The information given below is for business visitors who plan to stay in Australia for less than three months.

Short-stay business visas

The Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 456) allows the bona fide business person to make a visit to Australia of up to three months to conduct business - a conference, negotiation or an exploratory business visit.

A single-entry or multiple-entry visa may be issued.

In many countries, you can obtain a Business (Short Stay) visa at the same time you purchase an airline ticket. Ask for a Business Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for Australia.

Alternately, you can apply for a short-stay visa on the Internet.
See: ETA website.

Sponsored business visitors

If a member of an Australian parliament, authorised government agency representative or local government mayor or an organisation specified by the Minister is going to guarantee your visit, you can apply as a sponsored business visitor.

The business visitor sponsorship has been designed for individuals or delegations who would like streamlined service.

An Australian sponsor can provide an undertaking that their visitor will abide by visa conditions, including that they depart Australia before their visa expires.

Sponsored business visitors need to complete all sections of form 1238, Application for a sponsored business visitor (short stay) visa.

The sponsor needs to complete form 1235, Application for sponsorship for sponsored business visitors (short stay).

Long Business Visits to Australia

For longer stays, the Temporary Business Entry (Long Stay) visa caters for business visits of up to four years for:

• personnel (executives, managers and specialists) for companies operating in Australia;
  
• personnel from offshore companies seeking to establish a branch in Australia, participate in joint ventures, or fulfil a contract awarded to an offshore company;
  
• personnel coming under a labour or Invest Australia Supported Skills agreement.
  
• There are special arrangements for employers in regional and low population growth areas across Australia. Regional arrangements assist employers who may not otherwise be able to meet minimum skill and salary requirements for employees.

Where a Regional Certifying Body supports the employer's nomination, an overseas worker may be recruited to fill a position in regional areas which falls below the normal minimum skill or salary level.

See: Regional Certifying Bodies

To apply for a visa where you are seeking to work for a company operating in Australia, or under a Labour Agreement, or under a Regional Headquarters agreement, or under an Invest Australia Supported Skills agreement:

• you do not need to be in Australia to submit your application;
  
• you must submit the application via the Internet or in written (hard-copy) form to a departmental office in Australia;
  
• you cannot submit your application at an Australian overseas mission;
  
• long-stay business visitors unable to use the Internet application service will need to submit a written (hard-copy) application. Forms are available from this website (see below).
  
• if an application is sent in hard-copy, you must send the application to the Business Centre in Australia which processed (or is processing) the sponsorship and nomination applications from your employer.
  

Source: The Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs

Updated: July 2010