Australia’s 407 Training Visa Is Changing: What You Must Know Before 12 November 2026

General information only. It is not migration advice for your circumstances.

The Australian Government has announced a significant change to the Training visa (subclass 407).

From 12 November 2026, Home Affairs says applicants must be outside Australia when they apply and when their visa is granted.

For someone already in Australia—particularly with a visa approaching expiry—this is more than a change to an application form. It affects when you can lodge, where you must be, and how you manage your immigration status while waiting.

The important message is simple: having a sponsor, a training opportunity or an application ready does not, by itself, allow you to remain in Australia.

The changes at a glance

• Applying on or after 12 November 2026: you must generally apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia at grant.
• Valid application lodged before 12 November 2026: Home Affairs says the new offshore rules will not apply to that application.
• Sponsorship or nomination still awaiting approval: the required approvals must be obtained before lodging the visa application.
• Application lodged outside Australia: you will not receive a bridging visa linked to that offshore application.
• ImmiAccount accepts an onshore submission after the change: that does not make the application valid.

The amending regulations allow for specified classes of applicants to be treated differently through a separate legislative instrument. Do not assume an exception applies without checking your circumstances against the current rules.

What exactly changes on 12 November?

Under the Home Affairs announcement, people in Australia who want to apply for a Training visa will need to leave before lodging their application.

Applicants must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Home Affairs expressly warns that an application made while in Australia from that date will be invalid—even if ImmiAccount allows it to be submitted.

That distinction matters. Successfully uploading documents or paying an application charge is not proof that you have made a valid visa application.

Home Affairs also warns that an invalid application can affect your visa position and that a decision that an application is invalid cannot be merits reviewed.

Already in Australia? Check your visa timeline first

If you hold a Student visa, Temporary Graduate visa or another temporary visa, do not assume that arranging a 407 sponsor will solve an approaching expiry date.

Three separate timelines need attention:

1. Your current visa: when it expires and what conditions apply.
2. The sponsorship and nomination: whether the required approvals are already in place.
3. Your Training visa application: when and where you can validly lodge.

A pending sponsorship or nomination is not a visa. It does not extend your current stay or automatically provide a bridging visa.

Before making plans, review your broader options through our PR and migration planning guidance, rather than treating the Training visa as an automatic fallback.

A practical example

Suppose your current visa expires in late November, but your proposed sponsor’s nomination has not yet been approved.

You should not assume that you can lodge a 407 application inside Australia just before your current visa expires. From 12 November, the offshore application requirement becomes a central part of that planning.

The first question is not simply, “Can an employer sponsor me?”

It is: “Can the required approvals and a valid application be arranged within my circumstances, while I remain lawful?”

Sponsorship and nomination must already be approved

The offshore rule is not the only requirement applicants need to understand.

Home Affairs confirms that, following changes effective 11 March 2026, the necessary sponsorship and nomination approvals must be obtained before the Training visa application is lodged.

For most applicants, the sequence is:

Approved temporary activities sponsor → approved training nomination → visa application

An Australian Commonwealth Government agency does not need to nominate the applicant, but the applicable approved sponsorship and invitation requirements still matter.

Our Training visa guide explains the purpose of subclass 407 and how sponsorship, nomination and the training program fit together.

What if you applied before 12 November 2026?

Home Affairs says valid Training visa applications submitted before 12 November 2026 will continue to be assessed under the rules in place when the application was made.

The important word is valid.

Starting an ImmiAccount application, finding a sponsor or submitting a nomination before the date is not the same as lodging a valid visa application.

The sponsorship and nomination requirements already in force must still be satisfied.

Do not rush an incomplete or invalid application simply to try to lodge before the change.

Will an offshore 407 application give you a bridging visa?

No. Home Affairs states that you will not receive a bridging visa linked to a Training visa application lodged outside Australia.

This is particularly important for applicants who expected to keep living in Australia while waiting.

Home Affairs says you may travel to Australia on another valid visa while the Training visa application is being processed. However:

• You must have a valid visa permitting that travel.
• You must comply with that visa’s conditions.
• You cannot assume it permits the proposed training or work.
• You must be outside Australia when the Training visa is granted under the new general rule.

Do not book your return around an assumed approval date. Processing times vary, and lodging an application does not guarantee a grant.

The 407 visa is for genuine training—not an ordinary job

Subclass 407 supports eligible workplace-based occupational training or professional development. It is not intended to fill workforce shortages or provide unrestricted ongoing employment.

