CHANGES TO THE TEMPORARY WORK (SHORT STAY) VISA SYSTEM
CHANGES TO THE TEMPORARY WORK (SHORT STAY) VISA SYSTEM
CHANGES TO THE TEMPORARY WORK (SHORT STAY) VISA SYSTEM
From 19 November 2016, the Australian Government will introduce a new temporary activity visa framework.
There will be four visa subclasses for Temporary Work (Short Stay) visas. These include:
- Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa;
- Subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa;
- Subclass 407 Training visa; and
- Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa.
At present, there are seven different visa types for Temporary Activity in Australia. These seven will now be condensed into the four subclasses noted above.
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) (Subclass 400)
This visa will encompass the current streams for the subclass 400, being highly specialised work and Australia’s interest. Originally utilising three different streams, including the Highly Specialised, Australia’s Interest and the Invited Participant, the Invited Participant stream will now be applicable through the new subclass 408 visa.
The subclass 400 will be specifically for visa applicants who are undertaking short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work and in limited circumstances, participate in an activity or work relating to Australia’s interest.
Temporary Work (International Relations) (Subclass 403)
The subclass 403 will now condense the International Relations (Subclass 403) and Special Programme (Subclass 416) visas. Not including the Special Programme Agreement stream in the Subclass 416, all relevant visa applicants will now apply for the Subclass 403.
This visa is for people who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis in relation to a bilateral agreement, representing a foreign government, undertaking full time domestic work for a diplomat, as a person with statutory privileges and immunities and to participate in the Seasonal Worker Programme.
Training Visa (Subclass 407)
This visa will overtake and minimise the Training & Research (Subclass 402) visa. It will remain to include the professional development and occupational trainee streams but will no longer encompass the research stream. This stream will subsequently be included the subclass 408.
This visa is available to eligible applicants who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis to undertake occupational training or participate in classroom based professional development activities.
Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408)
The creation of this visa subclass is the main and most substantial change in the Temporary visa framework.
The subclass 408 will now encompass the Temporary Work (Subclass 401), Entertainment (Subclass 420) and Superyacht Crew (Subclass 488). Most other previous Temporary Visa (Short Stay) subclasses have been stripped of one stream and subsequently included in the subclass 408.
This visa is now suitable for applicants who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis to:
- Work in the entertainment industry
- Participate in non-ongoing cultural or social activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation
- Observe or participate as an academic in a research project
- Undertake full time religious work
- Participate in a special programme to enhance international relations and cultural exchange
- Participate in high-level sports (including training)
- Work in a skilled position under a staff exchange arrangement
- Participate in an Australian government endorsed event
- Work as a superyacht crew member
- Undertake full time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives.
If you have an individual in mind that you require on a temporary basis and would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact our office
