In order to work in Australia you must hold a visa that lawfully allows you to do so. Your nationality, the length of your intended stay in Australia and the conditions of any employment you may have arranged will determine which type of visa is most appropriate for you.

The visa information provided below should only be used as a guide. If a particular visa is appropriate for your circumstances, then we would encourage you to contact us for a complete and thorough assessment of your situation and visa eligibility.

• Working Holiday

  The subclass 417 visa is for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to three years. It is a temporary visa that encourages cultural exchange and closer ties between Australia and eligible countries.

  • What You Can Do

    This visa allows you to:

    • stay in Australia for up to 36 months over three different visas
    • work in Australia, generally for up to six months with each employer
    • study for up to four months
    • leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid

  • Specified Work

    You may be eligible for a:

    • Second Working Holiday (subclass 417) Visa - If you complete 3 months of "specified work" in regional Australia you can then qualify for a second subclass 417 visa. This second visa would be granted for a further 12 months.
    • Third Working Holiday (subclass 417) Visa - If you complete 6 months of "specified work" in regional Australia whilst holding your second working holiday visa you can then qualify for a third subclass 417 visa. This third visa would be granted for a further 12 months.
      
      Specified work is work that is undertaken in a "specified" field or industry in a designated regional area of Australia. Information on eligible regional areas and industries is provided on the Department of Home Affairs website.

  • Applicant Requirements

    You may be eligible for this visa if you:

    • have not previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday (Temporary) visa (subclass 462)
    • hold a valid passport from a country involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia
    • You must be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) - except for Canadian, French and Irish citizens who can be 18 to 35 years old (inclusive)
    • are a genuine visitor who wants to have a holiday in Australia
    • have enough money to support yourself on a working holiday (about AUD 5000)
    • have enough money to buy a return or onward travel ticket at the end of your stay
    • will not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay

  • Eligible Countries

    To apply for this visa, you must hold a valid passport from a country involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia. Eligible countries are:

    • Belgium
    • Canada
    • Republic of Cyprus
    • Denmark
    • Estonia
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
    • Republic of Ireland
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Republic of Korea
    • Malta
    • Netherlands
    • Norway
    • Sweden
    • Taiwan
    • United Kingdom

• Temporary Activity

  The Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa allows an applicant to do specific types of work on a short term, temporary basis. Depending on your reasons for visiting Australia you may apply for any of the following visas.

  Please be aware that in all instances your visa application will need to be sponsored by an Australian organisation that is an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor and has invited you to visit Australia.

  • Special Program - This visa lets you stay in Australia to take part in an approved special program. Special programs can include youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or "gap year school volunteering".

    Visa is valid for 12 months.

  • Religious Work - This visa lets you do full-time religious work for a religious institution in Australia. You and your family who apply for the visa can stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

    Visa is valid for 2 years.

  • Research Activities - This visa lets you observe or take part in a research project at a research or tertiary institution in Australia. You and your family who apply for the visa can stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

    Visa is valid for 2 years.

  • Invited for other Social & Cultural Activity (Invited Participant) - This visa lets you come to Australia if you are invited to participate in a community-based event, including sporting events. You and your family who travel on the visa can stay here for up to 3 months.

    Visa valid for up to 3 months.

  • Sporting Activities - This visa allows you to play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian team, or do high level sports training with a sporting organisation. You and your family can stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

    Visa valid for up to 2 years.

  • Entertainment Activities - This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to work in the entertainment industry on film, television or live productions as a performer, production or support staff. You can include family members in your visa application.

    Visa valid for up to 2 years.

  • Superyacht Crew - This visa lets you work in Australia as a crew member of a superyacht. You can stay here for up to 12 months.

    Visa valid for up to 12 months.

  • Exchange Arrangements - This visa lets you come to Australia as part of a staff exchange with an Australian organisation. You and your family members who travel here on the visa with you can stay for up to 2 years.

    Visa valid for up to 2 years.

  • Australian Government Endorsed Events - This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to participate in events which are endorsed by the Australian Government. You can include family members in your visa application.

    Visa will be valid for the duration of the event or up to 4 years if you are an organiser.

  • Domestic Work for Executives - This visa lets you come to Australia to do full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives. You and members of your family unit can stay here for up to 2 years.

    Visa valid for up to 2 years.

