The Australian government recently announced an extension of the Business Visitor Visa validity for nationals of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and Timor-Leste.
According to the government of Australia, nationals of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste who filed their Business Visitor visa applications after April 1, 2024, are now eligible for multiple-entry visas with longer validity.
Instead of the previous three years, nationals of the 11 countries mentioned above will now be granted Business Visitor visas with a validity period of five years, VisaGuide.World reports.
This policy change aims to facilitate smoother and more frequent business exchanges by allowing longer stays and multiple entries over a longer period. Previously, the citizens of the countries mentioned above were granted a Business Visitor Visa for up to three years.
Business visitors with a tourist visa (subclass 600) can now stay for up to three months at a time during multiple visits.
Internationals holding the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188) can own and manage a business for four years but do not offer a permanent stay.
Source: VisaGuide.World