Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
This visa subclass may be one of the most versatile visas. This is evidenced by the fact the Australian Government used it to as a “Covid-19” visa for those who were stuck in Australia and had no other visa to apply for.
The intended to purpose for this visa is to allow individuals with skills in a specific industry to enter the country for a specific period.
Visa streams
Currently, there are ten main streams for this visa which are outline below:
- 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; and
- Domestic work for executives.
Australian Government Endorsed Events
This stream is used by applicants that are coming to Australia for the purpose of participating in programs and events that have been endorsed by the Australian government. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic is such an event which allows for mainly healthcare and agricultural workers to enter the country.
Eligibility Requirement
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have an endorsement from the Australian government to take part in an approved event;
- Be able to independently support yourself and family members travelling with you;
- Good command of the English language;
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia throughout the period of the event or for up to 4 years;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
Special Program
The Special Program stream allows visit to Australia for the purpose of engaging in a government approved program, such programs include:
- community development events;
- school events;
- youth exchange events.
Eligibility Requirement
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Take part in a government endorsed program;
- Have a sponsor if you intend to stay for more than 3 months. If you are applying outside Australia for a planned stay of 3 months or less, then you need a supporter;
- For cultural enrichment or community benefit programs, you must be 18 years and above. For youth exchange programs and school language assistance programs, you must be 18 – 30 years of age. For school-to-school interchange programs, you must be 17 – 25 years old;
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants;
- Show good command of the English language;
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia with your family members for up to 12 months;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application;
- Right to participate in any of the four approved special programs.
Religious Work
The Religious Work stream allows entry to Australia for the purpose of carrying out a religious work for a religious organization for up to 2 years.
Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have an employment agreement to carry out a religious work with an approved religious organization in Australia for up to 2 years;
- Show required qualifications required under the employment contract;
- Have a sponsor if you are applying from Australia and intend to stay for more than 3 months. If you are applying outside Australia and don’t intend to stay for more than 3 months, then you need a supporter;
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants;
- Show good command of the English language;
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia with your family members for up to 2 years;
- Right to stay in Australia and engage in full-time religious work;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
Research Activities
This stream allows a person to visit Australia for the purpose of observing or taking part in a research activity at an approved institution for up to 2 years.
Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be invited to partake in an academic research activity or research student activities;
- Be an established researcher or recent graduate or research student;
- Have a sponsor if you are applying from Australia and intend to stay for more than 3 months. If you are applying outside Australia and don’t intend to stay for more than 3 months, then you need a supporter.
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants
- Show good command of the English language.
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia with your family members for up to 2 years;
- Right to stay in Australia and carry out the nominated research activity;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
Invited for other social and cultural activity
This stream is for the purpose of taking part in a social event or community development event for 3 months.
Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be invited by an Australian organization to partake in a social or community-based event;
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants;
- Show good command of the English language.
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia for the prescribed period;
- Partake in any social or community based event;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
Sporting Activities
This stream is for the purpose of coaching or playing for an Australian team or to engage in a high level of sport activity with a sports organization for a period of 2 years.
Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be an eligible coach, player, sports trainer or instructor;
- Be able to take part in a full-time sports training;
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants;
- Show good command of the English language;
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia with your family members for up to 2 years;
- Right to stay in Australia and partake in any of the sporting activities as a trainee partaking in a sports training course, coach, player or instructor.
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
Entertainment Activities
The Entertainment stream is for the purpose of partaking in the entertainment industry as a movie actor, film performer or director as well as a support or production staff for up to 2 years.
Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have an contract for your entertainment activity in Australia;
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants;
- Show good command of the English language;
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia with your family members for up to 2 years;
- Right to partake in any of the entertainment activities of the various sectors;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
Superyatch crew
This stream is for the purpose of working in a superyatch as a crew member.
Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have a letter of employment;
- Have the relevant skills required under the employment contract;
- Be 18 years and above;
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants;
- Show good command of English language;
- Be a genuine temporary entrant;
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia with your family members for up to 12 months;
- Right to stay in Australia and work as a crew member in a superyatch;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
Exchange Arrangements
This stream of subclass 408 visa allows a person to come to Australia as part of a staff exchange in an approved Australian organization.
Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be part of a reciprocal staff exchange;
- Have the necessary skills and experience for the position;
- The exchange must be beneficial to you and the Australian citizen involved in the exchange;
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants;
- Show good command of the English language.
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia with your family members for up to 2 years;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
Domestic work for executives
This stream of subclass 408 visa allows a person to come to Australia to engage in domestic activities at the residence of a senior foreign executive for up to 2 years.
Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be invited to carry out domestic work under an employment contract;
- Be 18 years and above;
- Be able to independently support yourself and other family dependants;
- Show good command of the English language;
- No recorded criminal history;
- No previous visa cancellation or refusal.
Benefits
- Right to stay in Australia with your family members for up to 2 years;
- Right to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa subject to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Right to include family members in the application.
The subclass 408 visa requires a careful and critical application process given its numerous streams. A visa refusal or cancellation can have a severe impact on the prospects of any future stay in Australia. Here at No Borders Migration Advocates, we are readily available to assist you to obtain a subclass 408 visa and potential subsequent pathways. Contact us today!