Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) — Australia

You must show you can carry out a specific temporary activity in Australia and meet the criteria set by Home Affairs. Eligibility depends on your skills, the activity, and the support or sponsorship tied to your stream.

Basic eligibility criteria

You can apply for the Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) if you meet Home Affairs’ core requirements and the criteria for your stream.

You must:

• Have a clearly defined temporary activity in Australia
• Provide detailed information about the work or activity you’ll undertake
• Meet the requirements for your eligibility category
• Submit the documents required for that stream
• Provide extra information if requested, such as Form Form 80

Each stream has its own document checklist and evidence standards.

If your main purpose is training, short-term specialist work, or skilled employment, another visa may be more suitable.

Choose the visa that matches your actual activity.

Skill and activity requirements

You need the skills and background for the activity you propose in Australia.

Home Affairs expects you to show:

• Relevant qualifications, experience, or professional standing
• A direct link between your skills and the activity
• That the activity is genuine and temporary

You can’t rely on general experience. Your background must support the specific role or event described in your application.

Evidence should be tailored to your stream. This might include:

• Employment history
• Contracts or invitations
• Professional memberships
• Letters confirming the nature and duration of your activity

Check the instructions for your eligibility category before applying. Each stream defines what evidence is acceptable, and incomplete documentation can hold up your application.

Sponsorship and support overview

Many subclass 408 streams require support from an Australian organisation, employer, or event organiser.

You may need:

• A formal invitation or endorsement
• Written confirmation of your role or participation
• Evidence of the organisation’s involvement in the activity

The type of support depends on your stream. Some activities require an approved sponsor, others need documented backing from a relevant Australian entity.

The supporting organisation should clearly describe:

• The purpose of your stay
• The duration of the activity
• Your specific duties or role

Home Affairs checks whether the support matches your claimed activity. If your documents don’t connect you to the activity, your application may fall short of the stream requirements.

Match your documents to your specific 408 stream and make sure information is consistent and complete. Home Affairs checks your identity, background, and any required endorsements closely.

Required evidence by stream

Your evidence needs to fit the stream you’re applying under. Generic documents slow things down.

Prepare:

• Passport bio page and any pages showing name changes
• Evidence explaining your purpose of stay under your selected stream
• Any stream‑specific letters or confirmations required by Home Affairs
• Completed Form Form 80 if requested

If you’ve held visas like the Training Visa (subclass 407), Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (subclass 400), Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482), Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417), or Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 494), make sure your dates and activities line up with your new application.

Use this checklist for consistency:

Build a complete 10-year timeline of addresses, employment, education, and travel before you start Form

1. Gaps are a common cause of processing delays.

If Home Affairs also asks for Form 1221, double-check every entry against Form

1. The information must be identical.

Endorsements and invitations (conditional)

Some 408 streams need a formal endorsement or official invitation.

If your stream requires Australian Government endorsement, provide:

• The official endorsement letter
• Any reference number or approval notice
• Clear identification of the endorsing authority

For community-based events, include:

• A formal invitation letter
• Event details (name, location, dates)
• Confirmation of your role or participation

Names, dates, and passport details must match your application exactly. Inconsistencies between your invitation and visa forms can trigger further review by Home Affairs.

Don’t submit informal emails if a formal letter is required. Provide complete documents upfront.

Background and travel evidence tips

Home Affairs uses Form 80 for detailed background checks. You need to provide a full and accurate history.

Steps:

1. List every address for the past 10 years.

2. Account for all employment and study periods.

3. Declare all international travel.

Use passport stamps, boarding passes, and booking records to confirm dates. If you don’t have exact dates, provide your best accurate estimate.

Declare all travel, even to sensitive or conflict-affected regions. Omitting travel causes more concern than declaring it.

Police certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date. If processing takes longer, Home Affairs may request a new certificate.

You pay a government filing fee, then wait for the Department of Home Affairs to assess your application. processing times depend on the stream and the documents you provide.

