Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa – Subclass 400
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Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa – Subclass 400
The Subclass 400 visa is a short-term visa for people with highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience that Australian businesses need urgently — and can’t source locally — for a clearly defined, non-ongoing piece of work.
At a Glance
| Points | Description |
|---|---|
| Length of stay | Typically, up to 3 months; up to 6 months only in exceptional, well-justified circumstances |
| Nature of work | Must be genuinely non-ongoing — a specific project, task or assignment, not continuing employment |
| Family | Cannot be included on the same application |
| Application location | In most cases you must apply, and be granted the visa, while outside Australia |
Who This Visa Suits
The Subclass 400 visa is designed for situations like:
- Highly specialised technical work — for example, complex equipment installation, commissioning or diagnostics
- Short-term knowledge transfer or specialist training delivered by product or system experts
- Advisory work tied to unique, proprietary expertise
- Non-ongoing activities in the entertainment and cultural sectors
It is not designed to be used as a substitute for the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, and the Department of Home Affairs closely scrutinises applications to make sure the work genuinely is short-term and highly specialised.
Eligibility
- Highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience genuinely not available in the Australian workforce
- A clear invitation, contract or letter of support from the Australian business requiring your services
- Evidence the work is non-ongoing and time-limited (six months or less)
- Sufficient funds to support yourself (and any accompanying family) during your stay
- Adequate health insurance for your time in Australia
- Meet health and character requirements
How the Process Works
- The Australian business provides a detailed letter of support outlining the specific work, its duration, and why it can’t be done by someone already in Australia
- You gather evidence of your specialised skills and experience
- You lodge your application from outside Australia
- Await a decision — processing is often quick, reflecting the urgent, time-limited nature of this visa
A Note on Planning Ahead
Because this visa doesn’t require formal employer sponsorship in the way the 482 or 186 visas do, the Department pays close attention to whether the proposed work is genuinely short-term, non-ongoing, and truly requires specialised skills unavailable in Australia. A well-documented business case makes a real difference to your chances of approval.
🔗 Department of Home Affairs — official visa page: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-work-400
Let Us Help
If you need to bring a specialist to Australia quickly for a genuine short-term assignment, our migration agents can help you put together a strong, well-evidenced application.