Overview
The temporary international subclass 403 visa has 6 streams:
- the Government Agreement Stream,
- Foreign Government Agency Stream,
- Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream,
- Privileges and Immunities Stream,
- Seasonal Worker Program Stream
- and the Pacific Labour Stream
The Government Agreement Stream
Am I eligible for the 403 Visa under the Government Agreement Stream?
How much does the 403 Visa cost?
How long can you stay on the 403 Visa under the Government Agreement Stream?
What is the processing time for the 403 Visa under the Government Agreement Stream?
What are my obligations on the 403 Visa under the Government Agreement Stream?
Health insurance on the 403 Visa
The Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) under the Government Agency Stream is designed for applicants who are engaged under the terms of a bilateral agreement between The Australia Government and the government of another country to work in Australia. This visa allows you to re-enter Australia as many times as you’d like throughout the duration of your visa and include immediate family members in your application.
Eligibility
- Be engaged under a bilateral agreement between The Australia Government or an Australian state or territory government and the government of another country and be able to provide a letter of support identifying you and outlining the work you’ll be doing, that you meet the terms and conditions of the bilateral agreement, how long you are requesting to stay, that an Australian signatory and the other signatory have been consulted on your stay and support it, That the Australian signatory confirms your employment will follow Australian labour laws and agrees with your stay
- Have the support of the Australian signatory and other signatory in the agreement (you don’t need a sponsor for this visa stream)
- That you have genuine intention to meet all terms and conditions in the bilateral agreement
- If you are in Australia when you apply for the subclass 403 visa; hold or have held in the last 28 days a temporary substantiative visa
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have the financial means to enter Australia, support yourself while onshore and leave Australia at the end of your stay
- Have re-paid or have a formal arrangement to re-pay any debt you or any family members have to the Australian Government
- Not have had any visa previously cancelled or application refused
- Be a genuine visitor, this means you only intend to stay in Australia for the duration of your visa outlined in your visa grant letter, do the work or activity specified in your visa application and letter of support and will obey any conditions attached to your visa
Note: the Temporary Visa you entered Australia on cannot be a Transit Visa (Subclass 177), a Bridging Visa, a Special Purpose Visa, a Subclass 403 visa in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream, a Criminal Justice or Enforcement Visa
Stay
This is a temporary visa; the length of time you can stay your visa is valid for will be outlined in your visa grant letter, this can be up to 2 years.
Note: you cannot extend this visa to stay longer but if eligible you can apply for another Subclass 403 Visa under the government agreement stream.
Obligations
While you hold the Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) under the Government Agreement Stream you must:
- You must obey Australian laws and meet all visa conditions
- Enter and exit Australia on the specified dates outlined on your visa grant letter. These are determined by The Department of Home Affairs
- Inform the department if anything changes. This includes changes to your relationship status, the birth of a child (or stepchild) and any changes to personal details such as phone number, address or passport.
Health insurance
It is important you arrange to have health insurance when travelling as you are personally liable for any medical expenses including unforeseen circumstances. See more on health insurance for overseas visitors.
Foreign Government Agency Stream
Am I eligible for the 403 Visa under the Foreign Government Agency Stream?
How much does the 403 Visa cost?
How long can you stay on the 403 Visa under the Foreign Government Agency Stream?
What is the processing time for the 403 Visa under the Foreign Government Agency Stream?
What are my obligations on the 403 Visa under the Foreign Government Agency Stream?
Health insurance on the 403 visa
the Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) under the Foreign Government Agency Stream allows you to come to Australia temporarily for certain activities, including being employed by a foreign government to be in Australia as a representative of a foreign government agency who will not be given official status in Australia by The Department of Home Affairs or as a foreign language teacher in an Australian school. This visa allows you to re-enter Australia as many times as you’d like throughout the duration of your visa and apply for subsequent entrant visas for your immediate family members.
