Training Visa (Subclass 407) Rules Changed on 11 March 2026: What Employers and Trainees Need to Know
A major change has now taken effect for the Training visa (subclass 407).
Under the Migration Amendment (Training Visas—Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026, applicants can no longer lodge the sponsorship, nomination and visa application at the same time. From 11 March 2026, a valid subclass 407 visa application can only be lodged after the relevant Temporary Activities Sponsorship has been approved and, where required, the training nomination has also been approved.
This is an important change for employers, trainees and businesses that rely on structured workplace training, graduate development programs and internship-style pathways. It changes not just the legal requirements, but also the practical timeline for bringing a trainee to Australia.
What is the training visa?
The subclass 407 visa is designed for people coming to Australia to complete workplace-based training to improve skills in their current occupation, area of tertiary study or field of expertise, or to participate in a professional development training program. The visa can be granted for up to two years.
What changed on 11 March 2026?
Before this amendment, it was possible in many cases to lodge at the same time:
- the Temporary Activities Sponsorship application
- the training nomination
- and the subclass 407 visa application
That is no longer the case. The new law now requires that, for a valid subclass 407 visa application, the applicant must already have an approved temporary activities sponsor and, if the sponsor is not a Commonwealth agency, an approved nomination for a program of occupational training. The application must also identify that approved nomination, and the nomination approval must still be in effect when the visa application is lodged.
Who does this affect?
This change is especially important for:
- employers running formal training programs
- businesses planning graduate or internship pathways
- organisations bringing trainees to Australia for occupational development
- onshore applicants whose current visa timing is already tight
Because the subclass 407 application can now only be lodged after earlier approvals are in place, businesses and trainees may need to allow significantly more lead time than before. The Department’s processing time guidance is indicative only and does not guarantee when an application will be decided.
Why did the Government make this change?
According to the explanatory statement, the Government introduced the amendment to strengthen the integrity of the subclass 407 program. The Department identified concerns about a significant increase in onshore subclass 407 applications since the middle of 2024, including applications that were allegedly not being used for genuine training purposes. The explanatory statement says the change is intended to deter non-genuine applications, including cases where the visa pathway may have been used to extend a person’s stay in Australia or bypass skilled migration pathways.
What does this mean in practice?
For employers and trainees, the biggest impact is timing.
You now need to think of the subclass 407 process in stages:
- First, the business must become an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor.
- Next, the sponsor must obtain approval of the training nomination.
- Only then can the subclass 407 visa application be validly lodged.
This means employers should start planning earlier, especially where the training start date is fixed or the trainee is already in Australia and facing visa expiry deadlines. Training plans, supporting documents and eligibility strategy should ideally be prepared well in advance so there is no delay once sponsorship and nomination approvals are ready.
Does this apply to applications already lodged?
No. The amendment applies to subclass 407 visa applications made on or after the commencement of the new Schedule, which began on 11 March 2026. Applications lodged before that date continue to be assessed under the previous framework.
A small but important exception:
The explanatory statement confirms that these amendments do not affect the existing arrangements for Commonwealth agencies, which may be exempt from the requirement to nominate a program of occupational training.
How Better Life Migration can help
At Better Life Migration, we help employers and trainees understand the correct order of lodgement, assess eligibility, prepare compliant training plans and manage timing risks before they become costly problems.
With these new rules now in force, early planning is more important than ever. A subclass 407 strategy that worked before 11 March 2026 may no longer be valid under the new law.
If you need help with a Training visa (subclass 407), Temporary Activities Sponsorship, or a compliant training nomination, contact Better Life Migration for tailored advice and application support. Get in touch with us at www.betterlifemigration.com.au or call 0415 419 414.
To learn more about the training visa, click here.
