The Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) is a broad-purpose Australian temporary visa for people coming to Australia to participate in specific short-term activities — including entertainment and film production, research, professional sport, government-endorsed events, and special programs. It replaced and consolidated several former visa subclasses. Unlike the 407 (which is specifically for workplace training) or the 482 (which is for standard employment), the 408 covers genuine activity-based temporary stays that do not fit the standard work visa framework.

For current eligible activity types, sponsorship requirements, and processing times, refer to the DHA subclass 408 page.

• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) — the visa criteria for all streams
• DHA: Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/temporary-activity-408
• DHA: Entertainment Activities (408) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/408/entertainment
• DHA: Sporting Activities (408) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/408/sporting
• DHA: Research Activities (408) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/408/research

The six activity streams

1. Entertainment Activities

The Entertainment Activities stream covers work on film, television, or live productions in the entertainment industry — including performers, directors, producers, crew, and technical staff. The holder can stay for up to 2 years. A sponsor (an approved temporary activities sponsor — typically an Australian production company or entertainment organiser) is required. This stream covers both front-of-camera and behind-the-camera roles. For current eligible entertainment activity types and sponsor requirements, refer to the DHA Entertainment Activities page.

2. Research Activities

The Research Activities stream is for people observing or participating in a research project at an Australian research institution or tertiary institution. The holder can stay for up to 2 years. The research must be conducted at an approved institution and must constitute genuine research activity — not general employment at the institution. For current eligible research activities and institutional requirements, refer to the DHA Research Activities page.

3. Sporting Activities

The Sporting Activities stream allows high-level athletes and coaches to play or coach for an Australian team or organisation, or undertake high-level sports training in Australia. The holder can stay for up to 2 years. A temporary activities sponsor (the relevant Australian sporting club or organisation) is required. This stream is used for professional athletes competing in Australian leagues, international players on contracts with Australian clubs, and high-performance coaches. For current requirements, refer to the DHA Sporting Activities page.

4. Australian Government Endorsed Events

This stream covers participants in events that are endorsed by the Australian Government. To apply under this stream, the event must have been formally endorsed by the relevant Commonwealth or state/territory government. The stream is used for international sporting events, cultural events, and other significant events with a government endorsement. As of 2026, the subclass 408 Australian Government Endorsed Events stream is available for participants in the Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup 2026 event. For other endorsed events, refer to the DHA Australian Government Endorsed Events page.

5. Other Social and Cultural Activity (Invited Participant)

This stream covers persons invited to participate in a social or cultural activity in Australia — such as visiting academics invited to speak at a conference, cultural exchange participants, or persons invited to participate in a community or cultural organisation's activities. A sponsor is required. For current eligible activities under this stream, refer to the DHA invited participant page.

6. Special Program

The Special Program stream is a catch-all for specific programs that DHA designates as eligible under the 408. Special programs are approved by the Minister and include structured exchange programs, humanitarian volunteer programs, and similar arrangements that do not fit other streams. For current approved special programs, refer to the DHA Special Program page.

Temporary activities sponsor requirement

Most streams of the 408 require the holder to be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor. This is the same sponsor class used for the 407 training visa. Sponsors must be approved by DHA before they can nominate persons for the 408. Becoming a temporary activities sponsor requires submitting an application (Form 1283) demonstrating the organisation's legitimacy and ability to meet sponsor obligations.

Health and character requirements

Applicants must meet Australia's health and character requirements. The specific requirements depend on the applicant's country of residence and the proposed length of stay. For current health and character threshold requirements, refer to the DHA subclass 408 page.

408 vs. 407 vs. 482 — activity, training, or work?

Three temporary visa subclasses are often confused because they all involve doing something purposeful in Australia:

• Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand): Standard employer-sponsored skilled work visa — for genuine employment generating productive output for an Australian employer
• Subclass 407 (Training): Workplace-based occupational training — for genuine skills development, where the primary purpose is learning rather than productive employment
• Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity): Specific activities outside the standard employment framework — entertainment, sport, research, government-endorsed events, cultural participation

Using the 408 for what is effectively standard employment is non-compliant. If the person's primary purpose is performing productive work for an Australian employer, the 482 is the appropriate pathway.

The subclass 408 replaced several formerly separate temporary activity visa subclasses — consolidating sports, entertainment, research, and cultural activity visas into a single framework. The breadth of the 408's activity streams makes it versatile but also requires careful matching of the applicant's specific activity to the correct stream and sponsor type. For current eligible activities by stream, processing times, fees, and sponsor requirements, refer to the DHA subclass 408 page.