This visa program is tailored for businesses facing challenges in locating specialized workers within Australia, particularly when there is an urgent need to fill short-term contracts or projects. It aims to facilitate the recruitment of overseas workers who possess unique skills, extensive knowledge, or specific experience that is not widely available in the Australian labour market.

You can invite a highly specialized overseas worker for a duration of up to six months without requiring them to take an English test and once onshore, you have the option to extend your stay by applying for a different sponsored work visa program, such as the 482 or the 186 Direct Entry visa. The average processing timeframe for this visa option is about four weeks, and its cost is typically much lower compared to other sponsored visa programs.

To invite an overseas worker under this visa program, you must provide evidence that you have tested the Australian labour market and were unable to find the necessary skills and that the work assignment will be short-term and not ongoing in addition to being able to offer the average salary rate for the position.

For further information on how to invite an overseas worker to fill a short-term specialist role within your organization feel free to contact us for a complimentary advice

To sponsor overseas workers under the Training Visa Subclass 407, your business must first obtain approval as a Temporary Activity Sponsor, which differs from the standard 482 or 494 sponsorship agreements.

To be approved as a temporary activities sponsor you must be either be:

• an Australian organisation lawfully established and operating in Australia such as a company, body corporate, partnership, non-profit organisation or an unincorporated body (other than an individual, sole proprietor or sole trader) or
• an Australian Commonwealth, state or territory government agency or
• a foreign government agency lawfully operating in Australia, such as a consular or diplomatic mission, foreign tourist or media bureau, trade office or other foreign national government entity or
• an international organisation recognised by Australia and lawfully operating in Australia, such as the United Nations or
• an organisation that operates a superyacht, or the owner or captain of a superyacht or
• a sporting organisation lawfully operating in Australia or
• a religious institution lawfully operating in Australia.

This visa program is therefore designed to sponsor overseas workers to come to Australia temporarily (up to two years) to participate in professional development or occupational training for occupations under the Skilled Occupation List. The training can be aimed at enhancing skills in an existing occupation, area of study, or field of expertise, and this visa includes three categories of occupational training:

1. Occupational training required for registration
2. Occupational training to improve skills in an eligible occupation
3. Occupational training for capacity building overseas. This includes overseas qualification, government support or professional.

You are required to provide the occupational training directly, unless you are an Australian Commonwealth Government agency or qualify for an exemption. Additionally, as part of the lodged nomination application, you must submit thorough evidence of your training program and that the nominated position is genuine with the actual training being workplace-based, as opposed to classroom-based where it consists of a minimum of 30 hours of training per week, of which no less than 70% is undertaken in the workplace.

If you are interested in sponsoring an overseas worker through this visa program and believe your business has the capability to offer such training visa programs, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a complimentary assessment and advice.

The 408 Temporary Activity Visa offers a unique pathway for businesses in Australia to support or sponsor overseas applicants. This visa enables short-term entry for a variety of purposes, permitting stays that range from 3 months to 4 years, depending on the specific stream under which the applicant is applying.

The available streams include:

• Australian Government Endorsed Events
• Special Program
• Religious Work
• Research activities
• Invited for other social and cultural activity (Invited Participant)
• Sporting Activities
• Entertainment Activities
• Superyacht Crew
• Exchange Arrangements
• Domestic work for executives

Some of the benefits of this visa program can allow Australian businesses to access overseas people to participate in events endorsed by the Australian Government; engage in sports competitions, religious activities, academic engagements, and public speaking; work in the entertainment industry; participate in research projects and work in a skilled position under a staff exchange arrangement as an example.

If your business requires assistance in supporting or sponsoring an overseas national for a specific short stay and you’re looking for guidance, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can help you navigate the various options and specific criteria that must be fulfilled. Our team has successfully assisted numerous Australian organizations for the last 17 years in meeting these type of visa requirements.