Temporary Activity Visa

Temporary Activity Visa

SUBCLASS 408

Temporary Activity Visa – Subclass 408

What is Temporary Activity Subclass 408 Visa?

This temporary visa allows people to do short-term, specific types of work or activities in Australia, such as:

  • work in the entertainment industry

  • participate in activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation

  • participate or observe in an Australian research project

  • work in a skilled position under a staff exchange arrangement

  • participate in high-level sports competitions or sports training programs

  • participate in a special program approved by the department that provides opportunities for youth exchange, cultural enrichment, or community benefits

  • do full-time religious work

  • be employed as a super yacht crew member

  • do full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives

  • participate in a government-endorsed event.

The applicant must also have the skills to undertake the activity to be carried out in Australia and be supported or sponsored.

Temporary Activity Visa Subclass 408 Eligibility Streams:

Stream 1 – Special Program

This stream is for people who wants to take part in an approved special program, such as youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or gap year volunteering. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 1 year.

Stream 2 – Religious Work

This stream is for people who wants to do full-time religious work for a religious institution in Australia. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

Stream 3 – Research Activities

This stream is for people who wants to observe or take part in a research project at a research or tertiary institution in Australia. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 2 years. Researcher activities include those who:

  • are an academic who has made significant achievements in your field
  • have the necessary qualifications to take part
  • 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 include those who:

  • are students or recent graduates of an overseas educational institution
  • have been invited to undertake research related to your field of study at an Australian tertiary or research institution
  • have not yet graduated, but will be undertaking the research to meet the requirements for overseas qualification.

Stream 4 – Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity

This stream is for people who are invited for cultural or social events, including sporting events. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 3 months. Suitable applicants for this stream include those who:

  • are sportspersons or member of a sports team, or team support staff such as a manager, medic, coach, referee or official (apart from those who have been contracted to play for or coach an Australian team)
  • are ministers conducting religious services or taking part in other religious activities as the guest of an Australian religious institution
  • are working at a religious event
  • are academics invited by a tertiary academic institution to lecture, hold workshops or take part in research
  • are public speakers or lecturers
  • are speaking, presenting or lecturing at a trade fair, expo, exhibition, conference, or seminar
  • are entertainers attending specific promotional events, but not performing
  • are artists making visual art or exhibiting their work
  • are authors, presenting their work at a writers festival
  • are choreographers, conducting a dance workshop that includes an unticketed closing performance

Stream 5 – Sporting Activities

This stream is for people who wants to play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian sporting team or organisation, or engage in high-level sports training. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

Stream 6 – Entertainment Activities

This stream is for people who wants to work in the entertainment industry on film, television or live productions as a performer or production staff. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

Stream 7 – Superyacht Crew

This stream is for people to work in Australia as a crew member of a superyacht. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 1 year. A superyacht is defined as a high-value luxury sailing or motor vessel that:

  • is 24 metres or longer
  • doesn't carry cargo
  • is used for sport or recreation

Stream 8 – Exchange Agreements

This stream is for people to come to Australia as part of a staff exchange with an Australian organisation. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

Stream 9 – Australian Government Endorsed Events

This stream is for entrepreneurs participating in the Supporting Innovation in South Australia event and their family travelling with them. The applicant needs to have the endorsement of the Government of South Australia and can stay in Australia for the duration of the event, or up to 4 years if the applicant is an organiser.

Stream 10 - Domestic Work for Executives

This stream is for people to come to Australia to do full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives. The visa allows the visa holder and their family to stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

What is the Application Process for Temporary Activity Visa Subclass 408?

Common Criteria

  • you need to show that you genuinely intend to stay temporarily in Australia (also known as the Genuine Temporary Entrant criteria) [read case study on a visa refusal due to GTE]

  • you have enough money to support yourself and your accompanying family members while you are in Australia

  • you meet health and character requirements

  • sponsorship by an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor is generally required unless the applicant is overseas and seeking to stay in Australia for 3 months or less.

  • If sponsorship is not required, then in most cases the application must be supported by an eligible supporter

  • have the skills to undertake the activity to be carried out in Australia

Who is the Sponsor or Supporter?

Eligible Sponsor is:

  • a temporary activities sponsor or an entertainment sponsor, and is

 Eligible Supporter is:


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