Applicants’ employment must be beneficial to Australia and not contribute to disadvantage of Australian residents. Your work must contribute to one of the following expansions of local business and export activity, generating employment or training opportunity for Australians, maintenance of good international trade relations or the introduction to Australia of new skills or technology
Eligibility
- Have a letter of support from a foreign government agency, ministry mission or international organisation employing you
- If you are applying under this stream as a foreign language teacher, you must include a letter of support from the Australian school or state/territory education authority
- If you are applying onshore you must hold or have held in the last 12 months a temporary substantive visa
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have the financial means to enter Australia, support yourself while onshore and leave Australia at the end of your stay
- Have re-paid or have a formal arrangement to re-pay any debt you or any family members have to the Australian Government
- Not have had any visa previously cancelled or application refused
- Be a genuine visitor, this means you only intend to stay in Australia for the duration of your visa outlined in your visa grant letter, do the work or activity specified in your visa application and letter of support and will obey any conditions attached to your visa
Note: the Temporary Visa you entered Australia on cannot be a Transit Visa (Subclass 177), a Bridging Visa, a Special Purpose Visa, a Subclass 403 visa in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream, a Criminal Justice or Enforcement Visa
Stay
This is a temporary visa; the length of time you can stay your visa is valid for will be outlined in your visa grant letter, this can be up to 4 years.
Obligations
While you hold the Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) under the Foreign Government Agency Stream you must:
- You must obey Australian laws and meet all visa conditions
- Enter and exit Australia on the specified dates outlined on your visa grant letter. These are determined by The Department of Home Affairs
- Inform the department if anything changes. This includes changes to your relationship status, the birth of a child (or stepchild) and any changes to personal details such as phone number, address or passport.
Health insurance
It is important you arrange to have health insurance when travelling as you are personally liable for any medical expenses including unforeseen circumstances. See more on health insurance for overseas visitors.
Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream
Am I eligible for the 403 Visa under the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream?
How much does the 403 Visa cost?
How long can you stay on the 403 Visa under the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream?
What are my obligations on the 403 Visa under the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream?
Health insurance on the 403 Visa
The Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa Subclass 403 under the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream allows applicants to do temporary work in Australia in the household of someone holding a Diplomatic (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 995). This visa allows you to re-enter Australia as many times as you’d like throughout the duration of your visa and apply for subsequent domestic worker visas on or offshore.
Eligibility
- Be 18 and over
- Have support from The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Have work in Australia as a full-time domestic worker in the Australian household of someone holding a Diplomatic (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 995)
- Have an employment contract that meets Australian Workplace Laws
- Have the financial means to enter Australia, support yourself while onshore and leave Australia at the end of your stay
- You must have an interview with the department of home affairs, if you are applying from outside Australia this must be at your closest Australian Mission office, if you are applying within Australia this interview will be in your nearest Department of Home Affairs office. This interview is to confirm your identity, employment details and validate any required documentation
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have re-paid or have a formal arrangement to re-pay any debt you or any family members have to the Australian Government
- Not have had any visa previously cancelled or application refused
- Be a genuine visitor, this means you only intend to stay in Australia for the duration of your visa outlined in your visa grant letter, do the work or activity specified in your visa application and letter of support and will obey any conditions attached to your visa
Stay
This is a temporary visa – the first stay under this visa is usually valid for 12 months, further stay is dependent on the stay of your employers’ posting to Australia.
Note: You can stay until the date specified on your visa grant letter from The Department of Home Affairs
Obligations
While you hold the Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa Subclass 403 under the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream you must:
- You must obey Australian laws and meet all visa conditions
- Enter and exit Australia on the specified dates outlined on your visa grant letter. These are determined by The Department of Home Affairs
- Inform the department if anything changes. This includes changes to your relationship status, the birth of a child (or stepchild) and any changes to personal details such as phone number, address or passport.
Health insurance
It is important you arrange to have health insurance when travelling as you are personally liable for any medical expenses including unforeseen circumstances. See more on health insurance for overseas visitors.
