408 VISA

The Temporary Activity visa enables professional academics to visit Australia on a temporary basis, to observe or participate in an Australian research project. This visa allows you to come to Australia on a temporarily:

• Entertainment: work in the entertainment industry – in film, television or live productions in either a performance or behind-the-scenes role, such as directing, producing and other production roles.
• Invited Participant: For people who are invited for stays up to 3 months by an organisation operating in Australia to participate in a specific cultural or social event or events. For example, conferences, sporting, religious or other community events.
• Researcher: To participate or observe in an Australian research project after being invited to do so. To undertake a research activity at an Australian tertiary or research institution related to your field of study.
• Religious Worker: To be a full-time religious worker, serving the religious objectives of a religious institution in Australia.
• Special program: To participate in an approved special program that provides opportunities for youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community benefits.
• Sport: Play, coach or instruct, or adjudicate under contract to an Australian sporting club or organisation. Participate in a high-level sports training program.
• Domestic worker: This temporary visa for people who do full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives.
• Government endorsed event: This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to participate in events that are endorsed by the Australian Government.
• Exchange: To work in a skilled position under a reciprocal staff exchange arrangement to:1. Allow participants to experience another culture.
  2. Enhance international relations.
  3. Broaden participants’ experience and knowledge.

• Superyacht Crew: To be employed as a superyacht crew member onboard a superyacht in Australia.
• Australian Government Endorsed Event: To participate in a government-endorsed major event.

• If invited by an organisation to participate in a specific event – 3 months
• If participating in Australian government activities – 4 years
• All other activities – 2 years

Start from AUD 310.

Applying in Australia: If you apply in Australia you must be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor or sponsor who passes the sponsorship test.

Applying outside Australia: If you apply from outside Australia and you intend to stay in Australia for three months or less, the organisation or individual in Australia who has responsibility for the events/activities you will be involved in must pass the support test.

If you apply from outside Australia and you intend to stay in Australia for more than three months you must be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor or sponsor who passes the sponsorship test.

The genuine temporary entrant requirement (GTE) is an integrity measure to ensure that the temporary visa programme is used as intended and not as a way to maintain ongoing residency in Australia.

Temporary residents are generally not able to extend their stay in Australia beyond four years by applying for this visa. The GTE requirement applies to all temporary activity visa applicants.

The officer assessing the visa will consider whether the individual circumstances of the visa applicant indicates that their intention is for a temporary stay in Australia.

You must satisfy us that you have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily. When assessing the GTE requirement, we will consider:

• Your circumstances,
• Your immigration history,
• Compliance with visa conditions,
• If you are under 18 years old, the intention of your parent, legal guardian or partner,
• Any other relevant matter.

Financial support: While you are in Australia, you must be able to support yourself and any eligible dependant family members who come with you. You might be asked to provide evidence of funds, such as an employment contract, bank statements or a letter from your financial institution stating your financial position. Allowances, accommodation and other assistance from your employer can also be considered when looking at your ability to support yourself.

Health insurance: You are responsible for all your health costs while you are in Australia. You will not be covered by Australia’s national health scheme (Medicare) unless your country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.

You must make adequate arrangements in Australia for health insurance, for the period of your intended stay in Australia, unless you are covered by Medicare. You should ensure that your insurance will provide at least the level of coverage required for the purpose of your stay. Your health insurer could be in either Australia or your home country. This applies to you and any dependent family members listed in the application.

Health requirements: You must meet certain health requirements. The results of your health examinations are generally valid for 12 months.

Character requirements: You must meet certain character requirements. You must provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age.

If you intend to work as a domestic worker (executive): Provide police certificates when you lodge your application for this visa.

Financial support: While you are in Australia, you must be able to support yourself and any eligible dependant family members who come with you. You might be asked to provide evidence of funds, such as an employment contract, bank statements or a letter from your financial institution stating your financial position. Allowances, accommodation and other assistance from your employer can also be considered when looking at your ability to support yourself.

English language requirements: Visa applicants for the special program (from specific countries) should have functional English language (IELTS 4.5 or equivalent). This is to ensure that participants fully experience the cultural and social benefits of the special programme and to ensure occupational health and safety standards are met.

Your sponsor: If you apply in Australia or you apply outside Australia and you intend to stay for more than 3 months you must provide the following from your sponsor,

• Sponsors Transaction Reference Number or Sponsorship Application ID;
• Sponsor approval letter or receipt for lodgement of the sponsorship application;
• A written statement from the sponsor that they will meet the sponsorship obligations for you and all dependent family members included in your application.

Including Family in Your Application: All family members who will come with you or who will join you later in Australia must be:

• Included in your visa application (even if they will join you later in Australia);
• Sponsored if your stay in Australia is for more than 3 months (your sponsor must agree, in writing, to sponsor your family members).

Members of your family unit must be able to show that they have access to adequate means of support for their stay and meet health and character requirements.

1. Who can apply for this visa?
   • You are eligible for this visa if you want to come to or in Australia for the following purposes:
     • Entertainment industry worker;
     • Australian organisation activities participation;
     • Australian research project participation or observation;
     • Staff exchange arrangement by Australian company;
     • Sports competition or training programs participation;
     • Department approved special programme participation;
     • Religious work;
     • Superyacht crew member;
     • Domestic work for senior foreign executives;
     • Government endorsed COVID-19 event participation.
2. How long can I stay with this visa?
   • It depends on the related activity (of the stream).
   • If you are invited for a specific event by an organisation you can stay for up to 3 months.
   • If you are invited by the Australian government for their event you can stay for up to 4 years.
   • If you are invited for all other activities other than previously mentioned you can stay for up to 2 years.
3. How much is the cost for this visa?
   • This visa cost $310 but the application is free if you are employed or work in a COVID-19 pandemic endorsed event.
4. My 408 visa is expiring, can I extend?
   • You are generally unable to extend this visa.
   • You would need to apply for another visa if you wish to stay longer.
5. Can I bring my family with me with this visa?
   • You can bring any eligible dependant family members for this visa as long as you have the financial capacity to support your family while in Australia.