Visa Options Guide

Below is a table with some information about the visas frequently used with AIPP’s professional internship programs.

The information on this page is sourced from the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and is subject to change.

This information is general only and is not for migration advice. For migration advice, please consult a registered migration agent.

Temporary Activity Visa (408)

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

  • are supported by an organisation or individual in Australia to undertake a specific activity and you:
    • apply outside Australia; and
    • intend to stay in Australia for three months or less
  • are sponsored by an approved sponsor to undertake a specific activity and you:
    • apply in Australia or
    • apply outside Australia and intend to stay in Australia for more than three months

Features

This visa allows you to come to Australia on a temporary basis to:

  • participate in activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation
  • participate or observe in an Australian research project
  • work in a skilled position under a staff exchange arrangement
  • participate in a special programme approved by the department that provides opportunities for youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community benefits

​​​​About This Visa

The Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) is for people who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis to undertake one of the following activities:

  • Invited participant: for people who are invited for stays up to 3 months by an organisation operating in Australia to participate in a specific cultural or social event or events. For example, conferences, and other community events.
  • Researcher: to:
    • participate or observe in an Australian research project after being invited to do so.
    • undertake a research activity at an Australian tertiary or research institution related to your field of study.
  • Special program: to participate in an approved special program that provides opportunities for youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community benefits.
  • Exchange: to work in a skilled position under a reciprocal staff exchange arrangement to:
    • give participants an opportunity to experience another culture
    • enhance international relations
    • broaden participants’ experience and knowledge

This visa requires sponsorship if:

  • your stay in Australia is for more than three months
  • you apply in Australia.

There is no nomination required for this visa.

This is a temporary visa. You can be in or outside Australian when you apply for this visa and when the visa is granted.

Applying in Australia

If you apply in Australia you must be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor or sponsor who passes the sponsorship test.

Applying outside Australia

If you apply from outside Australia and you intend to stay in Australia for three months or less, the organisation or individual in Australia who has responsibility for the events/activities you will be involved in must pass the support test.

If you apply from outside Australia and you intend to stay in Australia for more than three months you must be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor or sponsor who passes the sponsorship test.

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Training Visa (407)

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are one of the following:

  • an occupational trainee (Occupational Trainee stream)
  • a professional, manager or government official (Professional Development stream)
  • a professional academic (Research stream)

You must meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply.​

Features

​​​​This visa allows you to:

  • take part in structured workplace-based training to enhance your skills in your current occupation, area of tertiary study, or field of expertise (Occupational Trainee stream)
  • participate in a professional development training program in Australia after being invited to do so Professional Development stream
  • observe or participate in an Australian research project after being invited to do so (Research stream).

About this VISA

The Training and Research visa (subclass 402) is for people who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis to participate in occupational training, observe or participate in research as a visiting academic, or participate in a professional development program.

This visa has three streams:

  • Occupational Trainee stream: for people who need structured workplace-based training to enhance their skills in their current occupation, area of tertiary study, or field of expertise.
  • Professional Development stream: for professionals, managers or government officials invited to participate in a professional development training program in Australia. The program must have been arranged by an employer outside Australia and usually lasts up to 18 months.
  • Research stream: for professional academics invited to visit Australia to observe or participate in an Australian research project at an Australian tertiary or research institution.

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Working Holiday Visa (417)

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

  • are at least 18 but not yet 31 years of age
  • do not have a dependent child accompanying you at any time during your stay in Australia
  • have a passport from an eligible country.

About this VISA

​The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is a temporary visa for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year. It is a temporary visa that encourages cultural exchange and closer ties between Australia and eligible countries.

First Working Holiday visa: You must be outside Australia when you apply for your first Working Holiday visa and when the visa is decided.

Second Working Holiday visa: If you apply in Australia, you must be in Australia when the visa is granted. If you apply outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Working in Australia – six months with one employer: You can generally only work six months with one employer.

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Work and holiday Visa (462)

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

  • are at least 18 but not yet 31 years of age
  • don’t have a dependent child with you at any time during your stay in Australia
  • have a passport from one of the countries on the table below.

