Training Visa (Subclass 407) New Update: What Sponsors and Applicants Must Know

Introduction

Australia has introduced significant changes to the Subclass 407 Training Visa program, bringing major procedural reforms that directly affect both sponsors and visa applicants. The new changes officially came into effect on 11 March 2026 through the Migration Amendment (Training Visas – Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026 and were implemented immediately with very limited advance notice.

The Subclass 407 Training Visa allows eligible foreign nationals to participate in structured workplace-based occupational training programs in Australia for up to two (2) years. The visa is commonly used by employers, training organisations, and applicants seeking occupational development, industry-based training, or professional capacity building opportunities.

The latest amendments represent one of the most important procedural changes to the Subclass 407 program in recent years. Sponsors and applicants currently using, planning to use, or preparing applications for the Training Visa Subclass 407 should carefully understand the new requirements, approval process changes, and potential impacts on visa planning and lawful stay arrangements. In this article, we discuss the new updates of the Subclass 407 visa and what Sponsors and Applicants Must Know for this process.  

What Is the Subclass 407 Training Visa?

The Subclass 407 Training Visa is designed for individuals seeking structured workplace-based occupational training in Australia. It allows eligible applicants to improve professional skills, gain industry exposure, and participate in approved training programs for a temporary period. The Subclass 407 Training Visa is designed to allow overseas nationals to undertake workplace-based occupational training or professional development activities in Australia.

The visa generally supports:

• Structured workplace training
• Occupational capacity building
• Professional development programs
• Skills enhancement activities
• Industry-based training pathways

Successful applicants may remain in Australia for up to two years while participating in approved training arrangements.

The visa has been widely used across industries, including:

• Health Care and Social Assistance
• Education and Training
• Engineering
• Aviation
• Professional Scientific and Technical Services

The Subclass 407 visa continues to remain an important temporary migration pathway for training-based migration programs within Australia.

Major Changes Introduced on 11 March 2026

On 11 March 2026, the Australian Government introduced significant procedural changes to the Subclass 407 Training Visa program. The Australian Government introduced significant procedural reforms to the Subclass 407 Training Visa program on 11 March 2026 through the Migration Amendment (Training Visas – Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026. These changes immediately altered the visa application process by introducing stricter sponsorship and nomination approval requirements before a visa application can be lodged. The amendments affect both sponsors and applicants using this training pathway.

The amendments were introduced through the:

• Migration Amendment (Training Visas – Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026: The key focus of the amendments is the introduction of stricter sponsorship and nomination approval requirements before a Subclass 407 visa application can be validly lodged. These changes apply immediately and fundamentally alter the way sponsors and applicants prepare and lodge Training Visa applications.

Previous Application Process

Before the new changes, the Subclass 407 visa process allowed sponsors and applicants to lodge sponsorship, nomination, and visa applications together. This system provided greater flexibility and faster access to bridging visa arrangements for eligible onshore applicants in Australia. Before the new amendments, sponsors and applicants were permitted to lodge multiple applications simultaneously under a concurrent lodgement system.

Under the previous process, applicants and sponsors could lodge:

• Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS) approval application
• Nomination application for the occupational training program
• Subclass 407 Training Visa application

all at the same time.

This concurrent lodgement system allowed sponsors and applicants to move through the process more quickly.

For onshore applicants already in Australia, the system often provided an additional advantage because applicants could secure a bridging visa relatively quickly once the visa application was lodged. This approach provided flexibility for applicants whose current visas were nearing expiry.

New Rules Under the Amended Regulations

The amended regulations now require sponsors to obtain Temporary Activities Sponsor approval and nomination approval before a Subclass 407 visa application can be submitted. The previous concurrent lodgement process has been removed completely, creating a staged application process for future Training Visa applications. The amended regulations have now removed the concurrent lodgement option entirely.

Under the new rules, sponsors must first obtain:

• Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS) approval
• Nomination approval for the occupational training program

before the visa applicant can lodge a valid Subclass 407 visa application.

The only exception applies to Commonwealth government agencies, which are exempt from nomination approval requirements. However, these sponsors must still hold approved TAS status before visa lodgement.

This means that visa applications can no longer be submitted while sponsorship or nomination applications remain pending. The new process introduces a mandatory staged approval structure for all future Subclass 407 visa applications.

