Information for visa holders

This information is for people who have already been granted a Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) visa (subclass 459). It explains your rights and obligations.

How long your visa lasts

The department told you how long your visa lasts when it sent the Notification of Grant letter. You cannot apply to extend your visa.

What this visa lets you do

This visa allows you to visit Australia for short-term business purposes, including business-related meetings, seminars, conventions, conferences or networking.

The visa allows you to enter Australia for:

• a maximum of three months, if you have been granted a visa for a single visit
• a maximum of three months per visit, if you have been granted a visa for more than one visit.

Work is generally not allowed. However, you may be able to do some work.
Example: If the work is highly specialised and non-ongoing (generally less than six weeks for the life of the visa).

If your visa was granted with a 'No further stay' condition, you cannot apply for any other visa (except for a Protection visa) while you remain in Australia.

Your obligations

You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

You must not:

• work in Australia except under very limited circumstances
• do work in Australia that can done by an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident
• perform activities other than those stated in your visa application
• do any formal study or training in Australia that leads to a primary, secondary or higher education qualification.

Your family members must not:

• work in Australia
• do any formal study or training in Australia that leads to a primary, secondary or higher education qualification.

You and your family must leave Australia before the visa expires.

Report changes in circumstances

You must tell the department if your circumstances change.

You can use the following forms:

• Form 929 Change of address and/or passport details ( 89KB PDF file) – if you move to a new address or change your passport
• Form 1022 Notification of changes in circumstances ( 77KB PDF file) – if there are other changes in your circumstances.

Information for sponsors

The Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) visa (subclass 459) closed to new applications from 23 March 2013. You cannot apply to be a sponsor under this visa because it is no longer open to new applications. This information is for approved sponsors of current Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) visa holders.

Your obligations

As a sponsor, you must:

• ensure that people you sponsor are genuine business visitors.
• ensure that they comply with all legislation and awards covering their employment in Australia
• ensure that they and their family members comply with all the conditions of their visa while in Australia
• advise one of the department's Centres of Excellence if the business visitor does not abide by the conditions of their visa.