What is the difference between the 403 visa and the 482 Skills in Demand visa?

The subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa is not an employer sponsorship visa in the standard commercial sense. It covers defined international relations contexts — government agreements, diplomatic workers, PALM scheme workers, and international organisations. The subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is the standard pathway for Australian businesses that want to sponsor skilled overseas workers for genuine ongoing positions. If you are an Australian business seeking to sponsor a worker for a commercial role, the 482 is almost certainly the relevant visa, not the 403. The 403 applies only in the specific contexts described in its stream definitions.

Can a PALM worker change employers?

The subclass 403 PALM stream visa ties the worker to the approved PALM employer. If the worker wants to change employers, the new employer must also be an approved PALM employer, and the arrangement must comply with the PALM scheme requirements. A worker cannot simply change to any employer — the visa and the PALM arrangement are linked. Any change should be managed through the PALM scheme administrator and may require a new visa application or endorsement. Workers should not cease work for the sponsoring employer without understanding the visa consequences.

What is the Foreign Government Agency stream — who uses it?

The Foreign Government Agency stream of the 403 visa is for employees of a foreign government who are employed in that foreign government's official capacity and need to work in Australia on a temporary basis. This covers staff of foreign embassies, consulates, and official government bodies who do not hold diplomatic status (which would otherwise be covered by the Diplomatic visa). The foreign government agency is the supporting party for this stream. This is distinct from the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream, which covers domestic staff employed by a diplomat or consular officer at their residence.

What conditions apply to subclass 403 visa holders?

Conditions vary by stream. A common feature across streams is that the visa is tied to the sponsoring arrangement — the visa holder must work for or within the context of the arrangement that supported their visa. The PALM stream imposes a condition requiring the worker to work for the approved PALM employer. Other streams impose their own conditions. There are generally restrictions on changing employers or activities without Departmental approval. Specific conditions are stated in the visa grant notice — visa holders should review their conditions carefully. Confirm current conditions for the specific stream on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Is there a pathway to permanent residence from the subclass 403 visa?

The subclass 403 is a temporary visa — it does not itself provide a direct pathway to permanent residence. For PALM stream workers who want to explore long-term options in Australia, the relevant permanent pathways — such as employer-sponsored permanent residence (subclass 186 or 494) — would require meeting separate eligibility criteria including occupation lists, skills assessments, and English requirements, and would generally require a different visa and a different employer sponsorship arrangement. The existence of a 403 visa does not guarantee eligibility for any permanent pathway. Seek advice specific to your occupation and circumstances.

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Temporary Work Visa
Subclass 403 — International Relations

Q: What is the PALM scheme and who qualifies for the PALM stream of the 403 visa?

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme enables businesses in approved sectors (agriculture, horticulture, accommodation, meat processing, and others) to recruit workers from approved Pacific countries and Timor-Leste. To be eligible for the PALM stream of the 403 visa, the worker must be a national of an approved PALM country (including Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Timor-Leste), and the employer must be approved under the PALM scheme. The PALM scheme is administered through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, not the Department of Home Affairs — employers must obtain PALM approval before workers can be sponsored. Confirm current participating countries on the Department of Home Affairs and PALM scheme websites.

The subclass 403 covers five distinct streams: Government Agreement, Foreign Government Agency, Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular), Privileges and Immunities, and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. Each stream has its own sponsor, eligibility criteria, and stay period.

General information current as at August 2026. Requirements are subject to change — verify with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

The Short Answer

The subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa is not a standard employer-sponsored commercial visa — it covers defined international relations contexts including bilateral government agreements, foreign government agency staff, diplomatic domestic workers, international organisation officials, and workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. The PALM stream allows workers from approved Pacific countries and Timor-Leste to work for approved PALM employers for up to four years in eligible sectors. Each stream has a different sponsoring body and different conditions. Nanak Migration Group (MARN 2619467) can advise on which stream applies and what is required. No outcome guarantees.

