Obligations of visa holders

On arrival at Australia’s border you must identify yourself, present your travel documents, and complete an Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). The IPC requires visitors to declare their health status and any prior criminal convictions.

If you do not meet immigration clearance requirements, you may be refused entry to Australia.

More information on immigration clearance processes at Australia’s borders is available at www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/border-security/air/airport.htm.

You must comply with your visa validity and visa conditions while in Australia. For paper-based applications, this information is available on your visa label. For online applications, it is available on the letter or email confirming the grant of your visa.

If you breach these conditions, your visa may be cancelled.

If your visa expires while you are still in Australia, you become an unlawful non-citizen. Unlawful non-citizens are liable to be detained and removed from Australia.

Invitation/registration to attend the event

Although this is a separate process to lodging your visa application, the department may take into account whether you are registered, or were invited, to attend the event, when assessing whether you meet the criteria for the grant of a visa.

Confirmation of registration, or a copy of your letter of invitation, should accompany paper-based visa applications.

Upon confirmation of registration, you are required to email international@amunc.net and request a letter of invitation. This is an essential step towards gaining a visa to attend the conference.

Health requirements

As part of the visa application process you may be required to undertake a medical examination, chest x-ray and/or other health checks.

The department will advise you of the applicable health checks (if any), based on your individual circumstances.

Information on which health checks may apply to you is available at www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1163i.pdf

 Character requirements

As part of the visa application process, you must show that you are of good character to pass Australia’s character test. Information on the character test is available at www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/79character.htm

If you are unsure whether you can pass Australia’s character test because of prior criminal convictions, you should lodge a paper-based application at the Australian visa office nearest to your current place of residence, at least four months prior to the event start date.

Contact information for Australian visa offices is available at www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/index.htm

 Travel sanctions

Nationals of countries subject to travel sanctions may not be permitted to travel to and enter Australia. For information on countries subject to travel sanctions, please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website at www.dfat.gov.au/un/unsc_sanctions/index.html

 Biometrics Program

From December 2010, Biometrics will need to be collected at an Australian Visa Application Centre for visitors lodging a paper-based visa application from the countries listed at the department’s website at http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/biometrics/offshore/countries.htm

Cut-off date for lodging paper based applications

All visitors should apply for a visa at least two months prior to the intended date of departure, and four months prior for people with character or health concerns.