Visa Application to Australia

 

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).

There are many visa options available to people wishing to visit Australia. The appropriate visa will depend, amongst other things, on your purpose for visiting Australia. Find out which visa is best for you here.

You should apply for your visa well in advance of the conference date. We strongly recommend that you apply at least two months prior to your intended date of departure. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection reserves the right to change regulations, so for all the latest information relating to obtaining an Australian visa, please visit:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/entering-australia

 

Quarantine

Australia is free from many plant and animal diseases prevalent in other countries. Very strict quarantine rules apply to the importation of animals and plant products and many cannot be brought into the country without prior application. To have a smooth transition through quarantine and to enjoy your visit in Australia, it is important that you understand Australia’s quarantine regulations. Visit https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/travelling/to-australia#before-you-travel for more information.

 

Customs

Please ensure that along with your passport and visa, you also pack your registration confirmation letter within your carry-on luggage. You may be asked to produce this when going through customs at your arrival airport. In addition to this, please be sure to fill out your Incoming Passenger Card with all details and answer each question honestly.

 

 

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 8 to 10 weeks prior to a person’s intended date of travel.


Note:
Please note ICBMG is not authorized to assist with the VISA process beyond providing the Notification of Acceptance Letter and Invitation Letter (after registration) issued by the ICBMG Committee Board. The invitation letter will be issued after the successful registration.
Should your application be denied, ICBMG cannot change the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nor will ICBMG engage in discussion or correspondence with the MOFA or the Embassy on behalf of the applicant. The registration fee cannot be refunded when the VISA application of individual being denied.