Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa: The Real Business Work Visa

What Is the Subclass 400 Visa?

The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa — subclass 400 — is a temporary visa that allows a person to travel to Australia to perform short-term, highly specialised work or activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation.

The key phrase in the Department of Home Affairs description is "highly specialised, non-ongoing." The 400 is not designed for workers filling an ongoing operational role. It is designed for situations where an Australian business needs someone with a very specific set of skills, knowledge or experience that is not reasonably available in the Australian workforce, and where the work itself has a defined, time-limited scope.

Typical scenarios include:

- An overseas manufacturer's technician travelling to Australia to install or commission proprietary industrial equipment that only their company produces.
- A specialist engineer brought in to troubleshoot and repair a critical system failure.
- An international expert delivering a short-term consulting engagement on a defined project.
- A specialist trainer conducting knowledge transfer to an Australian team on a proprietary technical process.

In all these cases the work is project-based, non-recurring, and requires expertise not readily found in the local labour market. That is the core test the Department of Home Affairs applies.

Who Qualifies? The "Highly Specialised" Test

The Department of Home Affairs does not publish a fixed list of qualifying occupations for the subclass 400. Instead, decision-makers assess whether the applicant's skills, knowledge or experience:

1. Are at a high level of specialisation — not simply skilled, but specialist in a way that is meaningfully above what is commonly available;
2. Cannot reasonably be sourced from the Australian labour market for the specific purpose required; and
3. Are genuinely needed to assist an Australian organisation.

In practice, the Department's policy guidance suggests that applicants whose occupations fall within ANZSCO Major Groups 1 to 3 — managers, professionals, and technicians and trades workers — are best placed to demonstrate this. Routine operational roles, generalist administrative work, or positions that could be filled through ordinary recruitment channels are unlikely to meet the test.

Importantly, the work must be non-ongoing. This means it is expected to be completed within the visa period and the applicant is not being brought in to perform a role that would normally be staffed by a permanent or long-term employee. Since August 2024, the Department has explicitly tightened scrutiny on applications that appear designed to use the 400 as a workaround for the more demanding requirements of the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa.

How Long Can You Stay? The Three-Month Rule and Its Limits

The standard maximum stay on a subclass 400 visa is three months. This is the period the Department routinely grants, and applicants should plan their visit on this basis.

In limited circumstances, a stay of up to six months may be approved. However, this requires a strong and compelling business case demonstrating why the work genuinely cannot be completed within three months and why Australian workers cannot perform it. These applications face closer scrutiny and are not the norm.

A significant policy change took effect in August 2024 that affects people who have previously held a subclass 400 visa. The cumulative total stay permitted across multiple subclass 400 visas within any 12-month period is now capped at three months. Previously, a person could hold successive 400 visas provided the total time in Australia did not exceed six months in a 12-month period. That flexibility has been removed.

The practical effect is that if a specialist spent two months in Australia on a first subclass 400 visa, a second subclass 400 visa for the same or a different Australian organisation could only be approved for a maximum of one additional month within that same 12-month window. Once the three-month cumulative total is reached, no further subclass 400 visa will normally be granted until the 12-month period has elapsed.

The visa is generally single entry or multiple entry depending on the grant, but the conditions attached to any specific visa should be checked carefully.

Sponsorship, Employer Requirements, and the Application Process

The subclass 400 does not require formal employer sponsorship in the way the subclass 482 does. There is no requirement for the Australian business to become an approved sponsor, nor to submit a nomination application through the Department.

However, the absence of formal sponsorship does not mean the Australian organisation has no role to play. A supporting letter or invitation from the Australian business is essential and is one of the most important documents in the application. That letter should explain:

- The nature of the work or activity to be performed;
- Why the specialist's particular skills are required;
- Why an Australian worker cannot fulfil the need;
- The proposed duration and scope of the engagement; and
- How the applicant will be remunerated or otherwise supported during their stay.

