Australia Temporary Visas: Work, Activity, Training and Residence Options

What Is Temporary Residence in Australia?

A temporary visa permits a non-citizen to remain in Australia for a limited period and for the activities authorised by that particular visa. Some temporary visas allow work, some allow specified activities or training, and others are designed for study, visiting, family or other purposes.

The applicant must choose the visa that matches the actual purpose of travel. Sponsorship or nomination is required for some temporary visa subclasses or streams, but it is not a universal requirement for every temporary visa.

Visa holders must comply with the conditions attached to their visa. Current visa details and conditions can be checked through the Australian Government's Visa Entitlement Verification Online service (VEVO).

Current Temporary Work and Activity Visa Options

Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408)

The subclass 408 visa is the principal successor to the former subclass 401 for many temporary activity purposes. The relevant stream must match the activity to be undertaken in Australia.

Current subclass 408 activity streams can cover eligible people undertaking activities such as:

• entertainment industry activities;
• sporting activities;
• religious work;
• research activities;
• staff exchange arrangements;
• invited participation in specified social or cultural activities;
• domestic work for certain senior foreign executives; and
• other activities specifically covered by a current subclass 408 stream.

The permitted stay depends on the stream and approved activity. Some streams permit a stay of up to two years, while an invited participant in an eligible social or cultural event may be limited to a shorter period such as three months.

Sponsorship or support

Subclass 408 sponsorship requirements depend on the stream, where the applicant is when applying, and the proposed period of stay. Where sponsorship is required, the sponsor generally needs to be an approved temporary activities sponsor.

Training Visa (Subclass 407)

The Training visa permits eligible applicants to undertake workplace-based occupational training to improve skills in their current occupation, area of tertiary study or field of expertise, or to participate in an eligible professional development program.

Home Affairs may grant this temporary visa for up to two years. It is intended for training rather than ongoing employment.

Main subclass 407 requirements

• an approved temporary activities sponsor;
• an approved nomination, unless the sponsor is an Australian Commonwealth Government agency;
• an invitation where required for a Commonwealth Government agency sponsor;
• a training program that satisfies the relevant occupational-training category;
• functional English;
• a genuine intention to stay temporarily and undertake the approved training;
• adequate financial support;
• health and character requirements; and
• the Australian Values Statement for applicants aged 18 or over where required.

There are three broad occupational-training types under subclass 407, and the nomination requirements differ according to the training purpose.

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (Subclass 400)

Subclass 400 is designed for eligible people undertaking highly specialised, short-term and non-ongoing work in Australia. It can also cover specified activities or work in limited circumstances.

This visa is not a general pathway for ongoing employment. Applicants should provide strong evidence explaining the specialist nature of the work, why the applicant's skills are required, the proposed period of activity and the Australian organisation or business involved.

Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403)

The subclass 403 visa applies to specified temporary work or activities that relate to Australia's international relations. Eligibility depends on the particular stream, such as government-agreement or other program arrangements specified by Home Affairs.

Because the requirements vary significantly between streams, applicants should use the current Home Affairs subclass 403 instructions for the relevant activity rather than relying on a general temporary-residence checklist.

Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482) is a temporary employer-sponsored visa for eligible skilled workers. It is separate from the temporary-activity and training programs.

An approved standard business sponsor can sponsor eligible applicants for the subclass 482 visa. Occupation, nomination, skills, work experience, English, salary and other requirements depend on the relevant SID stream and current migration rules.

Applicants seeking normal employer-sponsored skilled work should examine subclass 482 rather than using subclass 408 or 407 merely because the intended stay is temporary.

Documents Commonly Required for Temporary Work and Activity Visas

The exact document checklist varies by visa subclass and stream. Applicants must follow the current ImmiAccount checklist. Depending on the visa, relevant documents can include the following.

Identity documents

• current passport pages showing photograph, personal details, issue and expiry dates;
• national identity documents where applicable;
• evidence of any change of name; and
• passport photographs or other identity evidence if specifically requested.

Sponsorship and nomination documents

• sponsorship approval or application reference where the visa requires sponsorship;
• nomination approval or reference where nomination is required;
• invitation or support letter from the Australian organisation where relevant;
• details of the proposed activity, position, training or engagement; and
• contracts, exchange agreements or program documents where applicable.

Skills, qualifications and experience

• curriculum vitae or résumé;
• educational and professional qualifications;
• employment references and evidence of relevant experience;
• registration or professional licence required for the activity; and
• evidence of specialist skills or training requirements.

Financial support

Where required, applicants should provide evidence that they can support themselves and accompanying family members. Depending on the circumstances this can include bank statements, employment arrangements, sponsor-provided accommodation, allowances or stipends.

Partner, Children and Family Documents

Some temporary visa subclasses or streams allow eligible family members to be included in an application or to apply as subsequent entrants. Others have different family rules. Check the specific visa before lodging.

Where relevant, family evidence can include:

• marriage certificate or evidence of a de facto relationship;
• birth certificates showing parentage;
• adoption, custody or guardianship documents;
• evidence of dependency where the visa permits an adult dependent family member; and
• consent documentation for a child under 18 where a person with parental responsibility is not travelling.

Form 1229 for children under 18

Where applicable, a non-accompanying parent or other person with parental responsibility can be required to provide consent using Form 1229 - Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years.

Official Form 1229 - Consent for a child under 18 (PDF)

Character, Health and Health Insurance

Character

Applicants and accompanying family members must satisfy the character requirements applicable to their visa. Home Affairs can request police certificates, military-service records, discharge papers or other character evidence.

Health

Applicants must satisfy the health requirements applicable to the particular visa. Home Affairs may ask an applicant to complete medical examinations through an approved panel physician or clinic.

Health insurance

Adequate health insurance may be a visa requirement for particular temporary visas and is generally important because temporary residents can be personally responsible for medical costs in Australia. Applicants should follow the insurance instructions for their exact visa subclass and conditions.

Immigration Assistance and Authorised Recipients

If a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person provides immigration assistance, the current Home Affairs forms and online procedures should be followed.

Do not submit a form merely because it appeared in an older visa checklist. Use it only when the current Home Affairs application or instructions require it.

Unpaid Training or Placement

Where an applicant will undertake an unpaid placement covered by the Training visa subclass 407 or an applicable activity under subclass 408, Home Affairs may require Form 1283 - Acknowledgement of unpaid placement - visa applicant.

Official Form 1283 - Acknowledgement of unpaid placement (PDF)

How to Apply for the Correct Temporary Visa

1. Identify the exact purpose of the proposed stay or work in Australia.
2. Use the current Home Affairs visa information to select the appropriate subclass and stream.
3. Check whether sponsorship, nomination, invitation or another approval is required.
4. Arrange the sponsor or nomination process before the visa application where required.
5. Collect identity, relationship, financial, character, health, qualification and activity-specific evidence.
6. Obtain English translations for non-English documents.
7. Create or sign in to ImmiAccount.
8. Complete the current online application for the selected visa.
9. Attach all required supporting documents and pay the applicable charge.
10. After lodgement, regularly check ImmiAccount for requests for further evidence, biometrics, health examinations or character documents.

What Happened to Temporary Work (Long Stay Activity) Visa Subclass 401?

Subclass 401 formerly covered several temporary activities, including exchange, sport and religious work. It is no longer available for new applications. Home Affairs states that the subclass closed on 19 November 2016 and was replaced by subclass 408.

Several subjects that appeared under the old subclass 401 structure continue under current visa arrangements, but the visa subclass, eligibility rules, sponsorship requirements, forms and application method have changed. Applicants must use the current visa rules rather than attempting to apply under the repealed subclass.