VISA Optons

Visa options:

For visa purposes, an amateur athlete or competitor is defined as a person that does not derive an income from their activity or where the activity is not the person’s usual occupation.

An amateur sports person or team participating in an amateur sporting event or series of events may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:

Please note: Visa applicants claiming to be an amateur athlete or competitor will be required to provide evidence or supporting documents with their visa application.  This may include evidence of their primary source of employment or income, such as a letter from their employer stating their occupation, how long they have been employed, and that they have been given a leave of absence.  Students may provide a letter from their educational institution or provider.

Support persons, including a coach, manager, medical professional, official, or referee, who are supporting an amateur sports person or team on a genuine unpaid volunteer basis may be eligible for the following visa options:

  • Visitor (subclass 600)(Tourist stream) visa.  For more information see:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/tourist-stream-overseas

Please note: Support persons claiming to be supporting an amateur sports person or team on a genuine unpaid volunteer basis will be required to provide evidence or supporting documents with their visa application.  This may include a signed letter or statement from the sports federation or team management stating this.

Participation at an event by a coach, manager, medical professional, official, or referee, where the activity is the person’s usual occupation may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:

Please note that a the letter of support from an Australian organisation is a legislative requirement for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408)(Invited Participant) visa.

Journalists or other media personnel 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:

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:

NB: These are the visa options available presently but the Department reserves the right to change regulations. IECN assistance will NOT guarantee a visa grant. Visa applicants must demonstrate that they meet all the legislative requirements for an Australian visa.

Visas for minors/persons under 18 years of age:

The Department of Home Affairs must be satisfied when assessing visa applications for minors (applicants under the age of 18 at time of visa application) of parental consent from all responsible parent(s) or guardian(s) to the grant of an Australian visa. Form 1229 – Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years, will be required to be submitted as part of the application for a visa as evidence of this consent.

Minors who are travelling without their parent and/or guardian may need to provide additional documentation with their visa application, even if they are travelling with other family members. For further information please see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1229.pdf

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 see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/biometrics

Visa Application Process and Processing Times:

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 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

Processing times are impacted each month by cases that are complex, changes to volume of applications and changes to Ministerial Directions.  More information about visa processing times please see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/overview.  For this reason, we would advise that visa applications be lodged at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to a person’s intended date of travel.

To assist timely processing by Australia’s visa offices overseas, you can complete the attached bio-data collection sheet as event participants are invited to your event and email it to: iecn@homeaffairs.gov.au

NB: In accordance with Australia’s Privacy Act 1988, any information an event organiser or participant provides to the IECN will only be used to facilitate visa processing with the relevant Australian visa office overseas.  

Travellers should familiarise themselves with Australia’s border and entry requirements.  For further information, see ‘Entering and leaving Australia’ at: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/entering-and-leaving-australia