IMPACT – LOW

What is the change? Australia is offering multiple-entry visas to Chinese business visitors.

What does the change mean? The visas will facilitate business travel and eliminate the need for frequent visitors to apply for visas each time they enter the country.

  • Implementation timeframe: Immediate.
  • Visas/permits affected: Visitor visa (subclass 600).
  • Who is affected: Chinese business travellers.
  • Impact on processing times: It will eliminate multiple visa applications for frequent business travellers.
  • Business impact: The move is expected to boost business travel, trade and investment.

Background: In a bid to assist the growing numbers of business travellers, Australia will allow Chinese business visitors to apply for a multiple-entry visa, valid for three years.

The new visas will serve the purpose of “increasing the prospect of repeat visits to Australia, which would be warmly welcomed by our tourism sector,” said the Hon. Andrew Robb, Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment. “These changes will also support the government’s ambitious trade and investment agenda and increase the opportunities to do business with China.”

Chinese investment in Australia has climbed to $23 billion, an eight-fold increase over the past decade, and Chinese business visitors represented 18.5 per cent of business visa applicants in the first quarter of 2013-14, according to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon. Scott Morrison.

BAL Analysis: The change will simplify the process for frequent Chinese business travellers.

This alert has been provided by BAL Australia. For additional information, please contact australia@bal.com.

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