400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)

The 400 visa is a great temporary skilled visa option for employers seeking to employ international candidates in highly skilled roles for up to 6 months. With extremely drawn out processing times for the 457/482 visas, it is also an excellent option for getting your candidate onshore in a time frame that is conducive to commencing time sensitive projects and essential operational roles.

Highly skilled is generally taken to mean skill level 1 – 3 under the ANZSCO (Australia New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations), but the 400 visa has the potential for use with any occupation, providing a persuasive case can be made that the skills are not otherwise obtainable from within the Australian labour market.

For longer assignments, of 3 – 6 months duration, an applicant must provide further evidence that their employment will not have adverse effects on the employment, training or working conditions of Australians. This might include evidence that the applicant will be paid an equivalent salary to what an Australian would receive in the same role, and whether the employment of the highly skilled individual will lead to training opportunities of Australians, thereby phasing out the reliance on international skilled labour.

Submissions and supporting letters for obtaining a 400 visa, particularly when a longer duration visa is requested, need to be both comprehensive and carefully structured to ensure success of your candidate’s application.

For a confidential discussion on how MAPS can assist you in making a successful application in this important visa stream, please call us on 1300 899 734.