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Temporary Activity Visa
Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity Visa
With this visa, you can work in Australia for a short period of time.
Basic Eligibility
- have the skills to undertake the activity to be carried out in Australia
- be supported or sponsored
- meet additional requirements of the relevant stream
01. Endorsed Events - Subclass 408
This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to participate in events which are endorsed by the Australian Government.
With Endorsed event 408 visa you can
- travel to or stay in Australia to take part in the event
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
You must
- apply online
- have a letter of endorsement from an approved organisation
How long you can stay
- You may be granted a visa for the duration of the event, or up to 4 years, depending on your role.
- This is a temporary visa with multiple entries. You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If you apply in Australia, the visa stay period starts the day we grant it. If you apply outside Australia, the visa stay period starts the day you enter Australia on the visa.
02. Special Program - Subclass 408
This visa lets you stay in Australia to take part in an approved special program. Special programs can include youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or “gap year school volunteering “.
With Special program 408 visa the applicant can
- Take part in a special program in Australia to exchange culture, knowledge and social experiences
- Stay in Australia for usually up to 12 months with members of the family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
You must
- have an invitation to participate in an approved special program
- be supported or sponsored depending on your circumstances
- apply online
Cultural enrichment or community benefits program
This program type lets you take part in activities in Australia to exchange ideas, beliefs, rituals, customs and traditions with people of different or similar ethnic or social backgrounds.
We encourage approved Australian organisations to promote these exchanges to foster mutual understanding and tolerance in the Australian community.
The program should last between 3 and 12 months.
Your activities might include
- learning about Australian Indigenous languages and cultures
- pastoral care, religious teaching or evangelism
- social research, environmental conservation or outdoor education
- teaching other languages and cultures
- volunteering with a charity to do outreach work
- You can’t undertake training or tourism as your primary activity.
- Your sponsor must sign a special program agreement with the government.
How long you can stay
- This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- We usually grant this visa for no more than 12 months.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If you are overseas when the visa is granted, the visa stay period starts on the day that you enter Australia. If you are in Australia, the visa starts on the day that it is granted.
- Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay.
03. Religious Work - Subclass 408
This visa lets you do full-time religious work for a religious institution in Australia. You and your family who apply for the visa with you can stay here for up to 2 years.
With Religious Work Subclass 408 visa, you can
- do full-time religious work to serve a religious institution in Australia
- stay in Australia for up to 2 years with members of the family unit
- apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
The work you do must directly serve the religious aims of a religious institution in Australia. You can’t do secular work, like administration or aged care, for the institution.
Religious work could include
- providing spiritual leadership
- conducting worship
- teaching or offering guidance on religion
- providing pastoral care
- proselytising
- other high-level specialist work relating to these things
You must
- have an agreement to work full time for a religious institution in Australia
- be supported or sponsored depending on your circumstances
- apply online
How long you can stay
- This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- The maximum stay for this visa stream is 2 years.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If you are overseas when the visa is granted, the visa stay period starts on the day that you enter Australia. If you are in Australia, the visa starts on the day that it is granted.
- Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay.
04. Research Activities - Subclass 408
This visa lets you observe or take part in a research project at a research or tertiary institution in Australia. You and your family who apply for the visa with you can stay here for up to 2 years.
With research activities 408 visa you can
- Observe or take part in a research project at a research or tertiary institution in Australia
- Stay in Australia for up to 2 years with members of the family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia but not in immigration clearance
- Usually, you would observe or take part in the research for up to 12 months.
Researcher activities
You might be eligible for this activity type if you:
- are an academic who has made significant achievements in your field
- are employed, or were employed in the past, as an academic at a tertiary institution
- have been invited to observe or take part in an Australian research project at an Australian tertiary or research institution, usually in collaboration with other academics employed there
Research student activities
You might be eligible for this activity type if you are:
- a student or recent graduate of an overseas educational institution
- you have been invited to undertake research related to your field of study at an Australian tertiary or research institution
- If you have not yet graduated, you must be undertaking the research to meet the requirements for your overseas qualification.
You must
- have a sponsor or supporter depending on your circumstances
- be invited to observe or take part in research at an Australian research or tertiary institution
How long you can stay
- This is a temporary visa.
- We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- The maximum stay for this visa stream is 2 years.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If you are outside Australia when the visa is granted, the visa stay period starts on the day that you enter Australia. If you are in Australia, the visa starts on the day it is granted.
- If we grant the visa, we will let you know how long you can stay.
05. Invited for Social and Cultural activities - Subclass 408
This visa lets you come to Australia if you are invited to participate in a community-based event, including sporting events. You and your family who travel on the visa with you can stay here for up to 3 months.
With this visa you can
- You must have been invited to take part in a community-based event in Australia
- You can stay in Australia for up to 3 months with members of the family unit
- You can apply for the visa in or outside Australia but not in immigration clearance
Examples of cultural or social events
You might be:
- an individual sportsperson or member of a sports team, or team support staff such as a manager, medic, coach, referee or official. But you are not eligible for this stream if you have been contracted to play for or coach an Australian team
- a minister conducting religious services or taking part in other religious activities as the guest of an Australian religious institution
- working at a religious event
- an academic invited by a tertiary academic institution to lecture, hold workshops or take part in research
- a public speaker or lecturer
- speaking, presenting or lecturing at a trade fair, expo, exhibition, conference, workshop or seminar
- an entertainer attending specific promotional events, but not performing
- an artist making visual art or exhibiting your work
- an author, presenting your work to an audience at a writers festival
- a choreographer conducting a dance workshop that includes an unticketed closing performance
You must
You might be:
- be invited to take part in the event
- have a sponsor or supporter
How long you can stay
- This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- The maximum stay for this visa stream is 3 months.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.I
- f you are overseas when the visa is granted, the visa stay period starts on the day that you enter Australia. If you are in Australia, the visa starts on the day that it is granted.
- Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay.
06. Sporting Activities - Subclass 408
This visa allows you to play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian team, or do high level sports training with a sporting organisation. You and your family can stay in Australia for up to 2 years.
With this visa you can
- play, coach, adjudicate or instruct for an Australian team, or do high-level sports training with a sporting organisation
- stay for up to 2 years with members of the family unit
- apply for the visa in or outside Australia but not in immigration clearance
You can’t do any work other than the approved sporting activity.
You must
- have a sponsor or supporter
- have a contract and a letter of support from a peak sporting body
- not work outside your specified sporting activities
How long you can stay
- This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- If you are a sportsperson participating at local or regional competitions, then you will normally be expected to depart Australia at the end of the sporting season. The maximum stay for this visa stream is 2 years.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If you are overseas when the visa is granted, the visa stay period starts on the day that you enter Australia. If you are in Australia, the visa starts on the day that it is granted.
- Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay.
07. Entertainment Activities - Subclass 408
This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to work in the entertainment industry on film, television or live productions as a performer, production or support staff. You can include family members in your visa application.
With Entertainment activities 408 visa you can
- work on film, television or live productions in the entertainment industry
- Stay in Australia for up to 2 years with members of the family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia but not in immigration clearance
You must
- have a contract or other proof of your engagement
- have access to enough money to support yourself and any dependents who travel with you during your stay in Australia
Entertainment activity categories
You apply for this visa under one of these categories:
- performing in a film or television production subsidised by government
- performing in a film or television production not subsidised by government
- performing other than in film or television
- working in a production role other than as a performer
- working as support staff for an entertainer or group of entertainers
- working as a performer or support staff for a non-profit engagement
- working on a documentary or commercial for an overseas market
How long you can stay
You apply for this visa under one of these categories:
- This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- The maximum stay for this visa stream is 2 years.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- The visa starts on the date we grant it.
- If we grant the visa, we will let you know how long you can stay.
Examples of eligible work
Eligible work could include:
- acting in a television or film production
- making a celebrity cameo appearance
- a contestant or worker on a reality tv program who receives a salary
- stand-up comedian
- international musician or support staff
- live theatre performer or support staff
- singer
- classical musician
- internet video performer
- cultural performer
- documentary presenter
- celebrity appearance in a commercial
- non-performing production or technical crew
- journalist or other media personnel covering an event
- choreographer giving a dance workshop that includes a ticketed public closing performance
08. Superyacht Crew - Subclass 408
This visa lets you work in Australia as a crew member of a superyacht. You can stay here for up to 12 months.
With Superyacht crew 408 visa you can
- be a crew member on a superyacht in Australia
- stay in Australia for up to 12 months
- apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
A superyacht is a high-value luxury sailing or motor vessel that:
- is 24 metres or longer
- doesn’t carry cargo
- is used for sport or recreation
You must
- have a contract to work as a superyacht crew member
- a letter from the owner of the superyacht confirming the person’s employment as a member of the crew of the vessel
- have a supporter or a sponsor, depending on your circumstances
How long you can stay
- This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- We usually do not grant a visa stay period of more than 12 months for this activity. The maximum stay for this visa stream is 2 years.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If you are outside Australia when the visa is granted, the visa stay period starts on the day that you enter Australia. If you are in Australia, the visa starts on the day that it is granted.
- Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay.
09. Exchange Arrangements - Subclass 408
This visa lets you come to Australia as part of a staff exchange with an Australian organisation. You and your family members who travel here on the visa with you can stay for up to 2 years.
With Staff Exchange Arrangements 408 visa you can
- Take part in a staff exchange and work in an Australian organisation
- Stay in Australia for up to 2 years with members of the family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
The exchange must benefit both you and the Australian citizen or permanent resident you exchange jobs with.
You must
- have the skills and experience to exchange jobs with an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- have a sponsor or a supporter
How long you can stay
- This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- The maximum stay for this visa stream is 2 years.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If you are outside Australia when the visa is granted, the visa stay period starts on the day that you enter Australia. If you are in Australia, the visa starts on the day that it is granted.
10. Domestic Work for Executives - Subclass 408
This visa lets you come to Australia to do full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives. You and members of your family unit can stay here for up to 2 years.
With this visa you can
- do full-time domestic work in the household of a certain senior foreign executive
- stay in Australia for for up to 2 years with members of the family unit
- apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
You must
- be 18 years old or older
- be invited to work in the household
- be experienced in domestic work
- be supported or sponsored
How long you can stay
- This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
- The maximum stay for this visa stream is 2 years.
- The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If you apply in Australia, the visa starts the day we grant it. If you apply outside Australia, the visa stay period starts the day you enter Australia on the visa.
- If we grant the visa, we will let you know how long you can stay.
Hope Immigration Services is Here to Help
We understand that it can sometimes be frustrating, stressful and confusing when you want apply for a visa to Australia.
Call us on (02) 8678 5756 to arrange a personal consultation with one of our Registered Migration Agents to learn more about your eligibility for Subclass 408 Visa.
