Temporary work (Short stay specialist) visa
(subclass 400)
This visa can be granted for a duration of up to 6 months, subject to individual circumstances.
Typically, if you plan to stay longer than 3 months, you must substantiate your application with a compelling business case.
Your period of stay in Australia begins upon arrival and does not reset with each subsequent trip.
It’s important to note that you cannot apply for this visa while in Australia or prolong your stay by extending it.
To qualify, you must possess highly specialized skills, knowledge, or experience that can significantly benefit Australian businesses and are not readily available within the country.
Moreover, you are expected to exclusively engage in the work or activities specified in your visa application.
The Highly Specialized Work stream of this temporary visa allows individuals to engage in short-term, highly specialized work within Australia. This option is ideal for those possessing specialized skills, knowledge, or experience that are not commonly found within Australia.
With this visa you can
You may undertake short-term work in a highly specialized role under this visa category. While you’re permitted to bring family members along, they are restricted from working or studying in Australia, except for participating in a language training program.
Employers interested in hiring migrants under this visa scheme must furnish a contract or letter of offer. They can find detailed guidelines on their obligations regarding the employment of migrants by referring to resources on employing migrants. They should follow step-by-step instructions to gather the necessary documents for work purposes.
How long you can stay
This visa is temporary, allowing you to remain in Australia for a maximum of 6 months, subject to individual circumstances.
Upon visa approval, you must enter Australia within 6 months from the date of issuance, or within a shorter timeframe specified by the Minister. The exact arrival deadline will be communicated to you in your visa grant letter.
Your permitted stay duration, as indicated in the visa grant letter, begins on your initial arrival in Australia and does not reset with subsequent visits.
You can verify your visa particulars either through the visa grant letter or by using VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online).
Stay longer
Extending this visa to prolong your stay in Australia is not permitted.
If you require an extended stay, it’s essential to explore alternative visa options available to you.
Include family
You can include Members of the family unit in your application when you apply.
Both you and your family members who apply for the visa must meet our health requirements and character requirements.
Any family members included in your application are not permitted to work or study in Australia. You must be able to show that you and your family have enough means to support yourselves while in Australia.
Cost
The visa fee for the main applicant is AUD405.00.
However, certain exemptions apply:
- If you’re arriving in Australia to serve as a representative of a foreign government.
- If you’re listed in a legislative instrument, your inviting organization will inform you if this exemption applies to you.
Additionally, there’s a fee for each accompanying family member applying for the visa.
Moreover, additional expenses may be incurred for health examinations, police clearances, and biometric data collection.
To calculate the total cost of your visa, utilize the Visa Pricing Estimator. Please note that this tool doesn’t include the aforementioned additional expenses.
Apply from
When applying for this visa, it’s crucial that you are outside of Australia. Furthermore, you must remain outside of Australia while we process your application and make a decision regarding your visa.
Processing times
To gauge the expected processing duration for your visa application, refer to the visa processing time guide tool. This tool provides insights into the processing times of recently decided applications. However, please note that it serves as a general guide and may not specifically match your application’s timeline.
Several factors could potentially prolong the processing time:
- Incomplete application forms
- Missing documents or additional information required from you
- Time required for verification of provided information
It’s essential to ensure that the correct visa application charge is paid; otherwise, we won’t be able to process your application, and we’ll notify you accordingly.
When applying for the subclass 400 visa, factor in ample time for the application to undergo processing, considering your intended travel date to Australia.
Your obligations
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Learn more about conditions for this visa.
Adequate health insurance
It’s highly advisable to secure health insurance to protect yourself against unexpected medical expenses during your stay in Australia. Remember, you are responsible for covering all healthcare costs incurred while you’re here. Having insurance can significantly reduce your financial liability. For further details on health insurance options tailored for overseas visitors, please refer to additional resources.
