How this Visa Works

This visa requires approved special program sponsors in Australia to invite a person from overseas to participate in an approved Special Program in Australia.

If you are outside Australia when you apply, you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted. If you are in Australia when you apply, you must be in Australia when the visa is granted.

The Special Program comprises:

• Youth exchange programs which provide overseas participants with an opportunity to experience Australian life and culture that may include a work activity, or a work placement that is related to their academic qualifications and future career.
• Cultural enrichment or community benefit programs which allow overseas participants to take part in activities that provide cultural enrichment or benefits to the Australian community.

Special program approval

Only Australian organisations may enter into a special program agreement with the Department. For the purpose of the Special Program, an Australian organisation is a body that is lawfully established and actively operating in Australia (including an unincorporated body of persons). It does not include an individual or a sole trader.

The Australian organisation must have its program approved as a Special Program by the department.

If the Australian organisation's program is approved as a Special Program, the organisation will be required to enter into an agreement with the department which:

• sets out the details of the program
• the terms and conditions for approval of the program
• monitoring and reporting obligations and
• other undertakings and provision for re-approval and revocation of the program.

The agreement must be signed by the organisation and the department. Once the agreement has been signed by both parties, the organisation may apply to become a special program sponsor. When the sponsorship is approved the organisation is able to invite non-Australian residents to participate in its approved Special Program.

An approved special program is generally valid for 12 months. Continuation of a Special Program is dependent on the timely receipt by the department of satisfactory monitoring reports from the organisation by 31 July each year. Failure to provide monitoring reports may result in revocation of the Special Program agreement.

Note: Schools seeking to invite people to Australia under the School to School Interchange Program (SSIP) or the School Language Assistants Program (SLAP) do not require a special program agreement before applying for special program sponsorship.

Special program sponsorship

After entering into a special program agreement with the department, an organisation may apply to become a special program sponsor.

Special program visa applicants

Applicants must have an invitation from an approved Special Program organisation before applying for a Special Program visa.

Bringing family

The following people may be included in your visa application:

• your partner
• your or your partner's dependent children
• other dependent relatives.

Secondary applicants who have not been listed in the visa application and who want to join you in Australia at a later time will need to lodge a separate visa application. A letter from your sponsor is required to be provided with the application confirming that the sponsor will accept responsibility for the secondary applicants for the period of their stay in Australia.

Work and study

You may work or study if these are part of the approved program in which you are participating.

Visa validity period

This visa is valid for the period specified in the special program agreement between the Australian organisation and the department and is generally between four and 12 months.
Note: This visa can only be extended under exceptional circumstances, after lodgement of a new visa application.

Other visa options

This visa is not intended as a substitute for a work visa or a working holiday visa in unskilled or low-skilled work. Depending on the main purpose of your visit and the length of time you want to stay in Australia, other visas may be more appropriate.
See:
Visiting Australia
Working in Australia

If you are considering a religious vocation, there are several visa options, depending on what activities you wish to undertake in Australia. 
See: Visa Pathways for Religious Workers ( 62KB PDF file)