Australia Temporary Activity visa - Staff Exchange Arrangements (Subclass 408)
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.
- Route type
- Cultural, religious & volunteer
- Can bring
- dependants, children from the official record
- Requirements
- 9 each quoted below
Who this route is for
Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.
9 requirements quoted from the official source.
- Approved Host Required
You don't need a sponsor to apply for this visa if you apply outside Australia and intend to stay in Australia for less than 3 months. However, you must have a supporter who passes the support test to apply for this visa.
- Australian Government Debt Cleared
If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.
- Benefit From The Exchange
The exchange arrangement must benefit both you and the Australian citizen or permanent resident taking part.
- Best Interests Of The Child
We might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
- Character and security
You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.
- Have The Necessary Skills And Experience For The Position
You must have the necessary skills or experience to perform the skilled position set out in the exchange agreement.
- Medical screening
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.
- Take Part In A Reciprocal Staff Exchange
You must intend to work in a skilled position as part of a reciprocal staff exchange arrangement with an eligible organisation in Australia.
Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.
- Health-insurance requirement
You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa.
- Dependent-family rights
You must have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Australia and any dependent family members who travel to Australia with you.
- Eligibility summary
You don't need a sponsor to apply for this visa if you apply outside Australia and intend to stay in Australia for less than 3 months. However, you must have a supporter who passes the support test to apply for this visa.
- Have Consent To Be Granted The Visa
We will only grant this visa to a child younger than 18 years if everyone who has parental responsibility for them has consented to us granting it.
- Have This Visa
If you are in Australia, you can only apply for this visa if you currently hold a substantive visa.
- Official source basis
You don't need a sponsor to apply for this visa if you apply outside Australia and intend to stay in Australia for less than 3 months. However, you must have a supporter who passes the support test to apply for this visa.
- Report summary
You don't need a sponsor to apply for this visa if you apply outside Australia and intend to stay in Australia for less than 3 months. However, you must have a supporter who passes the support test to apply for this visa.
Who you can bring
- Dependent-family rights
You must have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Australia and any dependent family members who travel to Australia with you.
What the source prices
- Government fee
From AUD535.00
checked 2026-07-26
From here to a yes
Straight answers
01Who qualifies for the Subclass 408 to Australia?
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.
02Can I bring my family?
03Do I need health insurance?
You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa.
Every answer is quoted from the official immi.homeaffairs.gov.au page for this route, last read 2026-07-26.
We checked 16 points against the official source; 16 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.
See the 0 open points
Validity and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.
Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.
Where every quote comes from
Official government source immi.homeaffairs.gov.auLast read 2026-07-26 Every quote on this page is from this Australia government page.Other cultural, religious & volunteer routes to Australia
3 other cultural, religious & volunteer routes to Australia.
Cultural, religious & volunteer routes in other countries
128 other countries publish at least one cultural, religious & volunteer route. Nearest first.
Does the Subclass 408 fit your numbers?
That depends on your income, savings and family — the parts of the story only you know. The free 3-minute check scores your profile against every Australia route at once, this one included. Then the full Australia report takes you the rest of the way.
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