Temporary Activity Visa — Specific Purposes, Events, and Activities
Subclass 408 Visa – Temporary Activity Visa Australia
Stay in Australia for a Specific Purpose, Event, or Activity — The Visa Built for Unique Temporary Situations
Most Australian visas fit neatly into established categories — skilled work, study, family, business. But real life does not always follow neat categories. Sometimes a person needs to be in Australia temporarily for a specific activity, event, or purpose that does not fit anywhere else in the migration framework.
The Subclass 408 Temporary Activity Visa exists for exactly these situations. It is a flexible temporary visa that covers a genuinely wide range of activities — from entertainers and sports professionals to religious workers, domestic workers accompanying foreign executives, and people participating in approved cultural or social programs.
It is also the visa that became critically important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when thousands of visa holders were stranded in Australia and needed a lawful pathway to remain while international travel was disrupted. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents help applicants and sponsors across all Subclass 408 streams navigate the requirements correctly.
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75% of applications
Primary applicant 2026
Entertainment to COVID-19
Subject to activity duration
Visa Overview
What is the Subclass 408 Temporary Activity Visa?
The Subclass 408 Temporary Activity Visa is a temporary visa that allows people to come to or remain in Australia to participate in a specific activity, event, or program that is outside the scope of standard work or study visas.
It replaced several former visa subclasses when it was introduced in 2016, consolidating a range of activity-based temporary visa categories under a single subclass with multiple streams. The visa is activity-based — meaning your eligibility and the conditions attached to your visa depend entirely on which stream you are applying under and what specific activity you are in Australia to pursue.
Some streams require an approved sponsor. Others do not. Some are employer-sponsored arrangements. Others are tied to government endorsements or specific events. The Subclass 408 is one of the more varied and complex temporary visa subclasses in the Australian migration system precisely because it covers such a broad range of human activity.
Key Features of the Subclass 408 Visa
- Temporary visa covering a wide range of specific activities, events, and programs
- Multiple streams with different eligibility requirements and sponsor arrangements
- Some streams require an approved sponsor, others do not
- Stay period tied to the nature and duration of the approved activity
- Work rights exist within the scope of the approved activity
- Family members may be able to accompany the primary visa holder
- Introduced in 2016, replacing several former activity-based visa subclasses
- The COVID-19 Pandemic Event stream provided an important emergency pathway during the pandemic
- No direct pathway to permanent residency
Visa Streams
Who Can Apply — The Nine Subclass 408 Streams
The Subclass 408 is not a visa for any one type of applicant. Its strength — and its complexity — lies in the breadth of situations it covers. You may be eligible if you fall into one of the following streams:
Entertainment Activities
Performing artists, entertainers, film and television production crew, and support staff participating in entertainment events or productions in Australia. One of the most commonly used Subclass 408 streams for international performers.
Invited Government Guest
People formally invited by the Australian Government or a State or Territory government to participate in a specific activity in an official capacity.
Cultural or Social Activities
Participants in approved cultural or social programs endorsed or supported by an Australian government body — covering cultural exchange, arts, and community programs.
Sports
International athletes, coaches, support staff, and officials participating in sporting events or training programs in Australia. Widely used for visiting sports teams and international sporting events.
Religious Activities
Members of a genuine religious organisation coming to Australia to conduct services, teach, provide pastoral care, or carry out other religious functions under the auspices of their organisation.
Research Activities
Researchers, scientists, and academics participating in specific research activities, often in partnership with Australian research institutions or universities.
Staff Exchange
Employees of international companies participating in a formal, reciprocal staff exchange arrangement with an Australian business. The exchange must be genuine in nature.
Domestic Worker of Executive
Domestic workers employed by senior overseas executives temporarily working in Australia. Employment must meet Australian workplace standards.
COVID-19 Pandemic Event
Introduced during the pandemic to provide a lawful pathway for visa holders unable to depart Australia due to travel restrictions. Remains relevant in specific circumstances — professional advice is strongly recommended.
Visa Benefits
Key Benefits of the Subclass 408 Visa
A Lawful Pathway for Activities That Do Not Fit Elsewhere
For entertainers, athletes, religious workers, researchers, and cultural participants — the Subclass 408 provides a clear and recognised visa pathway into Australia. Without it, many legitimate short-to-medium term activities would simply have no viable visa option.
Flexibility Across a Wide Range of Activities
The Subclass 408 covers everything from a touring music act to an international rugby team to a religious leader visiting their Australian congregation to a film production crew shooting on location. Few visas in the Australian migration system accommodate such a diverse range of genuine temporary activities.
Work Rights Within the Approved Activity
Subclass 408 holders have lawful work rights in Australia within the scope of their approved activity. An entertainer can perform. An athlete can compete and train. A religious worker can conduct services and teach. The work rights are activity-specific but they are genuine and legally protected.
