Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) · Work and skilled visas · Stream of Temporary Activity visa
Special Program stream
Specific short-term activities: entertainment, sport, religious work, research, special programmes and government-endorsed events. How long you get depends on the activity.
This visa lets you stay in Australia to take part in an approved special program. Special programs can include youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or "gap year school volunteering ".
- Stay
Up to 12 months
- Government charge
From AUD535.00
- Visa type
Temporary
Official information from the Department of Home Affairs
The material below reproduces English-language information from the Department of Home Affairs about this visa. Requirements may have changed since it was added to this website. Use the source link to check the latest information; I can explain relevant provisions in Vietnamese or English during a consultation.
Reading asFor Applicants
Overview
Stay
Up to 12 months
Government charge
From AUD535.00
Exemptions may apply in limited circumstances, for more information, see About this visa.
Processing times
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.
With this visa the applicant can
- Take part in a special program in Australia to exchange culture, knowledge and social experiences
- Stay in Australia for usually up to 12 months with members of the family unit
- Apply for the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance
You must
- have an invitation to participate in an approved special program
- be supported or sponsored depending on your circumstances
- apply online
Help with your visa
If you are getting help with your visa, before you pay someone, read information on Who can help with your visa application.
About this visa
With this visa, you can
- stay in Australia for usually up to 12 months
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
- include members of the family unit in your visa application
This activity aims to enhance international relations and cultural exchange by allowing people to share cultural and social experiences and knowledge in the Australian community through participation in activity-specific programs.
Cultural exchange should be the main purpose of the program.
There are 4 special program types under this visa.
Cultural enrichment or community benefits program
Other Programs
This program type lets you take part in activities in Australia to exchange ideas, beliefs, rituals, customs and traditions with people of different or similar ethnic or social backgrounds.
We encourage approved Australian organisations to promote these exchanges to foster mutual understanding and tolerance in the Australian community.
The program should last between 3 and 12 months.
Your activities might include:
- learning about Australian Indigenous languages and cultures
- pastoral care, religious teaching or evangelism
- social research, environmental conservation or outdoor education
- teaching other languages and cultures
- volunteering with a charity to do outreach work
You can't undertake training or tourism as your primary activity.
Your sponsor must sign a special program agreement with us.
School Language Assistants program
This program type lets you assist an Australian language teacher at an Australian school for up to 12 months.
You must intend to pursue a career in teaching.
You must only work as a teaching assistant at the school. You will assist qualified Australian language teachers in language and cultural matters.
The Australian school does not need a special program agreement with us.
School-to-school Interchange program
This program lets you to come to Australia as a school assistant for up to 12 months.
You must have recently completed your schooling and be on a gap year before starting work, further studies or training.
You will work as a voluntary assistant. You will not replace qualified teaching staff or take formal classes by yourself.
Your home school (usually a boarding school) does not need a special program agreement with us
Youth exchange program
This program allows for stay in Australia for between 3 and 12 months to participate in a youth exchange program. Your sponsor must be part of a broader organisation that sends young Australians overseas for a similar experience. Your sponsor must have a Special Program Agreement with us.
The program should usually last between 3 and 12 months.
Your home organisation must allow an Australian to have a similar experience in a foreign country.
Your sponsor must sign a special program agreement with us.
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa. We grant the length of stay based on the activity we approve you to do on the visa.
We usually grant this visa for no more than 12 months.
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.
If you are overseas when the visa is granted, the visa stay period starts on the day that you enter Australia. If you are in Australia, the visa starts on the day that it is granted.
Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay.
Stay longer
You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. Explore your visa options.
Include family
Cost
The visa costs AUD535.00 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 health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator. The estimator does not take into account the other costs.
Cost for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste visa applicants
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 eligible applicants by the valid passport from the specified countries used in the application when they apply.
Family members are also eligible for the lower visa cost. We base this on the passport of the primary applicant (or visa holder who satisfies the primary visa criteria).
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
Apply from
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.
Processing times
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.
Your application might take longer to process if:
- you don't fill it in correctly
- you don't include all the documents we need, or we need more information from you
- it takes us time to verify your information
We can't process your application if you don't pay the correct visa application charge. We will let you know if this is the case.
Your obligations
Your activities must not harm the work, training or job conditions of Australian citizens or permanent residents.
You and your family must meet all visa conditions and follow Australian laws.
Learn more about conditions for this visa.
