Subclass 408 — Temporary Activity Visa — immi.wiki

The Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa is a multi-purpose temporary visa that covers a range of specific short-term activities that do not fit neatly within the visitor, student, or employer-sponsored visa frameworks. It was introduced in November 2016, replacing several earlier visa subclasses.

The Subclass 408 has numerous streams, covering activities including:

• Entertainment — performers and entertainment crew
• Religious activities — members of religious organisations
• Research and education — academics, researchers, and specialist educators
• Domestic worker for diplomat — domestic employees of diplomatic or consular staff
• Exchange — participants in approved cultural exchange programs
• Invited participant — persons invited to participate in a specific event or program
• Sport — amateur or professional athletes
• Superyacht crew — crew members of visiting superyachts
• Pandemic event stream — introduced during COVID-19 to cover workers in critical sectors; this stream was closed to new applications after the pandemic period

Eligibility requirements depend on the activity stream. Common requirements across streams:

• The applicant must be engaged in, or invited to participate in, an activity covered by the stream
• An approved sponsor or host organisation is required for most streams (entertainment, religious, research, sport)
• The activity must have a defined end date — the Subclass 408 is intended for temporary, specific purposes
• Health and character requirements apply

The "Invited Participant" stream is broader and covers individuals personally invited by an Australian organisation, government body, or individual to participate in an activity for the benefit of Australia or the inviting party.

Applications are lodged online via ImmiAccount. The required documents vary by stream but typically include:

• Evidence of the sponsoring organisation's approval (for streams requiring a sponsor)
• A description of the specific activity and its duration
• Evidence of the applicant's qualifications or standing in their field
• Passport and identity documents

Processing times vary by stream and nationality. Some streams have faster processing than others.

Visa conditions vary by stream. Common conditions include:

• Activity restriction — the holder may generally only engage in the specific activity for which the visa was granted; engaging in unrelated work or activities may breach the visa conditions
• No further stay — condition 8503 may be imposed in some cases
• Duration — the visa is typically granted for the period required to complete the specified activity, up to a maximum (which varies by stream, generally up to 2 years)

The Subclass 408 does not provide a pathway to permanent residence; it is intended as a temporary, purpose-specific visa only.