Foreign Government Agency stream

• work as a representative of a foreign government agency that does not enjoy official status in Australia (provided that you would not, as a representative of that agency, enjoy official status in Australia, e.g. diplomatic or consular accreditation)
• work as a foreign language teacher employed by a foreign government in an Australian school
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid
• include members of the family unit in your application.

A foreign government agency includes:

• an organisation that is operating in Australia and is conducted under the official authority of a foreign national government (including foreign tourist and media bureaus, trade offices and other foreign government entities), and
• an organisation that is operating in Australia and that is conducted under the official authority of an international organisation recognised by Australia.

This is a temporary visa. You can stay until the time we specify in your visa grant notice, which may be up to 4 years (unless your employer approves a shorter period).

The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

The visa starts either on the date that:

• we grant the visa, if you are in Australia at the time of grant. or
• you first time enter Australia, if you were outside Australia when we granted it.

Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay.

You can apply to stay longer in Australia under the Foreign Government Agency stream if:

• you continue to be supported by a foreign government agency, or
• you continue to work as a foreign language teacher in an Australian school; and
• your continued employment will benefit Australia

You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply.

Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements.

If you apply for this visa from outside Australia, family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health requirements.

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

The visa costs AUD470.00 for the main applicant.

There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.

You might also have to pay other costs for police certificates, biometrics and health checks.

To work out how much this visa costs, use the Visa pricing estimator . The estimator does not take into account any other costs.

You might not need to pay the visa application charge if you hold a valid diplomatic, official or service passport and have a Third Person Note from your government.

You must provide evidence to show that your application is exempt from the visa application charge.

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application.

We will charge eligible applicants the lower visa application cost during the application process in ImmiAccount. We will recognise you as eligible if you include your valid passport from one of the specified countries in your application.

Family members are also eligible for the lower visa cost. We base this on the passport of the primary applicant, or primary visa holder.

The primary applicant must hold a valid passport issued by one of the following countries:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

You can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply for the visa and when we decide on your application.

Your application might take longer to process if:

• you do not fill it in correctly
• you do not include all the documents we need
• we need more information from you
• it takes us time to verify your information.

We can't process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge.

If we grant you a visa, you and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

Learn more about conditions for this visa.

You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.

We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.

You must have a letter of support from a foreign government agency, foreign national government, or international organisation recognised by Australia.

If you applied as a foreign language teacher, you must also provide a letter of support from an Australian school or relevant state or territory education authority.

While you are in Australia, you must be able to support yourself and any dependent family members who come with you.

• a representative of a foreign government agency that does not enjoy official status in Australia (provided that you would not, as a representative of that agency, enjoy official status in Australia e.g. diplomatic or consular accreditation), or
• a foreign language teacher who will be employed by a foreign government in an Australian school.

Your employment in Australia should benefit Australia. Your work should not disadvantage Australian residents and will contribute to one of the following:

• expansion of local business and export activity
• generation of employment
• promotion and maintenance of good international trade relations
• introduction and transfer of new skills and technology
• improved employment and training opportunities for Australians.

If you are applying in Australia, you must hold or have in the last 12 months held a temporary substantive visa.

The temporary substantive visa you hold or held must not have been a:

• Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
• Transit visa (subclass 771), or
• Special Purpose visa

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.

You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.

You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa. Your cover should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.

See more about health insurance for overseas visitors.

You must only intend to:

• have a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia
• do the work or activity you specified in your visa application

If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.

We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.

In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused see Limitations on applications in Australia.

If applying for a visa from outside Australia see Can I go to Australia.

If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have:

• a valid visa to enter Australia
• a valid passport or other travel document.

At the border

Completing an Incoming Passenger Card

All people arriving Australia must complete the Incoming Passenger Card. You will be given this card onboard.

Leaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

What you can do when you have this visa

• work as a representative of a foreign government agency
• work as a foreign language teacher employed by a foreign government in an Australian school
• travel to, enter and remain in Australia while your visa is valid.

To see your specific conditions and work entitlements use VEVO.

What you must do on this visa

You and your family members must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.

See your conditions in VEVO.

Learn more about visa conditions and how they work.

Tell us if things change

Things you need to let us know about include:

• changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
• changes to your relationship status
• the birth of a child.

See how to tell us if there is a change in your situation.

See how long you can stay

To see when you must leave, use VEVO.

Staying longer

You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. You must apply for a new visa if you want to stay longer.

See your options.

Travelling on your visa

You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa.

See your conditions in VEVO.

Proving you have a visa

To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.

Working

To see your conditions for work, use VEVO.

If you have permission to work, you are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.

Bringing family

You can apply for a subsequent entrant visa for your family member in ImmiAccount.

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.

Ensure your visa is still valid

See what to do if your visa has expired or is about to expire.

At the border

Departures SmartGate

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate

After you leave

Getting your superannuation

You are likely to have some money in a superannuation fund if you worked in Australia and you are:

• aged 18 years or older
• paid AUD450 or more before tax in a month.

See how to access your super.

Proving you have been to Australia

To get proof of your travel in and out of Australia request your international movement records.