Australia Introduces New Requirements for Subclass 407 Visa Applications

1. Key Change (Effective from 11 March 2026)

All new applicants for the Subclass 407 Training Visa must wait until the following two requirements have been completed before their visa application can be considered valid:

• The sponsor has been formally approved as a Temporary Activities Sponsor.
• A Nomination for the applicant has been approved by the Department of Home Affairs.

Exception: If the sponsor is a Commonwealth agency, only sponsorship approval is required, and a nomination approval is not necessary.

2. Comparison with Previous Rules

Previous Process

Applicants were able to lodge their:

• Visa application,
• Sponsorship application, and
• Nomination application

at the same time. The visa would be assessed and granted once all components had been approved.

New Process (From 11 March 2026)

If a Subclass 407 visa application is lodged before the sponsorship approval or nomination approval has been granted, the visa application will be considered invalid.

The Department of Home Affairs will notify the applicant that the application is invalid and will refund the visa application charge.

3. Important Information for Onshore Applicants

Applicants currently residing in Australia should be aware that a Bridging Visa will only be granted after a valid Subclass 407 visa application has been lodged.

While waiting for an employer’s sponsorship and nomination approvals, applicants must maintain another valid visa status.

If your current visa expires before you are able to lodge a valid Subclass 407 application, you may need to:

• Apply for another visa, or
• Leave Australia until you become eligible to submit a valid application.

4. Reason for the Change

The Australian Government has introduced these changes to ensure that the Subclass 407 program continues to serve its intended purpose of genuine skills development and workplace training.

The reform is also aimed at reducing the issue of “permanent temporariness”—a situation in which individuals who are not eligible for permanent residency repeatedly extend their stay through temporary visas. Such circumstances can increase vulnerability to workplace exploitation and create uncertainty for visa holders.

By requiring sponsorship and nomination approvals before a visa application can be lodged, the Government aims to strengthen the integrity of the program and ensure that participants are engaged in legitimate training opportunities.