Australian Embassy, China

澳大利亚驻华大使馆

Embassy address: 21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Sanlitun, Beijing - Telephone: 5140 4111 - Fax: 5140 4204

1. Information ⇒ 2. Checklist ⇒ 3. How to Apply ⇒ 4. After You Apply

1. Information – Non-Business Temporary Residence

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On this page: Introduction; Visa options and Further information

Introduction

Australia's temporary residence program seeks to facilitate the temporary entry of persons for a number of purposes.

If you are invited to Australia as a Visiting Academic, Occupational Trainee, Sportsperson, Entertainer, Participant in an exchange program, Member of the Media, Religious Worker, Public Lecturer, Medical Practitioner or appointed to fill a position in an educational or research institution you are able to apply for a Temporary Residence visa.

Temporary residence visas may allow you to stay in Australia for the period of time specified in your application, with certain subclasses providing for a maximum of 4 years.

It is important to note that temporary residents are required to pay taxes on income earned in Australia (refer to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website www.ato.gov.au for more information). They do not have access to social welfare benefits or the national public health cover.

In most cases people applying for temporary stay in Australia require sponsorship by the prospective employer or interested organisation in Australia. The Australian sponsor first needs to complete a Form 55 Sponsorship for temporary residence in Australia (non-business) and submit this to a DIAC office in Australia. Once the sponsorship is approved, the applicant may lodge their application with a DIAC office at the designated overseas Australian mission (except in the case of a Subclass 420 Entertainment Visa application, which must be lodged at the designated DIAC office in Australia).

Visa Options

The information contained in this website focuses on the Visiting Academic (Subclass 419) visa, however brief descriptions of other Temporary Residence visa subclasses are also featured below:

Occupational Trainee Visa (subclass 442)
The Occupational Trainee visa allows foreign nationals to complete structured and supervised workplace-based training programmes or academic research in Australia on a temporary basis. The training must provide people with additional or enhanced skills in their present occupations, tertiary studies or fields of expertise.

From 9 November 2009, all Occupational Trainee Visas are lodged and processed in Australia at the Adelaide Occupational Trainee Processing Centre (AOTPC)

Please refe to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/sponsored/otv/

Visiting Academic Visa (Subclass 419)
A visa for professional academics from overseas who have been invited to visit an Australian tertiary institution or research institution for the purpose of observing, or participating in, research at the institution. Academics should continue to be employed by their home institution while undertaking research in Australia, and should not receive remuneration from the Australian institution other than a contribution towards living expenses and travel costs

This visa is not appropriate for academics who will be involved in teaching/lecturing in Australia, or for students, including PhD students who want to undertake research in Australia that is credited towards an award or qualification in their home country. It is also not an appropriate visa for recent PhD graduates who are not currently employed as professional academics or researchers and cannot demonstrate experience as such.

Refer to 2. Checklist - Non-Business Temporary Residence for a detailed listing of documentary requirements, including application forms and supporting documentation for anyone applying from within China.

Domestic Worker (Diplomatic/Consular) Visa (Subclass 426)
This visa allows the temporary stay of domestic workers who intend to be employed full time and exclusively in the household of a Diplomatic visa (subclass 995) holder who is an accredited diplomat or consular officer in Australia. Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/426/index.htm

Domestic Worker (Executive) Visa (Subclass 427)
A temporary visa for a domestic worker to be employed in the household of certain senior executives in charge of an Australian office of an overseas organisation. The executive must hold a subclass Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457). Independent Executive Further Application Onshore (subclass IE 457) visa holders are not eligible to sponsor a domestic worker. Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/427/index.htm

Exchange Visa (Subclass 411)
This visa is for skilled people who are participating in a staff exchange agreement or Government to Government agreement to broaden their work experience and skills in Australia. Reciprocal arrangements allow Australian residents similar opportunities overseas. Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/411/index.htm

Entertainment Visa (Subclass 420)
This visa is for people to work in the Australian entertainment industry; in film, television or live productions in either a performance or behind-the scenes role, such as directors, producers and other production personnel.

Applications for the Entertainment Visa can only be lodged at the DIAC Parramatta or Sydney City offices. An application lodged at any other office is not a valid application and will be returned to you. Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/420/index.htm

Foreign Government Agency Visa (Subclass 415)
This visa is for representatives or employees of foreign government agencies, who will not have official status in Australia. This visa is designed for people who:

• intend to be employed as a representative of a foreign government agency in Australia and who will not be given official status in Australia by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
• intend to be employed in Australia by a foreign government as a language teacher in an Australian school
• are seeking to enter Australia under an agreement between Australia and another country.

Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/415/index.htm

Government Agreement Visa (Subclass 406)
This visa is for people who have the support of an Australian signatory and a foreign government to enter Australia under the terms of a bilateral agreement between them.

For this visa subclass, a Government agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Commonwealth or state/territory government and a government of another country. Government agreements can cover a diverse range of activities.

Example: The agreement could be between the Department of Innovation, Science and Research, and their equivalent in France for the exchange of appropriately qualified scientists to undertake particular research.

Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/specialist-entry/406/

Media and Film Staff Visa (Subclass 423)
This visa is for television or film crew, including actors, production and support staff and still-photographers. Applicants must be involved in the production of documentary programs, or commercials, exclusively for use outside Australia.

A documentary program is defined by the Australian Broadcasting Authority as a program that is a creative treatment of actuality other than a news, current affairs, sports coverage, magazine, infotainment, or light entertainment program.

Overseas media staff intending to film or take photographs in Australian National Parks for commercial purposes, should also apply for this visa. Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/423/index.htm

Religious Worker Visa (Subclass 428)
This visa is for religious workers to directly service religious objectives of an Australian organisation. Applicants must be sponsored by a religious organisation in Australia. This visa provides for the temporary stay of persons who will be full-time religious workers in Australia.

Religious work is work of a religious nature for which the applicant has had relevant religious training. The religious work proposed must directly serve an organisation's religious objectives. It would usually be religious work involved in:

• providing spiritual leadership
• conducting worship
• teaching or guidance in religion
• ministering, pastoral care or proselytising
• other high level specialist work in relation to the above.

Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/428/index.htm

Sport Visa (Subclass 421)
A temporary visa for professional sports people. Applicants are to engage in competition and training with Australian residents to improve the quality of sport in Australia. Generally sportspeople come to Australia to:

• compete in a specific event or series of events, such as competing in the Australian Tennis Open or PGA
• be involved in sport under an arrangement with a sporting club to play/coach/instruct for a season, such as playing soccer in the Hyundai A League competition.

Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/421/index.htm

Special Programs Visa (Subclass 416)
A visa for people to participate in approved programs that provide opportunities for cultural enrichment and community benefit. It is for people who have been invited to participate in an approved special program such as a community benefit or youth exchange program including the Churchill Fellowship program.

Please refer to the following DIAC website page for more information and eligibility details: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/416/index.htm

Further Information

For more information regarding Temporary Residence in Australia, please go to www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/visa-options.htm

Refer to 2. Checklist - Non-Business Temporary Residence for a detailed listing of documentary requirements, including application forms and supporting documentation for anyone applying for a Visiting Academic Visa from within China. If you intend to apply for another type of Temporary Residence visa from China, please contact us. Ensure that you have all the required documents prior to lodging your application.

1. Information ⇒ 2. Checklist ⇒ 3. How to Apply ⇒ 4. After You Apply

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