If your sponsor, supporting organisation or individual stops your activity or employment, you must do one of the following:
- if eligible, apply for a new visa; or
- leave Australia within 28 days of stopping work for your sponsor/supporter, or earlier if your visa is expiring
Travel
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.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
If we grant you a visa, we will send you a grant notification letter containing the visa grant number. You can use this number to access your digital visa record.
Eligibility
You must meet all of the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for this visa under the Temporary Residence Transition stream. Answer the questions below to see if you meet them, and which requirements that apply to you.Take part in an approved special program
You must be travelling to Australia to take part in an approved special program. There are 4 types of special programs:
- cultural enrichment or community benefit programs
- youth exchange programs
- school language assistance programs
- school-to-school interchange programs
Be here for cultural exchange
The main purpose of the program you take part in should be cultural exchange. You should be here to share cultural and social experiences and knowledge by taking part in the program.
Have a supporter or sponsor
You need a supporter
You don't need a sponsor to apply for this visa if you:
- apply outside Australia, and
- intend to stay for less than 3 months
You must have a supporter to apply for this visa.
You need a sponsor
You need a sponsor to apply for this visa if you:
- apply in Australia, or
- apply outside Australia and intend to stay for more than 3 months
Be able to support yourself and any dependants
You must have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Australia and any dependent family members who travel to Australia with you.
Be this age
You must be the right age for the special program you apply for.
| Type of program | Age |
|---|---|
| Cultural enrichment or community benefit program | 18 years or over |
| School language assistance program | 18 to 30 years |
| School-to-school interchange program | 17 to 25 years |
| Youth exchange program | 18 to 30 years |
Meet the health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.
Meet the character requirement
You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.
Have adequate health insurance
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.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Be a genuine temporary entrant
You can't use our temporary visa program to maintain ongoing residency in Australia.
The genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement helps us to make sure that you use temporary visas correctly.
We generally do not let temporary residents extend their stay in Australia beyond 4 years by applying for this visa.
We must be satisfied that you have a genuine intention to stay here temporarily.
When assessing your application, we will consider:
- your situation
- your immigration history
- previous compliance with visa conditions
- if you are under 18 years old, the intention of your parent, legal guardian or partner
- any other relevant matter
Have this visa
If you are in Australia, you can only apply for this visa if:
- you currently hold a substantive visa, or
- your last substantive visa ceased within the last 28 days.
Have consent to be granted the visa
We will only grant this visa to a child younger than 18 years if everyone who has parental responsibility for them has consented to us granting it.
Best interests of the child
We might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Have paid back debt to the Australian Government
If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.
Declare you have not paid for visa sponsorship
When you apply for the visa, you must declare if you have ever engaged in conduct that could constitute a breach of the prohibition on paying for visa sponsorship.
Not had a visa cancelled or an application refused
We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application. If you have had a visa cancelled or refused, you might not be eligible for this visa.
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 need help with immigration, see Who can help with your visa application.
Sign the Australian Values Statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must acknowledge the Australian Values Statement. This confirms that you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when you apply for the visa. Learn more about Australian Values.
Step by step
You must meet all of the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for this visa under the Temporary Residence Transition stream. Answer the questions below to see if you meet them, and which requirements that apply to you.1Before you apply
You must have an eligible sponsor or supporter. Let us know if you are getting help with your application.
Get help with your application
Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:
You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.
2Gather your documents
Provide evidence to support your application, including sponsor or supporter documents.
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.
Identity documents
Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.
Also provide:
- a national identity card, if you have one
- proof of change of name
Documents that prove a change of name include:
- a marriage or divorce certificate
- change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
- documents that show other names you have been known by
Sponsor documents
If you are being sponsored for the visa, provide evidence your sponsor:
- is an approved temporary activities sponsor
- will meet their obligations to you and anyone who applies for the visa with you
If you are taking part in a School to School Interchange program, a School Language Assistants program or other programs, provide evidence that your sponsor is:
- a community-based, non-profit organisation, or
- a government agency
If you are taking part in a special program that requires a special program agreement, provide evidence that your sponsor is:
- an Australian organisation or a government agency
- the organisation is a party to a special program agreement with the Secretary in relation to the program
You can't be sponsored for this visa stream by an individual or a sole trader.
Supporter documents
You must provide evidence your supporter will meet their obligations to you and anyone who applies for the visa with you
If you are taking part in a youth exchange program, provide evidence that your supporter is an Australian organisation or government agency.
If you are taking part in any other kind of special program, provide evidence that your supporter is:
- a community-based, non-profit organisation, or
- a government agency
Your supporter can't be an individual or a sole trader.
