Visitor Visa — Business Stream
Business Visitor Visa for Australia
The business visitor stream of the subclass 600 visitor visa allows short-term entry to Australia for business activities including conferences, negotiations, meetings, and site inspections. It does not permit paid work or employment with an Australian entity.
Business visitor stream — what it covers
The business visitor stream is designed for overseas business people who need to enter Australia for a specific, short-term commercial purpose. The maximum stay is three months. The stream does not authorise any form of paid employment or ongoing work engagement with an Australian employer.
Applicants must hold a passport from an eligible country and demonstrate that their intended activities fall within the permitted scope. Condition 8115 applies, which restricts the holder to genuine business visitor activities only.
Applications are typically processed within 5 to 19 days for straightforward cases. Evidence of the business purpose, including invitations, conference registrations, or meeting schedules, is required at the time of lodgement.
Permitted and excluded activities
Permitted: attending conferences and seminars
Delegates attending industry conferences, trade expos, and professional seminars fall within the business visitor stream provided they are not being paid by an Australian entity to attend.
Permitted: negotiations and site inspections
Business meetings, contract negotiations, due diligence visits, and site inspections for a foreign employer are permitted activities under condition 8115.
Excluded: paid work for Australian employers
Receiving remuneration from an Australian entity, performing services under an Australian employment contract, or working as a contractor for an Australian business is not permitted.
Excluded: stay beyond three months
The business visitor stream does not provide for stays beyond three months. Where a longer engagement is required, a work visa pathway must be considered.
3 months
Maximum stay
5-19 days
Typical processing time
8115
Visa condition applied
No work
Paid employment excluded
Why instruct Visa Plan?
Activity scope advice
The line between permitted business visitor activities and work requiring a visa can be unclear. We advise on whether the intended activities fall within the business visitor stream before any application is lodged.
Application preparation
Business visitor applications require clear documentation of the purpose of travel. We prepare submissions that address the genuine temporary entrant criterion and the specific business purpose concisely.
Work visa alternatives
Where the intended engagement exceeds what the business visitor stream permits, we advise on the correct work visa pathway, including employer-sponsored options.
Business visitor visa information is sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and is current as at 2 June 2026. Permitted activities, processing times, and eligibility criteria are subject to change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.