Invalid Applications Under the New Rules

Applications submitted without approved sponsorship and nomination arrangements after 11 March 2026 will now be considered invalid. Although application fees may be refunded, the Department will not process applications lodged without the required approvals in place. Applications lodged after 11 March 2026 without both required approvals in place will now be declared invalid.

Where an application is considered invalid:

• The visa application will not be processed
• The visa application charge will be refunded

However, applicants may face serious immigration consequences depending on their visa status at the time of lodgement.

Affected applicants may need to:

• Depart Australia
• Apply for another visa
• Seek urgent migration advice

while waiting for sponsorship and nomination approvals.

This change creates significant implications for applicants who were previously relying on concurrent lodgment arrangements to maintain a lawful stay in Australia.

Why Did the Government Introduce These Changes?

The Department of Home Affairs introduced these changes to strengthen the integrity of the Subclass 407 Training Visa program. Rapid increases in application numbers and higher refusal rates raised concerns regarding non-genuine training arrangements and misuse of temporary visa pathways.

According to the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA), the changes were introduced to strengthen the integrity of the Subclass 407 Training Visa program.

The Department noted significant growth in application numbers between:

• 2023–24
  and
• 2024–25

During this period:

• Application numbers increased by 183%
• Refusal rates increased from 6.3% to 40.9%

The Department indicated that these figures suggested widespread misuse of the visa program for purposes unrelated to genuine occupational training.

Government Objectives Behind the Changes 

The updated regulations are intended to reduce non-genuine applications, improve assessment efficiency, and strengthen compliance within the Subclass 407 Training Visa program while supporting genuine occupational training outcomes for eligible applicants and sponsors.

By introducing mandatory sponsorship and nomination approval requirements before visa lodgement, the Department hopes to achieve several policy outcomes.

These objectives include:

• Reducing “permanent temporariness.”
• Preventing misuse of temporary visa pathways
• Deterring non-genuine applications
• Reducing overall application volumes
• Improving processing efficiency for genuine applicants

The Department specifically referred to concerns about individuals using temporary visa applications to extend their stay in Australia without qualifying for permanent migration pathways.

The Government believes that stricter pre-lodgement requirements will help improve program integrity and reduce inappropriate use of the Subclass 407 visa category.

Practical Implications for Sponsors

The new rules require sponsors to prepare applications much earlier than before. Organisations must now complete sponsorship and nomination approvals before visa lodgement, increasing planning requirements and extending preparation timelines for workplace-based training programs. The new rules create major practical implications for employers and sponsoring organisations using the Subclass 407 visa program.

Sponsors must now plan significantly further in advance because they are required to complete two approval stages before the visa application itself can even be lodged.

These approval stages include:

• Temporary Activities Sponsor approval
• Nomination approval

Sponsors are now strongly encouraged to begin preparing applications well before the intended training commencement date.

Longer Lead Times Expected

Processing timelines may initially become longer as the Department adjusts to the revised application system. Sponsors without existing Temporary Activities Sponsor approval are expected to experience the longest waiting periods before applicants can lodge valid visa applications. The new staged approval system is expected to create longer lead times, particularly during the early implementation phase.

Sponsors who do not already hold approved TAS status may face the longest delays because they must first obtain sponsorship approval before progressing to nomination approval.

Even compliant sponsors may experience temporary processing delays while the Department adjusts to the revised application framework.

Employers relying on workplace-based occupational training arrangements should therefore prepare applications significantly earlier than under previous processes.

Greater Scrutiny on Nomination Applications

Nomination applications under the Subclass 407 program are expected to face a more detailed assessment under the new framework. Training duration, remuneration levels, and the overall structure of the occupational training program may receive closer examination during the nomination approval process.

The Department is also expected to apply greater scrutiny to nomination applications under the revised framework.

Applications may face additional assessment where:

• Training duration appears disproportionate to the intended skills development
• Remuneration appears low relative to the proposed training period
• The Department suspects the primary intention is ongoing work rather than genuine occupational training

Sponsors should therefore ensure that training programs are:

• Clearly structured
• Genuine in purpose
• Proportionate in duration
• Properly documented

The quality and credibility of training program documentation will likely become increasingly important under the new assessment framework.