  • General Applicant Requirements

    You may be eligible for this visa if you:

    • are nominated by a Temporary Activities Sponsor (or by someone who has applied to be a Temporary Activities Sponsor)
    • have the experience or skills needed for the nominated position
    • have enough financial support for yourself and your family while you are in Australia
    • have health insurance for yourself and your family members who come with you
    • meet health and character requirements

    For this visa you must be sponsored and nominated for a specific position by an Activities Sponsor who is either:

    • an Australian organisation that is lawfully operating in Australia
    • a government agency
    • a foreign government agency
    • an eligible individual

  • Sponsor Requirements

    To sponsor someone for this visa you must be one of the following:

    • an Australian organisation that is lawfully established and operating in Australia, such as a business, a body corporate or an unincorporated body (other than an individual or a sole trader)
    • an agency of the Australian Government or an Australian state or territory government
    • a foreign government agency operating in Australia
    • an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen who is usually resident in Australia

    If you are an Australian organisation, you must be able to show that you have a good business record in Australia. This means:

    • unless it is reasonable to disregard the information, there must be nothing adverse known about you or a person associated with you that might affect your suitability as a sponsor
    • if you have previously sponsored overseas workers to Australia, you must have a satisfactory record of complying with your sponsorship obligations and with all Australian laws
    • the activities of your organisation or agency must not be illegal in Australia

    You must also be able to comply with your sponsorship obligations.

• Training Visa

  This subclass 407 training visa allows you to take part in workplace-based occupational training activities to improve your skills for your job, area of tertiary study, field of expertise or in a professional development training program in Australia.

  Nomination requirements are different depending on the purpose or type of training.

  There are 3 types of occupational training covered by this visa:

  • Occupational training required for registration - Workplace-based training is required to get occupational registration, membership or licensing. The registration, membership or licensing is mandatory to work in that occupation in Australia or your home country.
  • Occupational training to improve skills in an eligible occupation - Workplace-based structured training programs that:
    • is specifically tailored and timed to the training needs of the nominated person
    • is in relation to an occupation specified on the list of eligible skilled occupations
    • involves a nominee who has recent and suitable prior experience. This can include employment experience or study experience that:
      • is the equivalent of at least 12 months full-time experience in the occupation
      • has occurred in the 24 months immediately before the nomination is lodged
  • Occupational training for capacity building overseas - This includes overseas qualification, government support or professional. Occupational training for capacity building overseas includes:
    • Overseas qualification - Structured workplace-based training in Australia for up to 6 months for students who:
      • are currently enrolled in a foreign educational institution and
      • must complete a period of practical training, research or observation to get their qualification
      • The training must be specifically tailored to the training needs of the nominated person.
    • Government support - Structured workplace-based occupational training which has:
      • the support of a government agency in Australia or
      • the government in the home country of the nominated trainee
      • Government agency support in Australia must be at the national or state/territory level.
      • Government in the nominated person’s home country must be at the national, state/territory or provincial level.
      • The training must be specifically tailored and timed to the training needs of the nominated person.
    • Professional development - Professional development programs of face-to-face teaching in a classroom or similar environment in Australia. It is for overseas employers to send their managerial or professional employees.
      
      Nomination is the stage where the sponsor provides details about the nominee (intended trainee), the purpose or type of training and how and where the training will be provided.

  • What You Can Do

    This visa allows you to:

    • enter Australia at any time after your visa is granted, if you are outside Australia at the time of visa grant
    • stay in Australia for the duration of the training, research position or program
    • do the training or activity specified in your visa application
    • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want until you have finished participating in the program or your visa expires, whichever occurs first

  • Applicant Requirements

    You may be eligible for this visa if you:

    • are sponsored by an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor
    • meet the requirements of the visa for the stream in which you are applying
    • have a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia
    • have adequate financial support for yourself and accompanying family members while in Australia
    • have adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia
    • meet health and character requirements
    • are at least 18 years of age (except in limited circumstances)

  • Sponsor Requirements

    Temporary Activities Sponsor must be one of the following:

    • an Australian organisation lawfully operating in Australia, or
    • a foreign government agency, or
    • a government agency that is either:
      • intending to engage in occupational training, or
      • a tertiary or research institution
    • be lawfully operating in Australia (Australian and foreign government agencies do not have to prove this)
    • have a good business record and abide by Australian laws
    • have the capacity to comply with your sponsorship obligations
    • there must be nothing adverse known about you or a person associated with you that could affect your suitability as a sponsor, unless it is reasonable to disregard the information