Attending PyCon AU as an International Visitor

PyCon AU is an event that welcomes international visitors, including speakers, attendees, and exhibitors. If you are planning to attend PyCon AU from outside Australia, you will need to apply for a visa to enter the country.

We are registered with the International Event Coordinator Network (IECN) of the Department of Home Affairs.

The following information is provided to assist you in understanding the visa options available for attending PyCon AU. Please note that this information is general in nature and may not cover all individual circumstances. It is recommended that you consult the official website of the Department of Home Affairs or seek professional advice for your specific situation.

How PyCon AU can assist

International speakers

If your talk has been accepted to PyCon AU, you will be sent a speaker registration voucher to register your ticket. When you register using that voucher you can request a letter of invitation to assist with your visa application. This letter will confirm your participation as a speaker and provide details about the event.

We also recommend speakers apply for their visa as soon as possible after receiving the letter of support, as visa processing times can vary.

PyCon AU cannot guarantee that you will be granted a visa, but we hope the letter of invitation supports your application.

International attendees

If you are registering to attend PyCon AU, you can indicate during registration that you will be attending from outside Australia. The details you provide are then shared with the Department of Home Affairs (via our IECN participation).

PyCon AU cannot guarantee that you will be granted a visa, but we hope this process assists with your application.

Visa Options

Participants, attendees and speakers that will not be working, performing or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:

Visitor (subclass 600) Business stream visa. For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/business-visitor-stream
Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). For eligible passport holders and more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601
eVisitor (subclass 651) Business stream visa. For eligible passport holders and more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651

Eligibility for an eVisitor visa and ETA will be determined by the country of passport that the applicant holds.

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.

NB: Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601) applicants from Malaysia should note that there may be additional information and documentary requirements. For more information please see: https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/Visas_and_Migration.html

A speaker, presenter, exhibitor, or other contributor that will be working, or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible to apply for one of the following visa options:

Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Invited participant visa (where there is an inviting Australian organisation). For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-activity-408/invited-for-other-social-and-cultural-activity

Please note that a the letter of support from an Australian organisation is a legislative requirement for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Invited participant visa.

Temporary Work (subclass 400) Short Stay Specialist visa (where there is no inviting Australian organisation). For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-work-400

NB: These are the visa options available presently but the Department reserves the right to change regulations.

Biometrics

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

Health and Character Requirements

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 to visa Australia, and must meet the character requirements in order to be granted a visa. For further information regarding character requirements please see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/character

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

Processing times are impacted each month by cases that are complex, changes to volume of applications and changes to Ministerial Directions. 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 6 to 8 weeks prior to a person’s intended date of travel.

NB: IECN assistance will NOT guarantee a visa grant. Visa applicants must demonstrate that they meet all the legislative requirements for an Australian visa.

NB: In accordance with Australia’s Privacy Act 1988, any information an event organiser or participant provides to the IECN will only be used to facilitate visa processing with the relevant Australian visa office overseas.

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