Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403): Complete Guide

The Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (Subclass 403) is an Australian temporary visa for eligible people undertaking work or activities connected with international relations, government arrangements, labour mobility programmes and other specified international programs.

It is not a general employment visa and is not, by itself, a permanent residency pathway. Eligibility depends on the specific Subclass 403 stream and the requirements that apply to the applicant's circumstances.

Current Subclass 403 pathways include the Government Agreement stream, Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) stream, International Organisation Agreement stream, Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) stream, and Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream.

Subclass 403 Visa Streams

The Subclass 403 visa operates through different streams, each serving a particular international relations or labour mobility purpose.

Government Agreement Stream

The Government Agreement stream is available to eligible applicants whose proposed work or activities are covered by an applicable agreement between the Australian Government, a state or territory government and a foreign government.

The specific agreement determines the type of work or activity permitted and the requirements that apply.

Applicants should provide documentation demonstrating the relevant government arrangement and their role under that arrangement.

Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Stream

The PALM stream supports Australia's Pacific labour mobility arrangements.

It replaced the former Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme as part of the Australian Government's consolidated Pacific labour mobility framework. The former Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme closed to new applications as standalone streams in April 2022.

Eligible PALM workers may undertake approved employment in Australia under the relevant PALM arrangements.

The work and visa conditions depend on the particular PALM arrangement and employment.

International Organisation Agreement Stream

The International Organisation Agreement stream applies to eligible people whose work or activities are covered by an applicable agreement involving an international organisation.

Applicants must satisfy the requirements associated with the relevant agreement and Subclass 403 visa stream.

MATES Stream

The Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) is particularly relevant to eligible Indian nationals.

MATES allows eligible Indian graduates and early-career professionals to live and work in Australia for up to two years. Target fields include areas such as renewable energy, mining, engineering, information and communications technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology and agricultural technology.

The MATES programme provides up to 3,000 primary applicant visa places each program year.

Importantly, eligible applicants must first register for the MATES pre-application ballot and be randomly selected before they can apply for the visa. Being registered in the ballot does not itself constitute a visa application.

Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream

This stream is designed for eligible domestic workers employed by certain diplomatic or consular representatives in Australia.

The applicant must satisfy the requirements applicable to the diplomatic or consular arrangement and the Subclass 403 stream.

The employment arrangement must comply with applicable Australian workplace and visa requirements.

MATES Stream for Indian Nationals

The MATES stream is an important Subclass 403 pathway for eligible Indian graduates and early-career professionals.

Basic Ballot Eligibility

To register for the MATES ballot, an applicant must generally:

• Hold a valid Indian passport

• Hold a valid Indian Government PAN card

• Be aged between 18 and 30 years inclusive at the beginning of the relevant ballot registration period

• Have an ImmiAccount

• Have a valid email address

• Meet the applicable ballot declarations

• Pay the AUD 25 ballot registration fee

These are requirements for ballot registration. Additional requirements apply if an applicant is selected and proceeds to the visa application stage.

MATES Ballot Process

The MATES process generally involves:

1. Create or use an ImmiAccount.

2. Check whether the ballot registration period is open.

3. Register for the ballot.

4. Pay the ballot registration fee.

5. Wait for the random selection process.

6. If selected, receive a Notification of Selection.

7. Lodge the Subclass 403 MATES visa application within the specified period.

8. Provide the required supporting documents and meet the visa criteria.

A person cannot apply for the MATES visa simply because they have registered for the ballot.

If selected, the applicant must apply within the timeframe specified in the Notification of Selection. Home Affairs states that selected applicants must apply from outside Australia.

MATES Family Members

Eligible members of the main applicant's family unit may be included in the MATES visa application if the relevant requirements are met.

Family members are not counted towards the annual 3,000 primary applicant places.

Work Rights Under Subclass 403

The work rights available to a Subclass 403 visa holder depend on the stream and the conditions attached to the visa.

Visa holders must comply with the conditions specified on their visa.

