International Travel Information
Visa Applications
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.
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Participants, attendees, speakers and exhibitors may be eligible to apply for the following visa options, click the hyperlinks to find out more details:
NB: Eligibility for an eVisitor visa and ETA will be determined by the country of passport that the applicant holds.
As a business visitor, you can:
Make general business or employment enquiries
Investigate, negotiate, enter into or review a business contract
Conduct activities as part of an official government visit
Take part in a conference, trade fair or seminar. You can’t be paid by the organisers to take part
Undertake tourist activities
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.
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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
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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 returning 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.
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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
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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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 and must meet the character requirements in order to be granted a visa to Australia. For further information regarding character requirements please see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/character
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FAQs
Climate and Weather
Spring sees weather warm up with average temperatures between 11 - 23°C (51.8 - 73.4°F). Days are warmer, but the humidity is not as high as in summer. For more information, visit the Tourism Australia website.
Telecommunications
Local SIM cards can be purchased round-the-clock at convenience stores. Delegates may also consider buying a local SIM card at the Arrivals Hall of the Sydney Airport upon landing. The most common brands used are Vodafone, Telstra and Optus.
Electricity and Voltage
In Australia, the power plugs and sockets are of type I. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz.
Getting Around
Sydney is an easy city to navigate, featuring a world-class integrated network of trains, buses, ferries, light rail, and the new driverless Sydney Metro.
To use the network, you don't necessarily need a dedicated transit card. You can simply tap on and tap off using your contactless credit or debit card (American Express, Mastercard, or Visa) or a linked mobile device. You will receive the same travel benefits and fare caps as an Adult Opal card.
If you prefer a physical card, Opal cards are available at Sydney Airport, train stations, and most convenience stores. While there is no ‘Visitor Pass,’ the system features a Daily Fare Cap, meaning you can travel as much as you like, and your fare is capped once you reach the daily limit.
Use the Transport for NSW Trip Planner or download the Opal Travel app for real-time service updates, maps, and fare estimates.
Currency and Foreign Exchange
Australia has a decimal system with 100 cents to the dollar ($AUD). Coins have values of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2 dollars. Notes have values of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 AUD.
Major city bank branches can exchange foreign currency. Foreign currency exchange bureaus are also available at the airport and in Sydney's central business district. ATMs (automatic teller machines) are widely available in the city and regional areas. You can find current exchange rates here.
Tipping is not customary in Australia and is at your discretion.
For more information on currency and goods & services taxes, click here.