408 Visa Australia

The 408 visa Australia offers is officially called the Temporary Activity visa. It is a short-to-medium term visa for people who need to be in Australia for a specific, approved activity, such as a performance, a sporting competition, a research project, religious work or a government-endorsed event. It is not a general work visa, and it is not a pathway to permanent residence. It is a flexible visa that covers activities that do not fit neatly into a standard work, study or visitor visa.

Because the 408 has many streams with different rules, it is easy to choose the wrong one or to misunderstand what a sponsor must do. This guide, written by the GIEC Global UK immigration consultant team, explains the streams, the sponsorship system, the requirements, the 2026 costs, the application steps and what to do when your visa ends. It is based on Department of Home Affairs information. Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. If you are still comparing destinations and visa types, start with our Australia migration.

Quick Answer: What Is the Subclass 408 Visa?

The subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa lets you come to Australia, or stay in Australia, to take part in a specific approved activity. Most streams need an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor, a supporting organisation or a government endorsement. Most streams allow stays of up to two years, the Invited Participant stream is limited to three months, and the Australian Government Endorsed Events stream can allow up to four years. From 1 July 2026, the main applicant visa charge is A$535.

Key Takeaways

• The 408 visa covers specific activities, not general employment. Your activity must fit one of the streams.
• There are ten streams, including Entertainment, Sporting Activities, Research Activities, Religious Work, Special Program, Invited Participant and Australian Government Endorsed Events.
• Most streams need a Temporary Activities Sponsor or a supporter. Sponsor approval costs A$420 where a new approval is needed.
• The visa charge for a main applicant is A$535 from 1 July 2026, and A$135 for each child under 18.
• You must be a genuine temporary entrant who intends to leave Australia when the activity ends.
• The 408 visa does not lead directly to permanent residence.

Who Is the 408 Visa For?

The Temporary Activity visa is built for people whose reason for travelling is a defined activity. Typical examples include:

• A musician, actor, crew member or other entertainment professional taking part in a production or tour.
• A professional athlete, coach or sports official joining an Australian team or competition.
• A researcher or academic visiting a university or research institution for a project.
• A minister, missionary or other full-time religious worker serving a religious institution.
• A person taking part in an approved exchange, cultural or social program.
• A participant or worker at a major event endorsed by the Australian Government.
• A superyacht crew member, or a domestic worker for a senior foreign executive, under the special rules for those streams.

If you simply want to take an ordinary job, the 408 is the wrong choice. You should look at employer-sponsored or skilled visas instead.

The Ten Streams of the 408 Visa

Stream	What it covers	Typical maximum stay
Australian Government Endorsed Events	Participants and workers at an event endorsed by the Australian Government	Up to 4 years, tied to the event
Domestic Work (Executives)	Full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives	Up to 2 years
Entertainment Activities	Performers, production staff and crew in the entertainment industry	Up to 2 years
Exchange Arrangements	Staff or participants in an approved exchange	Up to 2 years
Invited Participant	People invited to take part in an event or activity	Up to 3 months
Religious Work	Full-time religious work for a religious institution	Up to 2 years
Research Activities	Research at an Australian tertiary or research institution	Up to 2 years
Special Program	Approved social, cultural or international programs	Up to 2 years
Sporting Activities	Players, coaches and officials in high-level sport	Up to 2 years
Superyacht Crew	Crew on certain superyachts	Up to 2 years

Maximum stays and conditions can vary by stream and by how your activity is approved, so always check the current rules for your own stream before you plan travel or contracts.

408 Visa Requirements

Requirements depend on the stream, but most applicants must show the following:

• An approved activity: your reason for coming to Australia falls within one of the ten streams.
• Sponsorship, support or endorsement: most streams require an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor, a supporter or a formal endorsement. Some streams also need the activity to be nominated.
• Genuine temporary entrant: you must intend to stay only for the activity and leave Australia when it ends.
• Skills and suitability: you must have the skills, qualifications or experience needed for the activity.
• Health insurance: adequate health insurance for the period of your stay.
• Health and character: medical examinations and police certificates may be requested.
• English: some streams, such as the Special Program stream, have English requirements. Check your own stream.
• Visa history: previous cancellations, refusals or breaches can affect your application.

