Temporary Activity Visa
(Subclass 408) 

Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) 

This visa allows visa holders to temporarily reside in Australia to undertake vocational training, conduct research or observation as a visiting scholar, or participate in a professional development project. This visa includes the following three streams:

(1) Occupational Trainee Stream;

(2) Professional Development Stream;

(3) Research Stream.

The newly added Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) allows foreigners to come to Australia for temporary cultural or social activities at the invitation of Australian institutions.

In addition, applicants who come to Australia to engage in entertainment, religion, sports and activities supported by the Australian government, etc., should apply for this visa. This visa allows visa applicants to travel to Australia for a temporary stay:

  • Engage in entertainment activities
  • Attended an event at the invitation of an Australian organization
  • Participate in or observe Australian research projects
  • Engage in skilled work under an employee exchange agreement
  • Participate in high-level sports competitions or sports training programs
  • Participate in approved special projects
  • Engage in full-time religious work
  • Employed as yacht crew
  • Participate in government-approved activities

Applicable groups:

  • Coaches and related personnel in the sports industry
  • Judges and trainees of sports competitions
  • Yacht crew
  • Doctoral students, school researchers, scholars

Applying for a 408 visa requires sponsorship under the following circumstances:

  • Stay in Australia for more than 3 months
  • Lodge an application in Australia

Eligibility

If the applicant is a scholar, then the inviting party must meet one of the followings:

  1. Be an Australian higher education or research institution;
  2. Be a scholar employed by an Australian higher education or research institution and cooperate with the applicant.

If the applicant is a scholar, then he or she must meet one of the followings:

  1. Be an employee of a higher education institution or research institution;
  2. Have the relevant qualifications or work experience for the position;
  3. Be successful in his or her field.

If the applicant is a student or a recently graduated foreign student, he or she must:

Be invited by an Australian educational or research institution to study in a relevant field, and conduct research that meets the requirements of the home country’s curriculum