Visas For Sports People

VISAS FOR SPORTS PEOPLE

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please note: whilst this information was current at the time of publication the process and law has since changed for Australia visas for sports people - please refer to our more current material or call for upto date information

Each year hundreds of sports people and officials visit Australia to play.  Whether it’s just to train or play for a professional or amateur club, there are various different visas to choose from depending on what you plan on doing during your stay in Australia.  


Visa 421
If you are a sportsperson wishing to enter Australia to play then you will need to obtain a Subclass 421 Sports Visa.  

Who is this visa for?
This visa is for both professional and amateur individuals and teams as well as their coaches, support staff or instructors.  Adjudicators, judges of sport or those entering Australia to participant in a structured sports training program longer than three months are also covered under this visa.

May I bring family members with me?
This visa allows you to bring in members of your family.  If a member of your family wishes to join you in Australia at a later time, they will need to lodge a separate visa application.  A letter from the sportsman’s sponsor must accompany the visa detailing that the Sponsor will be responsible for any family members during their stay in Australia. 

Visa requirements
You will require sponsorship and nomination by an Australian organisation or government agency or a foreign government agency that promotes sport or sporting events.  For example, Tennis Australia or Netball Australia.   Sport Visa applications require an accompanied letter of endorsement from the Sports National Body.

You will also need adequate health insurance whilst you are in Australia.

Sporting bodies have different requirements
Some sporting bodies, for example the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) have specific criteria that need to be fully met before they will endorse a Sport Visa.  For example, for a player to be endorsed by the ARU they must have the ability and eligibility to play at Senior National level.  Alternatively, if they are coming to Australia to train they must be under contract to an Australian club and playing at Senior National level in their own country.  

Contractual players
A Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457) is the most appropriate visa for players contracted to a club for a season.  Players can stay in Australia for a period of 4 years.  

Visas for Promotional matches or trials (short stay) Players are eligible for a Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 456) or ETA Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 977) for promotional games or trials.   

Only training and not playing?If you are intending to come to Australia for less than three months to undertake limited sports training or play and you are not being paid, a tourist visa maybe more appropriate.  The eVisitor (subclass 651), the Tourist visa (subclass 676) and the ETA for visitors (subclass 976) are other visa options that you may enter Australia on.  

If you intend on playing for a particular club, you will usually only be able to play a maximum of three games on these alternative visas.  

Participating in other sporting activities
Your visa is only for the sport or activity that you have applied for in your visa.  You must not take on any other employment or another sporting activity whilst you are in Australia.  

Maximum Stay 
You may stay in Australia for a maximum period of two years.  

May I leave and re-enter Australia on this visa?
Yes

Question? email visas@mccormicks.com.au 

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