Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) · Work and skilled visas · Stream of Temporary Work (International Relations) visa
Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular)
Work under a government agreement, most commonly the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, plus domestic workers for diplomats and people with privileges and immunities.
This visa stream lets a person aged 18 years or older do temporary full-time domestic work in Australia in the household of someone who holds a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995).
- Stay
Up to 12 months on your first visa.
- Government charge
From AUD470.00 (Concessions apply in limited circumstances)
- Visa type
Temporary
Official information from the Department of Home Affairs
The material below reproduces English-language information from the Department of Home Affairs about this visa. Requirements may have changed since it was added to this website. Use the source link to check the latest information; I can explain relevant provisions in Vietnamese or English during a consultation.
Overview
Stay
Up to 12 months on your first visa.
A further Domestic Worker stream visa will let you stay for the time specified in your Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) support letter.
Government charge
From AUD470.00 (Concessions apply in limited circumstances)
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. See About this visa.
To work out what your visa will cost, use the Visa Pricing Estimator. The estimator does not take into account any other costs.
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
With this visa, you can
- do full-time domestic work in the household of someone who holds a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) visa
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid.
You must
- be outside Australia when you apply and when we decide on your first visa application
- be 18 years old or older
- have an employment contract that meets Australia’s workplace relations laws
- have the support of DFAT
- apply online.
Help with your visa
If you are getting help with your visa, before you pay someone, read information on Who can help with your visa application.
About this visa
With this visa, you can
- do full-time domestic work in the household of someone who holds a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) visa
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid.
How long can you stay
This is a temporary visa. If this is the first time you are applying for this visa, you can usually only stay for 12 months.
You can apply for a further Domestic Worker stream visa in Australia before your current visa expires. You must not be in immigration clearance. You can stay for the length of time in your support letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
The visa starts:
- on the day you first enter Australia, if you are outside Australia when we grant the visa
- on the date we grant the visa if you are in Australia
Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay.
Stay longer
You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
You can apply for a further Domestic Worker stream visa in Australia if you:
- hold a current Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) visa in the Domestic Worker Stream
- wish to keep working for your current employer in Australia who holds a Diplomatic visa (subclass 995) visa, or another employer in Australia who holds a subclass 995 visa
- have an employment contract that meets Australia's workplace relations laws
- have the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade DFAT.
If you want to stay longer for other reasons, you must apply for a new visa that suits your circumstances. See Explore your visa options.
Include family
You can't include family members in your visa application.
Cost for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste visa applicants
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application.
We will charge eligible applicants the lower visa application cost during the application process in ImmiAccount. We will recognise you as eligible if you include your valid passport from one of the specified countries in your application.
You must hold a valid passport issued by one of the following countries:
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Apply from
You must be outside Australia when you apply and when we decide on your first application.
If you apply for a further Domestic Worker visa, you can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
Your application might take longer to process if:
- you do not fill it in correctly
- you do not include all the documents we need
- we need more information from you
- it takes us time to verify your information.
We cannot process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge. We will tell you if this is the case and invalidate your application.
Your obligations
If we grant you a visa you must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Learn more about conditions for this visa.
Travel
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Eligibility
Be 18 years of age or older
You must be aged 18 years of age or older.
Have the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
You must have a letter of support from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Have an employment contract that meets Australia's workplace laws
Your pay and working conditions must meet the relevant Australian legislation and awards.
Australian workplace laws apply to all workers employed in Australia, see Fact sheet for foreign officials about private domestic workers.
Be able to support yourself
While you are in Australia, you must have the financial capacity to support yourself.
Have an interview with us
We need to meet with you to confirm your identity, employment details and see your documents. This may be at your nearest:
- office of the Department of Home Affairs, if applying in Australia or
- Australian mission, if applying outside Australia.
Work as a full-time domestic worker
You must intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in the Australian household a person who holds a Diplomatic visa (subclass 995).
For more information on your workplace rights and conditions, see Fact sheet for Private Domestic Workers.
Have this visa
If you apply from in Australia, you must already hold a Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular Stream).
Meet our health requirement
You must meet our health requirement.
If you apply for this visa outside Australia, members of the family unit who are not coming to Australia may also have to meet our health requirement.
Meet our character requirement
You must meet our character requirement.
We might also ask that family members who are not coming to Australia meet the requirement.
Have adequate health insurance
You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.
You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa. Your cover should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.
Learn more about health insurance for overseas visitors.
See more about health insurance for overseas visitors.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Meet the genuine temporary stay requirement
You must have a genuine intention to:
- stay temporarily in Australia and
- do the work or activity you specified in your visa application.
Repay debt
If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or formally arrange to pay it back.
Not had a visa cancelled or an application refused
We will consider your immigration history when we decide on your application. This means you may not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.
In some cases you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused. See Limitations on applications in Australia.
If applying for a visa from outside Australia, see Can I go to Australia.
If you need immigration help, see Who can help with your visa application.
Step by step
1Before you apply
If you need help with your application, nominate someone to help.
Organise health exams
You might need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply or you can wait until after you apply.
Find out the examinations you need and how to arrange them if you want to have them before you apply.
Get help with your application
Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:
You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.