Filing fees

The Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) has a government application charge of A$430 for the primary applicant (as of July 2025).

This fee is paid to the Department of Home Affairs when you lodge your application. If you include family members, additional applicant charges may apply.

Fees can change. Confirm the current amount with Home Affairs before submitting your application.

If Home Affairs asks for Form Form 80 for character assessment, there’s no separate filing fee for that form. However, Form 80 can affect processing time, especially if your background requires detailed checks.

Other temporary work visas like the Training Visa (subclass 407), Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (subclass 400), or Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) have different fee structures. Don’t assume the 408 fee applies to those subclasses.

How to check processing times

Home Affairs provides a visa processing times guide. This tool shows how long recently decided applications have taken.

Steps:

1. Go to the Department of Home Affairs website.

2. Open the visa processing times guide.

3. Select the Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) from the dropdown list.

The tool gives timeframes based on recently finalized cases. These aren’t guaranteed.

Home Affairs also issues a quarterly report on visa processing priorities. This report shows which visa categories are being prioritized.

If your case involves Form 80 under a skilled category, published figures show processing around 13 months as of February 2026 under “Skilled (Permanent).” Processing times for Form 80 differ by category and location.

Typical processing ranges

Home Affairs doesn’t publish a fixed processing timeframe for the Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408). The processing times guide offers indicative ranges based on recent cases.

Several factors affect your timeline:

• Completeness of your application
• Whether Home Affairs requests more information
• Character and background checks, including Form 80 if required
• The specific 408 stream you apply under

If you’ve previously applied for visas like the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) or employer-sponsored visas such as the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 494), your immigration history may be reviewed. Incomplete disclosures can cause issues.

You can compare estimated timeframes across categories in the processing times guide, including subclasses 407, 400, and

1. Always check current figures with the Department of Home Affairs before planning travel or employment.

Some Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) applications seem simple but carry legal risk. You should get advice if your background, documents, or prior history could trigger refusal, delay, or extra scrutiny by Home Affairs.

When employer-handling may not be enough

An event organizer, sponsor, or employer may prepare documents for your subclass 408 visa. That support doesn’t protect you from personal disclosure errors.

You remain responsible for:

• Declaring all criminal charges, convictions, and pending matters
• Listing every country you’ve visited
• Completing forms fully in English
• Ensuring all information is accurate and consistent

If your employer suggests leaving out minor issues to “keep it simple,” get independent advice. Home Affairs treats nondisclosure more seriously than many underlying issues.

You should also seek guidance if you’re unsure whether the subclass 408 is the right visa. Sometimes, another visa better matches your activity:

Choosing the wrong visa can lead to refusal, even if your activity is genuine.

Complex evidence or background issues

Professional help is important if your history requires detailed explanation or careful documentation.

Common risk areas include:

• Gaps in employment or address history
• Travel to sensitive or conflict-affected regions
• Differences between Form Form 80 and Form 1221
• Long or complex international travel histories

Home Affairs checks travel, employment, and address history. Even small inconsistencies between Form 80 and Form 1221 can delay processing.

If you’ve lived abroad frequently, worked informally, or taken long breaks for caregiving or travel, you must account for every period over the last 10 years. Unexplained gaps can suspend processing.

Seek help if your supporting documents aren’t in English. The application must be completed in English, and certified translations are required for non‑English documents. Mistakes here can cause avoidable delays.

After refusals or serious inconsistencies

You should get legal advice if Home Affairs has refused your visa before or raised concerns about false or misleading information.

Situations needing professional review include:

1. Prior refusal for nondisclosure

2. Allegations of inconsistent information

3. Failure to declare criminal history

4. Omitted travel history

Providing incorrect or misleading information can lead to refusal, cancellation, and restrictions on future applications. A new application must address past issues with complete and consistent disclosures.

If your previous forms conflict with your current statements, you need to correct the record carefully. In these cases, professional guidance helps you present a complete and accurate application that meets Home Affairs requirements.