Privileges and Immunities Stream
Am I eligible for the 403 Visa under the Privileges and Immunities Stream?
How much does the 403 Visa cost?
How long can you stay on the 403 Visa under the Privileges and Immunities Stream?
What is the processing time for the 403 Visa under the Privileges and Immunities Stream?
What are my obligations on the 403 Visa under the Privileges and Immunities Stream?
Health insurance on the 403 Visa
The Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) under the Privileges and Immunities Stream allows you to enter Australia if you have or expect to have privileges and immunities under relevant legislation. This visa is valid while you are working as an international representative, and it allows you to re-enter Australia as many times as you’d like throughout the duration of your visa
Eligibility
- Have or expect to have privileges under the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963 or the Overseas Missions (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1995
- Have a letter of support from The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
- Have the financial means to enter Australia, support yourself while onshore and leave Australia at the end of your stay
- Continue to be employed by either the employer you were granted the visa to be employed by or in a position that has relevant legislation.
- If you are applying onshore you must hold or have held in the last 12 months a temporary substantive visa
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have re-paid or have a formal arrangement to re-pay any debt you or any family members have to the Australian Government
- Not have had any visa previously cancelled or application refused
- Be a genuine visitor, this means you only intend to stay in Australia for the duration of your visa outlined in your visa grant letter, do the work or activity specified in your visa application and letter of support and will obey any conditions attached to your visa
Note: the Temporary Visa you entered Australia on cannot be a Transit Visa (Subclass 177), a Bridging Visa, a Special Purpose Visa, a Subclass 403 visa in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream, a Criminal Justice or Enforcement Visa
Stay
This is a temporary visa; the length of time your visa is valid for will be outlined in your visa grant letter. This is usually the duration of your role as an international representative with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Obligations
While you hold the Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) under the Privileges and Immunities Stream you must:
- You must obey Australian laws and meet all visa conditions
- You must undertake the work outlined in your application once you have obtained this visa
- Enter and exit Australia on the specified dates outlined on your visa grant letter. These are determined by The Department of Home Affairs
- Inform the department if anything changes. This includes changes to your relationship status, the birth of a child (or stepchild) and any changes to personal details such as phone number, address or passport.
Health insurance
It is important you arrange to have health insurance when travelling as you are personally liable for any medical expenses including unforeseen circumstances. See more on health insurance for overseas visitors.
Pacific Labour Stream
Am I eligible for the 403 Visa under the Pacific Labour Stream?
How much does the 403 Visa cost?
How long can you stay on the 403 Visa under the Pacific Labour Stream?
What is the processing time for the 403 Visa under the Pacific Labour Stream?
What are my obligations on the 403 Visa under the Pacific Labour Stream?
Health insurance on the 403 Visa
The Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) under the Pacific Labour Stream allows you to work in Australia under a temporary activities sponsor who is endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Eligibility
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Be a citizen of a specified pacific island nation
- Be endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Be sponsored by an employer who is an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor and is endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have re-paid or have a formal arrangement to re-pay any debt you or any family members have to the Australian Government
- Not have had any visa previously cancelled or application refused
- Be a genuine visitor, this means you only intend to stay in Australia for the duration of your visa outlined in your visa grant letter, do the work or activity specified in your visa application and letter of support and will obey any conditions attached to your visa
Stay
This is a temporary visa, the amount of time you will be able to stay is outlined in your visa grant letter. Length of stay on this visa can be up to 3 years.
Obligations
While you hold the Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403) under the Pacific Labour Stream you must:
- You must obey Australian laws and meet all visa conditions
- Enter and exit Australia on the specified dates outlined on your visa grant letter. These are determined by The Department of Home Affairs
- Inform the department if anything changes. This includes changes to your relationship status, the birth of a child (or stepchild) and any changes to personal details such as phone number, address or passport.
Health insurance
It is important you arrange to have health insurance when travelling as you are personally liable for any medical expenses including unforeseen circumstances. See more on health insurance for overseas visitors.