Positive Outlook for Genuine Sponsors

Despite the stricter requirements, the medium-term outlook may become more positive for genuine sponsors. The Department believes that filtering out non-genuine applications earlier in the process may help reduce overall application volumes.

As a result, genuine sponsors may eventually experience:

• Faster processing times
• More efficient application handling
• Reduced system congestion

The Department also indicated that sponsorships and nominations within sectors experiencing strong workforce demand may receive processing priority.

These sectors include:

• Health Care and Social Assistance
• Professional Scientific and Technical Services
• Education and Training
• Engineering
• Aviation

Sponsors operating within these industries may benefit from prioritised processing arrangements where applications are properly prepared and clearly demonstrate genuine training needs.

Practical Implications for Visa Applicants

Applicants can no longer rely on concurrent lodgement arrangements to quickly access bridging visas while sponsorship approvals remain pending. Visa applicants must now wait until both sponsorship and nomination approvals are granted before lodging a valid application. The new rules also create serious implications for visa applicants, particularly those currently in Australia.

Applicants can no longer lodge a Subclass 407 visa application while sponsorship and nomination applications remain pending.

This means that applicants must wait until both approvals are granted before lodging a valid visa application.

Risks for Onshore Applicants

Onshore applicants with visas nearing expiry may face increased immigration risks under the new system. Without the ability to lodge visa applications early and obtain bridging visas, some applicants may struggle to maintain lawful status while waiting for sponsorship and nomination approvals to be finalized.

Onshore applicants now face significantly higher risks under the new system. Under the previous concurrent lodgement process, applicants could often obtain a bridging visa relatively quickly after lodging their visa application. That option is no longer available.

Applicants whose current visas are approaching expiry may now face difficulties maintaining lawful immigration status while waiting for sponsorship and nomination approvals.

Affected individuals may need to:

• Seek urgent migration advice
• Consider alternative visa options
• Monitor visa expiry dates carefully

The changes are especially important for applicants already in Australia who were previously relying on bridging visa arrangements during the processing period.

What Sponsors Should Do Now

Sponsors currently using the Subclass 407 Training Visa program should immediately review their sponsorship status, training documentation, and application timelines. Early preparation, accurate nomination evidence, and proper planning will now play a much more important role in the application process.

Sponsors currently using or planning to use the Subclass 407 program should immediately review their sponsorship arrangements and internal planning systems.

Key actions include:

Confirm Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS) Status:  Sponsors should verify whether their organisation currently holds approved TAS status and confirm the expiry date of that approval.

Lodge Nomination Applications Early:  Training program nominations should be prepared and lodged as early as possible.

Sponsors should ensure that:

• Training documentation is detailed
• The occupational training outcome is genuine
• The duration is proportionate
• Remuneration arrangements are appropriate

Brief Affected Applicants:  Sponsors should ensure that applicants fully understand the new risks associated with delayed approvals and the inability to obtain bridging visas before valid visa lodgement. This is particularly important for applicants currently in Australia with visas nearing expiry.

Seek Professional Advice:  Given the complexity and immediate implementation of these changes, obtaining advice from a Registered Migration Agent is strongly recommended.

This is especially important for:

• Applications already in progress
• Pending sponsorship applications
• Onshore applicants facing visa expiry concerns

Professional guidance may help sponsors and applicants better manage timing risks and compliance obligations under the revised framework.

Conclusion

The new Subclass 407 Training Visa changes introduced on 11 March 2026 represent one of the most significant procedural reforms to the program in recent years.

The removal of concurrent lodgement arrangements means that sponsors must now obtain Temporary Activities Sponsor approval and nomination approval before a visa application can be lodged. Applications submitted without these approvals will now be considered invalid and will not proceed to assessment.

The Department of Home Affairs introduced these changes in response to rapidly increasing application volumes and significantly higher refusal rates, to strengthen program integrity and reduce non-genuine applications.

While the new rules create additional planning requirements and potential delays for sponsors and applicants, the Government believes that the revised system will eventually improve processing efficiency for genuine training programs and compliant sponsors.

Sponsors and applicants using the Subclass 407 Training Visa pathway should now carefully review their migration planning strategies, application timing, sponsorship arrangements, and lawful stay considerations under the updated framework. For more information visit us at  https://immivisa.com.au/