Temporary Activities Sponsorship Explained

For most streams, an Australian organisation must act as your Temporary Activities Sponsor. The sponsor is responsible for supporting your visa application, and for following sponsorship obligations. A new sponsor must apply for approval, and the sponsorship application charge is A$420. The sponsor may also have to nominate the activity, and the nomination must show that the activity is genuine and fits the stream.

Sponsors typically have to keep records, make sure the visa holder is paid correctly where work is involved, notify Home Affairs of important changes and meet legal obligations. Individuals who are not part of an approved organisation usually cannot act as a sponsor, so you should confirm early that your host organisation is willing and able to sponsor. Some streams, such as Australian Government Endorsed Events, work through endorsement arrangements instead of ordinary sponsorship.

408 Visa Entertainment Stream

The Entertainment stream is one of the most searched parts of the 408 program. It covers performers, production crew and other people working in the entertainment industry for a defined engagement. Typical evidence includes the production or tour contract, the schedule, the sponsor’s details, your professional credentials and proof that your role is genuinely needed. In some circumstances where the sponsor or supporter is a specified organisation, a nil visa application charge can apply, so ask the sponsor which rules apply to your case before you pay.

408 Visa Sporting Activities Stream

This stream is for people who will play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian sporting team, or take part in high-level training with a sporting organisation. Evidence normally includes a contract or invitation from the club or organisation, proof of your sporting record or qualifications, and details of the competition or program. Visas for sporting activity are usually tied to the specific organisation and role, so a change of club or role may need a new application.

408 Visa Research Activities Stream

The Research Activities stream is for people who will take part in, or observe, a research project at an Australian tertiary or research institution. Evidence usually includes an invitation or letter from the institution, details of the research project, your academic qualifications and a statement about funding. If you are a researcher who also wants to study for a degree, a student visa may be more suitable than a 408.

408 Visa Religious Work Stream

The Religious Work stream is for full-time religious workers who will serve the religious objectives of a religious institution in Australia. The institution must be recognised and eligible, and the role must be genuinely religious in nature, not an ordinary job in a religious setting. Typical evidence includes ordination or training records, a letter from the institution and proof of the position.

408 Visa Cost in 2026

Item	Amount
Main applicant visa charge	A$535
Additional applicant aged 18 or over	A$535
Additional applicant under 18	A$135
Temporary Activities Sponsor application (if new approval is needed)	A$420
Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (certain cases only)	A$700

The charges above apply from 1 July 2026. Some special cases, such as certain Government Endorsed Events or entertainment arrangements, may attract a nil charge, so confirm with the sponsor and the Home Affairs website. Other costs include health insurance, medical examinations, police certificates, translations and travel. Fees are indexed each 1 July, so older pages that show A$310, A$415 or A$430 are out of date.

How to Apply for the 408 Visa Step by Step

1. Identify the stream. Match your activity to the correct stream before doing anything else.
2. Secure the sponsor, supporter or endorsement. Make sure the Australian organisation is willing and approved, or applies for approval.
3. Prepare the nomination or activity details if required. This explains what you will do, where, when and why.
4. Gather your documents. Include passport, qualifications, contracts, invitations, funds and health insurance.
5. Lodge the visa application online. Pay the visa application charge and answer all questions honestly.
6. Complete health and character checks. Respond quickly if Home Affairs requests more information.
7. Wait for the decision. Processing times vary a lot by stream and by how complete the application is, so check the current published times.
8. Travel and follow the conditions. Do only the approved activity and leave before your visa ends.

Documents Checklist

• Valid passport and identity documents.
• Sponsor approval or supporter details, and the nomination where required.
• Contract, invitation letter, event details or program schedule.
• Qualifications, professional records, career history or portfolio.
• Evidence of funds or the sponsor’s financial support.
• Health insurance evidence for the whole stay.
• English evidence where your stream requires it.
• Police certificates and medical examination results if requested.
• Details and documents for any family members applying with you.

