visa Hoạt động Tạm thời
Short-term work for specific activities, events or religious work.
What this visa is for#
The Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) is for short stays in Australia linked to a specific approved activity. What it is: Short-term work for specific activities, events or religious work.
This visa sits in the skilled category. Stream: Activity.
In practice, this visa is used where a person is coming to Australia for a defined activity rather than open-ended work. The activity usually needs to match the purpose of the stay, and the visa conditions often reflect that purpose.
The length of stay can vary depending on the activity and the period approved by the Department of Home Affairs. The visa is generally temporary and tied to the activity named in the application.
Who it is generally for#
This visa is for people who come to Australia for a temporary activity that fits an approved category under the Activity stream. That can include people involved in events, short-term specialised work connected to an event or program, and religious work.
This visa is for people who have a genuine temporary purpose connected to the activity they will carry out in Australia. In many cases, there is an Australian organisation, event sponsor, or religious body connected with the activity.
This visa is also used by people whose stay is limited to the period needed for that activity. It is not a general work visa for unrestricted employment across the labour market.
Family members can sometimes be included in the application where the program allows it. Their place in the application depends on the visa settings in force at the time of lodgement and the relationship evidence provided.
What it costs#
The government visa application charge for this visa is:
- Main applicant: $405
- Additional applicant 18 or over: $405
- Additional applicant under 18: $102
These are the government charges only. They are paid to the Department of Home Affairs, and the government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application, whether that is the applicant, a registered migration agent, or an Australian legal practitioner.
Professional fees are separate. A registered migration agent or lawyer may charge for advice, preparing the application, checking documents, drafting submissions, and corresponding with the Department. Those professional fees are not fixed by the government and can vary a lot depending on the work involved.
Other costs can also come up, depending on the application. These may include health examinations, police certificates, document translation, or certified copies if they are required.
Charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. The amount payable is normally the amount that applies on the day the application is lodged.
How long it takes#
Processing times for the subclass 408 can vary depending on the activity, the quality of the documents lodged, and whether the Department needs more information. There is no single fixed timeline that applies to every application.
Some applications move faster where the documents are complete, identity evidence is clear, and the supporting organisation has provided the needed paperwork early. Others take longer if health, character, sponsorship or activity documents are missing or need checking.
Timing can also be affected by peak lodgement periods, the volume of applications in a particular stream, and whether the applicant is in or outside Australia at lodgement. If the Department sends a request for more information, the clock does not stop in a practical sense, but delay often increases because the case cannot progress properly until the requested material is provided.
Applicants often track timing through their ImmiAccount after lodgement. The Department may also publish indicative processing information, but those figures can move over time and are not a promise for any individual application.
What the process involves#
The process usually starts by identifying the exact activity that the stay in Australia is connected to. The application then needs documents that show the activity is genuine, temporary and properly supported.
Identity documents are usually part of the starting point. This often includes passport pages, personal details, and documents for any family members included in the application.
Supporting evidence depends on the activity. Common examples include letters from the organisation involved, event details, religious appointment documents, an itinerary, and records showing the dates and nature of the activity in Australia.
Applications are commonly lodged online through ImmiAccount. The form must match the Activity stream, and the supporting documents need to be attached in the requested format and size limits.
After lodgement, the Department may ask for more information. This can include updated passports, missing relationship documents, health examination results, police clearances, or clearer evidence about the activity and how long it will last.
If the application is lodged in Australia while the applicant holds another substantive visa, a bridging visa may be granted automatically in many cases. A bridging visa is a temporary status that keeps a person lawful while the new application is being processed, but its conditions can differ from the previous substantive visa.
A decision is made after the Department has assessed the application against the legal criteria for the stream. If granted, the visa grant notice sets out the grant date, visa conditions, and the last date to enter Australia if the holder is outside Australia.
What commonly goes wrong#
One common problem is incomplete evidence. A person may lodge with a passport and a short support letter, but leave out key records that explain the event, the religious role, the duration of the activity, or the connection between the applicant and the Australian organisation. That often leads to requests for more information and longer processing.
Another regular issue is documents expiring during processing. Passports, police certificates and some supporting approvals can expire or become outdated before a decision is made. If this happens, the Department may ask for fresh documents, and the case can slow down while replacements are obtained.
People also run into trouble when details are inconsistent across documents. Names, dates of birth, passport numbers, role titles, event dates and relationship details need to line up. Small differences can trigger follow-up questions, especially where translations or scanned copies are unclear.
Health and character steps are another practical problem area. If a medical exam or police certificate is required, delays often happen because appointments are not available quickly, the wrong country certificate is obtained, or the certificate is too old by the time it is assessed.
A change in circumstances can create avoidable issues if it is not reported. If a person changes address, gets a new passport, changes email, or has a family composition change while the application is pending, the Department generally needs updated details. Missing a Department notice because an old email address or mailing address is still on file can cause serious delay.
Bridging visas are often misunderstood. Some applicants assume a bridging visa carries the same work rights, travel rights or study rights as the substantive visa they held before. That is not always the case, and the actual conditions are set out on the bridging visa grant notice.
Another problem is lodging too close to the intended travel or activity start date. Even a well-prepared application can take time if further checks are needed. Tight event dates leave little room to respond to document requests, health checks or administrative delays.
Poor document quality also causes friction. Scans that are cut off, upside down, untranslated, password-protected, or too faint to read can stop an application from being assessed efficiently.
Finally, some applications are prepared around a broad intention to work in Australia rather than a clearly defined temporary activity. The subclass 408 is activity-based, so vague or generic work plans can make the application harder to assess.
Frequently asked questions#
What can a 408 visa be used for in Australia?#
The Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) is used for a temporary stay linked to a specific approved activity. Common examples include events, short-term activity-based work, and religious work. The exact conditions depend on the activity and the grant notice.
How much does a 408 visa cost?#
The government charge is $405 for the main applicant, $405 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over, and $102 for each additional applicant under 18. Professional fees from a registered migration agent or lawyer are separate. The government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application.
Can family members be included in a 408 visa application?#
Family members can sometimes be included, depending on the settings that apply to the application and the evidence lodged. Identity and relationship documents are usually needed for each person included. Extra government charges apply for additional applicants.
How long does a 408 visa take to process?#
There is no single fixed processing time for all subclass 408 applications. Timing depends on the activity, the documents lodged, whether health or character checks are required, and whether the Department asks for more information. Complete and consistent documents usually help avoid delay.
Does a bridging visa give the same rights as my current visa?#
Not always. A bridging visa can keep a person lawful in Australia while a new application is being processed, but the conditions may be different from the previous substantive visa. Work rights, travel rights and other conditions need to be checked on the bridging visa grant notice.
About this page. This is general information about how the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.