The letter of support needs to be provided with your application.
Financial documents
Show us you can support yourself and any dependents who travel with you during your stay in Australia by providing:
- an employment contract or bank statements, or
- evidence of your financial position from your bank or financial institution
We can also consider allowances, accommodation and other help from your employer.
Character documents
We will tell you if and when you need to get a police certificate.
Tell us you are getting help
To nominate someone to:
- receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.
Curriculum vitae
Provide a copy of your curriculum vitae detailing your experience and qualifications.
Partner documents
Provide your partner's:
- identity documents
- character documents
- marriage certificate
- documents about other relationships, if applicable
For de facto relationships provide either:
- evidence that your relationship is registered by an Australian State or Territory
- enough documents to prove you have been in a de facto relationship with your partner for at least 12 months before you apply
For both married and de facto applicants you must provide evidence that you are in a genuine and continuing relationship. Evidence can include but is not limited to:
- joint bank account statements
- billing accounts in joint names
- joint leases or mortgages
- documents that show your partner has lived at the same address as you
Dependants under 18 documents
For every dependant 18 years old or younger who is applying with you, provide:
- copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents of all your dependent children
- copies of the adoption paper, if applicable.
Parental responsibility documents
You must get consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia from anyone who:
- has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
- is not coming to Australia with the child
They must complete either:
- Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years
- a statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to visit Australia on this visa
Alternatively, you can show us:
- an Australian court order that allows your child to migrate to Australia, or
- that the laws of your home country allow them to migrate
Include:
- an identity document that shows the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a passport or driver’s licence
- adoption papers or other court documents if applicable
Dependants over 18 documents
To include your child who is over 18 in your visa application, they must be:
- over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and dependent on you or your partner, or
- over 23 years of age and unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and dependent on you or your partner
If your child is likely to turn 23 while your application is being processed, you will need to provide evidence they are dependent on you due to disability.
Provide:
- identity documents
- documents about their other relationships, if applicable
- character documents
You must also provide proof the child is dependent on you.
- proof of your relationship with the dependant such as a birth certificate or adoption papers
- a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over
- proof of financial dependency such as bank statements, money transfers and rent receipts
- if the child is aged 23 or is likely to turn 23 while your application is being processed, you must also provide a report from a qualified medical practitioner that states they are dependent on you or your partner due to the total or partial loss of their bodily or mental functions
Prepare your documents
Translate
Have all non-English documents translated into English.
Provide original and translated documents in your application.
Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:
- full name
- address and telephone number
- qualifications and experience in the language they are translating
These details must be in English.
Note: You do not need to have any documents certified.
Scan or photograph
Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in colour.
The scans and photos must be legible.
If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.
3Apply for the visa
You must apply for this visa online. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply.
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.
Apply online
- Create or log in to ImmiAccount.
- Attach documents.
- Submit family applications together.
- Pay the application fee.
We will not process your application until you pay the fee.
You must pay the fee and attach documents for all family members who apply.
4After you apply
We will let you know when we have received your application. See what you can and must do after apply.
Status updates
We can’t give updates on applications within the standard processing time.
You can check if we need more information from you in ImmiAccount
Travel after you apply
If you are in Australia, you don't have to tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. This is because you can be outside Australia when we make a decision.
But if you leave Australia, make sure you have a valid visa to return.
Learn about visa expiry.
Health exams
If you didn't have health examinations before you applied, we will let you know if you need them. Check ImmiAccount.
Biometrics
We might ask for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.
Attach more information
If you did not attach all documents when you applied, attach them as soon as possible in ImmiAccount.
We might also ask you to provide more information.
Stay lawful
If you are in Australia, make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.
If you were in Australia when you applied for this visa, you may be granted:
- a Bridging visa A (BVA) if you held a substantive visa when you applied
- a Bridging visa C (BVC) if you did not hold a substantive visa when you applied
If your current visa expires before we decide your application, the bridging visa will come into effect. You can stay in Australia on the bridging visa while we process your visa application. You can't re-enter Australia on a BVA or BVC - there is no right of return on these visas and they will cease on departure.
Learn more about visa expiry.
Check what conditions might apply to your bridging visa or the visa you have applied for with our condition checker.
Add family
You cannot add members of the family unit to your application after you have applied. If you do not include them in your application, your family members must apply separately.
To apply separately, your family members need to complete an application for a Temporary Activity, International Relations or Training Visa (Subsequent entrant) (403,407,408) form in ImmiAccount.
