Visa Enquiries Telephone: Mon - Thu 1pm to 5pm, Fri 1pm to 4pm - Telephone: +49 (0)30 700 129 129 - Fax: +49(0)30 22 48 92 93
Counter Hours Visa Section: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am and 11am
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Business (Short Stay) Visa (subclass 456 or 977)
Visiting for less than 3 months for Business Purposes
The Short Stay Business visa allows business people to make a short business visit to Australia for up to three months. Business activities may include a conference, negotiation or exploratory business visit, but do not include acting, musical performances or commercial film making.
This visa does not allow you to work except in very limited circumstances. The work must be urgent, very short term and highly specialised.
You must not undertake work that can be done by an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and you cannot take an ongoing position for longer than three months.
If your main reason for coming to Australia is to work, you should consider applying for a Business (Long Stay) visa or other appropriate visa options.
See: Temporary long-stay Business Visa (subclass 457)
See: Entertainment, Media or Sports
How to apply for a Business (Short Stay) Visa
Obtain a Business (Short Stay) ETA (Electronic Travel Authority, subclass 977)
or apply for a Business (Short Stay) Visa (subclass 456) at the Australian Embassy.
If you are ETA-eligible, you can apply for a business ETA online or obtain it from most travel agents:
See: ETA-eligible Passports
See: ETA Application - DIAC Website
The Business (Short Stay) ETA is valid for a stay of up to three months. It remains valid for any number of entries to Australia within 12 months from date of issue. No application form is required and the ETA is free of government charges (some agencies, however may charge a service-fee).
Paper Application
How to obtain a Business (Short Stay) Visa if you are not eligible for an ETA?
1. Application Form
If you are not eligible for an ETA, you need to apply for a Short Stay Business Visa at the Australian Embassy. Please complete, sign and date Form 456.
Download form 456 - DIAC Website (PDF)
Please attach to your application one recent passport photograph of yourself (and all family members included in the application).
2. Visa Application Charge
The Visa Application Charge is levied per person except for children who are included in a parent's passport. The Visa Application Charge is a processing charge and cannot be refunded irrespective of the outcome of the application. Please see overleaf for current visa charges.
3. Documents to be included with your application
a completed Application form;
individual children's passport if child is not included in parent's passport;
one passport-sized photograph for each person;
credit card payment authorisation;
See: Download Credit Card Authorisation
a letter from your employer confirming the length and purpose of your stay in Australia, your position and how long you have been employed there, and who is going to cover the costs related to your travel;
an invitation letter from the company in Australia or your company overseas.
4. Health Requirements
Please refer to the Health Requirements to see if your nationality and the nature/duration of your visit require you to undergo any health clearance formalities.
See: Health Requirements - DIAC Website
5. Valid Passport and Return Envelope
Your passport must be enclosed with your visa application. It should be valid for the period of proposed stay, and must contain at least one blank page. Please enclose a self-addressed envelope for the return of your passport and add €3 to your fee payment to cover registered return postage.
6. Where do I apply ?
Please mail your application or deliver personally to the following address:
(Visa Counter Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9.00 - 11.00 hrs):
Australian Embassy
Visa Office
Wallstrasse 76-79
D-10179 Berlin
Germany
7. Important Additional Information
Visa applications are processed by the embassy as fast as possible and in the order of receipt.
Processing times can vary greatly (see below for processing times) and you should allow for this when making your travel plans.
See: Target Processing Times
You can help us to process your case quickly by ensuring that all the information requested in the checklist above is provided with your application at the time of lodgement.