Temporary Activity visa - Subclass 408

The criteria for this visa includes:

• Have an innovative idea with a supporting business plan;
• Be under 45 years of age at time of application;
• Demonstrate at least a minimum of Vocational level English; 
• Meet all health, character and financial requirements detailed by the Department of Home Affairs; 
• Be endorsed by a South Australian Government entity (Department for Innovation and Skills) to take forward an innovative idea in South Australia;
• Have sufficient funds* to support yourself and any eligible dependant family members included in your application.

For full details, please see the Department of Home Affairs website.

* The Department of Home Affairs may ask you to provide evidence of funds, such as an employment contract, bank statements or a letter from your financial institution stating your financial position. Allowances, accommodation and other assistance from your employer may also be considered by the Department of Home Affairs when looking at your ability to support yourself. 

To meet the South Australian endorsement requirements you must:

1. Residency Requirement

1.1 If you are successfully granted a SISA – Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa, you must meet all of your obligations listed under endorsement application process. 

1.2 You will need to continue to be involved in the South Australian innovation sector for the duration of your Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa. 

1.3 Maintain primary residence in South Australia and contribute to the South Australian economy and community throughout the period of the SISA Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa. 

2. Age

2.1 You must be under 45 years of age at the time of the endorsement decision and subsequent visa application.

2.2 You must factor in the endorsement application processing times as there is no fast-tracking of applications. 

3. English language

3.1 You must have at least Vocational level English unless you meet 3.3 below, 

3.2 Skilled & Business Migration and the Department of Home Affairs accept the following English language tests:

• IELTS - International English Language Test System (Academic or General)
• OET - Occupational English Test (For Health Professionals only)
• PTE Academic - Pearson Test of English Academic
• TOEFL iBT - Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet Based Test
• CAE - Cambridge English: Advanced

3.2.1 You must give permission to Skilled & Business Migration to view your PTE Academic test results through your  online PTE Academic account. You will need to give permission to Skilled & Business Migration, in addition to the  Department of Home Affairs.

3.3 Passport holders and citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America, or the Republic of Ireland are exempt from providing an English test result.

3.4 The English Language test that you provide will need to be less than three (3) years old at the time you apply for your visa, not at the time of nomination decision. 

4. Ineligible business types

4.1 The following business types will not be eligible for endorsement by the South Australian Government for the Supporting Innovation in South Australia – Temporary Activity visa:

• Cafés and restaurants
• Consulting firms/companies
• Employment agencies
• Export/import businesses/companies
• Franchises
• Foot reflexology
• Massage parlours
• Acupuncture
• Traditional Chinese medicine
• Herbal dispensing businesses
• Geomancy/fengshui business
• Retail 

5. Onshore/Offshore applicant’s eligibility

5.1 You can apply for South Australian Government endorsement if you are currently residing offshore or onshore unless you currently have an Australian visa subclass listed in 5.2 below. 

5.2 Current Australian visa holders of one of the following visa subclasses will not be eligible for endorsement by the South Australian Government:

• Student visas (including subclasses 500, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574)
• Subclass 403
• Subclass 771

5.3 If you are currently on a subclass 485 visa, you must be presently engaged in a structured program offered by one of our identified South Australian innovation eco-system providers and the provider organisation will support your application to be considered.

6. Business concept, idea or proposal

6.1 You can demonstrate in-depth knowledge, expertise or track record in the product or service you are targeting;

6.2 Your business concept demonstrates a clear, competitive advantage, genuine innovation, novel intellectual property or high barriers to entry;

6.3 You commit to developing a start-up project in South Australia in ANY industry sector. However, priority will be given to proposals in the industry sectors/areas listed under item 7 below. 

6.4 You have secured the support of a selected service provider who/that has reviewed and approves of your project proposal, idea or concept (Skilled & Business Migration will forward your application to your selected service provider)

6.5 Your project has strong potential to create local employment and export revenue for South Australia.

6.6 Your project will have at least 50% of its assets and at least 50% of your staff located in South Australia during the period of your Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa.

7. Priority industry sectors

7.1 Priority will be given to proposals in the following industry sectors/areas: 

• Defence and Space 
• Digital, including Cyber Security, Big Data, and Blockchain
• Food, Wine and AgTech
• Health and Medical Technology
• Robotics 
• Media and Film

8. Financial Capacity

8.1 You must ensure that you have sufficient funds for settlement when you arrive in South Australia, as indicated in the table below. The figures in the table below are indicative of 12 months living expenses in South Australia. Evidence of financial capacity is not required; however, South Australia reserves the right to seek additional information or evidence at any stage. It is recommended that you do not dispose of any assets before your visa is granted by the Department of Home Affairs.  

You can only apply for a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa to participate in SISA if you meet all of the Department of Home Affairs criteria and South Australian Government requirements.

Applicants who are issued with the SISA Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa will:

1. Observe and participate in the schedule planned for you by the service provider if you used this pathway – all participation arrangements will be between you and the service provider; and/or
2. Actively participate in the South Australian Government planned innovation and entrepreneurial events relevant to your project/idea/proposal, e.g. SouthStart Conference, Entrepreneurs’ Week if you used the ‘direct’ pathway;
3. Participate in surveys related to SISA that may be conducted by your service provider or the South Australian Government;
4. Create a business that has the potential to become a sustainable high-growth start-up, with the future potential to employ South Australians;
5. Assist in building the capacity and capability of the South Australian business community through engagement with the local entrepreneurial and innovation community; 
6. Maintain primary residence in South Australia and contribute to the South Australian economy and community throughout the period of the SISA Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa.

Eligibility for permanent residence

The Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa is a temporary visa only. A pathway to permanent residence will be available through the existing pathways, if you can meet the relevant visa requirements after your period of temporary stay.

Work rights

The primary purpose of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa you were granted, is to work on SISA related activities (such as your own start-up). This could potentially be paid work, either as part of your start-up’s structure itself, or as part of work in South Australia’s start-up/innovation ecosystem (e.g. talks, mentoring, etc.)

There will be no limit on the amount of paid employment you can undertake in SISA activities.

You may also engage in up to 20 hours a week of other work that supports you to participate in SISA.

Your dependents will have unlimited work and study rights. You will only need to pay local fees for school-aged dependents at public primary and secondary schools in South Australia. If they are studying at university, they will have to pay international student fees.