2Gather your documents
Gather documents to prove your identity and show you have your employer's support, financial support and health insurance. You must prepare them to submit online.
Give us accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.
Identity documents
Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.
Also provide:
- a national identity card, if you have one
- proof of change of name
- Documents that prove a change of name include:
- a marriage or divorce certificate
- change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
- documents that show other names you have been known by
Work documents
A copy of your employment contract signed and dated by both parties.
Letter of support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Financial documents
To prove that you can support yourself in Australia, give us:
- evidence of funds (employment contract, bank statements) or
- a letter from your bank or financial institution stating your financial position.
We can also consider allowances, accommodation and other help from your employer.
Character documents
We will tell you if and when you need to get a police certificates.
Tell us you are getting help
To nominate someone to:
- receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.
Prepare your documents
Translate
Have all non-English documents translated into English.
Provide original and translated documents in your application.
Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:
- full name
- address and telephone number
- qualifications and experience in the language they are translating
These details must be in English.
Note: You do not need to have any documents certified.
Scan or photograph
Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in colour.
The scans and photos must be clear.
If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.
3Apply for the visa
Apply for this visa online. You must be outside Australia when you submit your first application.
You can apply for a further Domestic Worker visa from in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.
Apply for the visa online
- Create an account or log in to ImmiAccount
- Attach documents
- Pay the application fee.
- Note the transaction reference number (TRN).
We will not process your application until you pay the charge.
4After you apply
We will let you know when we have received your application.
Status updates
We can’t give updates on applications within the standard processing time.
You can check if we need more information from you in ImmiAccount
Travel after you apply
If you are in Australia, you don't have to tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. This is because you can be outside Australia when we make a decision.
But if you leave Australia, make sure you have a valid visa to return.
Learn about visa expiry.
Health exams
If you didn't have health examinations before you applied, we will let you know if you need them. Check ImmiAccount.
Biometrics
We might ask for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.
Attach more information
If you did not attach all documents when you applied, attach them as soon as possible in ImmiAccount.
Stay lawful
If you are in Australia, make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.
If you applied for this visa in Australia and your application was assessed as valid, you were granted a bridging visa. If your current visa expires before we decide on your application, the bridging visa will start. You can stay in Australia on the bridging visa while we process your new visa application.
Learn more about visa expiry
Mistakes on your application
Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.
Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers and attach it in ImmiAccount.
Help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.
For more information see Who can help you with your application.
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about after you have applied include:
- changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
- changes to your marital or de facto status
- the birth of a child
- you want to withdraw your application
See how to tell us if your situation changes.
5Visa outcome
You must be outside Australia when we decide on your first visa. You can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when we decide on a further visa application.
We will let you know our decision in writing.
If we grant your visa, we will tell you:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions, if applicable.
Keep a copy of the decision.
If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:
- why we refused the visa
- whether you have a right to a review of the decision
We will not refund the application fee if we refuse your application.
When you have this visa
Coming to Australia
Before you leave
Check your travel documents
You must have a valid:
- visa to enter Australia
- passport or other travel document.
At the border
Completing an Incoming Passenger Card
All people arriving Australia must complete the Incoming Passenger Card. You will receive this card on board.
Leaving the airport faster
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You could leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
In Australia
What you can do when you have this visa
- do full-time domestic work in the household of someone who holds a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995)
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid.
To see your specific conditions and work entitlements use VEVO.
You must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
See your conditions in VEVO
Learn more about visa conditions and how they work.
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about when you have this visa include:
- changes to your phone number, address or passport
- changes to your marital or de facto status
- the birth of a child.
See what to do if your situation changes.
See how long you can stay
To see when you must leave, use VEVO.
Staying longer
You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
You can apply for a further Domestic Worker stream visa in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, if you:
- hold a current Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) in the Domestic Worker Stream
- wish to keep working for your current employer in Australia who holds a Diplomatic visa (subclass 995), or another employer in Australia who holds a subclass 995 visa
- have an employment contract that meets Australia’s workplace relations laws
- have the support of the DFAT.
If you want to stay longer for other reasons, you must apply for a new visa that suits your circumstances, see Explore your visa options.
Travelling on your visa
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa.
See your conditions in VEVO.
Proving you have a visa
To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.
Working
To see your conditions for work, use VEVO.
If you have permission to work, Australian workplace law protects you. See your workplace rights and entitlements
Leaving Australia
Before you leave
Check your travel documents
You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.
Ensure your visa is still valid
See what to do if your visa has expired or is about to expire.
At the border
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You could leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
After you leave
Getting your superannuation
You are likely to have some money in a superannuation fund if you worked in Australia and you are:
- aged 18 years or older
- paid AUD450 or more monthly before tax.
See how to access your super.
Proving you have been to Australia
To get proof of your travel in and out of Australia request your international movement records.
All streams of the Temporary Work (International Relations) visa
Official source: Department of Home Affairs, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia. Refer to the source website for its copyright and conditions of use.
Open the official page
Next step
Have a visa question or need help getting started?
A 30-minute consultation gives us time to discuss your circumstances, consider initial options and identify the documents that need checking. Some matters require a further review of the records before I can give a complete assessment.