Can You Work on a 408 Visa?

You can do the activity that your visa covers, and generally nothing else. If the activity involves paid work, such as a performance contract or a sporting engagement, you must be paid properly and follow Australian workplace laws. You cannot take an unrelated job or switch to a different employer or activity without checking your visa conditions. Doing activities outside your approved purpose can lead to visa cancellation, so always read the conditions on your grant notice.

Family Members

Eligible partners and dependent children can usually apply as additional applicants, and the charges are shown above. Work and study rights for family members depend on the conditions of their visas, so check each person’s grant notice before assuming they can work or study. Because a 408 is temporary, long-term family planning needs a different visa category.

408 Visa Success Rate: What the Facts Show

Many people search for the 408 visa success rate. Home Affairs does not publish a single reliable approval rate for the Temporary Activity visa, because the streams are very different and the outcome depends on the evidence and the sponsor. What matters in practice is whether:

• The activity clearly fits a stream and is genuinely temporary.
• The sponsor is approved and has met its obligations.
• The documents are complete, consistent and credible.
• You meet health and character requirements and have no problematic visa history.
• You can show you will leave Australia when the activity ends.

Weak or vague activity descriptions, inconsistent documents and doubts about your intention to depart are the most common causes of delay or refusal.

Staying Longer and Changing Visas

You cannot simply extend a 408 visa. If your activity continues, a new application may be needed, and in some cases a Subsequent Temporary Application Charge of A$700 applies. If you lodge a further visa application while you are in Australia, a bridging visa may keep you lawful while it is processed, as explained on our Bridging Visa A page. If you need to travel overseas while that application is pending, check our Bridging Visa B guide first, because leaving without the right travel permission can end your bridging visa.

408 Visa vs Other Temporary Visas

• 408 vs 407 Training: the 407 is for structured workplace training with a training plan. If your goal is training, see our 407 Training visa guide.
• 408 vs 400 Short Stay Specialist: the 400 is for short-term specialist work, usually for a few months. See our subclass 400 short-term work page.
• 408 vs 417 Working Holiday: the 417 is for young travellers with no sponsor who want general work and travel. See our 417 visa guide.
• 408 vs visitor visas: a visitor visa does not allow work, but it can cover meetings and short visits. See our Australia visitor visa page.

Some older searches mention a COVID-19 Pandemic Event stream of the 408 visa. That stream was temporary and is no longer the standard route, so posts that tell you to apply for a “408 COVID visa” are out of date.

Does the 408 Visa Lead to Permanent Residence?

No. The Temporary Activity visa is temporary, and time on a 408 does not create a direct path to permanent residence. It can still help your long-term plans, because it can build Australian experience, professional contacts and credentials. If you want to stay permanently, think about the next step before your visa ends:

• Skilled migration: if you have an in-demand occupation and enough points, our General Skilled Migration guide explains the main options.
• Study and graduate work: after eligible Australian study, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) can allow you to work and build local experience.
• Employer sponsorship: if an Australian employer wants to keep you, ask about a genuine sponsored role.

For the full picture of permanent options, see our Australian permanent residency page.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing the wrong stream because the activity does not clearly fit.
• Assuming any Australian business can sponsor without approval.
• Describing the activity vaguely or in terms of ordinary employment.
• Doing other work or activities not covered by the visa.
• Relying on old fees or old streams from outdated blog posts.
• Applying late and not allowing time for sponsor approval and processing.
• Leaving Australia without checking bridging visa travel rules while another application is pending.

Practical Tips for Applicants and Sponsors

• Confirm the stream and the sponsor’s status before you buy tickets or sign contracts that depend on the visa.
• Write the activity description in clear, specific terms, with dates, places and roles.
• Keep contracts, invitations and professional records consistent with each other.
• Book medicals and police certificates early.
• Check the Home Affairs site for current fees, streams and processing times, as they can change.
• Keep a copy of your grant notice and read every condition.

Why Speak to GIEC Global UK?

