As of November 12, 2026, the Australian government will implement stricter regulations for the Training visa (subclass 407), necessitating applicants to be outside of Australia at the time of application submission and visa grant. This change may have significant implications for foreign nationals currently residing in Australia who intend to transition to the Training visa pathway, particularly those with expiring visas, according to immigration law firm Fragomen.
New requirements for applicants
Prospective applicants will be required to depart Australia prior to submitting their subclass 407 visa application and remain abroad until a decision is made, unless exempt. Although the Australian government may designate certain groups as exempt in the future, these categories have yet to be specified. This revision marks a further restriction on the visa pathway, as previously, applicants could submit their Training visa applications while in Australia after their associated nomination had been approved. Now, eligibility for nomination alone will not suffice for applicants to submit their visa applications from within the country.
Stricter sponsorship requirements
This change follows another significant revision introduced on March 11, 2026, which mandates that a subclass 407 visa application can only be lodged after both the employer’s Temporary Activities Sponsorship and the associated subclass 407 nomination have been approved. These changes may pose additional challenges for applicants facing imminent visa expiry deadlines, given the reported 12- to 13-month processing times for the relevant sponsorship and nomination stages. As a result, individuals with nearing visa expiry dates may find it difficult to remain in Australia while awaiting the necessary approvals and subsequently lodging a valid Training visa application.
Related Post: Pension giants launch group on dual-class voting disclosure
The Australian government has stated that these changes support its goal of reducing net overseas migration to targeted levels and preventing the misuse of the Training visa program to extend stays in the country. The subclass 407 visa is intended for foreign nationals undertaking workplace-based occupational training or professional development in Australia. In light of these changes, the timing and location of the application process have become key for those considering this route.
Affected applicants may need to depart Australia, complete the application process offshore, or explore alternative visa pathways, depending on their individual circumstances.
Leave a Reply