Subclass 403 visa: International Relations

Streams

Home Affairs says each 403 stream has its own eligibility requirements (403 page).

403 Government Agreement

Government Agreement stream: work under a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government, or a state or territory government, and the government of another country. Applicants need the support of both signatories (no sponsor), must meet any licensing or registration needs, and the work must benefit Australia. Up to 4 years.

403 Foreign Government Agency

Foreign Government Agency stream: work as a representative of a foreign government agency without official status in Australia, or as a foreign language teacher employed by a foreign government in an Australian school. A letter of support is needed. Up to 4 years.

403 Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular)

Domestic Worker stream: full-time domestic work in the household of a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) holder. Applicants must be 18 or older, have a DFAT letter of support and attend an interview. Usually 12 months on a first visa.

403 Privileges and Immunities

Privileges and Immunities stream: work as an international representative with privileges and immunities under the relevant Acts, with a DFAT letter of support. Stay is set in the grant letter. No charge.

403 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM)

PALM stream: work for an approved temporary activities sponsor that DEWR has approved as a PALM scheme employer. For citizens and residents of participating PALM countries. The visa may be valid for up to 4 years.

403 MATES

MATES stream: Indian graduates and early-career professionals can live and work in Australia for up to 2 years. Applicants must first be selected in the MATES ballot.

Closed streams

Home Affairs says the Pacific Labour Scheme stream and the Seasonal Worker Program stream are closed to new applications. Those pages do not give a closing date.

403 visa requirements

Most open 403 stream pages list these common requirements:

• Stream support. The support each stream needs, for example a letter of support (Foreign Government Agency), the support of both agreement signatories (Government Agreement), a DFAT letter (Domestic Worker, Privileges and Immunities), a PALM employer sponsor (PALM) or ballot selection (MATES).
• Financial support. The financial capacity to support the applicant and any dependants in Australia.
• Health. The applicant and family members applying must meet the health requirement (the Privileges and Immunities page does not list this).
• Character. The applicant and family members 16 and over must meet the character requirement.
• Health insurance. Adequate health insurance for the stay.
• Genuine temporary stay. Intend only to stay temporarily and do what the visa allows.
• Debts. Any debt to the Australian Government paid back or under a formal arrangement.
• Immigration history. A past visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.
• Current visa (if in Australia). For example, a temporary substantive visa held now or in the last 12 months (Foreign Government Agency, Privileges and Immunities) or the last 28 days (Government Agreement).

MATES requirements

The MATES page adds:

• Selection in the MATES ballot, and a valid Indian passport at ballot registration and at application.
• Age 18 to 30 (inclusive) on the date the ballot registration period opens.
• Outside Australia at application and decision, and no previous entry on a 403 MATES visa.
• Graduation within 2 years of the start of the ballot registration period, from a Top 100 institution on India's NIRF India Rankings Overall 2024 list, with a bachelor degree or higher.
• A qualification related to renewable energy, mining, engineering, ICT, artificial intelligence, financial technology or agricultural technology.
• An English test result, for example an IELTS overall band of at least 6.0 with at least 5 in each component.

PALM requirements

The PALM page adds citizenship and residence of a participating PALM country, and approval to take part in the PALM scheme as a worker (age, skills, English for the tasks and good character).

What the visa lets you do

According to Home Affairs' stream pages, the 403 lets holders:

• do the work approved for their stream, such as work under a bilateral agreement, for a foreign government agency, in a diplomat's household, as an international representative or for a PALM employer
• live and work in Australia for up to 2 years (MATES)
• travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid, in streams granted with multiple entry, such as PALM.

PALM holders must return home when their work contract ends, whatever the length of the visa.

Family members and cost

Family rules differ by stream. The Foreign Government Agency, Privileges and Immunities and MATES streams let the main applicant include members of the family unit. The Government Agreement stream allows it if the agreement allows it and the Australian signatory's letter names them. Domestic Worker applicants can't include family. In PALM, selected workers on long-term contracts can bring family through the PALM family accompaniment pilot; family apply as subsequent entrants.

Home Affairs' Visa Pricing table lists:

For the Government Agreement, Foreign Government and Domestic Worker streams, the charge might be nil for holders of a diplomatic, official or service passport with a third person note of support from their government. A lower visa cost applies to eligible citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste in some streams. Health checks and police certificates cost extra.

Step by step

The steps differ by stream. In general, Home Affairs' 403 stream pages set out:

Before you apply

1. Get the support the stream needs: a letter of support, a DFAT letter, a PALM employer's sponsor ID, or a MATES ballot selection.

Apply

1. Gather identity documents, the support letter or sponsor details, and financial, health insurance and family documents.
2. Apply online in ImmiAccount and pay any charge. Domestic Worker applicants also attend an interview with Home Affairs.

After you apply

1. Home Affairs confirms it has received the application and may ask for more information, health checks or biometrics.
2. Home Affairs tells the applicant its decision in writing.

Applying in or outside Australia

This depends on the stream:

• Government Agreement, Foreign Government Agency, Privileges and Immunities: in or outside Australia (Foreign Government Agency: not in immigration clearance).
• Domestic Worker: outside Australia for a first application. In Australia only if already holding a 403 Domestic Worker visa.
• MATES: outside Australia at application and decision.
• PALM: outside Australia, unless the applicant holds (or held in the last 28 days) a 403 PALM, SWP or PLS visa and meets set contract conditions.

403 visa processing time

Home Affairs publishes current processing times in its visa processing times guide.

Compare: 403, 408 and 400