How to apply online for Australia's 408 Workplace Justice visa in 2026 (ImmiAccount steps)

Plain-language guide · general information, not immigration advice

You lodge this visa online, through ImmiAccount, while you are in Australia and not in immigration clearance — there is no paper route. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page Australian Government Endorsed Events (Workplace Justice Pilot) (Temporary Activity visa, subclass 408), as of the July 2026 official page, the application steps are: create or log in to ImmiAccount, attach your documents, pay the application fee if one is required, and note the transaction reference number (TRN). Each family member included in your application must also have their fee paid, if required, and their own documents attached.

This article is general information about how the published process works, not advice on your individual circumstances; where your situation is unusual or your status is uncertain, rely on the official page and on any qualified professional advice you choose to obtain.

What is the 408 Workplace Justice visa for?

The Workplace Justice stream exists so you can remain temporarily in Australia to pursue a workplace exploitation claim. The official page states the visa allows a stay of 6 months, or up to 12 months depending on your circumstances, and that maintaining adequate health insurance during your stay in Australia is a condition of the visa.

Two obligations run through the whole process: you must remain in Australia temporarily to pursue your workplace exploitation claim, and you must include members of your family unit in your application if they are in Australia.

Can you lodge right now? Check these conditions first

Before you open ImmiAccount, confirm that you meet the lodgement conditions on the official page:

You are in Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
You hold a temporary substantive visa with work rights with no more than 28 days remaining, or you have held a temporary substantive visa with work rights that ceased within the last 28 days.
You have certification of your workplace exploitation claim from a participating government agency or an accredited third party.
You can maintain adequate health insurance while you are in Australia.

If you are in immigration clearance — for example, at an airport checkpoint before entry is processed — you cannot lodge. The "28 days" test is a narrow window, so check your current visa expiry in VEVO before you rely on it.

Your situation at lodgement	Does the official page allow it?
In Australia, substantive visa with work rights, 28 days or fewer remaining	Yes
In Australia, such a visa ceased within the last 28 days	Yes
In Australia, but currently in immigration clearance	No — you cannot lodge
Outside Australia	No — you must be in Australia

What has to happen before you start the online form?

Your workplace exploitation claim has to be reported to a participating government agency or an accredited third party so they can help you resolve it, including certifying the claim. You cannot lodge without that certification, and you must attach it when you lodge. The instrument that sets out who can certify a claim is published on the Australian Government Federal Register of Legislation (F2024L00918).

If someone helps you with the application, only certain people can give immigration assistance: a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person. Anyone can be appointed to receive documents on your behalf. To nominate a recipient, use Form 956A; to appoint someone providing immigration assistance, use Form 956, and upload it in ImmiAccount.

Which documents do you need to upload?

The official page groups the evidence as follows:

Certification of your workplace exploitation claim — from a participating government agency or accredited third party, attached at lodgement.
Identity documents — the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and issue and expiry dates; a national identity card if you have one; and proof of any change of name (marriage or divorce certificate, change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages or the relevant overseas authority, or documents showing other names you have been known by).
Financial documents — evidence that you can support yourself, such as an employment contract or job offer, or other evidence of your financial position. Bank statements, allowances and accommodation can also be considered.
Character documents — you will be told if and when a police certificate is needed, so you do not need to obtain one in advance.
Documents for applicants under 18 — birth certificates or the family book showing both parents' names, adoption papers where applicable, and consent from anyone with a legal right to decide where the child lives who is not travelling with them, given either on Form 1229 or by statutory declaration. An Australian court order, or evidence that the laws of your home country allow the child to be in Australia, can be shown instead. Include an identity document showing the signature and photo of the person who signed.

All information you give must be accurate. If you cannot prove your identity or you provide information that is not true, there are consequences set out in the department's guidance on providing accurate information.

How do you lodge in ImmiAccount, step by step?

Create an account or log in to ImmiAccount at the official online portal.
Attach your documents, including the certification of your workplace exploitation claim.
Pay the application fee if required. The official page does not state an amount for this stream, so treat the fee shown inside your own ImmiAccount application as the figure that applies to you.
Note the transaction reference number (TRN) once the application is submitted.

Each family member who applies with you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply, and each must have their fee paid, if required, and their documents attached to their application.

What happens after you submit?

The department lets you know when it has received your application, and it does not give updates on applications within the standard processing time. You can check in ImmiAccount whether more information is needed from you.

While the application is processed, you must hold a visa to stay lawful. If you were in Australia when you applied, you may be granted a Bridging visa A (BVA) if you held a substantive visa when you applied, or a Bridging visa C (BVC) if you did not; the bridging visa starts when your current visa expires. A BVA or BVC ceases if you leave Australia, and you cannot re-enter on it — if you need to travel while the application is being decided, you may need to apply for and be granted a Bridging visa B (BVB) before you leave. Do not ask to have the visa you currently hold cancelled: if it is cancelled, you would be staying unlawfully and your bridging visa would cease.

Other post-lodgement points from the official page:

Health exams and biometrics — you will be told if these are needed; check ImmiAccount.
Health insurance — maintaining adequate health insurance is a visa condition.
More documents — if you did not attach everything at lodgement, attach the rest in ImmiAccount as soon as possible.
Adding family later — family members in Australia can be added by lodging a subsequent entrant application in ImmiAccount; they pay the subsequent temporary application charge and must meet the health and character requirements.
Mistakes — tell the department by completing Form 1023 and attaching it in ImmiAccount.
Changes — tell the department about changes to your phone number, email, address or passport, changes to your marital or de facto status, the birth of a child, or if you want to withdraw. If you no longer need the visa and do not withdraw, it may be granted, and any other substantive visa you hold will cease at the time of grant.

How will you find out the decision?

You will be told the decision in writing. If the visa is granted, you will be given your visa grant number, your visa stay period, the date your visa starts, and any visa conditions. If it is refused, you will be told why and whether you have a right to a review of the decision. The application fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be in Australia to apply for the 408 Workplace Justice visa?

Yes. The official page requires you to be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply, and any family members who apply with you must also be in Australia and not in immigration clearance. You lodge the application online in ImmiAccount rather than on paper.

What is the 28-day rule on this visa?

You must hold a temporary substantive visa with work rights that has no more than 28 days remaining, or you must have held such a visa that ceased within the last 28 days. This is a narrow window, so check your visa expiry and conditions in VEVO before you decide when to lodge.

Can I apply without certification of my workplace exploitation claim?

No. Certification from a participating government agency or an accredited third party is a lodgement requirement, and you must attach it when you lodge. The people who can certify a claim are set out in the legislative instrument F2024L00918 on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Do I pay a separate fee for each family member?

The official page says each family member must have their application fee paid, if required, and their documents attached to their application. No fee amount is published on the visa page itself, so use the amount shown in your own ImmiAccount application.

What is the TRN and why should I keep it?

The TRN is the transaction reference number generated when you submit your ImmiAccount application. You should record it because it identifies your application when you check ImmiAccount for requests for further information or later attach documents.

Can my family join me after I have already applied?

Family members who are in Australia can be added after lodgement by submitting a subsequent entrant application in ImmiAccount. They must pay the subsequent temporary application charge and must meet the health and character requirements.

What happens if I leave Australia while my application is being decided?

A Bridging visa A or C ceases when you leave Australia and cannot be used to re-enter. If you need to travel, you may need to apply for and be granted a Bridging visa B before you depart, and you should make sure you hold a visa that allows you to return.