Guide to temporary entry for business persons into Australia under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
On this page
- Before you travel to Australia
- Business visitors
- Installer or servicer
- Intra-corporate transferees
- Independent executives
- Contractual service suppliers
- Disclaimer
This guide provides Canadian business persons with important information regarding the eligibility requirements and authorizations necessary to enter Australia temporarily for business purposes under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Australia’s acts and regulations governing entry and stay.
Please familiarize yourself with all relevant travel requirements before seeking entry into Australia.
Before you travel to Australia:
This guide is for information only. It is not the official text of the CPTPP or Australian law. Always verify information using the text of the Agreement and official government sources of Australia. You may also seek advice from a licensed or authorised individual like an immigration lawyer or immigration consultant.
To be eligible for temporary entry into Australia under any of the categories under the CPTPP, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Consolidated TPP Text – Australia’s Schedule of Commitments for Temporary Entry for Business Persons
- Consolidated TPP Text – Chapter 12 – Temporary Entry for Business Persons
- For any questions related to temporary entry commitments under the CPTPP, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca
Business visitors
Do I qualify as a business visitor in Australia?
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian business visitor is a:
- Canadian business person who is seeking to travel to Australia for business purposes, including for investment purposes, and who does not make direct sales to the general public or supply goods or services themselves.
- Canadian service seller, defined as business person who is based in Canada, and is a sales representative of a service supplier, entering for the purpose of negotiating the sale of services or entering into agreements to sell services for that service supplier.
A Canadian business visitor’s remuneration and financial support for the duration of the visit must come from a source not within Australia.
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian business visitor can stay in Australia for:
- Up to 3 months under bullet (1)
- Up to 6 months initially, to a maximum of 12 months under bullet (2)
Do I need a visa as a business visitor in Australia?
Yes. If you plan to visit Australia as a Canadian business visitor, you must first obtain a Visitor visa (subclass 600) under the business visitor stream. Please note, the requirements and processes outlined above are subject to change by the Government of Australia at any time. To learn more about the Visitor visa (subclass 600): business visitor stream, and specific eligibility requirements to apply for a Visitor visa, please consult
How do I apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600)?
To apply for the Visitor visa, you must create an . For more information on the documentation required and steps to apply for a Visitor visa, please consult the of the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
To apply on paper, consult and complete
Do I need a work permit as a business visitor?
No. A Canadian business visitor will not require a work permit, as they cannot be engaged in any income-earning activities while in Australia.
Installer or servicer
Do I qualify as an installer or servicer in Australia?
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian installer or servicer is a Canadian business person who installs or services machinery or equipment where this installation or service is a condition of purchase of the machinery or equipment.
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian installer or servicer can stay in Australia for up to 3 months.
Do I need a visa as an installer or servicer?
Yes. If you plan to visit Australia as a Canadian installer or servicer, you must first obtain a Temporary Work visa (subclass 400) under the business visitor stream. Please note, the requirements and processes outlined above are subject to change by the Government of Australia at any time. To learn more about the Temporary Work visa (subclass 400): business visitor stream, and specific eligibility requirements to apply for a Visitor Visa, please consult
How do I apply for a Temporary Work visa (subclass 400)?
To apply for the Temporary Work visa, you must create an . For more information on the documentation required and steps to apply for a Temporary Work visa, please consult the of the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
Do I need a work permit as an installer or servicer?
No. A Canadian installer or servicer will not require a work permit, as they cannot be engaged in any income-earning activities while in Australia.
Intra-corporate transferee
Do I qualify as an intra-corporate transferee?
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian intra-corporate transferee is either an executive, senior manager or specialist employed by a Canadian enterprise lawfully and actively operating within and established in Australia. An intra-corporate transferee must be transferred to fill a position in the parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of that enterprise in Australia.
An executive or a senior manager is a business person who:
- is receiving general supervision or direction principally from higher-level executives;
- is responsible for the entire or a substantial part of the operations of the enterprise in Australia, including directing the enterprise or a department or subdivision of it;
- is supervising and controlling the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees; and
- has the authority to establish goals and policies of the department or subdivision of the enterprise.
A specialist is a business person with:
- advanced trade, technical or professional skills and experience; and
- the necessary qualifications, or alternative credentials accepted as meeting Australia’s domestic standards for the relevant occupation.
A specialist must have been employed by the employer for not less than two years immediately preceding the date of the application for temporary entry.
Entry of intra-corporate transferees is also subject to the fulfillment of employment sponsorship requirements.
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, Canadian intra-corporate transferees are able to stay in Australia for:
- up to four years if they are executives and senior managers, extensions are possible.
- up to two years if they are specialists, extensions are possible.
