General

Overview:

This fact sheet is a general guide and explains the most common visa options for participants travelling to Australia to participate in the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC).

These are the visa options available presently, and this information is valid on 15 April 2025. The Department of Home Affairs reserves the right to change regulations, and visa application charges (VAC) may also be subject to change.

Visa options for the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC):

There are many visa options available to people wishing to visit Australia. The appropriate visa option will depend, amongst other things, on the person's purpose for visiting Australia.

The visa options provided below are based on the activities of the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) participants.

Attendees and speakers:

Attendees and speakers may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:

Visitor (subclass 600)(Business stream) visa. For more information, please click here.

• Online visa application
• AUD$195 visa application charge (VAC)
• Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
• Applicants will require a supporting letter from the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) organisers providing the reasons for the visit
• Applicants must satisfy application criteria and requirements.

Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). For more information, including eligible passport holders, please click here.

• Apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. For more information, see the ‘step by step’ guide on the ETA webpage as provided above
• AUD$20 service provider charge. There is no visa application charge (VAC).
• Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
• You must have an eligible passport.

eVisitor (subclass 651)(Tourist Stream) visa. For more information, including eligible passport holders, please click here.

• Online visa application
• There is no Visa Application Charge (VAC), or service provider charges
• Applicants may require a supporting letter from the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) organisers providing the reasons for the visit
• Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
• You must have an eligible passport.

Exhibitors:

As the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) is a specialised conference that is not open to the public, international exhibitors may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:

Visitor (subclass 600)(Business stream) visa. For more information, please click here.

• Online visa application
• AUD$195 visa application charge (VAC)
• Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
• Applicants will require a supporting letter from the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) organisers providing the reasons for the visit
• Applicants must satisfy application criteria and requirements.

Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). For more information, including eligible passport holders, please click here.

• Apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. For more information, see the ‘step by step’ guide on the ETA webpage as provided above
• AUD$20 service provider charge. There is no visa application charge (VAC).
• Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
• You must have an eligible passport.

eVisitor (subclass 651)(Tourist Stream) visa. For more information, including eligible passport holders, please click here.

• Online visa application
• There is no Visa Application Charge (VAC), or service provider charges
• Applicants may require a supporting letter from the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) organisers providing the reasons for the visit
• Permits a stay up to 3 months in Australia
• You must have an eligible passport.

International Media:

International media including journalists, and media personnel (commentators, film and broadcasting crews) travelling to Australia to cover an event, at the invitation of an Australian organisation, and where the production or broadcast is intended for Australian audiences may be eligible to apply for a:

Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Entertainment visa. For more information, please click here.

• Online visa application
• AUD$415 visa application charge (VAC)
• You must have a contract or other proof of your engagement
• You must provide evidence that your sponsor or supporter has consulted with the relevant union or unions before engaging you:
• You must have access to enough money to support yourself and any dependents who travel with you during your stay in Australia

International journalists or other media personnel travelling to Australia to cover an event, where the production/broadcast is not intended for Australian audiences may be eligible to apply for a:

Temporary Work (subclass 400) Short Stay Specialist visa. For more information, please click here.

• Online visa application
• AUD$415 visa application charge (VAC)
• have a contract or other proof of your engagement
• have access to enough money to support yourself and any dependents who travel with you during your stay in Australia

Creating an ImmiAccount:

As visa applications are lodged online, applicants must create an ImmiAccount.

ImmiAccount is a single point of entry into the Department’s online visa services , and information about applying online is available on the website.

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 click here.

Visa Application Process and Processing Times:

Processing times may be impacted each month by changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, complex cases, and incomplete applications.

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 additional 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

For this reason, we advise that visa applications should be lodged at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to an event participant’s intended date of travel to Australia.

Obligations of visa holders:

Visa holders must comply with their visa validity and visa conditions while in Australia. When granted an Australian visa, they are issued with a visa grant notice that explains the conditions of the visa, including the approved period of stay in Australia and entry requirements.

A visa may be cancelled if the visa holder breaches any of the conditions of the visa. Visa holders are advised to carry a copy of their visa grant notice when travelling for their own reference.

Once a visa is granted, it is the visa holder’s responsibility to be aware of, and abide by, any conditions of the visa as explained in the visa grant notification. This includes the number of entries to Australia permitted under their visa, and the period of time they can remain in Australia. If the visa expires while they are still in Australia, they will become an unlawful non-citizen and may be detained and removed from Australia. They may also be subject to an exclusion period, which could prevent them from re-entering Australia in the future.