Australia Subclass 400 Visa: 3–6 Months of Highly Specialised Short-Term Work, No SBS Sponsorship Required
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa, subclass 400 — lets offshore specialists enter Australia to do short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work.
Standard maximum stay is 3 months; up to 6 months may be granted in limited circumstances with a strong business case. No Standard Business Sponsor required, no English test, no TSMIT salary threshold, and the occupation does not need to be on the CSOL lists.
Common scenarios: parent company sending engineers to commission Australian equipment, cultural performers on short-term tours, industry speakers at conferences, project consultants on time-bound specialist engagements.
Free 400 Visa Eligibility Check →400: Not the “Work Visa” Most People Picture
Many clients first hear about subclass 400 and confuse it with 482, 408, or 600 — but 400 is a highly targeted short-stay visa. It only serves a “short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing” scenario. So Home Affairs is not checking English scores or CSIT salary thresholds — what they want to see is: is this work genuinely specialised, genuinely non-ongoing, and does the inviter genuinely need to bring this person from overseas?
Because the target scenario is so specific, 400’s bar on “no SBS required + no English test + no Skill Assessment + fast processing” is dramatically friendlier than 482. In short:
Core Logic
- No SBS (Standard Business Sponsor) approval — only a reasonable business case from the inviter
- No IELTS / PTE English score requirement
- No TSMIT / CSIT salary threshold
- No formal Skill Assessment, and the occupation does not need to be on the MLTSSL / CSOL
- Short processing time — typically 4–8 weeks across the industry (as at June 2026)
👉 400 = short-term + highly specialised + non-ongoing + inviter-driven
Key Caveats
But pay attention to the hard limits of 400:
- Application AND grant must both occur while you are offshore
- Once the visa expires you cannot extend or re-apply onshore — you must depart
- The stay clock starts the moment you first arrive and does not reset when you travel out and re-enter
- Family members can accompany you, but spouse / children have no work rights on this visa
- There is no permanent residence pathway from 400 — for PR you must re-apply offshore for 482 / 186 / 494
- New tightening: the 3-month stay limit is enforced as “once per 12 months” — frequent back-to-back entries are not allowed
NewStars holds an Australian MARN (Migration Agents Registration Number) licence and can structure your inviter statement, evidence of specialisation, and business necessity in the way Home Affairs actually accepts — maximising your grant probability.
Get Personalised 400 Visa Advice →Subclass 400’s Official Scope and Edges
Subclass 400 is the official short name for Australia’s Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa. Within the Australian visa framework it occupies a specific niche: “short-term highly specialised work in defined situations”.
Official Basics
- Official name: Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
- Visa subclass: 400 (temporary visa category)
- Default stay: up to 3 months; up to 6 months in limited circumstances with a strong business case
- Where to apply: must apply AND be granted offshore (onshore application is not permitted)
- Extension / renewal: cannot be extended or renewed onshore
What You Can / Cannot Do
- Can: do the specific short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work declared in your application
- Can: travel in and out multiple times within the visa validity (total stay still capped at granted period)
- Can: bring family members (spouse + dependent children under 21)
- Cannot: do “ongoing” work (i.e. a normal long-term employment position)
- Cannot: do entertainment-industry performance work (those go under 408 Entertainment stream)
- Cannot: enrol in formal education courses (short training excepted)
How 400 Differs From the Other “Work” Visas
400 is most commonly confused with these three — drawing the lines clearly:
- vs 408 Temporary Activity: 408 targets specific activity categories (sport / religious / entertainment / research / government); 400 is general short-term specialised work. They do not overlap
- vs 482 Skills in Demand: 482 is medium-to-long-term (2–4 years), ongoing, SBS-nominated employment; 400 is short, non-ongoing, with no SBS nomination
- vs 600 Visitor (Business Visitor Stream): 600 Business lets you attend meetings, negotiations, and inspections but NOT actually work; 400 lets you actually perform specialised work
👉 Decision rule: if your work is “come, do it, leave + highly specialised + does not fit any 408/482 scenario above” — that’s 400.
The 6 Most Common Subclass 400 Scenarios
These are the scenarios where Home Affairs most commonly grants 400. If your situation is close to any row below, and the work is clearly specialised and non-ongoing, 400 is likely the right visa choice.
Note: In practice, success doesn’t depend on the scenario label — it depends on simultaneously evidencing “specialisation + non-ongoing nature + the inviter’s genuine need”. Vague or repetitive descriptions of the work routinely trigger requests for further information or refusal.
What 400 Saves You vs Other Work Visas Like 482
For short-term specialists, 400 is markedly easier than 482 / 186 / 494 on the following 6 hard conditions — which is why it is the default choice when inviting short-term specialists:
1. No SBS Required
The inviter does not need to apply for Standard Business Sponsor status in advance — they only need to provide a reasonable business case showing the specialised nature and necessity of the work.
