How Much Does the Australia Subclass 400 Visa Cost in 2026?

Plain-language guide · general information, not immigration advice

There is no single flat figure this article can quote for the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400) in 2026: the Australian Department of Home Affairs prices the main applicant's charge through its Visa Pricing Estimator, and the official page names only two situations in which that charge is not payable at all. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page for the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400), as of August 2026, the visa carries a charge for the main applicant, a separate charge for each family member who applies with you, and separate possible costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. Because the amount, the concessions and the extra costs all turn on your own circumstances, treat this as general information rather than personalised advice, and confirm the current figure against the Department's official information before you lodge.

Why you should price this visa with the estimator, not a headline number

The Department's own listing describes the structure of the cost but routes the actual figure to the Visa Pricing Estimator, which it names as the tool for working out what your visa will cost. That distinction matters when you budget: the estimator covers the visa application charge, and the Department states plainly that it does not take the other costs into account. So the figure produced there is the government charge only, not your total spend.

Who does not have to pay the application charge?

The official page sets out two cases in which the main applicant's charge does not apply:

You are coming to Australia to act as a representative of a foreign government.
You are listed in a legislative instrument — your inviting organisation will tell you if this applies to you.

Both are expressed in terms of the application charge itself. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics are described separately on the same page, so an exemption from the charge does not by itself remove those other costs from your budget.

What does each family member add to the bill?

There is a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you, and each family member's charge must be paid and their documents attached to their application. Family members included in a Subclass 400 application are not permitted to work or study in Australia, the one exception named on the official page being a language training program, and you must be able to show that you and your family have enough means to support yourselves while in Australia.

Which costs sit outside the visa application charge?

Four items are treated as separate from the government charge:

Health checks — you might need health examinations, either completed before you apply or once the Department asks for them.
Police certificates — the Department tells you if and when you need to provide them.
Biometrics — the Department might ask for fingerprints and a photo, and will let you know if you need to provide them.
Health insurance — the Department recommends taking out health insurance, because you are personally liable for all healthcare costs while in Australia; some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, which Services Australia describes.

The estimator does not take any of these into account.

Does the cost change on 1 July 2026?

Yes, for one defined group. From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. The Department charges the lower cost during the application process in ImmiAccount, and recognises eligible applicants by the valid passport from a specified country used in the application.

Family members are also eligible for the lower cost, and the Department bases that on the passport of the primary applicant, or the visa holder who satisfies the primary visa criteria. The primary applicant must hold a valid passport issued by one of the following:

Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

No dollar amount for the reduced cost appears on the official page, so the amount payable still has to be confirmed through the official pricing information at the time you lodge.

Can you pay to extend the visa instead of applying again?

No. The official page states you can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. The visa allows a stay of up to 6 months depending on the circumstances, the stay period starts on your first arrival, and re-entering on a multiple entry visa does not restart it; time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa either. A single entry visa cannot be used to re-enter at all — returning after you leave means applying for a new visa, which brings a fresh application charge with it.

When do you pay, and do you get the money back?

You apply online in ImmiAccount and pay the application fee as part of that online application, noting the transaction reference number. The Department will not process your application until the charge is paid, and if you do not pay the correct visa application charge it can't process your application at all — it will notify you if that happens. If the application is refused, the Department states it will not refund the application charge, so the government charge is spent once you lodge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fixed dollar amount for the Subclass 400 visa in 2026?

The Department prices the main applicant's charge through the Visa Pricing Estimator rather than a flat published rate you can quote in advance. The estimator gives the government application charge for your circumstances, and the Department notes that it does not include the other costs.

Who is exempt from paying the Subclass 400 application charge?

The official page lists two cases: you are coming to Australia to act as a representative of a foreign government, or you are listed in a legislative instrument, which your inviting organisation will tell you about. Both are stated in terms of the main applicant's application charge.

Do family members cost extra on the same application?

Yes — there is a charge for each family member who applies with you, and each of them needs their charge paid and their documents attached to their application. Family members on this visa are not permitted to work or study in Australia, apart from a language training program.

Does the Pacific Island and Timor-Leste lower cost apply from 1 July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible citizens who lodge a valid application, charged in ImmiAccount and identified by a valid passport from one of the specified countries. Accompanying family members are also eligible, based on the primary applicant's passport.

Is the application charge refunded if the visa is refused?

No. The Department states it will not refund the application charge if it refuses your application. Budget on the basis that the government charge is spent once the application is lodged and paid.

Are health checks, police certificates and biometrics included in the visa cost?

No. The Department lists health checks, police certificates and biometrics as other costs you might have to pay, and says the Visa Pricing Estimator does not take them into account. You will be told if and when health examinations, police certificates or biometrics are required from you.