How this visa works

You must have an approved Training and Research sponsor or a visiting academic sponsor. You do not need a nomination to apply for this stream.

Before you apply for this stream

You must have an approved Training and Research or Visiting Academic sponsor to be granted a Training and Research visa under the research stream.

Who can apply for this visa

You must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for this visa stream:

• be sponsored by a training and research sponsor or visiting academic sponsor
• have been invited to observe or participate in an Australian research project for a period of up to 12 months:
• at the sponsoring Australian tertiary or research institution
• in collaboration with other academics employed by the sponsoring Australian tertiary or research institution
• be employed or have formerly been employed as an academic at a tertiary or research institution outside Australia and hold or have held a senior academic title
• have qualifications and experience required for the position
• have a significant record of achievement in your field
• must not receive remuneration other than a contribution towards living and travel expenses
• have a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia
• have adequate financial support for you and any accompanying family members while in Australia
• have adequate arrangements for health insurance for you and any accompanying family members for the duration of your intended stay in Australia
• meet health and character requirements.
  See:
  Health Requirement
  Character Requirement

Financial support

You may be asked to provide evidence of funds, such as employment contract, bank statements or a letter from your financial institution stating your financial position.  Allowances, accommodation and other assistance from your sponsor can also be considered when looking at your ability to support yourself.

Health insurance requirements

You (and any accompanying family members) must hold adequate health insurance cover for the entire time you are in Australia. You should ensure your insurance will provide at least the level of coverage required for the purpose of your stay. Your health insurance cover does not have to be held with an Australian insurer. Arrangements made in your home country may be assessed as being acceptable.

As a guide to the level of health insurance the department will accept as adequate, refer to 'Attachment A' in the health insurance standard template letter.
See: Health Insurance Standard Template Letter (106KB RTF file)

This requirement may not apply to you if your country has a reciprocal health care agreement.

Supporting documentation

You will need to provide the following documents to support your application:

• a letter of invitation from the sponsoring Australian tertiary or research institution
• a statement from the home institution if you are currently employed by a tertiary or research institution outside Australia, or evidence of having formerly been employed as an academic at a tertiary or research institution outside Australia
• a list of papers published in recognised journals
• a copy of your qualifications and curriculum vitae and if required, a copy of registration or licences to allow you to undertake work.

Letter of invitation

The letter of invitation from the Australian tertiary or research institution should indicate:

• they agree to be the approved sponsor of the primary sponsored person and if applicable, his or her family members
• the period for which the invitation is extended
• details of the position and job title
• a duty statement and responsibilities
• the nature and amount of any proposed payments by the institution to you.

The structure of academic institutions varies widely. However, the invitation should come from the person with overall administrative authority within the institution. For example, from the Registrar, Chief Executive Officer or equivalent central administrative authority of the relevant institution.

Statement from home institution

If you are currently employed as an academic, a statement from your home institution should confirm the invitation to visit an Australian tertiary or research institution and provide evidence that your leave from your usual academic appointment will be granted.

What this visa lets you do

This visa will allow you to:

• enter Australia at any time after your visa is granted
• remain in Australia for the period of the training, research position or program
• undertake the work or activity specified in your visa application
• bring any eligible secondary applicants (family members) with you to Australia
• enter Australia once or on multiple occasions during the visa validity period.

How long this visa lasts

Your visa is valid for the period of the position or up to 12 months.

How to apply for this visa

You can be in or outside Australia to apply for this visa.

Applying for the Training and Research visa is a two stage process under the Research stream.

1. proposed sponsor lodges a sponsorship (either as a Visiting Academic sponsor if the application is made before 24 November 2012 or a Training and research sponsor)
2. you lodge your visa application.

There is no nomination requirement for the Research stream of the Training and Research visa (subclass 402).
Note: Visiting Academic sponsors who have been approved before 24 November 2012 will only be able to sponsor applicants under the Research stream of the Training and Research visa (subclass 402). Training and Research Sponsor will be able to sponsor applicants under the Occupational Trainee stream and the Research stream, but will not be able to sponsor applicants under the Professional Development stream of the Training and Research visa.

Application form

You will need to complete the visa application Form 1402 Application for a Training and Research visa and attach all necessary documentation.
See: Form 1402 – Application for a Training and Research visa (432KB PDF file)

You must lodge your application at the following locations:

• In Australia - Lodge the application with the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - Tasmania
  See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – Tasmania
• Outside Australia - Lodge at your nearest Australian mission overseas
  See: Immigration Offices Outside Australia

Prepare your documents

The documents you must provide are listed in the Document checklist.
See: Application Document Checklist (135KB PDF file)

Some documents may take you several weeks to obtain. You should have all the required documents ready when you lodge your application to reduce any delays in processing.

The department will contact you if it needs other documents or more information.

Renewing a visa

If while in Australia you apply for a further visa to extend your stay you will need to complete a new application and attach appropriate evidence.

Costs

You will need to pay a non-refundable visa application charge when you lodge your application.
See: Visa Charges ( 84KB PDF file)

Bringing family

You can include secondary applicants (family members) in your visa application. Secondary applicants would need to satisfy the primary criteria in their own right or apply for another appropriate visa.

The following people may be included in your visa application:

• your partner
• your or your partner's dependent children
• other dependent relatives who live with you.

Secondary applicants who have not been listed in your 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 must be provided with the application confirming that the sponsor will accept responsibility for your secondary applicants for the period of their stay in Australia.

Additionally, secondary applicants who  who intend to make an application separate from that of the primary person who has been granted a Visiting Academic visa (subclass 419) will need to apply for a Research and Training visa (subclass 402) to join the primary sponsored person.

If you get a new passport

• Your visa is linked to the passport number you used in your application and you are advised to use the same passport to travel to Australia.
• Make sure your passport is valid for the period of stay you are applying for. If you do obtain a new passport, you should advise the department of the new passport details before you travel to Australia. Otherwise, you may experience significant delays at the airport and could be denied permission to board your plane.