APRICOT 2006
Conference Secretariat


Congress West, PO Box 1248
West Perth WA 6872 Australia

Ph:
+61 8 9322 6906
Fax: +61 8 9322 1734
apricot@congresswest.com.au

AUSTRALIAN VISA

Anyone wishing to travel to and enter Australia must have a valid passport and the appropriate Australian visa. The type of visa depends on the purpose of the visit. Overseas visitors seeking to attend or participate in, a Conference or event in Australia should, in most cases, apply for a short stay business visitor visa (subclass 456). You must apply for your visa early (we suggest that you apply two months prior to your departure), to ensure that details are confirmed prior to your departure for the Conference. Information about this important requirement can also be found on the Australian Government website at http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/visiting_business_short.htm

Some participants will be able to obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). You can apply for an ETA via the Internet http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ or through a travel agent, an airline office or a specialist service provider to arrange an ETA on your behalf.

ETA ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES

 
  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Brunei
  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong SAR
        
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Liechtenstein
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
        
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States Of America
  • Vatican City

(a) Taiwan passport holders can be processed for an ETA only if resident in and applying in Taiwan.
(b) UK passport holders whose nationality is British National (Overseas) can be processed for an ETA only if resident in and applying in Hong Kong SAR.

NON-ETA COUNTRIES
Non-ETA country delegates need to lodge a subclass ‘456’ visa application at the nearest Australian Mission overseas. The application form (also number 456) can be downloaded from the website www.immi.gov.au

INVITATION LETTER AND VISA
On request with your registration details, the Organising Committee will send a letter of invitation to participate in the Conference. Such an invitation is extended specifically to assist participants to obtain travel funds or appropriate visas and does not imply any commitment on the part of the Organiser to provide financial support.

Please indicate on your registration form if you require a letter of invite. The letter will be forwarded to you with confirmation of your registration.

The Conference Organisers will also provide delegate details to the Department of Immigration who will pass on the information to overseas posts to assist with the Visa process, enabling more informed and timely decisions by overseas posts.

World Index:
The Department of Immigration (DIMIA) World Index within the website (http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas.htm) provides a list of all Australian missions overseas by country and by city. The information is regularly updated and includes:

  • Information identifying the post where residents of each country should lodge applications for entry and where these applications are processed and decided.
  • Street and postal addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers of each mission, the website name and Internet e-mail address for each visa office where applicable, and client counter and telephone hours.
  • An outline of any special procedures or features relating to visa processing at each mission.

NB: If you plan to print the World Index, please be advised it prints out to 93 A4-size pages.

An Australian Government Guide to Visiting Australia:
This site contains comprehensive information about Customs clearance and Quarantine and health issues, as well as visas. The information is regularly updated.

  • It also provides general information about issues impacting on all visitors to Australia.
  • The text is available in French, German, Indonesian and Spanish, as well as English.
  • This site also contains links to other useful internet sites owned by e.g. the Department of Health and Ageing (for more information on health insurance for visitors to Australia), and by the Customs (ACS) and Quarantine (AQIS) services.
  • The information at this site has been jointly provided by DIMIA, DFAT, the Australian Customs Service and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

DIMIA highly recommends that all intending visitors to Australia access its http://www.immi.gov.au/visit/index.htm internet site.