Sports Visa Australia: Know Requirements, Cost, Time & Apply

Australia is a sporting hub with world class infrastructure and modern amenities for sportspersons. The country starts preparing world class athletes from an early age only. No wonder, the country has won many international championships. Sports Visa Australia is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia for up to two years. You can play, act as a referee or do sports training in the country on this visa. Additionally, you can take your family to Australia on this visa. In this detailed post we have added all the information you need about the Temporary Activity Visa Subclass 408.

Benefits of Sports Visa Australia

The visa allows for a stay of up to two years in Australia, allowing for participation in a specific sporting event or a structured training program.
The visa allows individuals to play, coach, instruct, or adjudicate for an Australian sporting team or organization.
Family members can be included in the visa application, allowing for a shared experience in Australia.
The visa may provide a pathway to other visas, potentially leading to longer stays in Australia.
The visa allows participation in high-level sports training programs within Australia.
You can travel to and from Australia multiple times while the visa is valid.
The visa allows for interaction with other sports professionals and organizations, fostering valuable connections.

Sports Visa Australia Requirements

Here is a list of requirements for having a Sports Visa in Australia-

Supporter or Sponsor

It is significant to note that you don’t need a sponsor in this visa subclass if your stay is for less than three months and you apply from outside Australia. However, you will need an eligible supporter to apply for the temporary activity visa.

At the same time, if you want to stay in Australia for more than three months then you must have a sponsor. This is irrespective of whether you apply in or outside Australia.

You are a player, sports trainee, coach or adjudicator

You become eligible for the sports visa if you are a renowned player, coach or instructor. Another requirement is that a national level Australian sporting body must endorse you. Are you an eligible sports trainee or a player? If yes, then you can apply for the Visa 408 temporary stay in Australia. You have to prove that you compete at the Australian national level. Alternatively, if a relevant sporting body endorses your application then the chances of the approval increases.

Get a formal agreement

Your sporting organisation or a club in Australia can give you a formal agreement for this visa subclass. You must be affiliated with the organization as a player, coach, adjudicator or an instructor to get the agreement.

Health Requirement and Health Insurance

You will need an eligible supporter to apply for the temporary activity visa.

A national level Australian sporting body must endorse you.

You must be affiliated with the sports organization or a club as a player, coach, adjudicator or an instructor to get the agreement.

You must have enough money in your bank account.

Any debt to the Australian Government will hamper your eligibility for sports training visa Australia

You and the dependants must meet the health requirement standards set by the Government of Australia.

The process requires a declaration from you that you have not paid for the visa sponsorship. Or you have not indulged in any kind of visa fraud.

You must provide the police verification documents from your home country before applying for the visa 408.

You and the dependants must meet the health requirement standards set by the Government of Australia. This is to ensure that healthcare and community service costs are maintained.

Health insurance is a prerequisite for the Australia Sports Visa 408. This should cover necessary treatment, medicines, transportation, etc. The health cover must be for the entire duration of your stay.

Visa Subclass 408 Sporting Activities Streams

Temporary Acitiviy Visa Subclass 408 Sporting activities streams allows visa holders to participate in sports events in Australia.

Through visa subclass 408,you can participate as a player, coach, instructor, or adjudicator for an Australian team or organization.
You may include eligible family members to accompany you.
This Sports Visa Australia 408 allows you to enter and leave Australia as many times you want. This condition applies for the period of visa duration only. Please note that the visa period does not extend considering your time spent outside Australia.
Please note that the visa stay period starts the day you enter Australia. If you are already in the country the start date is the same date of the issuance of the visa. The exact details could be found on the visa grant letter

Sports Visa Australia Processing Time

As per the latest records over 90% of the Sports Visa 408 application are processed within 40 days. At the same time, over half of the applicants get a visa within 16 working days. This is a general processing time and you should not consider it a rule. Some applications may take longer to process than others due to various factors.

The department takes time to verify all your documents and if you have entered some incorrect information may lead to delay in processing. At the same time, the department may ask you for additional documents thus the processing time will increase.

Lastly, the prime reason the Australian department rejects applications is due to incorrect payment. We highly recommend you to cross check before making a payment.

Step By Step Application Process

Follow step by step process to get a Visa Subclass 408 Sporting Activities Streams.

Step-1 Get a Sponsor

The first step even before you apply for a visa is to get a sponsor or supporter. You can get help from a registered migration agent or a legal practitioner. Alternatively, you can appoint an exempt person to assist you in the visa application. You can designate someone to receive visa related documents on your behalf.

Step - 2 Make a Checklist of Documents

We have curated a list of important documents you need to apply for sports visa australia 408. You must gather these documents before beginning the application process:

Identity documents: You need to provide pages of your valid passport that shows the personal details, issue and expiry dates. Additionally, a copy of the national identity card must be submitted. These documents may include aadhaar card, PAN card, or a voter ID card. If you have changed your name then you need to provide a marriage or divorce certificate.
Sponsor documents: Your sponsor must be an Australian organization legally eligible to operate sporting events in the country. A sponsor could be an approved activities sponsor or must have applied to being a sponsor
Supporter documents: Similarly, your supporter must be an Australian organization or government agency legally responsible for organizing sporting events in the country. You will also have to provide a letter of endorsement from your sponsor/supporter.
Sports activity documents: You have to provide documents establishing you as a sportsperson, coach, instructor or an adjudicator. If you want to apply for a sports trainee then you must provide proof that you compete at a national level Australian event. Or, you can submit a letter from a sporting body in Australia mentioning you are able to perform at the national level. Lastly, you must provide the details of your training program as well.
Your contract copy: The contract with the sporting association must include details about the duration of your contract, your responsibilities, working hours, and your payscale. This must also include the details of any dependent family members covered in the contract.
Financial documents: This includes an employment contract stating your income. Alternatively, a bank statement or evidence of your financial status by your bank is also acceptable.
Partner documents: You must include the identity documents, character and marriage certificates of your partner. For de facto partners, evidence of your relationship should be included. Joint bank statements, leases or mortgage statements, or billing accounts could be included in the evidence for marriage or de facto relationship.

Step -3 Apply for the visa

Log in to ImmiAccount.
Attach documents
Have family applications processed together.
Pay the application fee.
Note the transaction reference number (TRN).
Wail patiently while the Department of Home Affairs assess your application.

Step 4 - What to do after you apply?

You have to wait patiently until your application is processed. However, you may have to update the documents related to your application in case of a change to your phone number, email, address or passport. Additionally, you should also update about the change in your marital status or de facto relationship, or the birth of a child.

Step 5 - Visa Application Status

The department of home affairs tells you about the status of your application in writing. You will get the dates of the visa, visa grant number and conditions. In case the visa application is rejected you will be notified in the letter the reason as well. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable in either case.

Frequently Asked Questions

This visa can be granted for up to two years.

Yes, you can include eligible family members in your visa application.

Amateur athletes may be able to use a Visitor visa (subclass 600, 601, or 651) for short-term stays (up to three months) without being paid. Professional athletes, or those being paid, need a Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) or a Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400).

No, a key condition of this visa is that you are only allowed to work in the specific sporting activity for which the visa was granted.

Yes, you can apply from either inside or outside Australia, but the requirements regarding a sponsor or supporter may differ depending on your location.