The application is submitted by the overseas national (or their agent) and is almost always lodged offshore — that is, from outside Australia. The Department's policy position is that the 400 is ordinarily intended for people applying before travelling, not as an in-country pathway.

Applicants must also meet standard health and character requirements. They need to demonstrate they have the financial means to support themselves (and any accompanying family members) during their stay in Australia, as the 400 does not confer Medicare entitlement for most nationalities.

Family members — a partner and dependent children — may be included in the application as secondary applicants. Their visa conditions will typically not permit them to work unless they hold their own right to work.

Fees and Processing Times

The visa application charge for the subclass 400 is among the lower fees in the Australian temporary work visa system. Following annual indexation adjustments, the base charge for the primary applicant is AUD $535 from 1 July 2026 (AUD $440 for holders of a passport issued by a Pacific-regional country). The Department of Home Affairs adjusts fees on 1 July each year, so confirm the current figure on the Department's visa pricing estimator at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.

Secondary applicants — a partner aged 18 or over — attract a similar charge, and dependent children under 18 attract a reduced amount. All charges are non-refundable regardless of the outcome.

Beyond the government charge, applicants may incur costs for health examinations (required for most nationalities), police clearance certificates, and professional migration assistance if they choose to use a registered migration agent.

Processing times vary. The Department of Home Affairs reports that the majority of straightforward subclass 400 applications are decided within two to four weeks. The Department's published data historically shows around 90 percent of applications decided within 31 days, although complex cases or applications requiring additional documentation can take longer. Applicants should factor in processing time and not purchase flights or make firm arrangements until a visa has been granted.

What You Can and Cannot Do on a Subclass 400 Visa

Holders of a subclass 400 visa may perform only the work or activities specified in their visa application and supported by the Australian organisation's letter. Work rights are not transferable to other employers or other roles.

Things you generally cannot do on a subclass 400:

- Work for a different employer or organisation from the one that invited you;
- Perform work of a generalist or ongoing operational nature;
- Enrol in formal study leading to an Australian qualification;
- Return to Australia on another subclass 400 visa if you have already accumulated three months in Australia under this visa subclass within the preceding 12 months.

The August 2024 policy tightening makes clear that the Department will scrutinise applications where there is a pattern suggesting the 400 is being used to fill what is effectively an ongoing role — which would properly require a subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa with its accompanying sponsorship, nomination and labour market obligations.

Violating visa conditions — working for an unapproved employer, staying beyond the authorised period, or performing work outside the approved scope — can result in visa cancellation and may affect the ability to obtain future Australian visas.

Subclass 400 vs Subclass 600 Business Visitor Stream: A Critical Distinction

The most common point of confusion is between the subclass 400 and the Business Visitor stream of the subclass 600 Visitor visa. The distinction matters because they authorise fundamentally different activities.

The subclass 600 Business Visitor stream is for short-term business activities that do not constitute work in Australia. Permitted activities typically include attending meetings, conferences or negotiations, exploring business opportunities, and undertaking liaison activities. Importantly, holders of a 600 Business Visitor visa cannot provide services to an Australian business, cannot be paid for work performed in Australia, and cannot undertake any activity that would constitute employment.

In short: if you need to come to Australia to talk about business, the 600 may be appropriate. If you need to come to Australia to do technical or specialist work — even for a short period — you generally need the subclass 400 (or another appropriate work visa).

Using a subclass 600 to perform work that should require a 400 is a breach of visa conditions and is a known compliance concern for the Department. The distinction is not merely technical; it reflects Australia's obligation to protect its domestic labour market from circumvention.

Processing for the 600 Business Visitor stream is typically faster than the 400, and the 600 has a lower application charge, which makes it superficially attractive. But those advantages disappear entirely if the visa conditions are not met.

