Subclass 400 Visa Australia

The subclass 400 visa, officially called the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa, is Australia’s fast option for bringing in a highly skilled person for a short and specific job. It is used when an Australian organisation needs a specialist for a project, an urgent repair, a training or installation task, or similar non-ongoing work, and when the work cannot reasonably be done by people already in Australia. It is not a general work visa, and it is not meant for ongoing jobs.

The 400 visa is popular because the process is simpler than a standard employer-sponsored visa. In many cases there is no sponsor approval, no nomination, no skills assessment and no English test. But the visa is also easy to misuse, and a weak case is often refused. This guide, written by the GIEC Global UK immigration consultant team, explains who qualifies, what evidence matters, the 2026 costs, processing, stay length and what to do next. It is based on Department of Home Affairs information. Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. If you are still comparing options, start with our Australia migration.

Quick Answer: What Is the Subclass 400 Visa?

The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa lets you travel to Australia to do short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work at the invitation of an Australian organisation. A stay of up to three months is usual, and a stay of up to six months may be allowed in limited circumstances with a strong business case. From 1 July 2026 the visa application charge for the main applicant is A$535. You normally need a letter of support from the Australian organisation explaining why your specialist skills are needed.

Key Takeaways

• The 400 visa is for highly specialised, short-term, non-ongoing work that cannot easily be done by local workers.
• Stays are generally up to three months, and up to six months only in limited cases with a strong business case.
• The visa charge is A$535 for a main applicant from 1 July 2026, and A$135 for each child under 18.
• The Australian organisation usually provides a letter of support. A full sponsorship and nomination process is not normally required.
• Home Affairs does not publish an official success rate. Outcomes depend on how well the evidence proves genuine specialist need.
• The 400 visa does not lead directly to permanent residence.

Who Is the Subclass 400 Visa For?

The visa is meant for people whose skills, knowledge or experience are unusual enough that the work cannot be sourced locally in the time available. Typical examples include:

• A technician who installs, commissions or repairs specialised machinery that is not serviced in Australia.
• An engineer or consultant who troubleshoots a technical system or supports a project for a short period.
• A trainer or specialist who delivers short-term training on a product or process that is unique to the overseas business.
• A craftsperson or fabricator with a rare skill needed to clear an urgent project backlog.
• A professional who is needed for a limited, defined project with a clear end date.

The common theme is that the job is specialised, temporary and has a clear end. The fact that an employer is struggling to find workers is not enough on its own.

What the 400 Visa Cannot Be Used For

The 400 visa is often misunderstood, so it is important to know its limits. It is generally not suitable for:

• Ongoing or permanent roles, or roles that continue year after year.
• Filling a labour shortage in a normal occupation, such as general hospitality, farm or seasonal labour.
• Work that local workers could reasonably do, even if the employer prefers an overseas worker.
• Long-term contracts that will really run beyond six months.
• Activities better covered by another visa stream, such as training programs, events or cultural activities.

If your case is really an ongoing job, an employer-sponsored or skilled visa is the right route. Using a short-stay visa to do ongoing work can lead to cancellation and affect future applications.

Subclass 400 Visa Requirements

The exact evidence depends on your case, but applicants generally need to show the following:

• Highly specialised skills: your skills, knowledge or experience are specialised, and relevant to the work you will do.
• Short-term, non-ongoing work: the work has a defined purpose and end date.
• Invitation from an Australian organisation: an organisation in Australia has invited you and explains the need for your services.
• Genuine temporary stay: you intend to do the work and leave Australia when the visa ends.
• Health insurance: adequate health insurance for the period of your stay.
• Health and character: medical examinations and police certificates may be requested.
• Visa history: previous cancellations, refusals or breaches can affect your application.

Unlike many employer-sponsored visas, the 400 does not normally need a skills assessment or an English test. However, you still have to prove that you really have the specialist skills, so strong evidence of your experience is important.

The Letter of Support: The Heart of the Application

The letter of support from the Australian organisation is the most important document in most 400 visa applications. A weak letter is the most common reason for refusal or delay. A strong letter usually explains:

• Who the organisation is and what it does.
• What the project, task or problem is, and why it cannot wait.
• Exactly what you will do, with dates and locations.
• Why your specialist skills are needed and why the work cannot be done locally.
• What efforts were made to find local workers or training options, if relevant.
• How long you will stay, and why that period is enough.
• That the work is non-ongoing and will finish on a clear date.
• Who will pay you, how and under what contract.

Generic statements such as “we cannot find workers” are not helpful. Specific facts, such as equipment type, project schedules and technical reasons, are much more convincing.

Subclass 400 Visa Cost in 2026

Item	Amount
Main applicant visa charge	A$535
Additional applicant aged 18 or over	A$535
Additional applicant under 18	A$135

The charges above apply from 1 July 2026. Some special cases may attract a different charge or an exemption, so confirm the figure on the Home Affairs website before you lodge. Other costs include health insurance, medical examinations, police certificates, translations and travel. Fees are indexed each 1 July. Older pages that show A$415 or A$430 are out of date.

