How much does Australia's 408 Workplace Justice visa cost in 2026? Is it free?
There is no visa application charge (VAC) for the Australian Government Endorsed Events (Workplace Justice Pilot) stream of the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408). That is stated directly on the Department of Home Affairs page Australian Government Endorsed Events (Workplace Justice Pilot) (Subclass Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)), as of the July 2026 official page: "There is no visa application charge for this visa." Free to lodge, however, is not the same as free to hold — the same page points to other costs, including health checks and police certificates, and to a charge that applies when family members join your application later.
So is the application itself really free?
Yes, for the applicant. The pilot was designed so that temporary migrants can stay in Australia while pursuing a workplace exploitation claim, and the visa application charge has been removed for this stream. You apply online through ImmiAccount, and the official step-by-step still lists a "pay the application fee (if required)" step — for this stream it is not required.
Being free at lodgement does not remove the other requirements that sit around the application. You still have to prove identity, show that you can support yourself, and provide certification of your workplace exploitation claim from a participating government agency or an accredited third party. Those steps take time and, in some cases, money.
This is general information about how the published rules are structured, not personalised advice about your situation; because charge schedules and requirements change, check the current Home Affairs pages or get professional advice before you rely on any figure.
What can still cost you money if the visa charge is zero?
| Item | When it applies | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|
| Health checks | If Home Affairs asks for health examinations after you apply | Listed as another cost you might have to pay; you will be told if they are needed |
| Police certificates | If and when Home Affairs asks you for one | Listed as another cost; you will be told if and when to get one |
| Adequate health insurance | For the whole stay | A condition of the visa — you must maintain adequate health insurance |
| Subsequent temporary application charge | Family members added to your application after you lodge | Family added later must pay this charge |
The official page does not set dollar amounts for these items, and the department tells applicants which of them are required rather than requiring everyone to pay for all of them. Any amount you see quoted elsewhere should be confirmed against the current Home Affairs charges pages before you budget around it.
Does the visa pricing estimator give you the full cost?
No. Home Affairs directs applicants to the visa pricing estimator to work out what the visa will cost, and states explicitly that the estimator does not take into account the other costs. Treat it as a way to confirm the visa application charge position for your circumstances, then add the items in the table above separately.
For timing, the department publishes a visa processing time guide tool rather than fixed numbers, and warns that applications take longer when they are filled in incorrectly, when documents are missing, or when information takes time to verify.
When do family members become a cost?
The distinction is timing, not relationship. Members of the family unit can be included in your visa application if they are in Australia when you lodge, and each family member who applies with you must meet the health and character requirements. A family member added after you apply — by lodging a subsequent entrant application in ImmiAccount — must pay the subsequent temporary application charge.
So a partner or child who is in Australia and included from the start does not attract that charge, while the same person added later does. Note also that the pilot only covers family who are in Australia; the page frames inclusion around family present in Australia at the time you apply.
What do you need before you apply?
Before lodging, you must report your workplace exploitation to a participating government agency or an accredited third party so they can help resolve the claim and certify it. The certification must come from one of those bodies — the official list sits in the instrument Who can certify your claim — and you must attach it when you lodge.
You must also be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply, and any family members applying with you must meet the same location condition. If you have a baby born in Australia, you must tell the department about the child as soon as possible; the child cannot be included in the application until you do.
What happens if your claim is not finished when the visa ends?
You cannot extend this visa. If your workplace exploitation claim is not finalised before your visa expires, you may be eligible to apply for another visa — but you cannot reuse your original claim certification. You would need new certification from a participating government agency or an accredited third party.
If the claim is finalised and the visa is about to expire, the official guidance is to plan to leave Australia; staying would require applying for and being granted another type of visa. Your visa stay period is set out in your grant letter, starts on the day the visa is granted, and does not restart each time you re-enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 408 Workplace Justice visa completely free?
The visa application charge is zero, so lodging costs nothing at the department's counter. Other costs can still arise, including health checks, police certificates and maintaining adequate health insurance during your stay.
Do family members who apply with me at the start pay a charge?
The official page does not attach a charge to family members included in your application when you lodge, provided they are in Australia. Family members added after you apply must pay the subsequent temporary application charge.
Will I get money back if my application is refused?
Home Affairs states that the application fee is not refunded if an application is refused. Because this stream has no visa application charge, there is no application charge paid to refund; any money spent on health checks or police certificates is separate.
Do I have to buy health insurance?
Yes. It is a condition of the visa that you maintain adequate health insurance for the period of your stay in Australia. This is an ongoing cost rather than a one-off lodgement cost.
Do I need a police certificate or health exam right away?
Not necessarily. The department tells you if and when a police certificate is needed, and tells you after you apply if health examinations are required. Both are listed as costs you might have to pay, not automatic requirements for every applicant.
Can I use the same workplace exploitation certification for a later visa?
No. You cannot reuse your original workplace exploitation claim certification when applying for another visa. You would need fresh certification from a participating government agency or an accredited third party.