To ensure that locals are not deprived of job opportunities, the Australian government has decided to implement more strictness with regard to temporary work visas or the subclass 400 Short Stay Specialist visa. This visa will now be closely examined by the Department of Home Affairs.
This short-term visa is issued for specialists or workers doing extremely specialised jobs. As per the amended rules, most of these visas will allow stay for three months only during a period of 12 months. That means, workers can no longer apply multiple times over a year’s time, and can hope to get the three-month limit extended to six months only in extraordinary circumstances. Also, if a worker leaves before the three-month period, they will not be permitted to come back during that 12-month period.
To stay on beyond three months, a valid and very strong reason will have to be given, and that too in cases of jobs where the work is truly specialised and not ongoing. These rules will also ensure that this short-term visa is not wrongly used for long-term jobs (that are categorised as subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa).
