Seasonal Worker Programme (Subclass 403)

The Seasonal Worker Visa is set up to allow farmers the ability to recruit a reliable, returning workforce when there is not enough Australian labour to meet the demand.

Another reason the visa was created was that it would allow seasonal workers to contribute to the economic development of their home country through skills transfers and remittances.

However, applicants from every country cannot apply for this visa. Nationalities that participate in the seasonal worker program are countries in the South Pacific including, but not limited to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 

You must be Sponsored:
In order to apply for the seasonal worker visa, applicants must be sponsored by an employer that is authorised to participate in the programme. You cannot apply for the visa without first having an employer organised.

Cost: $310

Duration: Up to 9 months

Condition 8503 is usually placed on these visas. This means that unless you apply for an exemption, it may be difficult to extend your visa when you are in Australia.

Please note, you also cannot include family members on this visa.