The Australian 400 visa offers a quick and easy solution to the business need where there is a genuine need to employ someone who is not available locally. This visa is for the short-term, non-permanent occupation of Australia, for short-term, highly specialised skills that are required to directly assist Australian businesses. If you’re a technician called on during an emergency for equipment repairs, a consultant for a particular project, or a trainer training new systems, the Australian 400 visa gets you through the door, without the usual lengthy sponsorship approval process that comes with other work visas.
What Is the Australian Visa?
The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa is a subclass 400 visa that allows skilled overseas workers to engage in highly specialised work in Australia for a period of two years that cannot be reasonably done by an Australian worker. The visa is usually issued for a period of three months, but in exceptional circumstances, with a good business case, a longer term may be granted. The 400 Australian visa is not tied to employer sponsorship like the subclass 482 visa and can be a more affordable and convenient choice for employers who require a particular skill in a temporary position but cannot afford to sponsor the visa.
Key Eligibility Criteria for the 400 Australian Visa
Applicants can apply for a 400 Australian visa if they meet several requirements. The work should be truly short-term, non-recurring and highly specialised, and should demand skills not typically sought in the Australian workforce. The applicant should have the special skills, knowledge, or experience in order to help an Australian business. There is no minimum wage requirement or ELT requirement for the Australian 400 visa. Applicants are also required to satisfy health and character requirements, show they have a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia, and be outside Australia at the time of application and visa grant.
Examples of Suitable Work and Activities
The Australian 400 visa is for an actual specialist engagement. Examples of acceptable activities are equipment installation or repair in an emergency that would be impossible without specific technical knowledge which is not available locally, skilled staff who have to provide a short-term consultancy on a niche project, training of staff on new systems or software, and participation in certain non-ongoing events where specific technical expertise is required. Occupations are those listed in ANZSCO Major Groups 1-3. The 400 Australian visa is not for an ongoing occupation, a permanent vacancy, for general labour or for work which could be reasonably done by an Australian worker. There is an exception for entertainer’s duties in the entertainment industry (such as being an entertainer) or those duties that form part of a film or concert production that is intended for audiences in Australia.
Processing Times, Costs, and Duration
The Australian 400 visa is one of the quickest to process work visas. Global processing time is about 6-20 days, depending on the complexity of the application, which can be completed within a few weeks if it is well prepared. The visa application fee is currently AUD$430 for the main applicant. Examination fees, police certificates, and any child in the application may incur additional fees for health examination. The visa will be issued for up to six months, depending on the circumstances, but longer periods will only be granted if there is a strong business argument.
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