400 — Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa

Australia•Oceania

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400 — Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa

Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

1–4 weeks

Estimated Cost

AUD $535

Stay Duration

3 months

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

Not specified

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Living in Australia

Cost of Living

2% more than United States

Avg SalaryA$73,000

Quality of Life

187/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa.

The Subclass 400 is an Australian visa for overseas specialists needed for short-term, non-ongoing work that cannot be filled locally. It covers urgent, specialised tasks — installing proprietary machinery, expert consultancy, or emergency repairs — sitting between a visitor visa and longer employer-sponsored visas.

Standard grants are up to 3 months (90 days); a strong business case is required for stays up to 6 months. Processing typically takes 1–3 weeks at a cost of AUD 535. The visa is not renewable and offers no pathway to permanent residence. Family members may be included in the application.

This visa is ideal for foreign technicians, engineers, or consultants with a short-term, time-sensitive project at an Australian business who need work authorisation quickly.

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Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

3 months

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Work must be highly specialised and not ongoing

Work must not have adverse consequences for the employment or training of Australians

Must possess relevant skills, qualifications, or experience for the specialised activities

Must satisfy Australian health requirements

Must satisfy character requirements

Must hold adequate health insurance for the duration of stay

Must have the support of an Australian organization or employer (though formal sponsorship is not required)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport

Evidence of specialised skills, qualifications, and relevant experience

Letter of support or contract from the inviting Australian organization or employer

Employment contract or statement of activities for the short-term work

Proof of adequate health insurance

Health examination results (if requested by the department)

Police clearance certificates (if requested)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Fills urgent specialist skill gaps not available in the Australian labour market
Relatively fast processing time (1–3 weeks)
Family members may be included in the application
Available to government-invited applicants for short-term official activities
Lower cost compared to longer-term work visas such as Subclass 482

Worth Knowing

No pathway to permanent residence
Maximum stay is short (3 months; 6 months only in limited cases)
Work is strictly limited to the sponsor's nominated activities
Cannot extend or transition to another stay via this visa subclass
Sponsorship is mandatory — cannot be self-sponsored
Distinct from the Subclass 482 (TSS) visa, which supports longer-term and PR-pathway work