International Relations Visa (SC 403)
Visa Stream | Description |
Government Agreement | Allows individuals to come to Australia based on a bilateral agreement between governments. |
Foreign Government Agency | Enables individuals to represent a foreign government or teach a foreign language in Australia. |
Domestic Worker | Allows individuals to engage in domestic work for a diplomat. |
Privileges and Immunities | Grants temporary entry to individuals with statutory privileges and immunities. |
Seasonal Worker Program | Enables individuals to participate in Australia’s seasonal work program. |
Visa Stream | Description | Application Location |
Government Agreement | Allows individuals to come to Australia based on the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government or an Australian state or territory government and the government of another country. | Inside or Outside Australia |
Foreign Government Agency | Intended for representatives of foreign governments who will not be given official status in Australia by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), or individuals employed as foreign language teachers by foreign governments in Australian schools. | Inside or Outside Australia |
Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) | Enables individuals to engage in domestic work in the household of someone holding a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995). | Inside or Outside Australia |
Privileges and Immunities | Designed for individuals with privileges and immunities under the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963 or the Overseas Missions (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1995. | Inside or Outside Australia |
Seasonal Worker Program | Allows individuals to come to Australia and work as seasonal laborers in selected industries for Australian employers who cannot source local labor. Participation in the Seasonal Worker Program requires an invitation from an approved Temporary Activities sponsor. This stream is limited to selected countries and can only be applied for and granted outside Australia. | Outside Australia |
Requirements to Employ a Domestic Worker Under This Visa |
Hold a Diplomatic visa (subclass 995) |
Accreditation as a diplomat or consular officer in Australia |
Not being a permanent resident of Australia |
Formal support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) before the worker applies for their visa |
Intention to employ the worker for domestic duties in your private household |
Signing an employment contract in accordance with Australian workplace conditions, as well as applicable state and territory legislation |
The Fair Work Ombudsman provides information and advice on workplace rights, conditions, and employer obligations |
To participate in the Seasonal Worker Programme, the sponsor must be an authorized employer seeking to recruit seasonal workers for industries such as horticulture, tourism (accommodation), aquaculture, sugar cane, and cotton.
To qualify as a sponsor, your organization must be legally established and actively operating within Australia. Moreover:
You must be an Australian organization or a government agency.
There should be no negative information associated with your organization, or if such information exists, it must be reasonable to disregard it.
If your organization has previously sponsored foreign workers to come to Australia, you must have a satisfactory track record of compliance with Australian laws.
