Coaches, Instructors, Referees and Judges on a 408 Visa

Clubs and sporting organisations often need overseas coaches, instructors and match officials as much as players. The 408 sports visa covers these roles, but the Department of Home Affairs reads them in their ordinary sense. For a season with an Australian organisation, the 408 visa is usually the right option. This page explains which roles fit, what evidence is needed and how coaching for a second organisation works.

Which roles are covered

Role	Ordinary meaning used by the Department
Coach	A person who trains athletes for games or contests, and gives instruction or advice as a coach
Instructor	A person who teaches or trains others, especially in a systematic way
Adjudicator	A person who judges a sporting competition, such as a referee, umpire or judge

The Department may also look at the occupation description for sports coaches, instructors and officials, which includes supervising practice sessions, planning game strategies and analysing performances.

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Roles that generally do not fit

Other sport support positions, for example a sports development officer or a nutrition consultant, generally do not meet the coach or instructor requirement. People in those roles need another visa, such as a Skills in Demand 482 visa if the occupation and pay fit, or a 400 visa for short, highly specialised work.

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What you need

• an invitation and a formal arrangement, usually a contract, with an Australian sporting team or organisation for a set period;
• a letter of endorsement from the national sporting body for the sport in Australia, certifying that you can coach, instruct or adjudicate at Australian national level. See national sporting body endorsement;
• a sponsor (approved temporary activities sponsor) or, for applications from outside Australia for 3 months or less, a supporter;
• adequate health insurance and means of support.

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Working for a second organisation

You can coach or adjudicate for another sporting organisation as well as your sponsor, if full details and a formal agreement are provided with the visa application. All the work must be sporting activity of the kind the visa allows. Under policy, a referee officiating competitions run by their sponsor could also be contracted to train referees for competitions run by another sporting organisation.

The sponsor must still be able to meet its obligations, including providing information about your activity with the other organisation. This is usually accepted where both organisations sit under the same peak sporting body. Work outside sport, such as bar or grounds work, is not allowed.

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Coaches at elite programs in the off season

Staying in Australia between seasons is generally not consistent with the visa. One possible exception under policy is a coach working in a national level program who stays substantially engaged in intensive elite out of season development programs. See 408 sports visa length of stay.

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Officials for one off events

Referees, judges and officials invited to officiate at a specific event, rather than for a season with an Australian organisation, can usually use the 408 Invited Participant activity type for up to 3 months. See sports events and short tours in Australia.