Getting guests through the bureaucratic door
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Tuesday, 26 March, 2002 - 21:00
AUSTRALIA is an increasingly popular destination for events and conferences, so we asked the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs about its role in this burgeoning business.
A key issue for event organisers is the need to be aware – and to make international delegates aware – of Australia’s requirement that every non-Australian, other than New Zealand passport holders, travelling to Australia, must obtain the appropriate visa before starting their journey.
In most cases, people wishing to attend an event in Australia should apply for a short-stay business visitor visa.
Those who hold passports issued by countries where the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system is available may obtain either a short or long-validity business ETA.
Although many visitors are eligible to use the ETA system, event organisers need to be aware that most countries do not have the ETA.
Potential delegates from non-ETA countries will need to lodge visa applications at a visa office outside Australia.
Assistance with visa-related issues for potential delegates is quickly and easily available through the International Event Co-ordinators Network (IECN) of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
The IECN is a network of dedicated and experienced officers called International Event Co-ordinators (IECs).
Each Australian State and Territory has its own IEC (in WA it is Glen Dival) who has developed close links with key commercial, scientific, tourism, agricultural, sporting, arts, academic and other organisations involved in organising international events throughout Australia.
During 2001, the IECN successfully co-ordinated the entry of more than 37,000 visitors from 100 countries to attend a total of 207 events held in Australia.
The IECs are an invaluable asset to event organisers.
They provide advice on the correct visa required by delegates, the legal requirements that must be met before a visa can be granted, and the likely timeframe for overseas visa offices to process applications.
There is growing awareness among event organisers who have utilised the IECN that visa offices overseas can only decide visa applications after careful consideration of the extent to which the applicant has met all visa criteria.
When event organisers in Australia discuss forthcoming events and potential delegates with their IEC early in the event planning process, the IEC is able to pass this information to Australian visa offices overseas at the earliest possible time.
As well as providing event organisers with a central point of contact between their delegates and the overseas visa offices, IECs also resolve problems as they arise.
They explain the decision-making process – particularly important if a prospective delegate is refused a visa – and notify Australian airports of the anticipated arrival of potentially large groups of invitees so that they pass through the airport clearances as quickly as possible.
A key issue for event organisers is the need to be aware – and to make international delegates aware – of Australia’s requirement that every non-Australian, other than New Zealand passport holders, travelling to Australia, must obtain the appropriate visa before starting their journey.
In most cases, people wishing to attend an event in Australia should apply for a short-stay business visitor visa.
Those who hold passports issued by countries where the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system is available may obtain either a short or long-validity business ETA.
Although many visitors are eligible to use the ETA system, event organisers need to be aware that most countries do not have the ETA.
Potential delegates from non-ETA countries will need to lodge visa applications at a visa office outside Australia.
Assistance with visa-related issues for potential delegates is quickly and easily available through the International Event Co-ordinators Network (IECN) of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
The IECN is a network of dedicated and experienced officers called International Event Co-ordinators (IECs).
Each Australian State and Territory has its own IEC (in WA it is Glen Dival) who has developed close links with key commercial, scientific, tourism, agricultural, sporting, arts, academic and other organisations involved in organising international events throughout Australia.
During 2001, the IECN successfully co-ordinated the entry of more than 37,000 visitors from 100 countries to attend a total of 207 events held in Australia.
The IECs are an invaluable asset to event organisers.
They provide advice on the correct visa required by delegates, the legal requirements that must be met before a visa can be granted, and the likely timeframe for overseas visa offices to process applications.
There is growing awareness among event organisers who have utilised the IECN that visa offices overseas can only decide visa applications after careful consideration of the extent to which the applicant has met all visa criteria.
When event organisers in Australia discuss forthcoming events and potential delegates with their IEC early in the event planning process, the IEC is able to pass this information to Australian visa offices overseas at the earliest possible time.
As well as providing event organisers with a central point of contact between their delegates and the overseas visa offices, IECs also resolve problems as they arise.
They explain the decision-making process – particularly important if a prospective delegate is refused a visa – and notify Australian airports of the anticipated arrival of potentially large groups of invitees so that they pass through the airport clearances as quickly as possible.