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Australia · Cultural, religious & volunteer

Australia Temporary Activity visa - Special Program stream (Subclass 408)

16 facts quoted from the official source

This visa lets you stay in Australia to take part in an approved special program. Special programs can include youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or 'gap year school volunteering'.

Route type
Cultural, religious & volunteer
Can bring
dependants, children
from the official record
Requirements
9
each quoted below
Who qualifies

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.

The conditions that decide it
  • Age requirementYou must be the right age for the special program you apply for.
  • Approved Host RequiredYou must have a supporter to apply for this visa.
  • Australian Government Debt ClearedIf you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.
  • Be Here For Cultural ExchangeThe main purpose of the program you take part in should be cultural exchange.
  • Best Interests Of The ChildWe might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
  • Character and securityYou and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.
  • Medical screeningYou and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.
  • Take Part In An Approved Special ProgramYou must be travelling to Australia to take part in an approved special program.
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Health-insurance requirementYou must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa.
Also stated by the source
  • Dependent-family rightsYou must have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Australia and any dependent family members.
  • Eligibility summaryYou must be travelling to Australia to take part in an approved special program.
  • Have Consent To Be Granted The VisaWe 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 VisaIf you are in Australia, you can only apply for this visa if you currently hold a substantive visa or your last substantive visa ceased within the last 28 days.
  • Official source basisYou must be travelling to Australia to take part in an approved special program.
  • Report summaryYou must be travelling to Australia to take part in an approved special program.
Family

Who you can bring

dependantschildren
  • Dependent-family rightsYou must have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Australia and any dependent family members.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Fees
1 proven from the official source.
  • Government feeFrom AUD535.00checked 2026-07-26
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every Australia route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for the Subclass 408 to Australia?
The official source states: This visa lets you stay in Australia to take part in an approved special program. Special programs can include youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or 'gap year school volunteering'.
02Can I bring my family?
The official record lists: dependants, children.
03Do I need health insurance?
The official source states: 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.

The source

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.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-26 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other cultural, religious & volunteer routes to Australia

3 other cultural, religious & volunteer routes to Australia.

Temporary Activity visa - Other Social and Cultural Activity (Invited Participant) (Subclass 408)Temporary Activity visa - Religious Work stream (Subclass 408)Temporary Activity visa - Staff Exchange Arrangements (Subclass 408)
Same category, elsewhere

Cultural, religious & volunteer routes in other countries

128 other countries publish at least one cultural, religious & volunteer route. Nearest first.

New Zealand8 cultural, religious & volunteer routes Taiwan9 cultural, religious & volunteer routes Indonesia8 cultural, religious & volunteer routes Japan8 cultural, religious & volunteer routes Papua New Guinea8 cultural, religious & volunteer routes Greece7 cultural, religious & volunteer routes

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