Australia Implements Stricter Changes to Subclass 400 Temporary Work Visa Rules

The Australian government has recently made some strict changes to the rules related to Subclass 400 temporary work visas. According to the authorities, these changes are intended to make opportunities available for the residents and prevent any misuse. 

Understanding the Subclass 400 Visa 

The subclass 400 visa deals with the short-term stay for foreign workers working in highly specialised work. Earlier, these visa rules allowed the worker to stay in the country for six months in twelve months. However, the recent changes have brought this duration to three months in twelve months. 

Foreign workers can stay in the country for longer but only with a strong business case or if they are part of a non-ongoing and highly specialised job. There is a processing fee for the subclass 400 visa that starts at AU$ 415, which more or less amounts to ₹23,869.         

Changes That Concerns You

Of all the recent changes in the subclass 400 visa rules, here are some changes you need to worry about:

• Applicants no longer have the flexibility to apply multiple times over 12 months. 
• The authorities will now put more effort into scrutinising applications for the subclass 400 visa.  
• If you are a subclass 400 visa holder in Australia, you are allowed to stay in the country for a period of three months over 12 months after you arrive. This also means that you will no longer be able to return or revisit the country multiple times within the same 12-month period. 
• If your application was approved under the former policy, you can stay in the country for six months in 12 months.    

Applicants Less Likely to Get a 6-month Visa Duration

With the new changes in the subclass 400 visa rules, candidates from countries with lower incomes than Australia are less likely to get a 6-month stay. You might also be affected if your employer employs multiple different contracts. Lastly, if you are a low-skilled worker for a job role under the ANZSCO level 5 or 4, then the chances of you getting the six-month extension are slim.