Family Inclusion
In many streams, a spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can accompany the primary Subclass 408 holder to Australia. We assess what is possible for your specific family situation as part of your application.
Critical Emergency Pathway — COVID-19 Stream
The COVID-19 Pandemic Event stream provided a genuinely vital lifeline for thousands of visa holders during the pandemic. For those who remain affected by pandemic-related circumstances, this stream continues to offer a pathway to lawful status in Australia.
Government-Backed Structure for Invited Guests
For applicants in the invited government guest stream, the formal backing of an Australian government invitation provides a clear and well-supported basis for the visa application.
Stream Requirements
Understanding the Subclass 408 Streams in Detail
Because the Subclass 408 covers so many different situations, it is essential to understand which stream applies to your specific circumstances before any application is prepared or lodged.
Entertainment Activities Stream
This stream is for international entertainers, performers, and production crew coming to Australia to participate in entertainment activities — live performances, film or television productions, recording projects, and similar activities. A sponsoring organisation is required — typically the promoter, production company, or event organiser. The sponsor must be an approved entertainment sponsor registered with the Department of Home Affairs.
Sports Stream
The sports stream covers international athletes, coaches, team officials, and support staff participating in sporting events, tournaments, competitions, or training programs in Australia. A sponsoring sports organisation or event body is required. The sponsor must be an approved sports sponsor. This stream is used extensively for visiting sports teams, individual international athletes, and coaches brought in for specific seasons or events.
Religious Activities Stream
Religious workers — ministers, pastors, priests, imams, rabbis, monks, and other religious practitioners — who are coming to Australia to carry out religious activities on behalf of a genuine religious organisation can use this stream. The sponsoring religious organisation must be a bona fide religious body in Australia, and the applicant must be a genuine member of that organisation with a genuine religious role.
Research Activities Stream
Researchers and academics coming to Australia to participate in specific, defined research activities — often in collaboration with Australian universities, research institutions, or government bodies — use this stream. The research must be genuine and the applicant must have relevant qualifications or expertise in the research area.
Staff Exchange Stream
This stream covers genuine reciprocal staff exchange arrangements between an overseas business and an Australian counterpart. Both parties must be genuinely participating in the exchange — it must be a true exchange, not simply an arrangement to bring an overseas worker to Australia under a different label.
Domestic Worker of Executive Overseas Stream
Senior overseas executives temporarily working in Australia on an appropriate visa may bring their domestic household staff — personal chefs, nannies, housekeepers, and similar domestic workers — to Australia under this stream. The domestic worker must be employed on terms that meet Australian workplace laws.
COVID-19 Pandemic Event Stream — Still Relevant in Some Cases
Introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, this stream provided a pathway for visa holders who were stranded in Australia when international travel was severely disrupted. While international travel has largely normalised, this stream remains technically available in specific circumstances. Applicants considering this stream should seek professional advice on whether it remains applicable to their situation and what the current requirements are before lodging any application.
Document Checklist
What Documents Do You Need for the Subclass 408?
The documentation required for the Subclass 408 varies significantly depending on the stream. However, there are common elements across most applications.
Identity and Personal Documents
- Valid passport and identity documents
- National identity card where applicable
- Any previous Australian visa grant letters or refusal notices
Activity and Engagement Documents
- Evidence of the specific activity, event, or program — contracts, engagement letters, program schedules, event invitations
- For sponsored streams: sponsorship approval documentation and nomination details from the approved Australian sponsor
- For entertainment: performance or production contracts, tour schedules, event details
- For sports: team selection documentation, competition schedules, club or association engagement letters
- For religious workers: evidence of your organisation's status in Australia, your role within the organisation, and the nature of your activities
- For researchers: research program documentation, university or institution collaboration agreement, evidence of qualifications
- For staff exchange: exchange agreement between the Australian and overseas businesses, evidence of the reciprocal nature of the arrangement
- For domestic workers: evidence of the employing executive's visa status in Australia, employment contract meeting Australian workplace standards
- For COVID-19 stream: evidence of your circumstances and the basis for applying — professional advice is strongly recommended
Financial Evidence
- Evidence that you have access to sufficient funds to support yourself in Australia during your stay, or that your sponsoring organisation will provide financial support
Health and Character Documents
- Health examination results from an approved panel physician where required based on your country of origin and intended length of stay
- Chest X-ray results where required
- Police clearance certificates for all countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
For Secondary Applicants
- Passport and identity documents for spouse or de facto partner and dependent children
- Relationship evidence — marriage certificate or de facto relationship evidence
- Birth certificates for dependent children
- Health and character documents for all secondary applicants
Visa Fees and Costs
Subclass 408 Visa Cost Australia
The Subclass 408 visa application charge is set by the Department of Home Affairs. As of 2026, the base visa application charge for the primary applicant is AUD 310. Secondary applicants aged 18 or over pay an additional AUD 310 each, and secondary applicants under 18 pay AUD 80 each.