Subsequent entrants
If we grant you the visa, your family members can apply to join you in Australia as a subsequent entrant.
To apply as a subsequent entrant, your family members need to complete an application for a Temporary Activity, International Relations or Training Visa (Subsequent entrant) (403,407,408) form in ImmiAccount.
Newborn children
Find out what to do if your child is born after you apply.
Mistakes on your application
Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.
Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers and attach it in ImmiAccount.
Help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.
For more information see Who can help you with your application.
Tell us if things change
Tell us if things change after you submit your application but before we have made a decision.
Things you need to let us know about after you have applied include:
- changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
- changes to your marital or de facto status
- the birth of a child
- you want to withdraw your application
See how to tell us if your situation changes.
5Visa outcome
You can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when we decide on your visa application. We will let you know our decision in writing.
If we grant your visa, we will tell you:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions, if applicable
Keep a copy of the decision.
If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:
- why we refused the visa
- whether you have a right to a review of the decision
We will not refund the application charge if we refuse your application.
When you have this visa
Coming to Australia
Before you travel
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 in 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 the SmartGate.
In Australia
What you can do when you have this visa
- stay in Australia for usually up to 12 months
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
- take part in a special program that promotes cultural exchange.
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
The visa stay period starts on the date you enter Australia.
You can check your visa stay period in your visa grant letter or use VEVO.
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.
Travelling on your visa
You must make your first entry to Australia by the date specified in the visa grant letter. This is the Must not arrive after date.
Once you make your first entry to Australia your Visa stay period starts. Your Visa stay period is the length of time you can stay in Australia.
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want during your Visa stay period while the visa is valid.
Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa. The visa stay period does not start again each time you enter Australia. Any time you spend outside of Australia counts as part of the stay period.
See your conditions in VEVO.
Proving you have a visa
To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.
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
Members of your family unit, who did not apply for the visa with you might be eligible to apply for a subsequent entrant visa.
Apply for a subsequent entrant visa using the Temporary Activity, International Relations or Training Visa (Subsequent Entrant) (403,407,408) form in ImmiAccount.
Leaving Australia
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
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.
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.
Reading asFor Sponsors
Overview
Stay
This is a temporary visa. Approved special program participants are normally granted a stay in Australia of between 3 and 12 months.
Government charge
AUD420.00 to apply to become a sponsor.
There is no cost to sponsor someone for the visa after you are approved.
Processing times
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.
With this visa the applicant can
- take part in a special program to that promotes cultural exchange
- travel to and from Australia as often as they want while the visa is valid
- include members of the family unit in their application
Things for the sponsor to note
- be an Australian non-profit organisation or government agency. Other Australian organisations may be eligible to sponsor under the youth exchange category.
- be able to meet your supporter or sponsor obligations
About this visa
Scope
You can support or sponsor an applicant and any family members who apply for the visa with them to travel to Australia to take part in a special program that promotes cultural exchange.
Cost
It costs AUD420.00 to apply to become an approved temporary activities sponsor.
There is no cost to sponsor someone for the visa after you are approved.
How long sponsorship lasts
Your sponsorship normally last for 5 years.
Sponsor obligations
You must meet your obligations as a temporary activities sponsor.
Your sponsorship obligations may last for a different period as specified by legislation. Learn more about your sponsorship obligations.
You are responsible for meeting these obligations even if you appoint someone, such as a migration agent, to act for you.
Eligibility
You must meet all of the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for this visa under the Temporary Residence Transition stream. Answer the questions below to see if you meet them, and which requirements that apply to you.Support or sponsor an applicant
Applicants who need a supporter
Applicants for this visa don't need a sponsor if they:
- apply outside Australia, and
- intend to stay in Australia for less then 3 months
These applicants need a supporter. See more about supporter eligibility below.
Applicants who need a sponsor
Applicants for this visa need a sponsor if they:
- apply in Australia, or
- apply outside Australia and intend to stay in Australia for more than 3 months
See more about sponsor eligibility below.
Supporter eligibility
Meet the support test
To meet the support test:
- a letter of support on your organisation's letterhead needs to be provided
- we must not be aware of any adverse information about you or anyone associated with you that would affect your suitability as a supporter
The letter of support must identify:
- the visa applicant and members of their family unit applying for the visa
- the work the applicant will take do
- what the applicant's duties will be
- when and where the applicant will be working
You don't need to submit an application to be a supporter.
Be a certain kind of organisation
If you are taking part in a youth exchange program, your supporter must be an Australian organisation or government agency.
