Important Changes to Australia’s Visitors and Business Visa Programs
From 23 March 2013 the Australian Government has introduced significant changes to the Visitor and Business visas.
The Australian High Commission will no longer be accepting new applications for the following visas:
• Tourist visa (Form 48R)
• Business (short stay) visa (Form 456)
Applicants who were previously eligible for the visas listed above may be eligible for one of the following visa subclasses below.
Visitor (Tourist Stream)
The Visitor visa (Tourist stream) lets you visit Australia for tourism purposes.
Tourism includes holidays, recreation and seeing family or friends.
Visitor (Business Visitor stream)
The Visitor visa (Business stream) lets you visit Australia for business visitor activities.
Business visitor activities may include attending a conference, negotiation or an exploratory business visit.
You cannot work for or provide services to a business or organisation in Australia or sell goods or services to the public. If you are intending to do short-term work in Australia you should apply for the new Temporary Work (short stay activity) visa (subclass 400).
Temporary Work (Short Stay)
This visa allows for the temporary entry of people intending to:
- undertake short-term, non-ongoing highly specialised work
- participate in non-ongoing cultural or social activities at the invitation of an Australia organisation (for example, participating in a sports competition, exhibiting art in Australia or a cultural performer presenting a workshop and not performing)
- domestic helpers accompanying their employer on holidays- journalists covering a certain event in Australia
People who intend to apply for this visa must have an employment background and/or personal attributes that are consistent with the work they propose to engage in during their time in Australia.
If you are a cultural/dance performer and wish to perform in Australia, you are not eligible to apply for the Temporary Work (Short Stay) visa. People wishing to perform in Australia must apply for the Entertainment Visa.
Other temporary work visas
Some visas for work purposes can be processed by the Australian High Commission in Kenya. However, some require an approved sponsorship and nomination by an Australian organisation before a visa can be granted. Sponsorships and nominations must be lodged and decided in Australia. People who intend to travel to Australia as a religious worker, entertainer (cultural performer) or visiting academic must apply for a different temporary work visa. Please visit the website for further information on these other visa options (www.immi.gov.au).