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Subclass 403

Temporary Work (International Relations) visa

The 403 visa covers several distinct streams with different sponsors, eligibility criteria, and stay periods. The correct stream must be identified before lodging.

Up to 4 years

PALM stream — other streams vary by arrangement

PALM stream workers can be approved for stays of up to 4 years. Stay periods for other streams depend on the sponsoring arrangement and agreement.

Various sponsors

Sponsoring body depends on the stream

Government agencies, foreign government entities, PALM-approved employers and international organisations each operate under different sponsorship frameworks for the 403 visa.

Confirm fee on DoHA

Application charge — confirm current fee on DoHA

Visa application charges are updated periodically. Confirm current charges on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging.

Reviewed by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2619467)

Last reviewed: July 2026

Overview Streams explained PALM scheme Conditions & stay Application process FAQ Related pages

What this visa is

Understanding the Subclass 403 Visa

The subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa exists for situations where Australia's international obligations or bilateral arrangements require a specific visa framework outside the standard employer sponsorship system. It is a multi-stream visa — the five streams are essentially separate visa pathways that share a subclass number.

The most widely used stream by volume is the PALM scheme stream, which supports Australia's labour mobility commitments to Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste. The other streams serve narrow diplomatic and international organisation contexts.

This is not the standard employer sponsorship visa

The subclass 403 is not used for general commercial employer sponsorship. Australian businesses seeking to sponsor skilled workers for ongoing commercial roles should use the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa or subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme. Confirm which visa applies to your situation before lodging.

Five distinct pathways

The Five Streams of the Subclass 403 Visa

Government AgreementGovernment Agreement stream

Who

Workers employed under a bilateral government agreement between Australia and a foreign country.

Sponsor / Support

The relevant Australian government agency that is party to the agreement, or the employer nominated under the agreement.

Stay period

Duration of the agreement or arrangement — varies by agreement.

This stream requires an approved government agreement to be in place before an individual application can be lodged.

Foreign Govt AgencyForeign Government Agency stream

Who

Employees of a foreign government agency working in Australia in an official capacity — not diplomatic-status staff.

Sponsor / Support

The foreign government agency or its nominated representative.

Stay period

Varies — typically tied to the term of employment or the posting.

Different from the Diplomatic and Consular stream. Staff with full diplomatic status use a different visa class.

Domestic WorkerDomestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream

Who

Domestic workers — housekeepers, cooks, nannies — employed in the private residence of a diplomat or consular officer.

Sponsor / Support

The diplomat or consular officer who employs the domestic worker, in conjunction with the relevant mission.

Stay period

Duration of the diplomat's posting in Australia, typically renewed with the principal visa holder.

Workers must be personally employed by the diplomat, not by the mission or agency.

Privileges & ImmunitiesPrivileges and Immunities stream

Who

Officials and staff of international organisations recognised by the Australian government (e.g. United Nations agencies, international financial institutions).

Sponsor / Support

The international organisation, which must be approved by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Stay period

Duration of the appointment or posting.

Approval of the organisation by DFAT is a prerequisite — not all international organisations are recognised.

PALMPacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) stream

Who

Citizens of approved Pacific countries and Timor-Leste working for approved PALM employers in agriculture, horticulture, accommodation, meat processing, and related approved sectors.

Sponsor / Support

An approved PALM scheme employer — must hold current PALM scheme approval from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Stay period

Up to 4 years for long-term PALM placements; short-term placements available for seasonal work.

PALM scheme is the successor to the Seasonal Worker Programme. Employer must obtain PALM approval before workers are engaged.

