How this Visa Works
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This visa requires organisations 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.
- Community based non-commercial programs which allow overseas participants to take part in activities that provide cultural enrichment or benefits to the Australian community.
- Churchill Fellowships which have been awarded by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust in your country (where applicable).
Special program approval
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 invite non-Australian residents to participate in its approved Special Program.
Special program approval period
An approved special program is 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.
Special Program visa applicants
Overseas participants must be a Churchill Fellowship holder or have an invitation or a nomination from an approved Special Program organisation to participate in their Special Program.
Bringing family
The following people may be included in your application:
- your spouse
- your or your spouse's dependent children
Work and study
You may work or study if these are part of the approved program in which you are participating. If there is a study component in the program, it may make up to 20% of your program activity.
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 4 to 12 months.
Note: This visa can only be extended under exceptional circumstances, after lodgement of a new visa application.
Health insurance
Private Health Insurance is available to you and your family and is strongly recommended, but it is not a requirement for the grant of this visa.
See: www.health.gov.au
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. If the main purpose of your visit to Australia is to work or have a holiday, see Working in Australia or Visiting Australia.
See: Visitors
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)