For PALM participants, for example, workers must generally remain employed by the approved sponsor and undertake the work permitted under the relevant PALM arrangements.

A Subclass 403 visa should therefore not be treated as unrestricted permission to work for any Australian employer.

Sponsorship and Supporting Organisations

Sponsorship or other supporting arrangements depend on the particular Subclass 403 stream.

For example, an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor can sponsor applicants under the PALM stream where the applicable requirements are met.

The organisation involved may need to provide appropriate documentation relating to the applicant's employment, programme, agreement or proposed activity.

The exact requirements should be assessed according to the relevant Subclass 403 stream.

Visa Duration

There is no single standard stay period that applies to every Subclass 403 applicant.

The duration depends on the stream, the relevant agreement or programme and the visa grant.

For example, the MATES stream allows eligible Indian graduates and early-career professionals to live and work in Australia for up to two years.

Other Subclass 403 streams have different requirements and periods of stay.

Applicants should rely on their visa grant notification for the exact period granted.

Application Location

Whether you can apply from inside or outside Australia depends on the particular Subclass 403 stream and the applicable visa requirements.

For MATES, eligible applicants may register for the ballot while inside or outside Australia, but if selected they must apply for the Subclass 403 MATES visa from outside Australia.

Applicants should therefore check the requirements of their specific stream before making travel or application arrangements.

Health and Character Requirements

Applicants may need to satisfy Australia's health and character requirements.

Depending on individual circumstances, Home Affairs may request:

• Health examinations

• Police certificates

• Identity documents

• Additional character information

• Other supporting evidence

The requirements can differ according to the applicant's circumstances and the particular visa stream.

Financial and Supporting Evidence

The documents required depend on the Subclass 403 stream.

Depending on the pathway, supporting evidence may include:

• Passport

• Identity documents

• Employment documents

• Government agreement documentation

• Sponsorship or supporting organisation documents

• Qualifications

• Professional evidence

• Evidence of relevant work experience

• Family relationship documents

• Health and character documents

• PAN card for eligible MATES applicants

• Other documents requested by Home Affairs

Providing complete and accurate documentation can help ensure the application can be assessed properly.

Subclass 403 Visa Cost

Visa charges vary according to the Subclass 403 stream and applicant circumstances.

For the MATES pathway, there is a separate AUD 25 ballot registration fee. This is the fee for registering in the ballot and is not the same as the visa application charge.

Visa application charges can change, so applicants should check the current Department of Home Affairs pricing information before lodging an application.

Additional expenses may include:

• Health examinations

• Police certificates

• English or other required testing where applicable

• Document translations

• Professional or migration advice

Processing Times

Subclass 403 processing times can vary depending on the stream, application volume, completeness of documentation, health and character checks and other individual circumstances.

There is no universal processing timeframe that applies to every Subclass 403 application.

Applicants should lodge complete applications and check the latest Home Affairs processing information before making travel arrangements.

PALM Stream and Seasonal Work

The PALM stream is the current Subclass 403 pathway for Australia's Pacific labour mobility arrangements.

The old Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme should not be described as current standalone Subclass 403 streams. Both were consolidated and replaced by the PALM stream from April 2022.

This distinction is important when publishing information about the Subclass 403 visa because older websites may still use the former stream names.

Old Subclass 403 Information

Several older visa categories have been closed or replaced.

For example:

• The former Foreign Government Agency visa (Subclass 415) is closed to new applications.

• The former Government Agreement visa (Subclass 406) is closed to new applications.

• The former Domestic Worker (Temporary) Diplomatic and Consular visa (Subclass 426) is closed to new applications.

• The former Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme have been replaced by the PALM stream.

Applicants should therefore avoid relying on older Subclass 403 information published before the current stream structure was introduced.

Subclass 403 and Permanent Residency

The Subclass 403 visa is a temporary visa and is not a direct permanent residency visa.

Holding a Subclass 403 does not automatically provide a pathway to Australian permanent residency.