Subclass 400 Visa Processing Time

Many people search for the 400 visa processing time, because the visa is used when deadlines are tight. Published and reported times have generally ranged from days to a few weeks, but they change with application volume, the strength of the evidence and whether Home Affairs asks for more information. A simple, well-documented case moves faster than a vague one. Check the current published processing times on the Home Affairs website, and do not book non-refundable flights or promise start dates until the visa is granted.

Subclass 400 Visa Success Rate: What Actually Matters

The query “subclass 400 visa success rate” is very common, but Home Affairs does not publish a single reliable approval percentage for this visa. Any website that quotes an exact rate is guessing or marketing. What decides the outcome in practice is the quality of your case. Cases tend to succeed when:

• The skills are clearly specialised and supported by evidence such as qualifications, certificates, manufacturer training and a work history.
• The work is clearly short-term, project-based and has a defined end date.
• The letter of support is detailed, consistent and explains why local workers cannot do the job.
• The requested stay is realistic. Asking for six months without a strong business case invites questions.
• You have a good visa history and meet health and character requirements.

Cases tend to fail when the role looks like an ordinary job, when the employer’s explanation is vague, or when the documents contradict each other.

How Long Can You Stay on a 400 Visa?

The visa generally allows a stay of up to three months. A stay of up to six months may be granted in limited circumstances, usually where there is a strong business case and the work is still non-ongoing. The visa can have conditions about the dates you must enter and how long you can remain, so read your grant notice carefully. You cannot treat a 400 visa as a way to remain in Australia long term.

How to Apply for the Subclass 400 Visa Step by Step

1. Confirm the visa is right. Check that the work is specialised, short-term and non-ongoing.
2. Get the letter of support. The Australian organisation prepares a detailed letter and any project documents.
3. Collect your evidence. Include passport, CV, qualifications, certificates and employer references.
4. Arrange health insurance. Make sure the cover meets requirements for your stay.
5. Create an ImmiAccount and lodge online. Select the correct stream and answer all questions honestly.
6. Pay the visa application charge. A$535 for a main applicant from 1 July 2026.
7. Provide extra information if asked. Respond quickly to any request from Home Affairs.
8. Receive the decision. Check the conditions, the entry date and the period of stay in your grant notice.
9. Travel and do only the approved work. Leave Australia before the visa ends.

Subclass 400 Visa Document Checklist

• Valid passport and identity documents.
• Letter of support from the Australian organisation, signed and dated.
• Project description, schedule or work order showing why the work is non-ongoing.
• Your CV, qualifications, certificates and any manufacturer or technical training records.
• References from current or past employers that prove your specialist experience.
• Contract or confirmation of payment, and details of who will pay you.
• Evidence of funds, if requested.
• Health insurance evidence for the whole stay.
• Police certificates and medical results if requested.
• Details and documents for any family members applying with you.

Family Members and the 400 Visa

Eligible partners and dependent children can usually apply as additional applicants, and the charges are shown above. Work and study rights for family members depend on the conditions of their visas, so check each person’s grant notice. Because the 400 is a short-stay visa, many specialists travel alone for the project and keep their family overseas.

400 Visa vs Other Temporary Visas

• 400 vs 482 Skills in Demand: the 482 is an employer-sponsored visa for filling a job, often for longer periods and with sponsorship, nomination and salary rules. The 400 is for short, specialised, non-ongoing tasks.
• 400 vs 408 Temporary Activity: the 408 covers approved activities such as entertainment, sport, research and religious work. See our Temporary Activity visa guide.
• 400 vs 407 Training: the 407 is for structured workplace training with a training plan. See our 407 Training visa guide.
• 400 vs 417 Working Holiday: the 417 is for young travellers with no sponsor who want general work and travel. See our 417 visa guide.

Do You Need a 400 Visa for Meetings and Business Visits?

Not always. Attending meetings, conferences or negotiations is usually a business visitor activity, not specialised work. Many travellers can use the ETA (subclass 601) or the visitor options explained on our Australia visitor visa page. The line between a visit and work can be thin, so if you will install equipment, perform services or do hands-on tasks, you should check carefully before you travel. Doing work on the wrong visa is a breach that can lead to cancellation.

Can the 400 Visa Lead to a Longer Stay or PR?

No. The 400 is temporary, and time on a 400 does not create a direct path to permanent residence. In some cases, an employer who wants to keep a worker may need to lodge a proper sponsored application, such as a 482 nomination, but that is a separate process with its own requirements, and the 400 visa may carry conditions that limit applying for other visas while you are in Australia. If you lodge another visa application while onshore, a bridging visa may keep you lawful while it is processed, as explained on our Bridging Visa A page. Always get advice before you lodge anything else.

If your long-term goal is to live in Australia, plan the next step from the start:

• Skilled migration: read our General Skilled Migration guide to see whether your occupation and points could work.
• Study and graduate work: after eligible Australian study, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) can allow you to work and build local experience.
• Employer sponsorship: if an Australian employer wants to hire you long term, ask about a genuine sponsored role.