2. No English Test Required
Applicants do not need to submit IELTS / PTE / TOEFL or any other English test — extremely friendly to pure technical / engineering / cultural professionals.
3. No TSMIT / CSIT Salary Threshold
The 482 Core Skills Income Threshold does not apply. The inviter can pay according to the actual project budget without aligning to Australian market salary benchmarks.
4. No Skill Assessment Required
The occupation does not need to be on MLTSSL / STSOL / CSOL; no VETASSESS or equivalent skill assessment certificate required.
5. Fast Processing
Approval typically completes in 4–8 weeks (depending on lodgement season, RFI handling, and the strength of the inviter statement). 2–6 months faster than 482 / 186 / 494.
6. Multiple Entry
Multiple travel entries permitted within the visa validity — though cumulative stay still cannot exceed the granted 3 or 6 months (the clock does not reset on exit).
The Three Most-Confused “Work / Activity” Visas
When choosing between short / medium / long-term work in Australia, 400, 408, and 482 are the three visas clients most often mix up. The table below is a side-by-side based on the official rules — for a quick read on which one matches your scenario.
The 6 Steps to Apply for a Subclass 400 Visa
The 400 process is lighter than other work visas, but the quality of the inviter statement and evidence of specialisation directly determines processing speed and grant probability. Total elapsed time is typically 6–10 weeks.
Inviter Statement
- Inviter issues an invitation letter and business case
- Clearly states the specialised nature, necessity, and non-ongoing character of the work
- Explains why it must be sourced from overseas rather than from local staff
Applicant Documents
- Passport, CV, professional qualification certificates
- Employment history (employer letter, contracts, tax slips)
- Financial capacity (bank statements / inviter-bears-costs declaration)
ImmiAccount Submission
- Lodge the application online via ImmiAccount
- Pay the primary VAC + additional applicant charges
- Upload all supporting documents and complete Form 1119 inviter details
Health & Character
- Complete the Home Affairs-designated medical within the last 12 months
- Police clearance from every country where you’ve lived 12+ months in the last 10 years
- Chinese applicants typically require notarisation and English translation
Health Insurance
- Purchase health cover that meets Home Affairs requirements
- For stays of 3 months or less, travel insurance / OVHC may suffice
- For 3–6 month stays, full OVHC across the visa period is recommended
Await Grant + Arrival
- Processing typically 4–8 weeks (see Global Visa Processing Times for live data)
- On grant, confirm stay duration, entry count, and any conditions imposed
- After first entry, complete the work within the granted period and depart on time
Subclass 400 FY 2025-26 Fee Structure and Timeline
Home Affairs adjusts visa application charges annually on 1 July by CPI. Below is the FY 2025-26 starting view of 400’s main fees and timing. Always confirm at lodgement using the official Visa Pricing Estimator.
Fee Structure (FY 2025-26)
Primary Fee Items
- Primary VAC: approx AUD $445 (was $430 in FY 2024-25, indexed +3% from 2025-07-01 and rounded to nearest $5)
- Additional applicant charge (each): approx AUD $115 (18+) / AUD $55 (under 18)
- Medical exams + police clearance: approx AUD $300-500 (China-based medical ~RMB 1,500-2,500)
- Health insurance (OVHC, 3-6 months): approx AUD $200-600
- NewStars representation fee: quoted upfront with full transparency
Processing Time References
👉 Final amounts are set by Home Affairs. We recommend confirming via the official Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodgement to avoid surprises from GST + credit-card surcharges.
Get a 400 Visa Fee Estimate →Who 400 Is For — and Who It Isn’t
The 400 visa serves a very specific user group. If your situation doesn’t sit cleanly inside “short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing”, another visa (482 / 408 / 600) is usually the better fit.
Who It Suits
- Invited by an Australian business / organisation to perform short, non-ongoing specialist work (≤6 months)
- Work is clearly specialised (ANZSCO Skill Level 1–3 or equivalent)
- Inviter is prepared to provide a detailed business case + necessity statement
- Applicant can apply and wait for grant while remaining offshore
- No need for long-term employment relationship or current PR planning
Avoid 400 in These Scenarios
- You want long-term work (>6 months) or your end goal is PR — consider 482 → 186
- Your work falls into a specific activity class (athlete / religious worker / entertainer / government program) — consider 408 with the right stream
- You are coming for meetings / exhibitions / business inspections, not actual work — consider 600 Business Visitor
- The work doesn’t have clear “specialisation” — it looks more like a normal employment role — consider 482 / 494
- You need family members to be able to work in Australia — consider 482 / 186 (400 family members have no work rights)
Choosing the wrong visa wastes 6–12 weeks and the application fee — let us first determine “which visa actually matches your situation” before lodging.