If you are taking part in any other kind of special program, your supporter must be:
- a community-based, non-profit organisation, or
- a government agency
You can't be supported by an individual or sole trader.
Have special program approval, if applicable
You must get special program approval and have a Special Program Agreement with us if you want to support an applicant to take part in a:
- youth exchange program
- cultural enrichment or community benefits program
You don't need special program approval or a Special Program Agreement to support an applicant for the:
- School-to-school Interchange Program
- School Language Assistants Program
Learn how to apply for special program approval on the Step by step tab.
Sponsor eligibility
Meet the sponsorship test
You must be an approved temorary activities sponsor to sponsor an applicant for this visa.
You must meet the sponsorship test to sponsor a visa applicant. You must:
- be an approved sponsor
- agree in writing to sponsor the visa applicant and members of their family unit applying for the same visa
- not withdraw that agreement to sponsor the visa applicant and members of their family unit or cease to sponsor the applicant and members of the family unit
We must not know anything adverse about you, or a person or organisation associated with you, unless we can reasonably disregard it.
Be a certain kind of organisation
If you are taking part in a youth exchange program, your sponsor must be an Australian organisation or government agency.
If you are taking part in any other kind of special program, your sponsor must be:
- a community-based, non-profit organisation, or
- a government agency
You can't be sponsored by an individual or a sole trader.
Have special program approval, if applicable
You must get special program approval and have a Special Program Agreement with us if you want to sponsor an applicant to take part in a:
- youth exchange program
- cultural enrichment or community benefits program
You don't need a Special Program Agreement to sponsor an applicant for the:
- School-to-school Interchange Program
- School Language Assistants Program
Learn how to apply for special program approval on the Step by step tab.
Step by step
You must meet all of the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for this visa under the Temporary Residence Transition stream. Answer the questions below to see if you meet them, and which requirements that apply to you.1Before the applicant applies for the visa
Sponsors
If the applicant needs a sponsor you must be an approved temporary activities sponsor, or have submitted an application for approval as one.
You will also need to provide some documents to the applicant to submit with their visa application.
Supporters
Visa applicants who apply from outside Australia and intend to stay less than 3 months don't need a sponsor, but must have a supporter who meets the support test.
You will need to provide some documents to the applicant to submit with their visa application. You don't need to apply to become a supporter.
Apply for special program approval, if applicable
You must get special program approval and have a special program agreement with us to sponsor an applicant to take part in a:
- youth exchange program
- cultural enrichment or community benefits program
You don't need a special program agreement to sponsor an applicant for the:
- School-to-school Interchange Program
- School Language Assistants Program
Prepare a special program proposal
Before you can apply to sponsor someone for a youth exchange, or cultural enrichment or community benefits program, you must have special program approval and sign a special program agreement with us. Follow these steps to write and submit an application for special program approval.
Tell us about your organisation
Provide details of your organisation's:
- size and organisational structure
- main activities and operations
- Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Australia Company Number (ACN)
- street and postal address
- email and web address
- associations with other organisations that are or have previously been approved under the Special Program visa (subclass 416) or Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
- affiliations with organisations in Australia and overseas
- point of contact, including name, phone number and email address
- if your organisation is not for profit, provide a copy of its tax exemption certificate.
Tell us about the proposed special program
Tell us about the special program you are proposing, including:
- the program's name
- how long it will last - number of weeks, months or years, or whether it will be ongoing
- its aims and purpose
- how it will benefit the Australian community and program participants
- how you will select participants
- whether and how much you will pay participants
- how many visas you expect to sponsor each financial year
- how long each participant will take part
- which countries you will seek participants from
- what participants will do on the program
- who will supervise the participants during their stay and while they are taking part
- what a participant's typical weekly schedule would be
- what accommodation and other maintenance arrangements you will make for participants
- what expenses the participant will meet
- what the participant is obliged to do as part of the program
If the participants will be employed, provide details of their employment including:
- what they will be paid
- what duties they will perform
- what insurances they will need
- any travel or other expenses
Submit your proposal
Submit your special program proposal at Proposal for a Special Program.
We might ask you for more information after we receive your proposal.
Sign a special program agreement
We will let you know our decision in writing.
If we approve your proposal, we will ask you to enter into a special program agreement with us.
The agreement will set out:
- details of the program
- eligibility for program participants
- your monitoring and reporting obligations
- how you can seek program reapproval when necessary
- how to withdraw from the program
When the agreement has been signed by both us and you, you can apply to be a temporary activities sponsor.
Your special program approval usually lasts for 3 years.
