Australia•Oceania403 — Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa
At a Glance
6 days – 3 months
Varies by processing route
AUD $860
Up to 4 years (stream-dependent)
Renewable
Renewal
Renewable
Family
Not specified
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote not required
Living in Australia
Overview
Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa.
The Australian Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) has six streams for foreign nationals linked to bilateral commitments: Government Agreement, Foreign Government Agency, Domestic Worker (Diplomatic/Consular), Privileges and Immunities, PALM, and MATES.
PALM lets Pacific Island and Timorese citizens work seasonally or up to 4 years; MATES offers Indian graduates aged 18-30 from top NIRF institutions a 2-year pathway with 3,000 ballot places per year. All streams require sponsorship or nomination; no PR pathway. Fees from AUD 470 (PALM AUD 365; Privileges: free).
This visa is ideal for diplomats, foreign government staff, Pacific Island workers seeking placements, and Indian graduates in engineering or technology fields.
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Cost Breakdown
Processing Time
| Foreign Government Agency | 6–20 days |
| Government Agreement | 1–4 weeks |
| Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) | 2–3 weeks |
| Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) | 3 weeks – 2 months |
| Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) | 2–3 months |
Annual Cap & Quota
3000
Requirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Must be sponsored or nominated by an approved Australian organisation (stream-dependent)
Meet Australian health requirements including medical exams, TB screening, and vaccinations if required
Police clearances required from all countries lived in for 12+ months over the past 10 years
Government Agreement stream: must work under a bilateral government agreement
Foreign Government Agency stream: letter of support from foreign government agency, ministry, mission, or international organisation
Domestic Worker (Diplomatic/Consular) stream: must be 18+ years old and have DFAT support
Privileges and Immunities stream: must hold or be expected to hold privileges under relevant Acts; DFAT letter of support required
PALM stream: must be a citizen and resident of a participating country (Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu) and sponsored by an approved PALM employer
MATES stream: Indian citizen aged 18–30, graduated within 2 years with a Bachelor's degree or higher in a targeted sector from a top 100 NIRF Indian institution, and selected in the MATES ballot (no job offer required if showing AUD 5,000 in savings)
KEY CRITERIA
Min. Savings
5,000 AUD
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Valid passport
Sponsorship or nomination approval documentation (stream-dependent)
Letter of support from relevant government agency, DFAT, or international organisation (stream-dependent)
Police clearances from all countries lived in for 12+ months over the past 10 years
Health examination results (chest X-ray, medical, vaccinations as required)
Evidence of citizenship and residency for PALM stream
Proof of tertiary qualification and job offer (or AUD 5,000 savings) for MATES stream; job offer and recruitment approval for PALM stream
Evidence of age (18+ for Domestic Worker stream; 18–30 for MATES stream)
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Covers a wide range of international relations contexts via six distinct streams
- Enables work under bilateral government agreements
- Provides structured seasonal work opportunities for Pacific Island citizens
- PALM/MATES stream creates a targeted pathway for qualifying Indian workers
- Supports diplomatic staff, foreign government employees, and international organisation workers
Worth Knowing
- Qualification is strictly stream-specific — applicants must qualify under exactly one stream
- Most streams require formal sponsorship or a letter of support before applying
- Seasonal Worker Program is restricted to citizens of ten specified Pacific Island nations
- PALM/MATES stream has strict age, qualification, and job offer requirements
- No direct permanent residency pathway from this visa
- Health and character requirements apply to all applicants regardless of stream
Application Process
Determine which stream applies to your situation
Confirm qualification and obtain sponsorship or nomination from an approved organisation
Obtain any required letters of support (e.g., from DFAT or a foreign government agency)
Complete health examinations and obtain police clearances from all required countries
Create or log in to ImmiAccount and submit the online application
Pay the application fee
Await processing; respond promptly to any requests for additional information
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Living in Australia
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