PALM scheme

Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Stream

The PALM scheme is Australia's primary labour mobility program for Pacific countries and Timor-Leste. It replaced the Seasonal Worker Programme and consolidated access to both seasonal and long-term placements under a single program administered by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Participating countries

Fiji

Kiribati

Nauru

Papua New Guinea

Samoa

Solomon Islands

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Timor-Leste

Other approved countries — confirm on DoHA

Approved sectors

Agriculture and horticulture (seasonal)

Accommodation and food services

Meat processing

Aged care and disability care (long-term)

Other approved sectors — confirm on PALM scheme website

Confirm current PALM scheme participating countries and approved sectors on the Department of Home Affairs and PALM scheme websites

The list of approved countries and eligible sectors may change. Always confirm current arrangements on the Department of Home Affairs website and the PALM scheme website (administered by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations) before lodging or planning a recruitment.

What the visa allows

Conditions and Stay Periods

Stream	Max stay	Work restriction	Key condition
Government Agreement	Duration of agreement	Work under agreement only	Tied to the agreement arrangement
Foreign Government Agency	Duration of posting/employment	Work for agency only	Ceases if employment ends
Domestic Worker (Diplomatic)	Duration of diplomat's posting	Work for sponsoring diplomat only	Cannot change employer freely
Privileges and Immunities	Duration of appointment	Work for organisation only	Organisation must remain approved
PALM	Up to 4 years (long-term); seasonal for short-term	Work for approved PALM employer only	Employer must maintain PALM approval

Figures current at August 2026 — confirm current conditions and stay periods on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging.

How to apply

Application Process

Identify the correct stream

Confirm which stream applies to your situation — the sponsoring body, eligibility criteria, and required documents differ significantly between streams.

Sponsor or supporting agency preparation

The sponsoring entity (government agency, approved PALM employer, foreign government, or international organisation) prepares the nomination or approval documentation relevant to that stream.

Gather visa application documents

Collect identity documents, health assessments (if required), character documents, and stream-specific supporting evidence — for example, PALM employer approval for the PALM stream.

Lodge the visa application online

The applicant (or their migration agent) lodges the subclass 403 application through ImmiAccount, attaching all required documents and paying the visa application charge.

Await decision

Processing times vary by stream and by individual circumstances. The Department may request further information before making a decision.

Common questions

Subclass 403 Questions Answered

Unsure which 403 stream applies? Seek advice before lodging.

The five streams of the subclass 403 have different sponsors, requirements, and conditions. Nanak Migration Group (MARN 2619467) can identify the correct stream and guide preparation. No outcome can be guaranteed.

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General information only — not immigration advice

About this information

This information is general in nature and does not constitute immigration assistance or legal advice for any individual situation. Requirements including occupation lists, fees and processing criteria change without notice.

No outcome representation

Nanak Migration Group Pty Ltd makes no representation that information on this site is complete, current or applicable to your circumstances. Nothing here guarantees, implies or represents any visa outcome, approval likelihood or processing time.

Get personal advice

Obtain advice tailored to your situation from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

Information current as at August 2026. Verify all requirements with the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) before lodging any application.

Temporary Work Visa
Subclass 403 — International Relations

General information current as at August 2026. Requirements are subject to change — verify with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

The Short Answer

Stream

Max stay

Work restriction

Key condition

Government Agreement

Duration of agreement

Work under agreement only

Tied to the agreement arrangement

Foreign Government Agency

Duration of posting/employment

Work for agency only

Ceases if employment ends

Domestic Worker (Diplomatic)

Duration of diplomat's posting

Work for sponsoring diplomat only

Cannot change employer freely

Privileges and Immunities

Duration of appointment

Work for organisation only

Organisation must remain approved

PALM

Up to 4 years (long-term); seasonal for short-term

Work for approved PALM employer only

Employer must maintain PALM approval

Understanding the Subclass 403 Visa

The Five Streams of the Subclass 403 Visa

Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Stream

Conditions and Stay Periods

Application Process

Subclass 403 Questions Answered

Related Pages

Unsure which 403 stream applies? Seek advice before lodging.

Understanding the Subclass 403 Visa

The Five Streams of the Subclass 403 Visa

Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Stream

Conditions and Stay Periods

Application Process

Subclass 403 Questions Answered

Related Pages

Unsure which 403 stream applies? Seek advice before lodging.