Temporary Work Visa 403 (International Relations)
403 Visa Australia
Temporary Work Visa 403 Government Agreement stream
This visa stream allows a person to work in Australia under the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government and a government of another country.
- you must comply with licensing or registration requirements as part of your employment
- you must be supported by the signatories to the agreement
- you must apply online
With this visa, you can
- be engaged under the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government and a government of another country
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid
You must
- comply with licensing or registration requirements as part of your employment
- be supported by the signatories to the agreement
- apply online
With this visa, you can
- work under the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government or an Australian state or territory government
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
- apply to bring your immediate family (if permitted under the agreement, and specified in the letter of support from the Australian signatory)
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa. You can stay for the time we specify in your visa grant notice, which may be up to 2 years unless your foreign government agency requests a shorter period.
The visa starts on the date we grant the visa (if you are in Australia at the time of grant) or on the day you first enter Australia (if you were outside Australia when we granted it).
Stay longer
You can’t stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. But you could apply for a further subclass 403 visa under the Government Agreement stream, if you meet the requirements.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements.
Apply from
You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa and when we decide on your application.
Processing times
Your application can take longer to process if:
- you do not fill it in correctly
- you do not include all the documents we need, or we need more information from you
- it takes us time to verify your information
We can’t process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge. We will notify you if this is the case and invalidate your application.
Your obligations
If granted a visa, you and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Travel
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Be engaged under the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between Australia or an Australian state or territory government and another country
You must provide a letter of support stating that you are engaged under a bilateral agreement between Australia, or an Australian state or territory government, and another country. The letter must identify you and any family members coming to Australia with you, and state:
- what work you will be doing
- that you meet the terms and conditions of the agreement
- that your stay in Australia has the support of both the Australian signatory and the other signatory, and that the other signatory has been consulted
- that the Australian signatory confirms you will be employed or engaged in line with Australian labour laws and practices (unless that requirement is stated in the agreement)
- how long it is proposed you stay
- that the Australian signatory agrees to your stay in Australia for the proposed period of time and purpose
Have the support of the signatories to the agreement
Your stay must have the support of both signatories of the bilateral agreement you are in Australia to work under. You don’t need a sponsor.
Intend to meet the terms and conditions of the agreement
This includes following any licensing or registration requirements as part of your employment.
Be able to support yourself and any dependants
While you are in Australia, you must have the financial capacity to support yourself and any dependent family members who come with you.
Have this visa
If you are applying in Australia, you must hold, or in the last 28 days have held, a temporary substantive visa.
The temporary substantive visa you hold or held can’t have been:
- a Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) visa in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
- a Transit visa (subclass 771), or
- a Special Purpose visa
Meet our health requirement
You and your family members, who apply for this visa with you, must meet our health requirement.
Meet our character requirement
You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.
Have adequate health insurance
You and your accompanying family are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.
You must have adequate health insurance for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa. Your health insurance should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Genuine temporary stay requirement
You must only intend to:
- have a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia
- do the work or activity you specified in your visa application
Repay debt
If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused in the past.
Read And Associates offer Professional Guidance
Here at Read and Associates our team of migration agents can provide you with the appropriate guidance and advice which will help you put forth the best visa application possible. Specialising in applications for medical professionals, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can work with you. Book a consultation to find out more.