| Fee Item | Amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary applicant visa charge | $310 | Base fee as of 2026 |
| Secondary applicant aged 18+ | $310 each | Per secondary applicant |
| Secondary applicant under 18 | $80 each | Per dependent child |
| Sponsorship application fee | $420 | Where new sponsor approval required |
| Health examination | $300–$450 | Approx. depending on physician and tests |
| Chest X-ray (where required) | $100–$150 | Approx. where required |
| Police clearances | $50–$150 per country | Varies by country of clearance |
| Migration agent professional fees | Variable | Depends on stream and complexity |
Processing Times
Subclass 408 Visa Processing Time Australia
Processing times for the Subclass 408 vary depending on the stream, the completeness of the application, and the Department of Home Affairs' current workload. As a general guide based on Department data in 2026:
Processing Benchmarks
- 75% of applications are processed within 4 to 8 weeks
- 90% of applications are processed within 10 to 14 weeks
- For streams requiring new sponsor approval, add additional time to the front of the process
Factors That Affect Processing
- Whether the sponsoring organisation is already approved or requires new approval
- Completeness of activity documentation and engagement evidence at lodgement
- Health examination and police clearance status at time of application
- Country of passport and associated processing considerations
- Whether the Department requires additional information after initial lodgement
How We Help
Our Visa Process
Stream Identification and Eligibility Assessment
The first and most important step is identifying the correct stream for your specific activity and circumstances. We begin every Subclass 408 case by understanding exactly what you are coming to Australia to do, who the sponsoring organisation is or will be, and how your situation maps onto the available streams. From this we give you a clear, honest assessment of your eligibility and the pathway forward.
Sponsor Assessment and Approval
For streams that require an approved sponsor, we work with the sponsoring organisation to assess their current approval status and prepare or update their sponsorship application if needed. We guide sponsors through their obligations and make sure their documentation is in order before the nomination and visa application stages begin.
Activity Documentation and Evidence Preparation
The core of most Subclass 408 applications is the documentation of the activity itself — contracts, event details, program information, engagement letters, and supporting evidence. We work with you and your sponsor to make sure this documentation is thorough, clearly presented, and directly responsive to what the Department needs to see.
Document Checklist and Application Preparation
We prepare a personalised document checklist based on your specific stream and circumstances. Every document is reviewed carefully before lodgement — for completeness, accuracy, and presentation quality. We prepare the visa application in full and manage the lodgement process.
Lodgement and Active Follow-Up
We lodge your Subclass 408 application with the Department of Home Affairs and handle all communication with the Department on your behalf from that point. We monitor the application actively and respond promptly to any requests for additional information. We keep you and your sponsor informed throughout the process until a final decision is issued.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
The Subclass 408 covers more different types of applicants and activities than almost any other temporary visa in the Australian migration system. That breadth is its strength — but it also means that navigating the visa correctly requires genuine familiarity with the streams, the sponsor requirements, and the activity documentation standards that the Department expects.
A touring entertainment act that does not have a properly approved sponsor in place before arriving in Australia. A sports team whose visa applications were not lodged early enough to be processed before the tournament begins. A religious worker whose organisation's documentation does not clearly establish their genuine religious status. These are real situations that create real problems — and they are preventable with the right preparation.
Multi-Stream Experience Across All Categories
Our MARA-registered agents bring hands-on experience across multiple Subclass 408 streams — entertainment, sports, religious, research, and the COVID-19 stream. We understand the nuances of each category and what the Department needs to see in every application.
Sponsor Management and Timing Expertise
We understand the entertainment industry's visa needs, the sports sector's timing pressures, and the documentation requirements for religious and research stream applicants. We manage the sponsor approval process so applications are ready when activities need them to be.
Thorough Application Preparation
Transparent process with regular updates. High success rate with personalised service. We prepare every application carefully and thoroughly — because in activity-based visas, the details matter enormously. Dedicated support from eligibility assessment to visa grant.
Ready to Apply for Your Subclass 408 Temporary Activity Visa?
Whether you are a touring artist heading to Australia for a major production, an international sports team preparing for competition, a religious leader serving your Australian community, or a researcher collaborating with an Australian institution — the Subclass 408 is built for your situation. But getting it right requires knowing which stream applies, understanding the sponsor requirements, preparing the right activity documentation, and presenting the application in a way that clearly satisfies the Department of Home Affairs. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered agents are ready to assess your eligibility, identify your stream, manage your sponsor arrangements, and guide you through every step of the Subclass 408 application.
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