Step 3 - Applicant Applies for the Visa

You, as the applicant, must apply for a visa to participate in a Special Program in Australia.

To lodge a visa application, the organisation that has invited you, must have been approved as a Special Program sponsor or have lodged an application to be approved as a sponsor.

You should not make any arrangements to travel to Australia until you have been advised your Special Program visa has been granted.

Visa application form

You must complete this application form and include it with your application.
See: Form 147 Application for a temporary residence visa (non-business) (343KB PDF file)

Application checklist

The application document checklist details the information and supporting documents that you must provide with your application. Complete applications are likely to be processed more quickly. Incomplete applications may be delayed or, in some cases, refused.
See: Application Document Checklist ( 48KB PDF file)

Visa application charge

There is a non refundable charge for this visa application.
See: Specialist Entry Visa Charges

Other costs

You may be required to pay other costs such as:

• health examinations
• obtaining police checks. This charge varies from country to country. When you are required to obtain your own police checks, you are personally responsible for all arrangements
• the cost of translations of some documents.

Information to help you prepare your application

More information is available on certifying and translating documents, communicating with the department, using a migration agent, authorising another person to receive information from the department, and receiving assistance with your application.
See: Information to Help Prepare Your Application

How and where to lodge an application

You can lodge your application in two ways:

• lodge your application to the department
  See: Hobart Special Program Processing Centre
• submit your application to the approved Special Program sponsor that invited you, who will lodge your application to the department on your behalf.

Note: If you elect to submit your application to the Special Program sponsor, you must complete Part K Authorised Recipient Details on Form 147 to enable your approved Special Program sponsor to contact the Hobart Special Program Processing Centre on your behalf.

After you lodge your application

Your application will be considered by the department. In some cases you may be asked to provide additional information to enable a decision to be made.

Your application will be decided about 28 days after you lodge. Delays may occur during the peak processing times from July to September and from December and January. You should lodge your application well in advance of your intended date of travel during these periods.

If your visa is approved the department will send you a Notification of Grant letter by post or email. This letter contains:

• your Visa Grant Number
• the validity date of your visa
• the visa conditions.

If your visa is not approved the department will send you a refusal letter by post or email advising you of:

• your review rights (if any)
• the time limit for lodging an appeal.

More information

If you have read all of the available information for this visa, and you still require assistance, use the link below to contact us with your enquiry.
See: More Information