If your long-term objective is to remain in Australia permanently, you may need to consider whether another visa pathway is available based on your:

• Age

• Occupation

• Qualifications

• Work experience

• English ability

• Employer sponsorship

• Family circumstances

• Regional circumstances

• Previous visa history

Any future permanent residency application would be assessed under the requirements of the relevant visa.

Subclass 403 vs Subclass 482

The Subclass 403 and Skills in Demand Subclass 482 visas serve different purposes.

Subclass 403

• Focuses on international relations, government arrangements and specified labour mobility programmes

• Has multiple specialised streams

• Includes PALM and MATES pathways

• Is not a general skilled employment visa

• Does not itself grant permanent residency

Subclass 482

The Skills in Demand Subclass 482 is an employer-sponsored skilled visa with:

• Core Skills stream

• Specialist Skills stream

• Labour Agreement stream

It is designed for eligible skilled workers sponsored by approved Australian employers and can, in some circumstances, form part of a longer-term employer-sponsored migration strategy.

The appropriate visa depends on the applicant's circumstances and the nature of the proposed work.

Important Considerations Before Applying

Before applying for a Subclass 403 visa, consider:

• Which Subclass 403 stream applies to you?

• Are you eligible under the relevant government agreement or programme?

• Does your proposed work match the requirements of the stream?

• Do you have the required supporting organisation or employer?

• If applying under MATES, have you been selected through the required ballot?

• Do you satisfy health and character requirements?

• Are your documents complete and accurate?

• Do you understand your visa conditions?

• Are you applying from the correct location for your stream?

• Is Subclass 403 actually the most appropriate visa for your circumstances?

Professional Australian Migration Assistance

The Subclass 403 visa contains several different pathways, so the correct requirements depend heavily on the stream under which you intend to apply.

For applicants considering MATES, PALM, Government Agreement, International Organisation Agreement or Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) pathways, understanding the specific stream requirements is important before submitting an application.

The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd can assist eligible applicants with Australian visa and migration matters.

Registered Migration Agent: Navneet Kaur
MARN: 2318181

Contact our team to discuss your circumstances and determine whether a Subclass 403 pathway may be suitable for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Subclass 403 visa?

The Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (Subclass 403) is a temporary Australian visa covering specific international relations, government agreement, labour mobility and other approved programmes.

Can Indian citizens apply for Subclass 403?

Eligible Indian nationals may be able to apply through the MATES stream if they meet the requirements and are selected through the required pre-application ballot.

What is the MATES Subclass 403 visa?

MATES is a Subclass 403 pathway for eligible Indian graduates and early-career professionals in specified fields. It can allow successful applicants to live and work in Australia for up to two years.

Is there a ballot for MATES?

Yes. Eligible applicants must first register for the MATES pre-application ballot and be randomly selected before they can apply for the visa.

How much does the MATES ballot cost?

The MATES ballot registration fee is currently AUD 25. This is separate from the visa application charge.

Can MATES applicants apply while in Australia?

A person can register for the MATES ballot while inside or outside Australia. However, if selected, the applicant must apply for the Subclass 403 MATES visa from outside Australia.

Can family members accompany a MATES applicant?

Eligible members of the family unit may be included in the visa application if the applicable requirements are satisfied. Family members are not counted towards the 3,000 primary applicant places.

Is the Seasonal Worker Program still a Subclass 403 stream?

The former Seasonal Worker Program closed to new applications as a standalone stream and was replaced by the PALM stream.

Is the Pacific Labour Scheme still a separate Subclass 403 stream?

No. The former Pacific Labour Scheme was consolidated with the Seasonal Worker Program and replaced by the PALM stream.

Does Subclass 403 give Australian PR?

No. Subclass 403 is a temporary visa. It does not itself grant permanent residency.

Can I work for any employer on Subclass 403?

No. Work rights depend on the specific stream and visa conditions. You must comply with the conditions attached to your visa.

How long can I stay in Australia on Subclass 403?

The stay period depends on the particular stream and visa grant. For example, the MATES stream can allow eligible applicants to stay and work for up to two years.