For the full picture of permanent options, see our Australian permanent residency page.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the 400 visa for an ongoing job or a repeated annual contract.
• Submitting a vague letter of support that does not explain why local workers cannot do the work.
• Requesting six months when the project really needs only a few weeks.
• Describing skills in general terms instead of proving them with documents.
• Doing activities that are not covered by the approved purpose.
• Booking flights or promising start dates before the visa is granted.
• Relying on old fees or an invented “success rate” from an unofficial website.

Practical Tips for Applicants and Employers

• Describe the work in specific technical terms, with dates, locations and outcomes.
• Show why the timing matters, such as contract deadlines or safety issues, and what happens if the work is delayed.
• Keep the stay as short as the project realistically needs.
• Make sure your CV, references and the letter of support tell the same story.
• Apply well before your planned travel date, and check the current published processing times.
• Keep a copy of your grant notice and follow every condition.

Why Speak to GIEC Global UK?

Our immigration consultant team helps specialists and Australian organisations decide whether the 400 visa is the right option, prepare strong evidence and plan the next step if a longer stay is needed. We explain the rules in plain language and we do not guarantee outcomes, because every decision is made by the Australian Government. [Add: MARA agent name / MARN and years of experience, only if accurate.] To discuss your situation, contact our team through the Australia section of the site.

Official source used for this guide: Department of Home Affairs. This guide is general information and not legal advice. Fees, conditions and processing times can change, so confirm the latest details before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

What is the subclass 400 visa?

It is the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa. It allows people with highly specialised skills to do short-term, non-ongoing work in Australia at the invitation of an Australian organisation.

Who can apply for the subclass 400 visa?

People whose specialist skills are needed for a short, defined project that cannot reasonably be done by local workers, and who have an invitation and letter of support from an Australian organisation.

What is the subclass 400 visa success rate?

Home Affairs does not publish an official success rate. Outcomes depend on how clearly you prove specialist skills, short-term non-ongoing work and genuine temporary stay.

How much does the subclass 400 visa cost in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the main applicant visa charge is A$535, additional adults pay A$535 and children under 18 pay A$135. Check Home Affairs before paying.

How long does the 400 visa take to process?

Published and reported times have generally ranged from days to a few weeks, but they vary. Check the current Home Affairs processing times and do not book non-refundable travel before the visa is granted.

How long can I stay on a 400 visa?

Usually up to three months. Up to six months may be granted in limited circumstances if there is a strong business case and the work remains non-ongoing.

Do I need a sponsor for the 400 visa?

A full sponsorship and nomination process is not normally required, but you need an invitation and a letter of support from an Australian organisation.

What should a 400 visa letter of support include?

It should explain the organisation, the project, your duties, dates and locations, why your specialist skills are needed, why local workers cannot do the work, and why the work is non-ongoing.

Do I need an English test or skills assessment for the 400 visa?

Not normally. However, you must prove your specialist skills with qualifications, certificates and work history.

Can I use the 400 visa for an ongoing job?

No. The visa is for short-term, non-ongoing work. For an ongoing role, an employer-sponsored or skilled visa is the right route.

Can the 400 visa be used for farm or seasonal work?

Generally no. General labour shortages and seasonal jobs are not highly specialised, so other visas, such as the working holiday visa, are more suitable if you are eligible.

Can I bring my family on a 400 visa?

Eligible partners and dependent children can usually apply as additional applicants. Work and study rights depend on their visa conditions.

Can I extend a 400 visa?

You cannot simply extend it. If the work continues, a new application or a different visa may be needed. Speak to a professional before your visa expires.

Can I convert a 400 visa to a 482 visa?

Only in limited circumstances, and conditions on your visa may restrict applying for other visas while in Australia. A 482 also needs an employer nomination, so get advice before you plan this.

What is the difference between the 400 and 482 visas?

The 482 is an employer-sponsored work visa for filling a role with sponsorship, nomination and salary rules. The 400 is for short, highly specialised, non-ongoing work.

What is the difference between the 400 and 408 visas?

The 408 covers approved activities such as entertainment, sport, research and religious work. The 400 is for specialised, non-ongoing work needed by an Australian organisation.

Do I need a 400 visa to attend business meetings in Australia?

Usually not. Meetings and conferences are business visitor activities, so a visitor visa or ETA may be enough. Hands-on work or services may need a work visa.

Does the 400 visa lead to permanent residency?

No. It is a temporary visa. For long-term plans you need another pathway such as skilled migration, a graduate visa after study or employer sponsorship.

What happens if I do work not covered by my 400 visa?

It can breach your visa conditions, lead to cancellation and affect future applications. Do only the work approved in your visa.

Why should I speak to GIEC Global UK about the 400 visa?

Our team checks whether the 400 fits your case, helps prepare strong evidence and letter-of-support guidance, and plans your next step. Book a consultation to review your case.