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Short-term travel = long-term benefits

Signs for 2010 are that we are emerging from the recession. As a result, Australian companies are likely to gain momentum in the number of employees they send overseas for business purposes as well long term work assignments. American Express Business Travel expects a pent up need for travel and meetings to be unleashed in 2010, with business travel increasing by as much as 5% from 2009.

This article focuses on short-term business travel and tips to help ease the pain of quickly having to facilitate a business visa for regions that do not allow individuals to enter automatically through a visa waiver or visa on arrival process.

What activities constitute a business visit?
One of the major considerations in any travel is assessing whether the visa being applied for is appropriate for the intended purpose. This is particularly the case when applying for business visitor visas, as an assessment of the proper purpose will be made by immigration officials and in some circumstances, a work permit/visa may be more appropriate. Where you are unsure as to the appropriateness of the visa, you should seek guidance from an immigration professional or the local consulate in Australia.

Ramifications of an individual entering on an incorrect visa can be far reaching to both the traveler and the business.

The Do's - Ensure the purpose of business travel falls within the following general parameters:

Survey potential sites for business
Attend conferences, business events, meetings or trade shows
Sell a product or services
Undertake research
Service contracts
Attend short term training
The Don'ts - It is important that the employee traveling overseas for business will not receive an income and, in most instances, a per diem allowance from the company/ entity they will visit abroad.

If your employee will be attending to a project or performing a day-to-day productive work function for the company to be visited overseas, an employment visa or work permit is likely to be required.

Australian passport holders and visas
In most instances, Australian citizen business travellers are fortunate in not being required to apply for and obtain a business visa prior to arrival for most European nations, North America, and certain countries within the Middle East, South America and Asia Pacific regions. In these situations, the Australian citizen will enter the country under a visa waiver arrangement, or will be granted the business visa upon immigration clearance at the destination airport.

The table below provides basic guidance on the most frequented countries by Australian business people. The table outlines whether or not a visa is required to be processed and obtained prior to departure by the Australia citizen and the maximum permitted duration of stay within those countries. Please note that should your employees hold temporary or permanent resident status here in Australia, the entry criteria will be dependent on the passport held.