The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400) is designed for individuals with specialized skills to undertake short-term, non-ongoing work in Australia. As of February 28, 2025, this visa has specific eligibility requirements that applicants must satisfy to successfully obtain this visa category.
Basic Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Subclass 400 visa, applicants must meet several fundamental requirements:
The applicant must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application, ensuring they are legally able to enter into work arrangements in Australia. Applications must be lodged while the applicant is outside Australia, as this visa cannot be applied for onshore. This requirement is strictly enforced, meaning individuals already in Australia on another visa cannot switch to this category without departing the country first^3.
The applicant must possess highly specialized skills, knowledge, or experience that will assist Australian businesses and cannot reasonably be found within the Australian labor market. This specialized expertise is a core requirement of the visa and must be clearly demonstrated in the application^1.
The intended work must be demonstrably non-ongoing, meaning it is likely to be completed within 6 months or less. The applicant should not expect or arrange to stay in Australia after this time for any reason related to that work^1. This visa is not intended for continuous or permanent employment arrangements.
Invitation and Support Requirements
The application process requires formal support from Australian entities:
The applicant must be invited or supported by the Australian organization they will be working for during their stay. This invitation serves as evidence of the genuine need for the applicant’s specialized skills^6.
For the Highly Specialized Work stream, the applicant must provide a letter of job offer or employment contract that details the position, duration of work, specific duties, and explicitly states why the applicant’s expertise is required in Australia[^9][^12].
Financial Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial capacity:
The applicant must show evidence of adequate funds to support themselves and any accompanying family members for the duration of their stay in Australia. This requirement ensures that visa holders will not become a burden on Australian public resources^3.
Acceptable evidence of financial capacity may include recent bank statements, credit card statements showing available balance, income from investments, or asset ownership certificates. Funding can be provided by the applicant, their employer, or the host organization in Australia[^9][^12].
Occupational and Skills Requirements
The visa is targeted at specific types of work and skill levels:
Highly specialized work is typically performed by individuals with occupations listed in Major Groups 1, 2, or 3 of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), which includes professionals and skilled trades^1.
Eligible occupations may include public lecturers, specialists giving master classes, specialized contractors, or other professionals with skills that are in short supply in Australia^4. The applicant must provide evidence of qualifications or experience directly related to the highly specialized work they intend to undertake in Australia[^9].
Health and Character Requirements
All applicants must satisfy Australia’s integrity measures:
Applicants must meet health requirements, which may include undergoing medical examinations depending on their country of origin, length of stay, and intended activities in Australia^3.
Character requirements must also be met, potentially requiring police clearance certificates from countries where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more over the past ten years^9.
Recent Policy Changes
Recent changes to the visa program have introduced additional restrictions:
As of late 2024, there are now return visit limitations, with a maximum 3-month stay permitted within a 12-month period. This change restricts employees from making multiple applications within the same year^13.
Approvals for 6-month stays are now granted only under “exceptional” circumstances and require strong documented evidence demonstrating the necessity of the extended period^13.
Enhanced scrutiny is applied to applications from countries with significant wage differences compared to Australia, to prevent potential impacts on local employment standards^13.
Employers must now provide evidence of attempts to recruit Australian workers before resorting to the 400 visa, reinforcing the policy’s intention to protect local job opportunities^13.
Conclusion
The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400) is designed for genuine temporary entry to fulfill short-term specialized work needs that cannot be met within the Australian labor market. The visa generally allows stays of up to three months, with six-month stays possible only in limited circumstances supported by a strong business case. With a processing time of approximately 12-25 days for 75-90% of applications and a cost starting from AUD 415, this visa provides an efficient pathway for businesses to access international expertise for short-term projects^6.
[^9]: https://hcmc.vietnam.embassy.gov.au/files/hchi/TEMPORARY WORK visa checklist 030120. EN.pdf
[^12]: https://hcmc.vietnam.embassy.gov.au/files/hchi/TEMPORARY WORK visa checklist – EN-Updated 10012024.pdf
