Overview
The 400 (Temporary Work — Short Stay Specialist) and 408 (Temporary Activity) visas cover short, highly specialised assignments, events and activities that do not fit standard sponsorship.
Eligibility requirements
- Highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience not readily available in Australia
- Genuine short-term purpose (generally up to 3 months, 6 in strong cases)
- Invitation or support from an Australian organisation
- Meet health and character requirements
Document checklist
- Invitation/support letters
- Evidence of specialised expertise
- Itinerary and project details
- Financial evidence
Frequently asked questions
When is a 400 better than a 482?
For genuinely short, specialised assignments where full sponsorship is disproportionate — equipment installation, expert assessments, one-off projects. It cannot be used to fill ongoing positions.
Further reading
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