Processing times · Subclass 400
How long does the subclass 400 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400) applications were finalised within 23 days, and 90% within 41 days. In September 2026 the 75% figure was 20 days. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 400 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All applications | 23 days | 41 days | 20 days |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 400
How the application moves
- You apply from outside Australia with an invitation or contract from the Australian organisation, explaining why the work is highly specialised, short term and cannot readily be done by an Australian worker.
- Home Affairs assesses the genuineness of the activity, the applicant's specialist skills and the length of stay requested, then health and character where required.
What most often slows a 400 application
- Requests for a stay longer than three months, which are approved only in exceptional cases and attract closer scrutiny.
- Weak evidence that the work is specialised and non-ongoing, or a pattern of repeated 400 visas that looks like ongoing employment.
What to have ready before lodging
- A detailed letter from the Australian business describing the work, the dates, why it needs you specifically, and that it is not ongoing.
- Evidence of your specialist skills and employment, and proof of funds and ties to your home country.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 400 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400) applications were finalised within 23 days and 90% within 41 days, as at 2 November 2026.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 400 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 400. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482): processing times · fees
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408): processing times · fees
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600): processing times · fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 400 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: 400 Visa Australia: 3-Month Specialist Work Visa, Fee & Time. General information only, not migration advice.