Home Affairs identifies three training categories:

• Occupational training required for registration: training connected with obtaining occupational registration, membership or licensing.
• Occupational training to improve skills: structured training to develop skills in an eligible occupation.
• Occupational training for capacity building overseas: certain programs involving overseas qualifications, government support or professional development.

Each category has its own requirements. A job offer alone does not establish that a suitable training program exists.

If the real purpose is ordinary employment, it may be more appropriate to assess an employment-based visa. Our employer-sponsored visa comparison explains how subclasses 482, 186 and 494 differ from the Training visa.

What should you prepare before leaving Australia?

Home Affairs recommends preparing before travelling. Your checklist should include:

• Visa expiry: confirm your current status and plan to leave before your visa expires.
• Approvals: check that the required sponsorship and nomination approvals have been obtained.
• Training evidence: ensure the proposed program genuinely fits the relevant training category.
• Application documents: organise identity, English, insurance, financial and other required evidence.
• Health examinations: check whether examinations are required and whether they can be completed before departure.
• Time overseas: budget for accommodation, living costs and uncertain processing times.
• Return arrangements: avoid assuming a grant date or guaranteed return to Australia.

An offshore application is not simply an onshore application submitted from a different location. The practical consequences for accommodation, employment, family and finances can be substantial.

Frequently asked questions about the 407 visa changes

Can I apply for a 407 visa while in Australia after 12 November 2026?

Under the announced general rule, no. Home Affairs says applicants must be outside Australia when applying. Any claimed exception needs to be checked against the applicable legislation.

Does the change apply to Student visa and 485 visa holders?

Holding a Student visa or Temporary Graduate visa does not, by itself, exempt you from the new offshore requirement. Your existing visa conditions and ability to make another application also need individual assessment.

Can I apply while my sponsor or nomination is still pending?

No. The required sponsorship and nomination must be approved before lodging the visa application. Commonwealth Government agency sponsorship has different nomination and invitation arrangements.

I have already lodged a valid application. Do I need to apply again overseas?

Home Affairs says the new rules will not apply to valid applications lodged before 12 November 2026. Continue to comply with your current visa conditions and any requirements relevant to your pending application.

Can I apply from my home country?

You must apply from outside Australia under the new general rule. The announcement does not say that you must be in your country of citizenship. You should nevertheless consider your lawful stay in the country where you intend to wait.

Does the 407 visa require an invitation through SkillSelect?

It is not a points-tested SkillSelect invitation pathway like subclass 189. It uses training sponsorship and nomination arrangements. An invitation is required where the sponsor is an Australian Commonwealth Government agency.

Before comparing pathways, explore your occupation in Occupation Guidance to review assessing authorities, federal visa lists and state nomination information. Check personal eligibility separately.

How long can I stay on a Training visa?

Home Affairs says subclass 407 may allow a stay of up to two years. The actual period depends on the visa granted; two years is not guaranteed.

What English level is required?

Home Affairs lists functional English. Check the accepted evidence and applicable requirements rather than assuming that one test score or an earlier visa application will be sufficient.

Can my partner or children come with me?

Eligible members of the family unit may be included, subject to the relevant requirements. Family members’ work conditions differ from those of the primary applicant. Home Affairs currently states a limit of 40 hours per fortnight for family members granted the visa; check the individual grant conditions.

Can I work full-time on a 407 visa?

Do not treat subclass 407 as unrestricted work permission. Your activities must comply with the approved training arrangements and your visa conditions. Home Affairs also states that all work undertaken must be paid in accordance with applicable minimum wages.

Does a Training visa lead directly to permanent residence?

No. It does not provide an automatic permanent residence pathway. A later skilled or employer-sponsored visa requires its own eligibility assessment, evidence and valid application.

How much does the visa cost, and how long will it take?

The Home Affairs page checked for this article lists the main applicant visa charge from AUD535, with limited concessions. Additional applicant charges and other expenses may apply. Check the official visa page and pricing information before applying.

Processing times vary. Sponsorship, nomination and visa processing are separate stages, so a published visa processing estimate is not a reliable estimate of the whole process.

Our view: plan the sequence, not just the visa

For suitable applicants, subclass 407 can support meaningful professional development. But a genuine training opportunity must be matched with the correct approvals, a valid application and a realistic immigration timeline.

The upcoming offshore rule makes early preparation more important—particularly if you are already in Australia.

Before you commit to training, travel or relocation, understand what must be approved, where you must apply and how you will remain lawful throughout the process.

Explore our Training visa guidance, or consider your wider options through Plan Your PR.

General information only, not individual migration advice. Rules, charges and processing information can change. Obtain advice on your circumstances before lodging an application or making travel arrangements.