The Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) is for people who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis to undertake one of the following activities:
ENTERTAINER:
SUPERYACHT CREW:
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INVITED PARTICIPANT:
RELIGIOUS WORKER:
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SPORT:
RESEARCHER:
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AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ENDORSED EVENT:
SPECIAL PROGRAM:
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APPLYING IN AUSTRALIA
If you apply in Australia you must be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor or sponsor who passes the sponsorship test.
APPLYING OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA
If you apply from outside Australia and you intend to stay in Australia for three months or less, the organisation or individual in Australia who has responsibility for the events/activities you will be involved in must pass the support test.
If you apply from outside Australia and you intend to stay in Australia for more than three months you must be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor or sponsor who passes the sponsorship test.
HOW DOES THIS VISA WORK?
This visa allows you to:
- Stay in Australia for the period that aligns with the activities that you have been approved to undertake on this visa.
- Invited participant activity type – up to three months
- Australian Government endorsed event activity type – up to four years
- Any other activity type – up to two years
- Do the work or activity specified in your application
- Bring eligible family members with you to Australia
- Enter and leave Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid.
Note: For some activity types such as superyacht crew members and special program participants, the stay period is usually no more than 12 months.
Temporary visa holders are generally not able to extend their stay in Australia beyond four years by applying for this visa.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
You might be able to get this visa if you:
- Intend to stay in Australia for three months or less and apply from outside Australia, and you have the support of an organisation or individual in Australia who has responsibility for the events or activities being undertaken who passes the support test
- Intend to stay in Australia for more than three months and you are sponsored by an approved sponsor for this visa who passes the sponsorship test
- Meet the requirements of the activity type in which you are applying for this visa
- Have adequate financial support for you and your family while you are in Australia
- Have adequate arrangements for health insurance while you are in Australia
- Meet health and character requirements
- Genuinely intend to remain temporarily in Australia to do the work or activity specified in your application.
NO ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES
You must not intend to engage in any activity that will have adverse consequences for employment or training opportunities, or conditions of employment, for Australian citizens or permanent residents.
GENUINE TEMPORARY ENTRANT
The genuine temporary entrant requirement (GTE) is an integrity measure to ensure that the temporary visa programme is used as intended and not as a way to maintain ongoing residency in Australia. Temporary residents are generally not able to extend their stay in Australia beyond four years by applying for this visa.
The GTE requirement applies to all temporary activity visa applicants. The officer assessing the visa will consider whether the individual circumstances of the visa applicant indicates that their intention is for a temporary stay in Australia.
You must satisfy us that you have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily.
When assessing the GTE requirement, we will consider:
- Your circumstances
- Your immigration history
- Compliance with visa conditions
- If you are under 18 years old, the intention of your parent, legal guardian or partner
- Any other relevant matter
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
While you are in Australia, you must be able to support yourself and any eligible dependant family members who come with you. You might be asked to provide evidence of funds, such as an employment contract, bank statements or a letter from your financial institution stating your financial position. Allowances, accommodation and other assistance from your employer can also be considered when looking at your ability to support yourself.
HEALTH INSURANCE
You are responsible for all your health costs while you are in Australia. You will not be covered by Australia’s national health scheme (Medicare) unless your country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.
You must make adequate arrangements in Australia for health insurance, for the period of your intended stay in Australia, unless you are covered by Medicare. You should ensure that your insurance will provide at least the level of coverage required for the purpose of your stay. Your health insurer could be in either Australia or your home country.
In the health insurance standard template letter (138 kB RTF) is a guide to the level of health insurance accept by the department.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the health requirements and any results of examinations are valid for 12 months.
There are no diseases or health conditions that automatically mean you won't meet the health requirements for a temporary visa (there are some diseases where a permanent visa applicant may have difficulty passing the test).
We have had a musician client in the past whom had a history of tuberculous and the department required the client’s specialist to confirm that it had resolved. It substantially delayed the decision. So it is important that we know as early as possible in those circumstances.
CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS
Police certificates are needed in many cases we handle, particularly for clients if you have a past criminal record. Police reports are not needed in most cases. With more experience than anyone else is dealing with the controversial entertainment visa applications we will be able to tell very quickly what is required in addition to reports. Let us know early, and don’t hold back on any past issues, believe us, nothing will surprise us we have seen it all and have been trusted with private information of many of the worlds entertainers.
Character requirements are not just in relation to past criminal; activities. Many people confuse character and criminal. Criminal history is one part of the character test.
You must provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age.
PAYMENT FOR VISAS DECLARATION
Sponsors, and visa applicants are required to provide a statement in relation to current or previous conduct that constitutes a breach in ‘paying for visa sponsorship’ activity. This declaration is included in the visa application form and the steps we incorporate into the process.
DEBTS IN AUSTRALIA – PARTICULARLY TO THE GOVERNMENT.
Any unpaid taxes from a previous tour? Hidden fines and Debts in Australia? Let us know as it will jeopardise your visa grant.
If you have any business debts, ongoing litigation or a judgment against you in Australia let us know that as well. There has been cases in the past where these issues have interfered with the process and the smooth running of a tour/production.
PROVIDE BIOMETRICS
It is rare but you might be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of the application. Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Visa applicants for special program should have functional English language. This is to ensure that participants fully experience the cultural and social benefits of the special programme and to ensure occupational health and safety standards are met.
YOUR SPONSOR
If you apply in Australia or you apply outside Australia and you intend to stay for more than 3 months you must provide the following from your sponsor:
- Sponsors Transaction Reference Number or Sponsorship Application ID
- Sponsor approval letter or receipt for lodgement of the sponsorship application.
- A written statement from the sponsor that they will meet the sponsorship obligations for you and all dependent family members included in your application
INCLUDING FAMILY IN YOUR APPLICATION
You can include certain family members in your application.
All family members who will come with you or who will join you later in Australia must be:
- Included in your visa application (even if they will join you later in Australia)
- Sponsored if your stay in Australia is for more than 3 months (your sponsor must agree, in writing, to sponsor your family members)