Do I need a visa as an intercorporate transferee?
Yes. To temporarily enter and work in Australia, a Canadian intra-corporate transferee should apply for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), which allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for an approved business. To learn more about the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), including specific eligibility requirements and how to apply, see the of the Department of Home Affairs.
How do I apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage visa as an intra-corporate transferee?
Your employer can apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage visa online using an Before you apply, you must:
- Check if your occupation is on the
- Ensure you meet the
- Obtain a
For more information about the Temporary Skill Shortage visa, see the of the Department of Home Affairs.
Do I need a work permit as an intercorporate transferee?
No. The Temporary Skill Shortage visa acts as a permit authorizing the holder to live in Australia and work full-time for the sponsoring employer in the nominated position.
Independent executive
Do I qualify as an independent executive?
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian independent executive is a Canadian business person who seeks to, or is responsible for, establishing a new branch or subsidiary of an enterprise in Australia which:
- has its head of operations in Canada; and
- has no other representative, branch or subsidiary in Australia
Independent executives must:
- be responsible for the entire or a substantial part of the enterprise’s operations in Australia, including directing the enterprise or a department or subdivision of it, receiving general supervision or direction principally from higher level executives, the board of directors or stockholders of the enterprise;
- supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees; and
- have the authority to establish goals and policies of the department or subdivision of the enterprise
Entry of independent executives is also subject to the fulfillment of employment sponsorship requirements.
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, Canadian independent executives can stay in Australia for up to two years.
Do I need a visa as an independent executive?
Yes. To temporarily enter and work in Australia, an independent executive should apply for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa, which allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for an approved business. To learn more about the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), including specific eligibility requirements and how to apply, see the of the Department of Home Affairs.
How do I apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa as an independent executive?
Your employer can apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage visa online using an Before you apply, you must:
- Check if your occupation is on the
- Ensure you meet the
- Obtain a
For more information about the Temporary Skill Shortage visa, see the of the Department of Home Affairs.
Do I need a work permit with a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa as an independent executive?
No. The Temporary Skill Shortage visa acts as a permit authorizing the holder to live in Australia and work full-time for the sponsoring employer in the nominated position.
Contractual service suppliers
Do I qualify as a contractual service supplier?
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian contractual service supplier is a business person with trade, technical or professional skills and experience who has the necessary qualifications, skills and work experience in accordance with the domestic standard in Australia.
These business persons are either:
- employees of a Canadian enterprise that has concluded a contract for the supply of a service within Australia and that does not have a commercial presence within Australia; or
- engaged by an enterprise lawfully and actively operating in Australia to supply a service under a contract within Australia
Entry of contractual service suppliers is also subject to the fulfilment of employment sponsorship requirements.
For Australia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian contractual service supplier can stay in Australia for an initial period of up to 12 months. Extensions are possible.
Do I need a visa as contractual service supplier?
Yes. To temporarily enter and work in Australia, a contractual service supplier should apply for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa, which allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for an approved business. To learn more about the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), including specific eligibility requirements and how to apply, see the of the Department of Home Affairs.
How do I apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa as a contractual service supplier?
Your employer can apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage visa online using an Before you apply, you must:
- Check if your occupation is on the
- Ensure you meet the
- Obtain a
For more information about the Temporary Skill Shortage visa, see the of the Department of Home Affairs.
Do I need a work permit?
No. The Temporary Skill Shortage visa acts as a permit authorizing the holder to live in Australia, and work full-time for the sponsoring employer in the nominated position.
I qualify for temporary entry into Australia under the CPTPP; can my spouse or dependants accompany me?
Australia extends temporary entry coverage to spouses and dependants for select categories under the CPTPP. Spouses and dependants of Canadian business visitors and installers or servicers are not eligible for temporary entry into Australia under its CPTPP commitments. Spouses and dependants of Canadian intra-corporate transferees, independent executives, and contractual service suppliers are eligible for temporary entry and the right to work in Australia under its CPTPP commitments. The period of stay offered to spouses and dependants are equivalent to the length of stay of the principal applicant.
Typically, the spouse or dependant of a covered Canadian business person should apply for their visa at the same time, in a combined visa application with the main applicant’s Temporary Skill Shortage visa application.
For more information about temporary entry and work rights for spouses and dependants, see the for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa of the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
What if I don’t qualify for temporary entry into Australia under the CPTPP?
Entry into Australia for Canadian business persons not covered under any of the categories under the Australia’s CPTPP commitments is subject to Australia’s acts and regulations governing entry and stay.
To explore other paths for entry into Australia, please consult .
Disclaimer
The information contained herein is current as of May 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.
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