Subclass 408 visa document checklist (Temporary Activity)

The Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) lets a person come to Australia to do specific types of work or activity on a short-term, temporary basis, supported or sponsored by an Australian organisation. Each stream has its own requirements, and this list covers what most streams share. This checklist is a starting point as at November 2026; confirm each item on the Home Affairs subclass 408 page and the page for the applicant's stream before lodging.

Streams

• Australian Government endorsed events
• Domestic work for executives: full-time domestic work in the household of the head of a foreign government agency or foreign organisation in Australia
• Entertainment activities: entertainers and performers working in the Australian entertainment industry, production crew, and media covering an event for an Australian audience
• Exchange arrangements: staff exchanges between organisations
• Invited for other social and cultural activity: invited to a community-based event, such as a sporting, religious, artistic or academic event or a conference
• Religious work: full-time religious work
• Research activities: observing or taking part in research at an Australian research or tertiary institution
• Special program: youth exchanges, school interchange and language assistant programs, and other approved programs
• Sporting activities: players and coaches contracted to Australian teams, and sports trainees in high-level structured programs
• Superyacht crew

The Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) stream has been repealed.

Key numbers (as at November 2026)

• Stay: depends on the stream and the activity. The Invited for other social and cultural activity stream allows up to 3 months.
• Sponsor or supporter: an applicant outside Australia who intends to stay less than 3 months needs a supporter; an applicant in Australia needs an approved temporary activities sponsor.

Documents from the sponsor or supporter

• Sponsor: evidence that the sponsor is, or has applied to be, an approved temporary activities sponsor, is lawfully operating in Australia, and will meet its obligations to the applicant and family; the sponsor's letter of invitation
• Supporter: evidence that the supporter is directly responsible for the event, or has a formal role in preparing or running it; the supporter's letter of support
• Research stream: evidence that the sponsor or supporter is a research or tertiary institution lawfully operating in Australia

Documents from the applicant

• Identity: passport bio page and national identity card, if any; evidence of any change of name
• Background: evidence the applicant has the skills for the activity, as the stream requires
• Researcher: evidence of current or previous academic employment, a statement from the home institution acknowledging the invitation, a resume and a list of published work
• Research student or recent graduate: evidence of enrolment at a foreign institution, or graduation in the last 12 months, and that the research relates to the field of study or is a course requirement
• Funds: an employment contract, bank statements or a letter from the bank. Allowances, accommodation and other help from the employer can count.
• Health insurance: adequate health insurance for the whole stay
• Character: Police certificates, when Home Affairs asks for them
• Health: Health examinations, when Home Affairs asks for them
• Family members: identity and relationship evidence for each family member included, and consent from everyone with parental responsibility for a child under 18

Collect it with Immiluma

Each stream needs a slightly different list, so build one visa template in Immiluma per stream you handle, or ask the assistant to draft it from this page. The matter sends the list to the client's portal, the client uploads against each item, and you review each document beside it, with the sponsor's or supporter's letter on the same matter. See all visa checklists.