travel agencies or airlines when making travel bookings. It is not available via the Internet. It allows for a maximum stay of up to three months from the date of each entry into Australia, permits multiple journeys to Australia and is valid for a specified period of up to ten years or the life of the applicant's passport, whichever is the shorter. A Visa Application Charge of A$75 applies to this ETA.
General information about the requirements for lodging a business ETA (subclasses 977 & 956) application can be found at: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/956-977/index.htm
Additional Arrangements for Delegates to Events/Conferences in Australia
Australia is an increasingly popular destination for events and conferences. The DIAC runs the International Event Coordinator Network (IECN), a streamlined visa application process for delegates intending to come to events in Australia.
The IECN is a network of dedicated International Event Coordinators (IECs) who have developed close links with key commercial, scientific, and other organisations that arrange events in Australia.
As well as acting as a central point of contact between event organisers and overseas visa offices, IECs can also resolve visa-related problems as they arise.
Visas for event attendees
Overseas delegates from non-ETA eligible countries who wish to attend an event in Australia should apply for the Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 456) or a Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) visa (subclass 459). Persons accompanying a delegate, or persons attending as a spectator, should apply for a Tourist (Short Stay) visa (Subclass 676). The fee for Tourist visa (Subclass 676) this visa is A$100.
General information about the requirements for lodging a Tourist visa (Subclass 676) application can be found at: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/676/index.htm
Delegates from ETA eligible countries should obtain a Business ETA (subclass 977), and persons accompanying a delegate should obtain a Tourist ETA (subclass 976), both of which are available through travel agents and airlines or via the Internet.
To ensure problem free visa arrangements for event delegates, event organisers are urged to contact the IECN as early as possible in the planning process. The national IECN contact is available at www.immi.gov.au/visitors/event-organisers-participants/iecn.htm
Business (Long Stay) visa (Subclass 457)
Individuals wishing to work in Australia for a longer or ongoing period should apply for a Business (Long Stay) visa (Subclass 457). This visa is designed for employers to sponsor overseas workers to work in Australia on a temporary basis. There are also special arrangements for employers in regional areas across Australia. Employers can be either Australian businesses or overseas businesses.
General information about the requirements for lodging a business long stay visa (Subclass 457) application can be found at: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/index.htm
Special Arrangements for the Joint Petroleum Development Area
The Bayu-Undan oil and gas field within the Joint Petroleum Development area (JPDA) between Australia and East Timor is an important infrastructural development project for northern Australia. Under the Timor Sea Treaty, the JPDA is outside the Australian migration zone.
Persons who work solely within the JPDA and do not enter Australia for any reason do not require Australian visas. Persons only transiting Australia by air to work solely within the JPDA should apply for a Transit visa (subclass 771). This visa is free of charge. Persons entering or departing Australia otherwise - for example on board a sea-going vessel - will require an appropriate visa. Contact DIAC for further information.
General information about the requirements for lodging a Transit visa (subclass 771) application can be found at: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/transit/771/index.htm
Between the Bayan-Undan oil and gas fields and Darwin, an underwater pipeline is being laid. As this pipeline touches the seabed within Australian waters, it lies within the migration zone. Consequently, the Business (Long Stay) (subclass 457) visa is the appropriate visa for individuals working in this area.