Subclass 400 vs Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa

The subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa is Australia's primary temporary skilled worker pathway for people filling ongoing roles with Australian employers. As of 1 July 2025, the 482 visa operates across three streams — the Core Skills stream (for roles on the Core Skills Occupation List), the Specialist Skills stream (for higher-earning positions at or above the specialist income threshold, currently $135,000 AUD per year), and the Labour Agreement stream.

The practical differences between the 400 and the 482 are significant:

- Duration: The 482 can be granted for up to four years depending on the stream, compared to the 400's standard three months.
- Sponsorship: The 482 requires the employer to be an approved sponsor and to submit a nomination for the specific role. The 400 requires only a supporting letter.
- Ongoing work: The 482 is designed for ongoing employment relationships. The 400 is expressly for non-ongoing, project-based or time-limited work.
- Labour market obligations: 482 sponsors have formal obligations around training levies, salary equivalence and reporting. There are no equivalent obligations under the 400.
- Pathway to permanence: Some 482 visa holders may be eligible to apply for permanent residence after meeting certain criteria. The 400 has no pathway to permanence.

Since August 2024, the Department of Home Affairs has made explicit that a primary purpose of the policy tightening on the 400 is to prevent it from being used to avoid the 482 requirements for roles that are in substance ongoing. Where a role is genuinely non-ongoing and requires highly specialised skills, the 400 remains appropriate. Where the work is ongoing — even if skilled — the 482 is the correct instrument.

Can I apply for the subclass 400 visa while I am already in Australia?

The subclass 400 is generally intended to be applied for from outside Australia (offshore). While there is no absolute legislative bar on onshore applications in all circumstances, the Department of Home Affairs' policy position is that this visa is an offshore pathway. People already in Australia who need to perform specialist work should consider whether another visa option, such as a change of conditions or a different visa class, may be more appropriate for their situation.

Does my Australian host organisation need to become a formal sponsor?

No. Unlike the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, the subclass 400 does not require the Australian organisation to become an approved sponsor or to lodge a nomination. However, the organisation plays a critical practical role: they must provide a detailed supporting letter or invitation explaining why the specialist is needed, what they will do, and why Australian workers cannot perform the task. Without a credible supporting letter, the application is unlikely to succeed.

What happens if I need to return to Australia on a second subclass 400 visa within 12 months?

Since August 2024, the cumulative stay permitted across all subclass 400 visas within any 12-month period is capped at three months total. If you have already spent two months in Australia on a first subclass 400 visa, a second 400 application in the same 12-month window could only be approved for a maximum of one additional month. Once you have accumulated three months, no further 400 visa should normally be granted until the 12-month period resets.

Can I bring my family to Australia on the subclass 400?

Yes. A partner and dependent children can be included in the application as secondary applicants. They will be granted a visa for the same period as the primary applicant. However, secondary applicants generally do not have the right to work in Australia under the 400 unless they independently hold work authorisation. They are also unlikely to be entitled to Medicare under the standard conditions for this visa. Anyone planning to bring family members should check the specific conditions attached to their visa grant.

How does the subclass 400 differ from the subclass 600 Business Visitor visa?

The subclass 600 Business Visitor stream permits short-term business activities such as attending meetings, conferences and contract negotiations, but does not allow the holder to perform work or provide services to an Australian business. The subclass 400 specifically allows the holder to perform highly specialised, non-ongoing work at the invitation of an Australian organisation. If you need to come to Australia to actually do technical or specialist work — not just discuss it — the subclass 400 is the appropriate pathway, not the 600.

Is there a minimum salary requirement for the subclass 400?

The subclass 400 does not have a legislated minimum salary threshold in the same way the subclass 482 does. However, the Department of Home Affairs expects that remuneration and working conditions will be consistent with Australian workplace standards. The August 2024 policy tightening explicitly addresses attempts to use the 400 to avoid Australian workplace obligations that would apply under the 482, so applicants should be able to demonstrate that their terms of engagement are reasonable and consistent with market rates for their specialisation.