Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408)

The Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) allows you to come to Australia for short-term work or specific activities, such as sports, cultural events, and government-endorsed programs. Depending on your activity, this visa can be valid from a few days up to four years. To be eligible, you must be sponsored by an Australian organisation or individual connected to your activity or event.

With the Subclass 408 visa, you can undertake a range of activities in Australia on a temporary basis, including:

Full-time domestic work for senior foreign executives
Participation in high-level sports or training
Working in the entertainment industry
Joining special programs to promote international relations or cultural exchange
Taking part in cultural or social activities by invitation of an Australian organisation
Contributing to academic research projects
Participating in Australian Government-endorsed events
Serving as a Religious Worker
Working as crew on a super yacht
Taking up skilled employment through a staff exchange arrangement

This visa is ideal for those seeking to participate in temporary, unique, or specialised events and work opportunities in Australia.

Sponsorship Eligibility

You can sponsor someone for this visa if you are:

An Australian organisation (such as a business, corporate body, incorporated body, or legally operating non-profit organisation)
An Australian state or territory government agency
A foreign government agency, consular or diplomatic mission, trade office, or media bureau lawfully operating in Australia
An organisation or government agency legally endorsing sports or sports events in Australia
A religious foundation recognised as a charity by the Australian Tax Office
An entity registered overseas but legally operating a business in Australia
The captain, proprietor, or operating organisation of a super yacht in Australia

This visa has 10 different streams

Australian Government Endorsed Events
Special Program
Religious Work
Research activities
Invited for other social and cultural activity (Invited Participant)
Sporting Activities
Entertainment Activities
Superyacht Crew
Exchange Arrangements
Domestic work for executives

Australian Government Endorsed Events
This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to participate in events endorsed by the Australian Government.
- It is only for participation in certain events that have been endorsed by the Australian Government
- You can stay in Australia for the duration of the event, or up to 4 years
Special Program
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 ".
- Take part in a special program in Australia to exchange culture, knowledge and social experiences
- Stay in Australia for up to 12 months with members of your family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
Religious Work
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.
- Do full-time religious work to serve a religious institution in Australia
- Stay in Australia for up to 2 years with members of your family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
Research activities
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.
- Observe or take part in an Australian research project
- Stay in Australia for up to 2 years with members of your family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
Invited for other social and cultural activity (Invited Participant)
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.
- 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 your family unit
- You can apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
Sporting Activities
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.
- Play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian team, or do high-level sports training with a sporting organisation
- Stay for up to 2 years with members of your family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
Entertainment Activities
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.
- Work on film, television or live productions in the entertainment industry
- Stay in Australia for up to 2 years with members of your family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
Superyacht Crew
This visa lets you work in Australia as a crew member of a superyacht. You can stay here for up to 12 months.
- 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
Exchange Arrangements
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.
- Take part in a staff exchange and work in an Australian organisation
- Stay in Australia for up to 2 years with members of your family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
Domestic work for executives
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.
- Do full-time domestic work in an Australian household of certain senior foreign executives
- Stay in Australia for up 2 years with members of your family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance

Can a 408 visa lead to permanent residency?

In summary, Visa Subclass 408 is also known as the Temporary Activity Visa, which offers a pathway to Australian Permanent Residency (PR) through strategic planning. Feel free to get in touch with us for more details

Can I bring my family to Australia on a 408 visa?

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.