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Temporary Activity visa 408, for short-term work, events and programs.
The 408 covers specific temporary activities in Australia: entertainment, sport, religious work, research, special programs, staff exchanges, superyacht crew, domestic work for senior executives, invited participants in events, and Australian Government endorsed events. Most activities need a sponsor or supporter, and the visa limits you to that activity.
Who we help with 408 visas
The 408 is built around the activity. The right stream, sponsor and evidence depend on what you will actually be doing in Australia.
I have been invited to perform, compete or take part
We check which stream fits your activity, whether you need a supporter or a sponsor, and what evidence the invitation or contract must show.
I am an Australian organisation hosting someone
We help event organisers, clubs, religious institutions, research bodies and employers become temporary activities sponsors and meet their obligations.
I am already in Australia on a 408
We check your conditions, including whether No Further Stay applies, and what options are open before your visa ends.
The ten 408 streams
Each stream has its own evidence, sponsor and stay rules. These are summaries; the criteria for your activity are confirmed before you apply.
Entertainment Activities
Performers, production staff and support staff for film, television and live performance.
- Stay up to 2 years
- Family may be included
- Condition 8109 applies to entertainment grants
Sporting Activities
Elite players, coaches, instructors and adjudicators, and people taking part in high-level sports training.
- Stay up to 2 years
- Family may be included
Religious Work
Full-time religious work for a religious institution in Australia.
- Stay up to 2 years per visa
- Family may be included
Research Activities
Observing or taking part in a research project at an Australian tertiary or research institution.
- Stay up to 2 years
- Family may be included
Special Program
Approved programs such as youth exchange, cultural enrichment, school language assistants and school-to-school interchange.
- Usually up to 12 months
- Family may be included
Staff Exchange Arrangements
Reciprocal exchange of skilled staff between an Australian organisation and an overseas organisation.
- Stay up to 2 years
- Family may be included where the arrangement allows
Superyacht Crew
Crew on a superyacht of 24 metres or more, sponsored or supported by its captain, owner or operator.
- Usually 12 months, up to 2 years
Domestic Work for Executives
Domestic work in the household of a senior foreign executive who holds a 403 Privileges and Immunities, 457 or 482 visa.
- Stay up to 2 years
- Family may be included
Other Social and Cultural Activity
Invited participants in a community-based social or cultural event.
- Stay up to 3 months
- Family may be included
Australian Government Endorsed Events
Participants in an event endorsed by the Australian Government, currently the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
- Stay for the event, up to 4 years
- No visa application charge for this event
What a 408 visa costs
Visa application charges are set by the Migration Regulations and increase each financial year. These are the charges in force from 1 July 2026.
| Applicant | Main applicant | Each additional applicant 18 or over | Each applicant under 18 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ten listed streams | AUD 535 | AUD 535 | AUD 135 | An AUD 700 subsequent temporary application charge may apply to applications made in Australia |
| Rugby League World Cup 2026 participants | Nil | Nil | Nil | Australian Government Endorsed Events stream |
Charges from the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing table updated 1 July 2026 and the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026, checked 2 October 2026. Reduced charges apply to some groups, including some Pacific passport holders; the Department visa pricing estimator gives the exact figure for your passport. Charges exclude health checks, police certificates and our professional fees, and are confirmed for your matter before lodgement.
The criteria in plain English
Every one of these is assessed on evidence. We build the file so that each is answered before the case officer asks.
- A temporary activities sponsor, or a supporter where you apply outside Australia and plan to stay 3 months or less, unless your stream has its own rule
- Evidence of the activity itself, such as an invitation, contract, program approval or event endorsement
- A genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily for the activity
- Health and character requirements
- A satisfactory immigration history, including compliance with any previous visa conditions
- Family members, where they can be included, meet their own health and character requirements
The law we apply
Subclass 408 is set out in Part 408 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), with the activities in clauses 408.221 to 408.229A and the application requirements in item 1237 of Schedule 1.
Main applicants are always subject to conditions 8107 (work only in the approved activity) and 8303, and to condition 8109 for entertainment. Condition 8503 (No Further Stay) may be imposed in any stream.
The applicant may be in or outside Australia when the visa is granted, but not in immigration clearance (clause 408.411). Maximum stays are set by clause 408.511.
Charges were increased from 1 July 2026 by the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026. Checked 2 October 2026 against the current compilation of the Regulations and the Department of Home Affairs visa pages.
How we prepare a 408 application
Every matter runs under a written agreement that sets out the work and the fee before anything begins.
Match the activity to the stream
We confirm which of the ten streams fits what you will actually do, and how long you need.
Sponsor or supporter
We check whether a supporter is enough or a temporary activities sponsor is needed, and help the organisation through it.
Application and evidence
We prepare the application with the invitation, contract or program evidence the stream requires.
Grant and compliance
We explain your conditions, including any No Further Stay condition, and plan your next step before the visa ends.
Why 408 applications run into trouble
These are the issues that most often decide this visa. We raise them with you at the first consultation, not after lodgement.
No sponsor where one is needed
Applying in Australia, or planning to stay more than 3 months, usually needs an approved temporary activities sponsor, not just a supporter.
Activity that does not fit the stream
Evidence that describes ordinary employment rather than the specified activity is a common reason for refusal.
Condition 8503 on the grant
If No Further Stay is imposed, most further visa applications in Australia are not possible unless the condition is waived first.
Working outside the activity
Condition 8107 limits work to the approved activity. A breach can lead to cancellation and affects future applications.
Subclass 408 questions
Do I need a sponsor for a 408 visa?
Can I work on a 408 visa?
How long can I stay on a 408 visa?
Can my family come with me?
Can I apply for another visa while I am in Australia on a 408?
How much does a 408 visa cost?
Get your 408 application on the right footing
Tell us what you will be doing in Australia, for how long, and who is inviting or sponsoring you. We will tell you which stream fits and what evidence will carry it.
The information on this page is general in nature, current as at 2 October 2026, and does not take account of your individual circumstances. It is not immigration assistance or legal advice. Visa criteria, charges, thresholds and processing priorities change; the requirements that apply to your matter are confirmed at the time of advice under a written agreement. No agent can guarantee a visa outcome. Migration Star, Rohit Sharma, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1797395.