Our immigration consultant team helps applicants and host organisations choose the correct 408 stream, prepare strong evidence and plan the next step if you want to stay in Australia. We explain the rules in plain language and we do not guarantee outcomes, because every decision is made by the Australian Government. [Add: MARA agent name / MARN and years of experience, only if accurate.] To discuss your situation, contact our team through the Australia section of the site.

Official source used for this guide: Department of Home Affairs. This guide is general information and not legal advice. Streams, fees, sponsor rules and processing times can change, so confirm the latest details before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 408 visa in Australia?

The 408 visa is the Temporary Activity visa. It lets you come to or stay in Australia for a specific approved activity, such as entertainment, sport, research or religious work.

What is the subclass 408 visa used for?

It covers specific short-to-medium term activities that do not fit a standard work, study or visitor visa, such as performances, sporting competitions, research projects, religious work and endorsed events.

How many streams does the 408 visa have?

There are ten streams, including Australian Government Endorsed Events, Entertainment, Sporting Activities, Research Activities, Religious Work, Special Program, Invited Participant, Exchange Arrangements, Domestic Work for Executives and Superyacht Crew.

Do I need a sponsor for the 408 visa?

For most streams, yes. You usually need an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor, a supporter or an endorsement. The exact requirement depends on your stream.

How much does the 408 visa cost in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the main applicant visa charge is A$535, additional adults pay A$535 and children under 18 pay A$135. A sponsor may also have to pay A$420 for sponsor approval.

How long can I stay on a 408 visa?

Most streams allow up to two years. The Invited Participant stream is limited to three months, and the Government Endorsed Events stream can allow up to four years.

What is the 408 visa success rate?

Home Affairs does not publish one reliable success rate. Outcomes depend on the stream, the sponsor, the evidence and whether you meet health and character requirements.

Can I work on a 408 visa?

You can do only the approved activity. Where the activity involves paid work, such as a performance or sporting contract, you must be paid properly. You cannot take unrelated jobs.

Can I apply for the 408 visa from inside Australia?

Some streams allow onshore applications, and some, such as Invited Participant, are onshore only. The rules depend on your stream and current visa, so check before you lodge.

Is the 408 visa the same as a working holiday visa?

No. The 417 and 462 working holiday visas are general work-and-travel visas for young people. The 408 is for a specific approved activity and usually needs sponsorship.

What is the difference between the 408 and 407 visas?

The 407 is a Training visa for a structured workplace training program with a training plan. The 408 covers specific activities such as entertainment, sport, research and religious work.

What is the difference between the 408 and 400 visas?

The 400 is for short-term specialist work, usually lasting a few months. The 408 covers a broader set of activities and can last longer, up to two years or more depending on the stream.

Can I bring my family on a 408 visa?

Eligible partners and dependent children can usually apply as additional applicants. Their work and study rights depend on their own visa conditions.

Do entertainers need a 408 visa?

Many entertainers and production crew use the Entertainment stream, usually with an approved sponsor or supporter. Your exact visa depends on the role, contract and length of stay.

Can athletes and coaches use the 408 visa?

Yes. The Sporting Activities stream is for players, coaches, instructors and officials joining Australian teams or high-level training, with the right sponsor and evidence.

Can researchers use the 408 visa?

Yes. The Research Activities stream is for people taking part in or observing research at an Australian tertiary or research institution, with supporting evidence from the institution.

Does the 408 visa lead to permanent residency?

No. It is a temporary visa. To stay long term, you need another pathway such as skilled migration, a graduate visa after study or employer sponsorship.

Can I extend my 408 visa?

You cannot simply extend it. You may need a new visa application, and in some cases a Subsequent Temporary Application Charge of A$700 applies.

Is there a 408 COVID visa?

The COVID-19 Pandemic Event stream was temporary and is no longer the standard route. Posts that tell you to apply for a 408 COVID visa are out of date.

Why should I speak to GIEC Global UK about the 408 visa?

Our team helps you choose the right stream, prepare sponsor and evidence documents and plan your next step before the visa ends. Book a consultation to review your case.