The Australian Government has changed the validity requirements for the Subclass 407 Training Visa.
Before lodging a Subclass 407 visa application, new applicants need to wait for the following:
- Their sponsor to be approved as a temporary activities sponsor
- Their sponsor must have an approved training visa nomination for them, unless the sponsor is a Commonwealth agency
These changes came into effect from 11 March 2026.
Previously, applicants were able to lodge the visa application at the same time as the sponsorship and training visa nomination application. The applicant would receive a bridging visa allowing them to remain in Australia while the application was being processed. The sponsorship and nomination application just needed to be approved before the training visa could be granted.
Any Subclass 407 visa applications submitted through departmental systems after 11 March won’t be valid unless the sponsorship and nomination have been approved.
These changes have been implemented to ensure the program supports genuine skills development. They also support the Australian Government’s commitment to reduce ‘permanent temporariness’, where individuals may not meet eligibility requirements for permanent residence so extend their stay through multiple temporary visa applications.
Why This Matters
This change affects timing and workforce planning in practical ways, and it may pose significant timing risks for applicants who are currently in Australia.
- Applicants in Australia must make sure they have a valid visa while awaiting sponsorship and nomination approval. Since the visa application can’t be lodged until the nomination is approved, applicants won’t receive a bridging visa during the sponsorship and nomination application stage.
- Sponsors will need to lodge sponsorship and nomination applications as early as possible, before the planned training start date. As the processing time for sponsorship and nomination can take months, this will significantly affect onshore applicants whose visas are about to expire.
Our team can help you plan the timing of your application and explore alternative visa options if needed. Contact us to discuss your visa strategy.
