403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) – Government Agreement stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Government Agreement stream, subclass 403
Purpose	Work under bilateral government agreement
Stay	Up to 4 years
Cost	From AUD470
Eligibility timing	Apply in or outside Australia
Work rights	Agreement-based work only
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entry while valid
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Agreement and support-letter permission
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Health insurance	Required for entire stay
Application method	Online through ImmiAccount
Processing times	Check processing time guide
Extension	Cannot extend; apply again

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Purpose

The Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) — Government Agreement stream lets you work in Australia under a bilateral agreement between:

• The Australian Government or an Australian state/territory government; and
• The government of another country.

Your work or activity in Australia must benefit Australia.

Stay and travel

This is a temporary visa valid for the period in your grant notice, up to 4 years, unless the Australian signatory requests a shorter period.

The visa starts:

• On first entry to Australia, if granted while outside Australia; or
• On the grant date, if granted while in Australia.

You may leave and re-enter Australia as often as you want while the visa is valid. Time outside Australia does not extend the visa.

You cannot extend this visa. You may apply for another Government Agreement stream subclass 403 visa if eligible.

Eligibility

You must:

• Meet the relevant bilateral agreement’s terms and conditions.
• Have support from both Australian and foreign agreement signatories.
• Meet applicable employment licensing or registration requirements.
• Show the proposed work or activity benefits Australia.
• Have enough money to support yourself and accompanying dependants.
• Intend to stay temporarily and do the work or activity stated in your application.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Hold adequate health insurance for your entire stay.
• Repay Australian Government debts, or have a formal repayment arrangement.
• Have an acceptable immigration history.

You do not need a sponsor.

Applying in Australia

If applying in Australia, you must currently hold, or have held within the last 28 days, a temporary substantive visa.

That visa cannot have been:

• A subclass 403 Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream visa;
• A Transit visa (subclass 771); or
• A Special Purpose visa.

A prior visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.

Family members

You can include family members in your application only if:

• The bilateral agreement allows this; and
• The Australian signatory’s support letter specifies this.

Included family members must meet health requirements. Family members aged 16 or older must meet character requirements.

Family members may be added before a decision is made. If not included, they must apply separately as subsequent entrants through ImmiAccount.

Cost

The main applicant fee is AUD470. Additional charges apply for each family member.

You may also need to pay for:

• Health examinations;
• Police certificates; and
• Biometrics.

From 1 July 2026, eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens receive a lower application charge when lodging a valid application. Eligibility is identified through a valid passport from:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Eligible family members receive the lower cost based on the primary applicant’s or visa holder’s passport.

Required documents

Provide clear colour scans or photographs of documents. Non-English documents must include English translations. Do not certify documents.

Identity

Provide:

• Passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates;
• National identity card, if available; and
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.

Agreement and work evidence

Provide a support letter from the Australian agreement signatory showing:

• The work you will do;
• The name of the bilateral agreement;
• That you meet the agreement’s terms;
• Support from Australian and foreign signatories;
• Intended length of stay; and
• Family permission, if bringing family members.

Also provide:

• Qualifications;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Required licences or registrations.

You may be asked for evidence that:

• Employment complies with Australian workplace relations laws; or
• The foreign national government does not oppose your stay, where the foreign signatory is not that government.

Character evidence

Provide:

• An Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate if you spent 12 months or more in Australia during the past 10 years since turning 16;
• Overseas police certificates for countries where you spent 12 months or more during that period; and
• Military service or discharge records, if applicable.

Family evidence

For partners, provide identity and character documents plus either:

• A current marriage certificate; or
• Evidence of a de facto relationship lasting at least 12 months.

For dependent children, provide identity, relationship and applicable character documents.

For applicants under 18, obtain consent from any non-travelling person with legal authority over where the child lives. Provide either:

• Form 1229;
• A statutory declaration of consent;
• A relevant Australian court order; or
• Evidence home-country law permits migration.

For dependent applicants aged 18 or older, provide Form 47a, relationship evidence and evidence of at least 12 months’ financial dependency.

Health insurance and healthcare

You and accompanying family members are personally responsible for healthcare costs in Australia.

You must have adequate health insurance for the entire stay. It should cover medically necessary treatment, including transport.

Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia.

How to apply

1. Consider completing health examinations before applying.
2. Gather identity, agreement, work, financial, health insurance, health and character documents.
3. Create or log in to ImmiAccount.
4. Lodge the application online while in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
5. Attach all required documents.
6. Pay the visa application charge.
7. Keep the transaction reference number (TRN).

Each family member must have their own application charge paid and documents attached.

The Department will not process an application until the correct charge is paid. An application may be invalidated if the correct charge is not paid.

After applying

The Department may request:

• Health examinations;
• Biometrics;
• Additional documents; or
• Further information.

Check ImmiAccount for requests. Applications may take longer if forms are incomplete, documents are missing, further information is needed, or information requires verification.

If applying in Australia with a valid application, you may receive a bridging visa. It starts if your current visa expires before a decision is made.

If travelling while the application is being processed, ensure you hold a valid visa to return to Australia.

Report changes to your:

• Address, phone number, email or passport;
• Relationship status;
• Family circumstances, including a child’s birth; or
• Application, if you wish to withdraw it.

Correct application mistakes using Form 1023 through ImmiAccount.

Conditions and obligations

You and your family members must:

• Comply with all visa conditions;
• Obey Australian laws;
• Work only under the relevant bilateral agreement; and
• Maintain required licences or registrations.

Check individual visa conditions and work rights through VEVO.

If permitted to work, you are protected by Australian workplace laws.

Visa outcome and proof

The Department will give its decision in writing.

If granted, the notice will state:

• Visa grant number;
• Visa start date; and
• Visa conditions.

Keep a copy of the decision while in Australia.

The visa is electronically linked to your passport. You will not receive a passport label. Use VEVO to confirm your visa status, conditions and permitted stay.