We might ask you for monitoring reports. If you don't provide them when we ask for them, we might revoke the agreement.
2Provide documents
Provide the visa applicant with evidence to support their visa application. They must submit these documents when they apply.
The documents you need to provide will depend on whether you are the applicant's sponsor or their supporter.
Sponsor documents
Evidence you are an approved sponsor or have applied for sponsorship
Provide the applicant with:
- your sponsorship approval letter, or
- evidence you have applied to be a temporary activities sponsor, such as your application ID or transaction reference number (TRN)
- a letter that you agree to accept the sponsor obligations for the applicant and any family members included in the visa application
Evidence you are a certain kind of organisation
Provide evidence about your organisation:
If you are taking part in a youth exchange program, your sponsor must be an Australian organisation or government agency.
If you are taking part in any other kind of special program, your sponsor must be:
- a community-based, non-profit organisation, or
- a government agency
Supporter documents
Evidence you are a certain kind of organisation
Provide evidence about your organisation:
If you are taking part in a youth exchange program, your sponsor must be an Australian organisation or government agency.
If you are taking part in any other kind of special program, your sponsor must be:
- a community-based, non-profit organisation, or
- a government agency
You must provide a letter of invitation, on your organisation's letterhead if it has one, that identifies:
- the visa applicant and any family members travelling with them
- what work, events or activities the applicant will be involved in
- what the applicant's duties will be
- when and where the applicant will perform these
3After the applicant applies
Tell us if things change
See how to let us know if your circumstances change.
Withdraw sponsorship
You must let us know in writing if you want to withdraw your sponsorship of a visa applicant
4Visa outcome
We will let the applicant know our decision in writing.
When you are a sponsor
How long your sponsorship lasts
Approval as a temporary activities sponsor
Your approval as a temporary activities sponsor will last for five years unless we tell you otherwise.
You can apply to extend your sponsorship in ImmiAccount before it expires.
Sponsorship expiry reminders
From 1 July 2026, Temporary Activities Sponsors will receive an automated email reminder 90 days before their sponsorship expires. This will help avoid delays for sponsored visa applicants.
Ensure your sponsor contact details are up to date so you can receive these reminders.
Your obligations
Temporary activity sponsor obligations
You must meet your obligations as a temporary activities sponsor. See more about temporary activities sponsor obligations.
You are responsible for meeting these obligations even if you appoint someone, such as a migration agent, to act for you.
Obligations as sponsor of a visa holder
You must also meet your obligations to the visa applicant you sponsor. These are to:
- pay travel costs for the visa holder (and any family members who come to Australia on the visa with them) to return home, if requested
- absorb the cost of sponsorship, including migration agent costs, and not attempt to recover them from the visa holder
- ensure the visa holder only does the activity in relation to which the visa was granted
You might have to pay costs to find and remove the person you sponsor if they become unlawful.
Withdraw sponsorship
You can't withdraw your sponsorship or support of a visa holder after we grant the visa.
Tell us if things change
You must email or post a letter to us using the contact details below if any of the following occurs:
- your address or contact details change
- the person you sponsored does not start the job, program or activity we granted the visa for
- the person you sponsored unexpectedly leaves the job, program or activity we granted the visa for
- you change your formal arrangement or agreement with the person you sponsor
- you change the end date of the position, program or activity
- you pay the return travel cost of the person you sponsored
- your organisation ceases to exist as a legal entity
Your obligation to inform us starts on the day the sponsorship is approved and ends 2 years after your sponsorship ends, unless you start sponsoring another visa holder.
sponsor.notifications@abf.gov.au
Post
Write to your nearest office.
Sponsor Monitoring
GPO Box 717
Canberra ACT 2601
Sponsor Monitoring
GPO Box 9984
Sydney NSW 2001
Sponsor Monitoring
GPO Box 9984
Brisbane QLD 4001
Sponsor Monitoring
GPO Box 864
Darwin NT 0801
Adelaide Monitoring
GPO Box 2399
Adelaide SA 5001
Sponsor Monitoring
GPO Box 794
Hobart TAS 7001
Sponsor Monitoring
GPO Box 241
Melbourne VIC 3001
Sponsor Monitoring
Locked Bag 7
Northbridge WA 6865
All streams of the Temporary Activity visa
Official source: Department of Home Affairs, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia. Refer to the source website for its copyright and conditions of use.
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Next step
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A 30-minute consultation gives us time to discuss your circumstances, consider initial options and identify the documents that need checking. Some matters require a further review of the records before I can give a complete assessment.