About this VISA

The Work and Holiday (Temporary) visa (subclass 462) is for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year.

It is a temporary visa that encourages cultural exchange and closer ties between Australia and eligible countries.

Working in Australia – six months with one employer: You can generally only work six months with one employer.

Student Visa (500)

Student VISAs have different sub classes, while all are for people who would like to study either part or full time in Australia.

Please note that Study VISA requirements might vary depending on your nationality and the country you’re applying from.

Independent ELICOS Sector visa (subclass 570)

Features

This visa allows you to stay in Australia to study a full-time English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS).​

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are enrolled as a student in a registered English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS).

Schools Sector visa (subclass 571)

Features

This visa is designed for international students applying to study in Australia and whose main course of study is:

  • a primary school course
  • a secondary school course, including junior and senior secondary or
  • an approved secondary school exchange program.​

Note: If the applicant is not a secondary exchange student, the year or level of school study that the applicant intends to undertake must not be a year or level that is more than 18 months below a year or level that the applicant has previously undertaken in Australia or another country.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are:

  • enrolled as a student at a primary or secondary school
  • participating in a secondary school exchange program.

Vocational Education and Training Sector visa (subclass 572)

Features

​This visa allows you to stay in Australia to study a full-time vocational education and training course.​

Streamlined Visa Processing

Streamlined visa processing for this visa is designed for international students applying to study in Australia at a participating education provider. You may be eligible for streamlined visa processing if your main course of study is an Advanced Diploma level course.

 

Higher Education Sector visa (subclass 573)

Features

This visa is designed for international students applying to study in Australia and whose main course of study is one of the following:

  • Bachelor degree
  • associate degree
  • graduate certificate
  • graduate diploma
  • Masters by coursework
  • Higher Education diploma
  • Higher Education advanced diploma.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are enrolled as a student in a registered course for the award of:

  • a bachelor or associate degree
  • a graduate certificate or graduate diploma
  • a masters degree by coursework
  • a higher education diploma or advanced diploma.

Postgraduate Research Sector visa (subclass 574)

Features

This visa is for you if you want to do one of the following:

  • apply for your first student visa
  • apply for subsequent student visa
  • apply to join a family member who is in Australia on a student visa.

Streamlined Visa Processing

Streamlined visa processing for this visa is designed for international students applying to study in Australia at a participating university. You may be eligible for streamlined visa processing if your main course of study is a Masters degree by research or a Doctoral degree.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are enrolled as a student in a registered course for the award of:

  • a masters degree by research
  • a doctoral degree.

 Non Award Sector visa (subclass 575)

Features

​This visa allows you to stay in Australia to study a full-time:

  • non-award foundation studies course
  • course or components of a course (other than ELICOS) that does not lead to an award.​

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are enrolled as a student in a registered course that does not lead to an award.

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Graduate Visa (485)

Requirements

You might be eligible to apply for this visa if you:

  • are younger than 50 years of age
  • are in Australia
  • hold an eligible visa
  • meet the two-year Australian study requirement
  • meet the English language requirement
  • have recently graduated with either an eligible qualification or with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation on the skilled occupation list (SOL).

About this VISA

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets you live, study and work in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies. Students are only able to access the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) once as a primary applicant.

This visa has two streams:

  • Graduate Work stream – for international students with an eligible qualification who graduate with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). A visa in this stream is granted for 18 months from the date of grant.
  • Post-Study Work stream – for international students who graduate with a higher education degree from an Australian education provider, regardless of their field of study. This stream is only available to students who applied for, and were granted, their first student visa to Australia on or after 5 November 2011. A visa in this stream can be granted for up to four years from the date the visa is granted, depending on the visa applicant’s qualification.

If you are applying as the main applicant, you and anybody else covered by the application must be in Australia when you apply for this visa and when your visa is decided.

Family members who apply for this visa after the main applicant has been granted the visa may be in or outside Australia when they apply, but must not be in immigration clearance.

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VISA eligibility according to country