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 application should be supported by an organisation or Australian citizen or permanent resident who meets 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 to take part in a community-based event or series of events in Australia by an Australian or overseas organisation
- 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 or adjudicator for an Australian team with the endorsement of the national peak body for the sport in Australia, or receive high-level sports training with a sporting coach
- 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 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 who is the holder of a Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403), Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa (Subclass 457) or Temporary Skill Shortage Vissa (Subclass 482)
- 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
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
- The applicant and family (if included) can stay in Australia for up to 2 years with multiple entry
7. Exchange Arrangements
- Where there is an agreement between an Australian business and an overseas business for the exchange of staff between the businesses
- 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 such as youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or “gap year school volunteering”
- 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 the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit event (cost of the visa application is free for this 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 will close 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.
- 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 private health insurance
- Are supported or sponsored
- Have access to sufficient funds to support themselves in Australia
- Genuinely intend to stay temporarily in Australia for the intended purpose
- Meet health and character requirements
What are the costs associated with applying for the 408 Visa?
Our fixed fee, service packages are designed to give clients choice in terms of fees and the level of service. However, they do not cover the visa application fees and other costs involved in submitting a visa application. Fees can increase without notice, so the actual fees can vary at the time of application. We have outlined the applicable fees that are likely to be incurred for the Temporary Activity Visa (408 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 – $405, Adult dependent – $405, Child Dependent – $105
- Credit card surcharge (if applicable)
How long does the 408 Visa application process take?
Once the 408 Visa application is lodged, it takes 8 days – 4 months for the visa to be processed by the Department of Home Affairs. The processing time can increase depending on the intended stream under the Temporary Activity Visa. For current visa processing times please refer to the information on the Department of Home Affairs website.
