Subclass 408 visa: Temporary Activity

Streams

Home Affairs lists these streams on its 408 page. Each stream page has its own eligibility list.

408 Entertainment Activities

Entertainment Activities stream: work in the entertainment industry on film, television or live productions as a performer, or as production or support staff. Up to 2 years. A contract or other proof of the engagement is needed.

408 Sporting Activities

Sporting Activities stream: play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian team, or do full-time, high-level sports training. Up to 2 years.

408 Research Activities

Research Activities stream: observe or take part in a research project at a research or tertiary institution. For established academic researchers, research students and recent graduates. Up to 2 years.

408 Religious Work

Religious Work stream: full-time religious work for a religious institution, which must be endorsed by the ATO as a charity. Up to 2 years.

408 Staff Exchange Arrangements

Staff Exchange Arrangements stream: a skilled position in a reciprocal staff exchange with an Australian organisation, where the exchange benefits both people. Up to 2 years.

408 Domestic Work for Executives

Domestic Work for Executives stream: full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives. Applicants must be 18 or older. Up to 2 years.

408 Special Program

Special Program stream: an approved special program whose main purpose is cultural exchange, such as youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or gap year school volunteering. Up to 12 months.

408 Invited Participant (Other Social and Cultural Activity)

Other Social and Cultural Activity (Invited Participant) stream: an invitation from an Australian organisation to take part in a community-based social or cultural event, including sporting events. Up to 3 months.

408 Superyacht Crew

Superyacht Crew stream: work as a crew member of a superyacht, with an employment contract. Applicants must be 18 or older, and the supporter is the captain, owner or operator. Up to 12 months.

408 Australian Government Endorsed Events

Australian Government Endorsed Events stream: take part in an event endorsed by the Australian Government. Home Affairs currently lists the Rugby League World Cup 2026, for people invited by the Australian Rugby League Commission. For the event, or up to 4 years. The COVID-19 Pandemic event version of this stream closed to applications on 1 February 2024.

408 Workplace Justice Pilot

Australian Government Endorsed Events (Workplace Justice Pilot): lets people in Australia extend their stay to pursue a workplace exploitation claim. 6 months, or up to 12 months depending on circumstances. No visa application charge.

408 visa requirements

Most 408 stream pages list these common requirements. Each stream adds its own activity criteria (see Streams):

• Supporter or sponsor. In most streams, a supporter is enough when applying outside Australia for a stay of less than 3 months. Applying in Australia, or staying longer, needs a temporary activities sponsor.
• Activity. Meet the stream's activity criteria, such as a contract, an invitation or an approved program.
• Financial support. Enough money for the stay, for the applicant and any dependent family members.
• Health. The applicant and family members applying must meet the health requirement.
• Character. The applicant and family members 16 and over must meet the character requirement.
• Health insurance. Adequate health insurance for the stay.
• Genuine temporary entrant. The temporary visa program can't be used to maintain ongoing residence in Australia.
• Current visa (if in Australia). A substantive visa, or a last substantive visa that ended within the last 28 days.
• Children. Everyone with parental responsibility must consent to a visa for a child under 18, and Home Affairs might not grant the visa if it is not in the child's best interests.
• Debts. Any debt to the Australian Government paid back or under a formal arrangement.
• Paying for visa sponsorship. Applicants must declare any conduct that could breach the ban on paying for visa sponsorship.
• Immigration history. A past visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.
• Australian values. Applicants 18 and over acknowledge the Australian Values Statement.

The Workplace Justice Pilot has different criteria. Applicants must be in Australia and hold a temporary substantive visa with work rights that has no more than 28 days left, or that ended within 28 days of applying. They also need certification of the workplace exploitation claim from a participating government agency or accredited third party.

What the visa lets you do

According to Home Affairs' 408 stream pages, the visa lets holders:

• do the activity approved for their stream, for the stay granted
• travel to and from Australia as many times as they want while the visa is valid (in most streams).

The length of stay is based on the approved activity. Most streams can't be extended; a new visa is needed to stay longer.

Family members and cost

Most 408 stream pages let the main applicant include members of the family unit when applying. The Staff Exchange Arrangements and Special Program pages add conditions. Family members who apply must meet the health and character requirements.

Home Affairs' Visa Pricing table lists the same charges for each paid 408 stream:

The Workplace Justice Pilot has no visa application charge. Home Affairs says the charge might be nil or reduced for some applicants, such as some entertainment work for charities or government bodies, or activities specified by the Minister. A lower visa cost applies to eligible citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste in some streams. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics cost extra.

Step by step

This follows the Step by step tabs on Home Affairs' 408 stream pages, for example the Research Activities stream.

Before you apply

1. Find an eligible supporter or sponsor for the stream.
2. Check the stream's activity criteria and gather evidence, such as a contract, invitation or program approval.

Apply

1. Gather identity documents, sponsor or supporter documents, financial evidence and family documents.
2. Apply online in ImmiAccount and pay the charge.

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. The applicant can be in or outside Australia at the decision, depending on the stream.

Applying in or outside Australia

Most streams let applicants be in or outside Australia when they apply and when Home Affairs decides. The Research Activities, Special Program and Sporting Activities pages add: but not in immigration clearance. Applicants in Australia must hold a substantive visa or have had one end in the last 28 days. The Workplace Justice Pilot is for people in Australia only.

408 visa processing time

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

Compare: 408, 407 and 400