The Business (Short Stay) visa (Subclass 456)

This visa allows you to make a short business trip to Australia for a period up to three months during your visa validity period. Business activities may include a conference, negotiation or an exploratory business visit to the country. No sponsorship is required, and the visa is available to all passport holders who want to visit Australia for business purposes.

Successful applicants to this visa may:

  • Attend to business activities in Australia including conferences, business negotiations or exploratory business visits
  • Be allowed to engage in limited work if, for example, it is highly specialised and non-ongoing
  • Enter Australia once or on multiple occasions during the visa validity period
  • Stay in Australia for up to three months from the date of each entry
  • Bring your partner or dependent children to Australia

This visa cannot be extended. If you need to stay in Australia for longer than what your visa allows, you need to consider other visa options.

Am I eligible?

There are a number of requirements that you must meet in order to be eligible for this visa. When applying, you may be asked to provide:

  • Evidence of educational or professional qualifications
  • Evidence of current employment and your role during your visit to Australia
  • Details of previous contacts with Australian business people or organisations
  • Documentation to show that the company you work for is an actively operating business

Additionally, you may be asked to provide evidence of the reasons for your visit to Australia on business. This may include:

  • A letter of invitation from the host organisation in Australia
  • Conference registration details
  • Your employment contract
  • A letter from your employer stating the reasons for your visit
  • Your itinerary with contact details of the business parties involved

You may also be asked to provide evidence that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family during your stay in Australia. Lastly, you must meet health and character requirements, and you must have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia.

To apply for this visa, you must submit Form 456 and attach all necessary documents mentioned in the form.

Can I bring my family?

For your family to be eligible to travel on your visa, they must:

  • Be outside Australia when your application is lodged.

  • Have adequate financial support to cover their stay in Australia.

  • Have no debts to the Commonwealth of Australia.

  • Meet the same health and character requirements as the primary applicant.

What next?