Subclass 400
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
For short-term, non-ongoing, highly specialised work in Australia when your skills, knowledge or experience cannot reasonably be found here.
Overview
With this visa you can
- Do short-term, non-ongoing work in a highly specialised job
Requirements
The official page lists these main requirements. Each stream adds its own.
- Have highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience that cannot reasonably be found in Australia
- Only do the work the visa was granted for
Documents & forms
The official page lists the documents to provide with an application. Open the documents list on Home Affairs.
Forms often used with this visa
- Form 80: Personal Particulars for Assessment Including Character Assessment — Personal particulars and character — commonly requested by the department.
- Form 956: Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person — If you appoint a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.
- Form 1022: Notification of Changes in Circumstances — To notify a change in circumstances after lodgement.
- Form 1023: Notification of Incorrect Answer(s) — To correct an incorrect answer after lodgement.
- Form 1282: Australian Values Statement for Temporary Visa Applicants — Australian values statement for temporary visa applicants.
The official page lists the documents each application requires.
Preparation checklist: a printable list of common steps and documents, each linked to its official source.
Published processing times and charges
Official processing times
Home Affairs publishes how long it took to decide past applications: the time within which 25, 50, 75 and 90 per cent were decided. Each stream keeps its own reporting period.
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs processing times on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. The source reports 12 October 2026 for this version; this is separate from our check date. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry.
| 25% of applications | 50% | 75% | 90% | Reporting period ended | Source published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | 8 days | 20 days | 43 days | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions). Past decisions only; not a prediction for any application. Current official processing times ↗
Processing times for this visa, by stream, with the reporting period.
Visa application charge
| Application | Main applicant | Each additional applicant 18 or over | Each additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
All applicationsOfficial conditions and notesNote Your visa application charge for this visa might be nil if you are: a person who applies in the course of acting as a representative for a foreign government; or a class of persons specified by the Minister in a legislative instrument get_app Go to visa page | $535 | $535 | $135 |
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs price list on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry. Other costs, such as health checks or a second instalment, may apply, and government charges are separate from any professional fee. Current official pricing ↗
Updates & sources
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. This summary was written from the official page on 20 October 2026.
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This page is general information written from the official page. It does not assess anyone’s eligibility, is not migration advice and has not been reviewed by a lawyer or registered migration agent. The official page is always the current source. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.
Registered practitioners
Find a practitioner for Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)
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Registered migration agents and lawyers appear here once they have chosen to be listed for this visa. For requirements and how to apply, the official page is the place to start.