Utilising the Temporary Work (subclass 400) Visa to mobilise an employee to Australia quickly
It is no secret that the current labour shortages being faced in Australia are crippling businesses.
Combine this with the significant delays in processing and administrative burden from the Department of Home Affairs processing traditional work visas such as the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) (subclass 482) visa and the Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186), visa many organisations are asking us ‘how can we get someone who is currently overseas working for us in Australia ASAP?’
A lesser known option that in certain circumstances, can be very helpful in getting someone into Australia in a relatively short time frame is the Temporary Work (subclass 400) visa.
What is the Temporary Work (subclass 400) visa?
The Temporary Work (subclass 400) visa is a temporary visa that enables international skilled workers to come to Australia and undertake highly specialised paid work.
The applicant must be outside of Australia when the visa is applied for.
The work must be short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work and in limited circumstances can be used to participate in activities or work relating to Australia’s interests.
The SC400 visa should only be used for short-term, non-ongoing work such as undertaking a specialised project or assignment.
The Department expects that the applicant should not expect or arrange to remain in Australia after the validity of the SC400 visa, however if circumstances do change, and their visa is not subject to a No Further Stay condition, they could explore applying for longer term visas such as the TSS (subclass 482) visa to continue working in Australia for the longer term.
How long does it take for a SC400 visa to be processed?
At the time of writing this article, we are seeing most SC400 visas being processed in under a month, which, if they are eligible, is a great alternative to get a candidate mobilised in Australia very quickly until longer-term visa options can be explored if necessary.
Further information & assistance
If you would like to discuss your circumstances in detail or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact our office on 1300 083 843 or submit an online enquiry.