Athletes, performers,crews and specialists:the visa built forthe event.
The subclass 408 brings people to Australia for a defined activity: a tournament, a tour, a production, a research project, a religious posting. It is cheap, fast when the paperwork is right, and refused when the sponsor or the invitation is thin. With the Rugby World Cup in 2027 and Brisbane 2032 ahead, it is the visa event organisers will lodge most.
Government charges, subclass 408
- Visa application charge, main applicantmost streams$535
- Each adult dependant$535
- Each child under 18$135
- Subsequent temporary application chargeif you apply from inside Australia$700
- Temporary activities sponsorshipwhere a sponsor is required, once$420
As at 1 July 2026. Australian Government Endorsed Events stream applicants pay no charge in some cases. Our professional fee is fixed and quoted in writing.
A short-term visa for a specific activity, not a job.
The subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa lets a person come to Australia for up to two years, or four years for endorsed events, to take part in a defined activity such as sport, entertainment, research, religious work or a special program. The main applicant charge is $535 and most streams need an approved temporary activities sponsor or a formal invitation.
Verified as at 1 July 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs subclass 408 page and Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
Do I qualify? A 30-second check
Answer the questions to see where you stand.
A guide only, not legal advice. The consultation is where the real answer comes from.
One visa, ten streams. Four of them carry major events.
The stream sets who must sponsor you, how long you can stay and what evidence the Department expects. Choosing the wrong one is the most common reason a 408 is refused.
Australia's major events to 2032
- 01
Sporting Activities
Players, coaches, officials, judges and support staff taking part in competition or high-level training. The Australian sporting body or club sponsors. Used for tours, tournaments and pre-season camps.
- 02
Entertainment Activities
Performers, production crews, directors and support staff for film, television, concerts, theatre and festivals. Sponsored by the Australian producer or promoter, with industry consultation for some productions.
- 03
Australian Government Endorsed Events
Participants in events the Australian Government has endorsed, such as the Rugby World Cup 2027 and Brisbane 2032. Stays of up to four years, no sponsor needed where the event organiser supports the application.
- 04
Invited Participant
People invited by an Australian organisation for a social or cultural activity such as a conference performance, a residency or an exhibition. Invitation replaces sponsorship for stays of three months or less.
- 05
Research, Religious Work, Staff Exchange, Special Program
Academic research at an Australian institution, ministers of religion, reciprocal staff exchanges and approved special programs such as youth exchanges. Each has its own sponsor rules.
Sponsor, nominate where required, then apply.
For most streams the Australian organisation must be approved as a temporary activities sponsor before the visa can be lodged. That approval takes time and it is where event timelines slip.
Sponsorship approval
The Australian club, producer, institution or organiser applies to become a temporary activities sponsor. Lawful operation, a genuine activity and no adverse information. Valid for five years, so an organiser running several events applies once.
Invitation or nomination
Depending on the stream, the sponsor nominates the activity or issues a formal invitation naming the person, the dates, the role and who pays. Vague letters are the second most common refusal reason.
Visa application
Lodged online with identity, health where required, character, health insurance and the invitation or nomination. Applicants inside Australia pay the $700 subsequent charge and must hold a substantive visa without condition 8503.
Grant and conditions
Work only in the sponsored activity, keep health insurance, tell the Department of changes. Family members can be included and can usually work.
Where the 408 stops and other visas start.
Event work sits on the border of four visas. This is how we choose.
| Situation | Usual visa | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Playing, performing or officiating at a defined event | 408 | Built for it, $535 charge, sponsor or invitation |
| Highly specialised work for under three months, no sponsor | 400 | Short Stay Specialist, $535 charge, employer letter instead of sponsorship |
| Attending, watching or negotiating for under three months | 600 Business Visitor, ETA or eVisitor | No work permitted; $250 or free for ETA and eVisitor nationals |
| Ongoing employment in a skilled role | 482 | Sponsored employment, $4,015 charge, path to the 186 |
| Elite coach, sports scientist or performer of international standing settling in Australia | 858 National Innovation visa | Permanent, $6,235 charge, nominator required |
Charges as at 1 July 2026. The right visa depends on who pays, how long the activity runs and whether work is involved.
What a 408 costs the applicant and the sponsor.
Government charges only. Health insurance, police clearances and our fixed professional fee are additional.
As at 1 July 2026. A team of twenty players is twenty main applicant charges under one sponsorship.
Subclass 408, answered plainly.
How long can I stay on a 408 visa?
Up to two years for most streams, set by the length of the activity and the sponsor's request. The Australian Government Endorsed Events stream allows up to four years. Invited Participant applications without a sponsor are limited to three months.
Do I need a sponsor for a 408 visa?
Usually yes. Sporting, entertainment, research, religious and staff exchange streams need an approved temporary activities sponsor. For stays of three months or less an Australian organisation can issue a formal invitation instead, and endorsed events are supported by the organiser.
Can a whole team or cast apply together?
Each person lodges their own application, but one sponsorship and one nomination can cover a group. We prepare the sponsor side once and the individual applications in a batch, which is how tournament squads and touring productions are handled.
Can I work outside the activity on a 408?
No. Work is limited to the sponsored or invited activity. Family members included in the application generally have unrestricted work rights. Breaching the work condition can lead to cancellation and affect future visas.
How early should an event organiser start?
Sponsorship approval, nominations and visas each have their own processing. For a tournament or tour, start six to nine months out. For the Rugby World Cup in 1 October to 13 November 2027 and Brisbane 2032 that means planning in the year before the event.
What if the 408 is refused?
Most refusals can be reviewed at the Administrative Review Tribunal within strict time limits if the applicant is in Australia, for a fee of $3,727. Offshore refusals usually mean fixing the sponsorship or invitation and lodging again.
Where this visa connects.
- 400Open
Short Stay Specialist visa
Highly specialised work for up to three months without a sponsor.
- 600Open
Visitor visa
Business visitors, fans and family for the event, no work.
- 858Open
National Innovation visa
Permanent residence for people of international standing in sport, the arts and research.
- EventsOpen
Australia's major events to 2032
Rugby World Cup 2027, Netball World Cup 2027, T20 World Cup 2028, Brisbane 2032 and the visas each needs.
Articles on this visa
- Netball World Cup Sydney 2027: The 408 Visa for Squads and Officials, and When an Invitation Beats a Sponsorship
- Brisbane 2032 for Elite Coaches, Sports Scientists and Performers: The 408 Now, the National Innovation Visa Later
- T20 World Cup 2028: Two Countries, Four Visa Groups, and Why a Commentator Is Not a Player
- Rugby World Cup 2027: The Visa Timeline for Teams, Staff and Broadcasters
Running an event, a tour or a production?
One consultation maps every person you are bringing to the right stream, sets the sponsorship timeline and gives you a fixed fee for the whole group.