Help Me Decide Which Visa to Apply For →How We Make Your 400 Application Solid
On paper the 400 process looks simple, but whether you get approved first time, whether you secure 6 months instead of 3, and whether you avoid mid-process RFIs that derail the project — all hinge on how the inviter statement is organised and how completely specialisation is evidenced.
MARN-Licensed Lead
We are an Australian-registered Migration Agent (MARN) practice, bound by the Code of Conduct. Every package is finally reviewed and signed off by a registered migration agent.
Inviter Statement Coaching
We coach the inviter through three essentials: (1) why this must be sourced overseas, (2) the work’s specialised nature, and (3) why it is non-ongoing — heading off the common “the work could be done locally” refusal ground.
Bilingual End-to-End
Full Chinese-English handling throughout. Notarised translation, document conversion (CN → EN), and all correspondence with the inviter and Home Affairs run through a single point of contact.
Post-Grant Follow-Up
Grant isn’t the end — we follow up entry, stay management, advice on extension via offshore re-application, and long-term 482 / 186 planning if that becomes relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for or extend a 400 visa onshore in Australia?
No. Subclass 400 has an explicit offshore rule — both lodgement and grant require you to be physically outside Australia. Once a 400 expires after entry, you must depart Australia; there is no onshore extension or renewal. To continue working in Australia, you must depart and re-apply offshore (either a new 400 or transition to another class such as 482).
Can I apply for multiple 400 visas in a single year?
There is no hard numerical annual cap, but practice has tightened in recent years — Home Affairs treats the 3-month limit as essentially once per 12 months in aggregate. Frequent in-and-out within a short window with similar work activity can lead to refusal on grounds that the work is in fact ongoing. If multiple entries are genuinely needed in one year, plan ahead — some legs may need to be re-routed to 408 or 600 Business.
Can my spouse or children work on a 400 visa?
No. Family members can join you as additional applicants on the same visa, but neither spouse nor children have work rights under 400 (and cannot enrol in formal study). If working rights for family are required, consider 482 — partner visa-holders on 482 have full work rights.
Can I switch from 400 to 482 onshore?
No direct onshore transition. To move from 400 to 482, the standard pathway is: depart Australia, re-apply for 482 offshore (with SBS nomination and employment contract already arranged), then re-enter as a 482 holder. In rare special cases a bridging-visa pathway may be possible, but success is low and case-by-case advice from a MARN agent is essential.
Does 400 require English tests or a skill assessment?
No. This is one of 400’s biggest advantages versus 482 / 186.
However: Home Affairs will still judge whether you genuinely have the capability to perform the specialised work, drawing on your employment history, professional credentials, and the inviter statement. So while no formal Skill Assessment is required, the supporting evidence still needs to be solid.
How much does it cost? How long does it take?
For FY 2025-26 the primary VAC starts at approx AUD $445 (always confirm at lodgement via Visa Pricing Estimator). Additional applicants are around AUD $115 (18+) / AUD $55 (under 18) each. On top of the VAC are medical exam, police clearance, and health insurance costs.
Processing typically completes in 4–8 weeks; with RFIs this can stretch to 10–12 weeks. There is no priority processing channel — urgent cases must be planned in advance.
How do I secure 6 months instead of 3?
The default grant is 3 months. If your work objectively requires 4–6 months (e.g. a piece of equipment that takes 5 months from installation to commissioning), the inviter must justify in the business case:
① the objective duration (with a clear timeline / Gantt chart); ② why the work cannot be split into multiple 3-month visits; ③ why depart-and-return mid-project is infeasible.
Home Affairs assesses case by case — whether you secure 6 months depends on how persuasive the business case is.
Should I apply for 400 or 408 Temporary Activity?
The decision rule is straightforward: does your work fall into one of 408’s six specific streams?
408 streams: Sport / Religious Work / Entertainment / Research / Special Programs / Invited for other social and cultural activity.
If your work clearly maps to one of those streams → 408. If it is general short-term specialised work but doesn’t fit any of those categories → 400. The two do not overlap and do not substitute for each other.
Need a Subclass 400 Short-Term Specialist Work Visa? Let Our MARN Agents Diagnose + Prepare
On the surface 400 looks easy — no SBS sponsorship, no English bar. But Home Affairs’ requirements on the inviter statement, specialisation evidence, and necessity argument are not light. Every year a meaningful share of 400 applications are refused or compressed to shorter stays due to insufficient documentation.
Contact NewStars for a Free Eligibility Review →
