Attending the World Credit Union Conference in Sydney?
Here’s everything you need to ensure a smooth and stress-free entry into Australia
Do You Need a Visa?
If you’re not an Australian resident, you need a visa to attend the conference.
*New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country
Most travelers can apply online for an eVisitor or ETA visa, but some may need a different type of visa to enter Australia.
- Attendees from the USA, Canada, Japan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, or South Korea can apply for an ETA to Australia
- If you are from a country in the EU, you can apply for the eVisitor Visa instead, which is similar to the Electronic Travel Authority
- If you are not from a country listed above, check the Department of Home Affairs website for your country’s specific visa requirements.
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of citizenship and residency. Check the
Department of Home Affairs website for your country’s visa requirements.
We recommend checking your eligibility and requirements through the official Australian immigration website as early as possible.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
2. Confirm what type of visa you need
Most travelers can apply online for an eVisitor or ETA visa, but processing times can vary.
- Attendees from the USA, Canada, Japan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, or South Korea can apply for an ETA to Australia
- If you are from a country in the EU, you can apply for the eVisitor Visa instead, which is similar to the Electronic Travel Authority
- If you are not from a country listed above, check the Department of Home Affairs website for your country’s specific visa requirements.
4. Submit your application online
- You will need to create an ImmiAccount via the official government portal. Make sure to save your log in information.
- If asked to provide an Australian Business Contact during your visa application process, please use the contact listed below
Australian Business Contact
Family Name: Pham
Given Name: Catherine
Position: Engagement and Events Coordinator
Organization: Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA)
Email: events@coba.asn.au
Phone: +61 02 8035 8400
Address: Suite 403/151 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Need an Invitation Letter?
If you do not qualify for an ETA / eVisitor Visa, you may need an official invitation letter from the World Council of Credit Unions to support your visa application.
Fill out the form at the bottom of the page to submit your Visa Letter request.
What happens after you submit the form?
- Issuance of a visa letter is subject to review by the World Council. Requests made by individuals with no connection to World Council of Credit Unions, or the Credit Union Movement will be denied. If you are an industry partner that is not exhibiting this year, you may still attend as an ‘Industry Partner (non exhibiting)’.
- All invitation letters must be requested by filling out the form below, please do not make a request via email, as we have switched to the form for security reasons.
- After submitting the form below, you will receive an email with the subject line ‘WCUC 2026 Sydney - Visa Letter of Invite Request Submission.’ Please hold on to this email as it contains the passcode you will need to enter to access your approved visa letter of invite from World Council.
- Once your visa letter request has been approved by our team, you will receive an email with the subject line ‘WCUC 2026 Sydney - Visa Letter Application Accepted.’ To view your visa letter of invitation in this email, you will need to enter the code from your original email request.
- If you are having a hard time accessing your visa letter of invitation, please contact Choff@woccu.org.
What if my visa is not approved?
Attendees who apply for a visa by 02 April 2026 and whose applications are denied or not received in time to travel to the event, are an exception to the above cancellation policy and are eligible for a refund of conference registration fees. To receive a refund, you must contact ewerner@woccu.org within two weeks of receiving the application denial, and no later than 15 August 2026 with your reason for cancellation. No refunds will be issued after this date.
Fees paid for additional activities such as Day Tours, Credit Union Visits, etc. are not included in this exception; refunds for these activities are subject to deadlines as outlined our cancellation policy linked here.
Need Help?
If you have questions about documentation or invitation letters, our team is here to help. Contact us:
Registration and Events Coordinator: Erica Werner / ewerner@woccu.org / (608) 395-2021
Event Coordinator: Chelsie Hoff / choff@woccu.org