Sponsorship
Sponsorship by an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor is required unless the applicant is overseas and seeking to stay in Australia for 3 months or less. If sponsorship is not required, then the applicant should be supported by an organisation or Australian citizen or permanent resident who passes the support test.
Application Streams
To be eligible for a Temporary Activity Visa, you must fall within one of the following eligibility streams:
1. Invited Participant
- You can apply under this stream if you have been invited by an Australian organisation to take part in a social or cultural activity associated with a community-based event or series of events in Australia.
- The applicant, and members of the family unit if included in the application, can stay in Australia for up to 3 months with multiple entry.
2. Sporting Activities
- You can either work as an elite player, coach, instructor or adjudicator for an Australian team with endorsement by an Australian national sporting body, or receive high-level sports training as a sports trainee. You must take part in full-time structured sports training if applying as a sports trainee.
- The applicant and members of their family (if included) can stay for up to 2 years with multiple entry.
- You cannot work outside your specified sporting activities.
3. Religious Work
- This visa lets you work full-time as a religious worker to serve an Australian religious institution.
- The applicant and family (if included) can stay in Australia for up to 2 years with multiple entry.
4. Domestic Work for Executives
- The applicant must be invited to work full-time in the household of a senior foreign executive. This senior foreign executive must be the holder of a Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) Privileges and Immunities stream, Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa (Subclass 457) or Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482), who is also the managing director, deputy national managing director or state manager of the sponsor’s Australian office.
- The applicant must have a suitable employment contract that meets the necessary standards under the relevant Australian legislation awards.
- The applicant and family (if included) can stay in Australia for up to 2 years with multiple entry.
5. Superyacht Crew
- This stream is for members of a superyacht crew to stay in Australia for up to 12 months.
- Your supporter or sponsor must be the captain, owner or operator of the superyacht.
- You must have a contract to work as a crew member on a superyacht in Australia, or a letter confirming your employment as a crew member on a superyacht in Australia.
6. Research Activities
- This stream is for students who have been invited to undertake research related to their field of study, or academics invited to observe or take part in an Australian research project at an Australian tertiary or research institution.
- You must be an established academic researcher, research student or recent graduate.
- The applicant and family (if included) can stay in Australia for up to 2 years with multiple entry.
7. Exchange Arrangements
- This stream is applicable where there is an agreement between an Australian business and an overseas business for the exchange of staff between the businesses.
- You must have the necessary skills and experience to perform the skilled position set out in the exchange agreement.
- The exchange arrangement must benefit both the applicant and the Australian citizen/permanent resident.
- The applicant and family (if included) can stay in Australia for up to 2 years with multiple entry.
8. Special Program
- This visa lets you stay in Australia as part of an approved special program. You must meet the age requirement for the specified program:
- Cultural enrichment/community benefit program – 18 years or older
- School language assistance program – 18 to 30 years
- School-to-school interchange program –17 to 25 years
- Youth exchange program – 18 to 30 years.
- The main purpose of the program should be cultural exchange.
- The applicant and family (if included) can stay in Australia for up to 12 months with multiple entry.
9. Australian Government Endorsed Events
- This visa allows you to travel to or stay in Australia to take part in an Australian Government endorsed event.
- Unlike the other streams, this option does not require sponsorship and results in a visa of up to 4 years duration.
- Note: The Australian Government Endorsed Events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) visa closed to all applications on 1 February 2024.
10. Entertainment Activities
- This stream is for performer, production and support staff. Criteria differs depending on whether the applicant is working in a film or TV production, and if it is subsidised by the government, for an overseas market or for non-profit purposes.
- You must have a contract for your performance or work in Australia. If you are intending to come to Australia for a non-profit engagement, evidence must be shown.
- The applicant and family (if included) can stay in Australia for up to 2 years with multiple entry.
What are the main requirements for the 408 visa?
The temporary activity visa has several eligibility visa pathways. All applicants must generally show that they:
- hold adequate private health insurance.
- are supported or sponsored.
- have access to sufficient funds to support themselves and any dependents in Australia.
- genuinely intend to stay temporarily in Australia for the intended purpose. This is the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
- meet health and character requirements. Your immigration history may also affect your eligibility.
What are the costs associated with applying for the 408 Visa?
We have outlined the applicable fees that are likely to be incurred for the Temporary Activity Visa in Australian Dollars.
Department of Home Affairs Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) application fees are:
- Temporary Activities Sponsor application fee – $420 (once you are an approved sponsor, there is no cost to sponsor someone for the visa)
- 408 Visa application fee – Primary applicant – $430, Adult dependent – $430, Child Dependent – $110
- Subsequent Temporary Application Charge – $700 (may be payable if the applicant previously lodged certain temporary visas whilst in Australia)
- Credit card surcharge (if applicable)
How long does the 408 Visa application process take?
The processing time for the 408 Visa varies depending on the stream the applicant applies for under the Temporary Activity Visa. For current visa processing times please refer to the information on the Department of Home Affairs website.
