Australia will soon introduce four new work visas replacing the existing temporary work visas and Training and Research visas.
The Australian government intends to introduce reforms to the temporary activity visa framework on November 19 after the approval by the Governor General.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection says that the new visa sub classes will allow applicants to enter Australia for temporary work or a specified activity on 19 November 2016. Applications lodged before 19 November 2016 will be processed under pre-19 November 2016 legislation.
According to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the new framework will make it easier for the applicants to apply for a temporary visa. By the introduction of these visas the applicants will be able to lodge visa applications online through ImmiAccount .
The four new visa sub classes are:
- Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
- Subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa
- Subclass 407 Training visa
- Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa.
Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa:
This visa will allow workers to enter Australia on a temporary basis to :
- undertake short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work
- in limited circumstances, participate in an activity or work relating to Australia’s interests.
Subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa:
This visa would be for people who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis:
- in relation to a bilateral agreement
- to represent a foreign government or to teach a foreign language in an Australian school
- to undertake full-time domestic work for a diplomat
- as a person with statutory privileges and immunities
- to participate in the Seasonal Worker Programme.
Subclass 407 Training Visa:
This visa will allow workers to enter Australia to
- undertake occupational training or participate in classroom-based professional development activities.
Subclass 408 Temporary Activity Visa:
This visa will allow temporary workers to enter Australia to :
- work in the entertainment industry
- participate in a non-ongoing cultural or social activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation
- observe or participate as an academic in a research project
- undertake full-time religious work
- participate in a special programme to enhance international relations and cultural exchange
- participate in high-level sports (including training)
- work in a skilled position under a staff exchange arrangement
- participate in an Australian government endorsed event
- work as a superyacht crew member
- undertake full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives.
The Department of Immigration will stop accepting new applications for Subclass 401 Temporary Work (Long Stay Activity) visa, Subclass 402 Training and Research visa, Subclass 416 Special Program visa, Subclass 420 Temporary Work (Entertainment) visa and Subclass 488 Superyacht Crew visa, after the above visas come into effect on November 19.
