Subclass 400 — Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa — immi.wiki

The Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa is designed for people who have highly specialised skills, knowledge, or expertise not generally available in Australia and need to undertake specific, short-term, non-ongoing work for an Australian host organisation. It is a flexible, low-threshold visa that does not require an approved sponsoring employer — the Australian host organisation does not need to be a Department of Home Affairs approved sponsor.

The Subclass 400 is intended for genuinely short-term and specialised engagements. It is not a substitute for longer-term work visas such as the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa. The work must be temporary, specific, and involve skills or expertise not readily available in the Australian labour market.

To be eligible for a Subclass 400 visa, the applicant must:

• Have specialised skills, knowledge, or experience that is not generally available in Australia
• Be coming to Australia to undertake specific, short-term, non-ongoing work for an Australian host organisation
• Not intend to be employed by the Australian host organisation in an ongoing role
• Meet health and character requirements
• Have a genuine intention to stay temporarily

There is no requirement for a formal sponsorship arrangement or labour market testing. The applicant's host organisation provides a supporting letter setting out the nature of the work, its duration, and why the specialised skills are needed. The Department assesses whether the proposed activity genuinely falls within the scope of the visa.

The Subclass 400 is not appropriate where the work is ongoing, where the skills are widely available in Australia, or where the engagement is in substance a standard employment arrangement that should be structured through the Subclass 482 or another sponsored work visa pathway.

Applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount. The applicant must provide:

• A supporting letter from the Australian host organisation describing the proposed work, its duration, and why specialised overseas expertise is required
• Evidence of the applicant's qualifications, skills, and relevant experience
• Health assessment (if required by the Department)
• Character documentation (police clearances if requested)

For current application charges, refer to the DHA fee schedule. For current processing times, refer to global visa processing times.

Subclass 400 visa holders are subject to the following conditions:

• Condition 8101 — No work other than the specific work authorised by the visa (the holder may only undertake the nominated short-stay work activity)
• Condition 8503 — No further stay (the holder cannot apply for most other visas while in Australia)
• Condition 8201 — Study limitation (no more than 3 months of study)

The standard duration is up to 3 months. In limited circumstances (for example, under a bilateral arrangement or where the project genuinely requires it) a stay of up to 6 months may be granted. Multiple-entry grants are possible depending on the nature of the proposed work.

Because condition 8503 (no further stay) is commonly imposed, applicants who may wish to extend their stay or change status in Australia should carefully consider whether the Subclass 400 is the right visa, or whether a different temporary visa without condition 8503 would better suit their circumstances.