Work Visas
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.
The subclass 417 visa is for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year. 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 12 months
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
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
have turned 18 years of age but have not yet turned 31
are a genuine visitor who wants to have a holiday in Australia
have enough money to support yourself on a working holiday (about 5000 AUD)
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:
The subclass 420 visa allows you to work in the Australian entertainment industry. You can work in film, television, or live productions in either a performance or behind-the-scenes role, such as directing, producing, and other production roles.
What You Can Do
This visa allows you to work in the entertainment industry:
as a performer in a theatre, film, television or radio production, or a concert or recording
to support an entertainer or group of entertainers about a performing contract
to work in a production role other than as a performer in a theatre, film, television, or radio production, or a concert or recording, to be performed or shown in Australia (for example, directing or producing)
to make a documentary or a commercial
You can:
stay in Australia for the period of the nominated position, with a maximum stay of two years
do the work or activity specified in your nomination
bring eligible family members with you to Australia
enter and leave Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid
Applicant Requirements
You may be eligible for this visa if you:
work in the entertainment industry
are nominated by an approved entertainment sponsor (or by someone who has applied to be an entertainment 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 entertainment sponsor who is either:
an Australian organization 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 organization 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 organization, you must be able to show that you have a good business record in Australia. This means:
There must be nothing adverse known about you or a person associated with you that might affect your suitability as a sponsor unless it is reasonable to disregard the information
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 organization or agency must not be illegal in Australia
You must also be able to comply with your sponsorship obligations.
The subclass 401 visa is for people who want to come to Australia temporarily to participate in a staff exchange arrangement, or to undertake ongoing sporting activities or religious work.
This visa has four streams:
Exchange stream: to work in a skilled position under a reciprocal staff exchange arrangement to:
allow participants to experience another culture
enhance international relations
broaden participants’ experience and knowledge
Sport stream: to improve the quality of sport in Australia through participation in the high-level competition with Australian residents to:
participate in a specific event or series of events as an individual or as part of a team or its support staff
play, coach, or instruct for a sporting club for a season under contract
judge or adjudicate a sporting competition or show
Religious Worker stream: to be a full-time religious worker, serving the religious objectives of a religious institution in Australia
Domestic Worker (Executive) stream: to work full time in the household of certain senior foreign executives
What You Can Do
This visa allows you to:
stay in Australia for the period of the nominated position, with a maximum stay of two years
do the work or activity specified in your nomination
bring eligible family members with you to Australia
enter and leave Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid
Temporary residents are generally not able to extend their stay in Australia beyond four years by applying for this visa.
Applicant Requirements
You may be eligible for this visa if:
you are sponsored and nominated by an approved sponsor for this visa
you have adequate financial support for you and your family while you are in Australia
you have adequate arrangements for health insurance while you are in Australia
you meet health and character requirements
you meet the requirements of the stream in which you are applying for this visa
you genuinely intend to remain temporarily in Australia to do the work or activity specified in the nomination
Sponsor Requirements
You can sponsor someone for this visa if you are:
Exchange stream: an Australian organization that is lawfully operating in Australia, a government agency, or a foreign government agency operating in Australia with an agreement in place with an overseas organization for the exchange of staff
Sport stream: a sporting organization that is lawfully operating in Australia
Religious Worker stream: a religious institution that is lawfully operating in Australia and endorsed as a charity by the Australian Tax Office
Domestic Worker (Executive) stream:
a foreign government agency that is the employer of the holder of a Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) in the Privileges and Immunities stream who is the national managing director, deputy national managing director, or state manager of an Australian office of the agency
a foreign organization that is lawfully operating in Australia and is the employer of the holder of a Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) who is the national managing director, deputy national managing director, or state manager of an Australian office of the organization
You must also show that you:
have a good business record and abide by Australian laws
have the capacity to comply with the sponsorship obligations
The subclass 402 visa is for people who want to come to Australia temporarily to participate in occupational training, observe or participate in research as a visiting academic, or participate in a professional development program.
This visa has three streams:
Occupational Trainee stream: for people who need structured workplace-based training to enhance their skills in their current occupation, area of tertiary study, or field of expertise.
Research stream: for professional academics invited to visit Australia to observe or participate in an Australian research project at an Australian tertiary or research institution.
Professional Development stream: for professionals, managers, or government officials invited to participate in a professional development training program in Australia. The program must have been arranged by an employer outside Australia and usually lasts up to 18 months.
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 one of the following:
a training and research sponsor who has lodged their sponsorship application or had it approved
an approved professional development sponsor
an approved visiting academic sponsor or occupational trainee sponsor (for sponsorship applications lodged before 24 November 2012)
Also, you must:
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
be at least 18 years of age (except in limited circumstances)
Sponsor Requirements
Training and Research Sponsor must be one of the following:
an Australian organization 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
Also, it must:
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
and:
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
Professional Development Sponsor must be an organization that is one of the following:
an Australian organization that has operated in Australia continuously for one year immediately before applying to be a sponsor
an Australian organization approved by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
an Australian government agency
It must:
be lawfully operating in Australia (Australian government agencies do not have to prove this)
have a good business record and abide by Australian laws
develop a professional development program that meets the specific criteria required for the Training and Research visa and the needs of participants from outside Australia, and have it approved by the department
have an acceptable professional development agreement with an eligible overseas employer to conduct the professional development program
have the capacity to conduct the professional development program
have the capacity to meet your financial commitments and have paid the security bond (if requested)
have the capacity to comply with your sponsorship obligations
and:
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