Certain countries have established reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia. These agreements can provide eligible individuals with access to essential healthcare services while in Australia. To learn more about whether your country is part of such an agreement, consult Services Australia for comprehensive information on reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Travel
This visa is temporary, allowing you six months from the date of grant to enter Australia (or a shorter period if specified). Your permitted stay begins upon your first entry into the country.
The visa may be granted with either single entry, permitting only one entry into Australia with no option for re-entry. In such cases, if you wish to return after leaving, you must apply for a new visa.
Alternatively, you may be granted a multiple entry visa, enabling you to depart and re-enter Australia multiple times during the visa’s validity period. It’s important to note that re-entering Australia under a multiple entry visa does not reset the original period of stay granted.
Furthermore, the duration spent outside Australia does not extend the validity of the visa.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
186 visa Eligibility
Have highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience
Eligibility for this visa is contingent upon possessing specialized skills, knowledge, or experience that:
– Can contribute to Australian businesses.
– Are not readily available within the Australian labor market.
– Involve non-ongoing tasks, typically expected to conclude within six months or less, with no intention of remaining in Australia beyond this period for work-related reasons.
To demonstrate qualification, you’ll need to provide evidence such as:
– A comprehensive resume highlighting your expertise.
– Relevant licenses or qualifications.
– A letter from your current overseas employer detailing your role and responsibilities.
Additionally, the Australian business or overseas employer may need to demonstrate efforts to recruit Australian workers for the position before considering foreign applicants. This requirement ensures that granting the visa does not negatively impact job opportunities or training prospects for Australian citizens or permanent residents.
Have work, not in the Australian entertainment industry
To apply for a subclass 400 visa, you must furnish evidence of your intended work. For details on required documents, please refer to the “Step by Step, Gather documents” section.
You can opt for a subclass 400 visa if you intend to:
- Engage in the production of content not intended for showcasing in Australia. In such cases, you’ll need to provide a distribution contract or other supporting evidence.
- Participate in promotional activities, such as attending a red carpet premiere or being part of a promotional tour without actual performances, e.g., a rock band’s promotional tour.
However, it’s important to note that the subclass 400 visa prohibits:
- Performing as an entertainer in Australia or supporting an entertainer or group of entertainers during performances.
- Participating in the production of content intended for showcasing, broadcasting, or performance in Australia, including theatre, film, television, radio, concerts, or recordings.
If your intended activities fall under these prohibited categories, you should consider applying for the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) specifically designed for entertainment purposes.
Be able to support yourself and any dependants
While you’re in Australia, it’s essential that both you and your family members have sufficient financial resources to support yourselves.
Meet our health requirement
You and your accompanying family members must fulfill the health requirement set by the Australian government.
Meet our character requirement
You and any family members aged 16 years and older who are included in your visa application must satisfy the character requirement established by Australian immigration authorities.
Be a genuine visitor
Your intentions must align with the following criteria:
– Your stay in Australia should be temporary.
– Your activities while in Australia should be limited to those permitted under this visa category.
Genuine temporary entrant requirement
Utilizing our temporary visa program to establish ongoing residency in Australia is not permitted.
The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement is in place to ensure the proper use of temporary visas. We must ascertain that you genuinely intend to stay temporarily in Australia to engage in activities permitted under this visa.
In assessing your application, we will take into account factors such as your personal circumstances, immigration history, past compliance with visa conditions, and any other relevant information to determine your genuine intent.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian government
If you have outstanding debts to the Australian Government, it is imperative that you have either settled the debt or established a formal repayment arrangement.
Not had a visa cancelled or an application refused
Your immigration history will be taken into account during the assessment of your application. If you have a record of visa cancellations or refusals, you may not meet the eligibility criteria for this visa.
However, there may be situations where you can still apply for a permanent visa despite previous visa cancellations or refusals. Please refer to the “Limitations on applications in Australia” section for further details.
If you’re applying for a visa from outside Australia, please consult the “Can I go to Australia” section for guidance.
For immigration assistance, you can explore resources on “Who can help with your visa application.”