Letters of Invitation for Visa Applications:
Please complete your registration online to receive your letter of invitation. Invitations will be issued automatically as part of the registration confirmation process.
Visa Options for Conferences, Congresses, Trade Fairs, Seminars or Expos
All visitors to Australia must have a valid visa to travel to and enter Australia (other than New Zealand passport holders who will normally be granted a Special Category visa on arrival, provided they meet health and character requirements; and permanent residents of Norfolk Island who may be granted a Permanent Resident of Norfolk Island visa on arrival).
If you are planning to visit Australia for a business event such as a conference, trade fair, seminar or expo, there may be different visa options available to you. The appropriate visa will depend, amongst other things, on your purpose for visiting Australia.
To explore visa options and get information on visas appropriate for you, visit the Department of Home Affairs website and answer a few short questions.
Visa Options
Participants, attendees and speakers that will not be working, performing or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible to apply for the following visa options:
- Visitor (subclass 600)(Business stream) visa. For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/business-visitor-stream
- Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601). For eligible passport holders and more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601
- eVisitor (subclass 651)(Business Stream) visa. For eligible passport holders and more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651
Participants including speakers, exhibitors and other contributors that will be working, or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible to apply for one of the following visa options:
- Temporary Activity (subclass 408)(Invited Participant) visa (where there is an inviting Australian organisation). For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-activity-408/invited-for-other-social-and-cultural-activity
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.
- Temporary Work (subclass 400)(Short Stay Specialist) visa (where there is no inviting Australian organisation). For more information see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-work-400
Invitation and Registration to Attend the Event
Although this is a separate process to lodging your visa application, when assessing whether you meet the criteria for the grant of a visa, the department may take into account whether you are registered or were invited to attend the event.
Confirmation of registration, or a copy of your letter of invitation, should accompany visa applications. For online subclass 400 and subclass 600 applications, information about documents that need to be attached will be provided as part of the application process.
To request a letter of invitation please contact the secretariat.
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
- 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.
Things to Consider before Lodging an application
Entering and Leaving Australia
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
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
Book Your Travel
To view airlines operating at Brisbane airport, click here.
Getting to IPPA World Congress 2025
Airport
With more than 23.2 million passengers in 2017, the award-winning Brisbane Airport is the third busiest in Australia. Brisbane is the closest destination for many international travellers to Australia and is a great hub to start from for many Australian experiences.
Airtrain
Once you’ve arrived, getting around Brisbane is a pleasure with its first-class network of travel and transport links. From the airport, board the Airtrain for a direct transfer to the city (kids 14 and under travel free) and links the domestic and international terminals. Brisbane Airport is located about 20 minutes from the city centre via train.
We have a promotional code for you to use during IPPA World Congress 2025 for free return travel from the airport on the Airtrain. The details are below:
Promocode: IPPA 2025
For Travel dates between: 25 June – 9 July 2025
Tickets: Free Return Travel
Only redeemable online at www.airtrain.com.au
Please note: If delegates book outside the above travel dates the normal fares will apply.
Airtrain is the fast and stress free way to travel from Brisbane Airport. In 20 minutes you will travel directly to the heart of Brisbane’s CBD. Book your ticket online or show your delegate PDF at the Station, either way relax with our modern fleet of trains including Air-conditioning, free WiFi, restrooms on board and plenty of space for luggage. As a delegate, you are entitled to an exclusive offer, use the promocode to redeem at www.airtrain.com.au.
One of Airtrain’s city stations is the South Brisbane station, which is located just 378 metres from the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. For those unfamiliar with Brisbane, you can use our online journey planner to map out your journey to the centre.
Instructions to Purchase:
- Head to airtrain.com.au
- Select the Book Tickets button
- Select From destination as the Airport Domestic or Airport International
- Select To destination as Brisbane and choose one of the following stations: Eagle Junction, Wooloowin, Albion, Bowen Hills, Fortitude valley, Central, Roma Street, South Brisbane
- Select Return button
- Choose departure and return date between the 25 June – 9 July 2025
- Select the amount of passengers
- Enter passenger details
- Select Credit Card or Paypal
- Enter the promo code IPPA2025
- Enter payment details
- Select the check boxes and press the Confirm booking button
Terms and Conditions:
Valid for travel from the 25 June – 9 July 2025. Tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable. Your city ticket is valid for travel to and from all stations between the Airport and South Brisbane, including Eagle Junction, Wooloowin, Albion, Bowen Hills, Fortitude valley, Central and Roma Street stations. Children 14 years and under travel free to city stations when accompanied by a paying adult and using paper ticket or e-ticket purchased from www.airtrain.com.au. For Airtrain’s full terms and conditions visit https://www.airtrain.com.au/terms-and-conditions/.
Getting around Brisbane
Go Event Travel Card
IPPA World Congress 2025 delegates have the opportunity to purchase a Go Event Travel Card for ease of travel on the Brisbane public transport network. The Go Event Travel Card is specifically designed for Congress delegates and allows delegates to pre purchase cards for unlimited zone travel throughout Brisbane during the Congress. The Go Card is a touch-on touch-off system that can be used on the city’s buses, trains, CityCats and ferry services.
You can purchase your Go Event Travel Card through the online registration form. Your Go Event Travel card will be available for collection along with your name tag on site at IPPA World Congress 2025.
Key Features
- It’s valid across all TransLink zones in South East Queensland including Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast regions.
- Travel days can be used non-consecutively
- Unlimited travel
- No cash required, easy card touch on/off to electronic card reader
- Bus services from Coolangatta Airport on the Gold Coast are included.
- Dedicated 24/7 call centre, user guide, comprehensive website and an extensive bus, train*, ferry and tram network
How Does it Work?
- Simply touch your card to a card reader at the start and end of their journey
- Travel as often as you like on buses, trains, trams and ferries
- There’s no need to worry about calculating fares or loading money onto the card
Go Access Travel Card Type | Cost |
3 day unlimited travel card | AUD 17 per person |
4 day unlimited travel card | AUD 21 per person |
5 day unlimited travel card | AUD 25 per person |
6 day unlimited travel card | AUD 29 per person |
7 day unlimited travel card | AUD 33 per person |
8 day unlimited travel card | AUD 37 per person |
Public Transport – Ferry/Bus/Train
Public transport in Brisbane is paperless. We suggest that you purchase a Go Event Card through the online registration form. Alternatively, Go Cards can be purchased from Newsagents, 7/Eleven and train station ticket offices.
The closest station to the BCEC is the South Brisbane Station. You can get a train from South Brisbane into the city or to the Airport.
Plan your journey on public transport using the Translink Journey Planner or Google Maps.
Taxi
Another way to get to where you need to go is via a taxi. You’ll find taxi ranks at the Brisbane international and domestic airports, as well as throughout Brisbane City and its surrounding regions. Jumping in a taxi can be a quick and efficient way of getting to your destination.
Rideshare
Brisbane is home to Uber, DiDi, Ola and GoCatch.
Key Phone Numbers
Brisbane Visitor Information & Booking Centre: (07) 3006 6290.
TransLink (public transport information): 13 12 30.
Black & White Cabs: 13 32 22.
13cabs: 13 22 27.
Emergency (ambulance, police or fire brigade): Dial 000.
Find out more about what’s on in Brisbane by downloading the Brisbane Visitor Guide