​408 Temporary activity Visa

Subclass 408 Temporary activity visa allows you to come to Australia to take part in government-approved or endorsed events and activities. Depending on the purpose of your visit, you can stay up to 4 years in Australia and bring your family members along with you in most cases.

In response to the Covid pandemic, the government of Australia added a new stream to this visa called the Covid-19 pandemic event visa. This is to help temporary visa holders who work in critical sectors continue staying in the country and work lawfully. Agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care, child care or tourism and hospitality are considered as critical sectors currently.

Also, temporary visa holders who cannot leave Australia due to travel restrictions and are not eligible for any other visa are also considered for this visa. This stream will be terminated as soon as the pandemic ends.

To be eligible for this pandemic stream, general requirements are

• You must be in Australia
• Your current visa has 90 days or less to expire or expired in the last 28 days
• If you are working in a critical sector, you provide proof of your employment and also provide evidence from your employer that an Australian citizen or a permanent resident cannot fill the position
• You should have enough money to support yourself and your dependents
• You should pass the Genuine Temporary Entrant assessment
• You should meet health and character requirements
• You should sign the Australian values statement

Apart from this special pandemic stream, here are the conventional streams under the 408 temporary activity visa

• To participate in events endorsed by the Australian government

​Stay	​Family	​Processing time
​Up to 4 years	​Yes	​4 to 5 months

• Special programs such as cultural enrichment, youth exchange and community programs

​Stay​	​Family​	​Processing time​
​Up to 12 months​	​Yes​	​3 to 4 months​

• Full-time religious work with Australian institutions 

​Stay	​Family	​Processing time
​Up to 2 years	​Yes	​7 to 8 months

• Research work with a research or tertiary institution

​Stay​	​Family​	​Processing time​
​Up to 2 years​	Yes​	​8 to 24 months​

• Community-based events including sporting activities

​Stay​	​Family​	​Processing time​
​Up to 3 months​	​Yes​	​9 to 12 days​

• To coach or play or adjudicate for an Australian sports team or organization

​Stay​	​Family​	​Processing time​
​Up to 2 years​	​Yes​	​18 days to 14 months​

• To work in the entertainment industry as an actor or production staff

​Stay	​Family	​Processing time
​Up to 2 years	​Yes	​12 to 20 days

• ​To work as a crew member in a superyacht

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​Stay​	​Family​	​Processing time​
​Up to 12 months​	​Yes​	​24 to 35 days​

• To come to Australia as a part of a staff exchange program with an Australian institution

​Stay​	​Family​	​Processing time​
​Up to 2 years​	​Yes​	​Not available​

• To work as household help or full-time domestic worker for senior foreign executives

​Stay​	​Family​	​Processing time​
​Up to 2 years​	​Yes​	​Not available​

Though the specific eligibility requirements vary for each stream, here are the general requirements

• You must be able to showcase your skills to undertake the activity to be carried out in Australia
• Your application must be supported or sponsored by a legitimate sponsor organization
• You must meet language, health and character requirements

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