Frequently Asked Questions

Passport validity when visiting Australia?

Please make sure you have at least six months to spare on your current passports, and of course, double check APEC card expiry dates (if you have an APEC card).

Family and given names 

What is the “must not arrive after date”?

You must check your eVistor (SC 651) or ETA (SC 601) ‘must not arrive after dates’ as they are usually predictable. Nearly all are granted with a ‘must not arrive after date’ of 12 months after grant. Sometimes they are granted for a shorter period (if your passport is expiring soon) and this often causes confusion. Please do not assume all members of the family have the same visas and the same conditions. Please check everyone individually.

General advice for people who already have a SC600, 601, or 651 visa

Our recommendation for everyone (including current visitor (business) (SC 600) visa holders) is that if you suspect your visa period (either 60 days, three months or 90 days) is insufficient to for your holiday intentions, you should apply immediately for a new visitor (business stream) (SC 600) visa using our instructions. When lodging this visa, you should provide an explanation to Home Affairs as to the date you wish to stay until. Your visa should then be granted with additional time to accommodate your requested period of stay. It is better to do this now, rather than later.

Current Visitor (SC 600) Visa Holders

You can check the stream of the visa on the visa grant letter you originally received. It should say either ‘tourist stream’, ‘business visitor stream’ or ‘family sponsored’ stream. If any person holds frequent traveller visitor (SC 600) visa in the ‘tourist stream’ stream please let us know (email [email protected]). You would know it if you had a frequent traveller visitor (SC 600) visa because it costs AUD 1,435.

If you hold a current visitor (SC 600) visa and it is in the ‘family sponsored’ or ‘tourist stream’, you need to follow our instructions and lodge a new visitor (SC 600) in the business visitor stream to replace your current visa. This can be done right now even though your current visitor (SC 600) visa is still valid. These visas can easily be replaced. If you hold a valid visitor (business) (SC 600) visa you should be OK, you should be able to use this visa to enter and attend the event. However please keep reading because there are some scenarios where you still might replace your current visitor (business) (SC 600) visa with a brand-new visitor (business) (SC 600) visa. Unlike the eVistor (SC 651) or ETA (SC 601) visas, the visitor (business) (SC 600) visas have varying and confusing expiry times.

These can be checked here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/check-conditions-online

For example we could have a:

• Must not arrive after date; and,
• A single-entry condition, meaning you can only enter once and stay for a fixed period; or,
• Alternatively, multiple entries with periods of stay of could be 3 days or up to12 months; and/or,
• A condition preventing you from spending too much time in Australia; and,
• A visa expiry date.

As such we cannot give generalized advice as to whether you will be able to enter on any current visitor (business) (SC 600), beyond saying that you should be able to enter if it is:

1. A multiple entry or unused single-entry visa; and,
2. The period of stay is sufficient for you to attend the conference and will covers any additional intended Australia holiday; and,
3. The ‘Must not arrive after’ date falls on a date after you intend to enter Australia

Our advice is to be careful and contact us on [email protected] with a copy of your passport and visa grant notice if there is any doubt whatsoever.

Current eVisitor (SC 651) or ETA (SC 601) Visa Holders

If any person is the holder of a current eVistor (SC 651) or ETA (SC 601) visa, it would have been best if they selected ‘business’ purposes on the first application page (under intentions) but if they didn’t, it doesn’t matter as their visa allows them to carry out business visitor activities regardless. For people with ETA or eVistor visa, they will have either a SC 651 or 601. These visas have two relevant dates, that can be checked here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/check-conditions-online

• Must not arrive after date
• Visa expiry date

While the visa holder is offshore, they will not have a visa expiry date. Once they arrive, they will have an expiry date of 30 days after arriving. As such, current subclass SC 651 or SC 601 visa holders must ensure their current visas have a ‘Must not arrive after date’ that is valid on the date they wish to enter. As long as they arrive in Australia before this date, they will have three months in Australia regardless of whether the ‘Must not arrive after date’ date passes while they are in Australia. If this date is tight, we recommend lodging a replacement eVistor (SC 651) or ETA (SC 601) visa ASAP. This can be done right now even though the current eVistor (SC 651) or ETA (SC 601) visa is still valid. They can easily be replaced.

APEC Card holders

If you hold a valid physical ABTC that does not have ‘AUS’ printed on the reverse side, contact your home economy to verify if Australia has provided pre-clearance since your card was printed. If your home economy confirms that pre-clearance was granted then you do not need to apply for a visa to travel to Australia for business purposes – the ABTC does not need to have ‘AUS’ printed on the reverse in this instance.  https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/business-travel-card/foreign-applicants

For APEC card holders, on entry they will receive their permission automatically, for a period of either 60 or 90 days depending on their card. This means when they arrive they will have a stay period of 60 or 90 days on arriving to Australia. They will be able to attend the conference. After the conference, if they would like to, they can enjoy their remaining visa period as a holiday in Australia.

Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders (where AUS is printed on the card) are granted a Subclass 600 visa in the Business Visitor stream to enter Australia. If an ABTC holder applies for a further Subclass 600 visa, the grant of this visa will cease their existing Subclass 600 visa.

What to do if you would like to extend your visit in Australia?

Finally, if you are in Australia, and you would like to stay longer, you can apply for an additional SC600 (tourist stream) while in Australia in most – but not all – circumstances. This visa would serve as an extension. It is important that you contact us if you intend to do this, and it is important that you do this prior to visa expiry date. The application fee is $490 (compared to the $195 when applying from outside AU).

In the new onshore visitor (tourist stream) application you should provide an explanation to Home Affairs as to the date you wish to stay until. Your visa should then be granted with additional time to accommodate your requested period of stay. We recommend doing this a few days before your current visa expires.

Please note that it is lawful for you to continue on to have a holiday in Australia after the conference. This applies to eVistor (SC 651) holders, ETA (SC 601) visas holders, APEC card holders and visitor (business) (SC 600) visa holders. Please see permissible activities on the visitor visas: https://visaenvoy.com/permissible-activities-on-visitor-visas/

How do I apply for an ETA (SC601 visa)?

Here is a link and some guides:

• PDF guide
• Video guides (opens in new page)

ETA -601 visa applicants

Applicants with passports from Hong Kong (SAR of China), Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports) must apply for the SC601 – Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority

SC-651 – Subclass 651 eVisitor

Germany passport holders must apply for a SC-651 – eVisitor