Visas for commissioning, FAT and SAT windows

Vendor and OEM engineers brought to Australia to commission new equipment, or to run site acceptance testing, generally come in on a Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa — the work is specialised, tied to a defined scope, and ends when the equipment is handed over. Resource Visa prepares these applications for Australian employers and for OEM service divisions mobilising into Australia.

Why commissioning is a strong Subclass 400 case

Commissioning fits the 400 unusually well, because the things the Department wants to see are inherent in the work.

The scope is defined by a commissioning plan or an acceptance test procedure. The end point is a handover certificate. The skill is tied to a specific make and model of equipment, usually with an OEM authorisation or certification attached. And the reason it cannot be done locally is simply that the manufacturer’s engineers are where the manufacturer is.

That is a cleaner evidentiary picture than most 400 applications start with.

Who typically comes in

Manufacturer's commissioning engineers for rotating equipment, compressors and turbines
Control systems and instrumentation engineers for DCS, SCADA and PLC commissioning
Vendor representatives attending Factory Acceptance Testing or Site Acceptance Testing
Specialist integrators bringing packaged plant online
Subsea and topside systems engineers on offshore projects

Commissioning engineers — visa options and evidence

What the application has to prove

The scope and its end point. The commissioning plan, the ATP, or the contract clause that defines completion.
Why this engineer. OEM authorisation, certification, or the fact that the equipment is proprietary.
Why not locally. Usually straightforward here — the manufacturer's trained personnel sit with the manufacturer.
The commercial consequence of delay. Late commissioning delays first production or handover. Where liquidated damages or a contractual milestone are attached, that is evidence and it should be quantified.

Commissioning that runs longer than three months

This is where commissioning cases go wrong.

The Subclass 400 covers up to three months. Large commissioning programmes routinely run longer, or run in phases across a year, and it is tempting to treat repeat 400s as the mechanism. Since September 2024, cumulative stay beyond three months in any twelve-month period attracts closer review, and repeat applications for the same individual attract more.

Where a programme genuinely runs beyond three months, the honest options are a phased approach with different engineers covering different scopes, or a Subclass 482 if the engagement is really ongoing. We will map which applies at the briefing.

The 400 and 482 compared for a defined scope of work

When the vendor is the employer

Often the engineer works for the equipment manufacturer overseas, not for the Australian site. That is a normal commissioning structure and it works — but the application has to describe the arrangement accurately, including who directs the work on site and who is responsible for the engineer while they are here.

For OEM service divisions mobilising into Australia repeatedly, we run preferred-supplier arrangements: one nominated contact, batch mobilisations against your project calendar, and a standing business-case template so each new engagement starts from a prepared position rather than a blank page.

Who must be the sponsor when a contractor engages the worker

Frequently asked questions

What visa does a commissioning engineer need to work in Australia?

For a defined commissioning or acceptance testing scope of up to three months, the Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa generally applies. It requires no sponsorship approval and no formal Labour Market Testing, though the specialised nature of the work still has to be evidenced.

Can a vendor representative attend a Site Acceptance Test on a business visitor visa?

It depends entirely on what they do. Observing, attending meetings and conducting negotiations may fall within business visitor activity. Performing or directing hands-on work generally does not. The distinction matters and it is frequently misunderstood — get advice before the engineer travels rather than after.

Our commissioning programme runs for six months. What are the options?

The 400 covers up to three months and repeat applications attract closer review since September 2024. The realistic options are phasing the programme across different engineers by scope, or a Subclass 482 if the engagement is genuinely ongoing.

The engineer works for the manufacturer in Europe, not for us. Is that a problem?

No, it is the normal structure. The application needs to set out the arrangement accurately — who directs the work on site, and who is responsible for the engineer during the engagement.

Do you work with OEM service divisions that mobilise into Australia regularly?

Yes. Preferred-supplier arrangements cover repeat mobilisers with one nominated contact, batch processing against your project calendar and a standing business-case template.

Book a 20-minute mobilisation briefing

Twenty minutes. No obligation. Direct with our principal. Tell us the role, the site and the date.

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AWST