Australia announces new work visa rules for Subclass 400. Find out if you can apply?

Highlights: New work visa rules announced for Subclass 400 visa in Australia
 

• The Department of Home Affairs of Australia has announced changes to the Subclass 400 visa policies.
• Under the new change, the Department will now scrutinize Subclass 400 visa applications closely.
• The changes aim to ensure that the Subclass 400 visa is not being used as an easy alternative to the Subclass 482 visa.
• The flexibility of multiple applications over 12 months has been discontinued.
   

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Subclass 400 visa policy in Australia
 

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has recently amended Subclass 400 visa policies. The Department will now focus on scrutiny of applications to ensure that businesses are not using the visa as a quicker alternative to the Subclass 482 visa.

The new changes aim to prioritize Australian PRs and citizens for job vacancies available in the country. Businesses requiring short-term foreign workers can use the Subclass 400 visa to recruit workers for 3 to 6 months. However, the companies must convince the Department that the short-term work will be completed within a maximum of three months.
 

*Willing to apply for a Subclass 400 Visa? Y-Axis is here to assist you in all the steps. 
 

Changes to the Subclass 400 Visa
 

The two main changes announced for the Subclass 400 visa are:
 

• Scrutinizing longer-term stays: Under the new changes, visa officers will closely scrutinize the visa applications where a worker must stay in Australia for more than three months in 12 months. The Department has not discontinued the 6-month stay for Subclass 400 visa, but those applications will be considered as exceptional.

The following types of applicants are unlikely to get a 6-month visa duration:

• Candidates from countries having lower income rates than Australia
• If an employer wished to employ multiple separate contracts
• Low-skilled job roles listed under ANZSCO level 4 or 5
  • Return Visits: Under the new changes, foreign workers who have arrived in Australia on Subclass 400 visa will not be allowed to return and revisit multiple times over 12 months. Workers will only be allowed to stay for three months in 12 months after they arrive in Australia on a Subclass 400 visa.

Employers in Australia must choose between Subclass 400 or 482 visas while recruiting foreign workers following the implementation of new changes.  
 

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