Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has announced an important procedural change affecting Training visa (subclass 407) applications. This update changes how and when applicants can lodge their visa applications, and it is important for both employers and trainees to understand the new process.
What Is the Subclass 407 Visa?
The Training visa (subclass 407) allows individuals to come to Australia to undertake structured workplace training or professional development. It is commonly used for:
- Occupational training required for professional registration
- Skill enhancement in an eligible occupation
- Professional development programs for overseas workers
The visa can generally be granted for up to two years, depending on the training program.
What Has Changed?
From tomorrow (11 March 2026), applicants for the Training visa (subclass 407) must now wait until the nomination has been approved before lodging the visa application.
Previously, the process was more flexible. Sponsors could lodge the nomination application and the applicant could lodge the visa application at the same.
Under the new rule, this is no longer possible.
Applicants must now ensure that:
- The organisation is an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor, and
- The nomination for the training program has been approved
before they can submit the visa application.
Why This Change Matters
This change may significantly affect application timelines.
Because the nomination must now be approved first, applicants and sponsors should expect:
- Longer preparation timelines
- Potential delays if nomination documents are incomplete
- The need for earlier planning of training start dates
Sponsors are therefore encouraged to lodge sponsorship and nomination applications well in advance of the proposed training start date to avoid disruptions.
What This Means for Employers and Applicants
This policy change makes correct sequencing of applications more important than ever. Employers and trainees should carefully plan the following steps:
- Ensure the organisation holds Temporary Activities Sponsorship approval
- Lodge the nomination for the training program
- Wait for the nomination approval
- Only then lodge the 407 visa application
How Southern Stone Migration Can Help
Changes like this demonstrate how quickly migration procedures can evolve. Careful preparation of the sponsorship and nomination stages is now critical for a successful 407 visa application.
Contact Southern Stone Migration to discuss your 407 visa options and ensure your application is prepared under the new rules.
