If you have highly-specialised skills and a project in Australia that simply can’t wait, the Temporary Work (Short-Stay Specialist) Visa 400 is still the quickest lawful route to fly in, get the job done, and fly out. Yet the first thing every project manager, HR lead, or consultant asks is, “How long will the visa take?” This article walks you through the latest 2025 visa 400 Australia processing time, the hidden factors that stretch or shrink your wait, and battle-tested tips to keep your own application racing ahead of the queue. It’s written for busy professionals, so you’ll find practical checklists, real-world examples, and a no-jargon explanation of recent policy tweaks.
1. Visa 400 at a Glance
| Snapshot | Details |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Short-term, highly-specialised work or emergency repair/installation |
| Stay period | Up to 3 months in any 12-month span (6 months only in rare, well-evidenced cases) |
| Base application charge (June 2025) | AUD 415 for the main applicant; same again for each adult dependent |
| Processing time (March 2025 snapshot) | 50 % of files: 11 days; 90 % of files: 28 days |
2. Latest Processing-Time Data (Why March 2025 Matters)
The Department of Home Affairs no longer publishes a daily ticker for every subclass. Instead, registered migration agents crowd-source and confirm monthly figures pulled from ImmiAccount analytics and client grant letters. As of March 2025:
Half of all decisions land in just 11 days.
Nine in ten files finish inside 28 days—still lightning-fast for a visa that allows you to work in Australia.
These figures beat the broader “Skilled-Temporary” median (83 days in April 2025) by a wide margin, highlighting how subclass 400 remains the speed king of work visas. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
3. Five Factors That Make or Break Your Timeline
3.1 Quality of Your Invitation Letter
Your Australian host’s invitation (or labour-hire contract) must justify why you and why now. Vague job descriptions or recycled templates trigger extra document-requests and add weeks.
3.2 Length of Stay Requested
Since late 2024, asking for the full six months is almost a guaranteed “further information” letter—and possibly a refusal—unless you lodge rock-solid evidence of an unmoveable long project. Stick to up to three months when possible.
3.3 Nationality Risk Profile
Applicants from countries with higher document-fraud rates sometimes face additional verification calls. You can’t change your passport, but you can pre-empt questions by supplying notarised translations and clear employment histories.
3.4 Time of Year
June is the close of Australia’s fiscal year; quotas reset on 1 July. Files lodged in late May/June sometimes pause until new allocations open. Lodge February–April or July–October for the smoothest run.
3.5 Previous Compliance
Did you overstay on a tourist visa years ago? Declare it up-front. Undisclosed compliance issues discovered during background checks are the #1 cause of “section 56” delays.
4. Bullet-Proof Application Checklist (2025 Edition)
Applicant side
Current passport (valid ≥ 6 months beyond intended stay).
Detailed CV highlighting the specialised skill set.
Evidence of work history – payslips, reference letters.
Police certificates for any country lived in ≥ 12 months.
Up-front health exam (only if requested in ImmiAccount).
Sponsor side
Invitation letter on company letterhead with ABN/ACN.
Business case showing the task’s urgency and why skills aren’t available in Australia.
Project timeline matching the requested visa length.
Proof of corporate solvency – recent ASIC extract or audited accounts.
Pro tip: Compress all PDFs 5 MB and label them “Surname-Document-Type” to avoid upload glitches that silently halt processing.
5. How to Shave Days Off Your Wait
| Quick Win | Time Saved* |
|---|---|
| Order national police check before lodging (even if ‘may be required’) | 3–7 days |
| Use one clear PDF per evidence type rather than multiple scans | 1–2 days |
| Pay by credit card (instant) not bank transfer (up to 5 days to clear) | 2–5 days |
| Attach a cover letter cross-referencing every legislative criterion | Reviewer doesn’t need to chase you |
| Respond to any “s56 request” within 48 hours | Keeps file in the fast track |
6. Common Myths Busted
“I have a strong passport so the department will skip checks.”
Not entirely. Even low-risk nationals land in the random audit sample. Uploading sub-par docs still triggers delays.
“I can hold off booking flights until the last minute.”
Yes—and you should. Even a perfectly prepped file can slip if Home Affairs reallocates staff to humanitarian caseloads.
“An agent can ‘guarantee’ seven-day approval.”
Run! Agents can’t influence the internal queue. What they can do is prepare a file so tight that the case officer spends minutes, not hours, on it.
7. When to Hire a Migration Agent (and What It Should Cost)
For a straightforward build-installer flying in for three weeks, DIY is possible. But complex scenarios—multiple dependants, repeat visits, or a 6-month request—justify professional help. Expect:
AUD 800–1,500 for a single-applicant subclass 400 handled by a registered MARA agent in 2025.
Premium, 24-hour “rush” services can run AUD 2,000+, but only pay more if the agent commits to same-day lodge.
Conclusion: Your 28-Day (or Less) Roadmap
The official benchmark for 90 % of Visa 400 grants is 28 days, but well-prepared files routinely receive a decision within two weeks—and occasionally inside a single business week. Follow the checklist, avoid the six-month trap unless you have bullet-proof evidence, and lodge outside the financial-year bottleneck. Above all, treat every upload as if the case officer will review it on a phone during a coffee break; clarity equals speed.
