At the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit held in March 2024 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced vital changes aimed at strengthening economic ties and fostering deeper relationships between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states, Timor-Leste and Australia.
One of the most notable changes is the extension of the business visitor visa duration. Previously limited to 3 years, the visa now allows business visitors to stay for up to 5 years, provided their applications are lodged after 1 April 2024. This extension is poised to boost trade, investments, and people-to-people links, subsequently creating more job opportunities.
Under the new rules, business visitors holding a Visitor (subclass 600) visa can stay in Australia for up to 3 months at a time during multiple visits, over a span of 5 years. This flexibility enables them to engage in various business activities including negotiating contracts, making general business or employment inquiries, participating in conferences or trade fairs, and taking part in official government visits.
The Australian government also announced that they plan to extend the 10-year visitor visa Frequent Traveller stream to ASEAN states and Timor-Leste before the end of this year.
These new measures currently exclude Myanmar.
For more information and assistance with visitor visas, contact Stone Group Lawyers today to book an initial consultation.
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