Show the business reason for travel clearly
A business visitor application should make it clear what you are going to Australia to do, who you are meeting, how the trip connects to your work or business in India and who will pay the costs.
The Business Visitor stream is for eligible short business visitor activities. It is not a work visa, and the documents should not describe employment or service activity that falls outside what a business visitor is permitted to do.
Meetings & negotiations
Invitation, meeting schedule and the applicant’s role should make the commercial purpose easy to follow.
Conferences & trade fairs
Registration, invitation and employer or company documents can help establish why attendance is relevant.
Company-backed travel
If an employer or business is paying, the sponsorship and relationship to the trip should be explained consistently.
Business visitor activities
Home Affairs describes the Business Visitor stream for activities such as general business enquiries, investigating or negotiating contracts, official government visits, and participation in conferences, trade fairs or seminars subject to the stream rules.
- General business or employment enquiries
- Investigating, negotiating, entering into or reviewing a business contract
- Eligible conference, trade fair or seminar participation
- Activities connected with an official government visit
- Tourist activities during an eligible business visit
Documents that can support a business visit
The exact documents depend on who is travelling and why. A founder meeting a distributor will not have the same file as an employee attending a conference.
- Australian company invitation or meeting confirmation
- Indian employer or company covering letter
- Conference, trade fair or seminar registration
- Meeting schedule or business itinerary
- Company ownership or employment evidence
- Business relationship documents where relevant
- Funding and expense arrangements
- Passport and travel history documentation
When the Indian company is sponsoring the trip
The company letter should explain who the traveller is, why the visit is required, the expected dates and who will meet the travel costs. The information should match the invitation and the applicant’s role.
Business owners and founders
For business owners, company registration, operating history, financial evidence and the commercial reason for the Australian visit may be relevant. The objective is to show a genuine short business visit, not to produce unnecessary paperwork.
Business visitor is not the same as working in Australia
The Business Visitor stream does not allow ordinary work for, or provision of services to, an Australian business or organisation, and it does not permit selling goods or services directly to the public.
Business Visitor permissions are limited. If the planned activity is work or service delivery rather than an eligible business visitor activity, a different visa may be required. Final eligibility is determined by the Australian authorities.