New Rules for the Subclass 407 Training Visa from 11 March 2026

The Australian Government has introduced new rules for the Subclass 407 Training Visa, which came into effect on 11 March 2026. These changes modify how visa applications must be prepared and lodged.

The goal of the update is to strengthen the integrity of the program and ensure the visa is used for genuine training purposes.

What is the Subclass 407 Training Visa?

The Subclass 407 visa allows individuals to come to Australia to complete structured workplace training or professional development.

The visa can be granted for up to two years and is designed for people who want to:

• improve skills in their current occupation
• gain training related to their field of study
• participate in professional development programs

Importantly, the 407 visa is not designed as a general work visa, but as a training opportunity.

What Has Changed?

From 11 March 2026, applicants must meet stricter requirements before they can lodge a valid visa application.

Previously, it was possible to submit the following at the same time:

• sponsorship application
• nomination application
• visa application

Now this is no longer allowed.

To lodge a valid Subclass 407 visa application, the applicant must already have:

1. An approved Temporary Activities Sponsor, and
2. An approved nomination for a training program

If the sponsor is a Commonwealth government agency, the nomination requirement may not apply.

This means that sponsorship and nomination must be approved first, before the visa application can be submitted.

Why Were These Changes Introduced?

According to the Department of Home Affairs, there has been a significant increase in onshore applications for the Subclass 407 visa since mid-2024.

Some of these applications were not for genuine training purposes. Instead, the visa was sometimes used to:

• extend a stay in Australia
• bypass other migration pathways
• remain onshore while exploring other visa options.

At the same time, many nomination applications did not meet legislative requirements, which created longer processing times for genuine applicants.

The government introduced these changes to ensure the visa is used for real training programs and to improve the efficiency of the system.

What This Means for Applicants

If you are planning to apply for a Subclass 407 Training Visa, you now need to make sure that:

• your training sponsor is already approved, and
• your training program nomination has already been approved

before you lodge the visa application.

Without these approvals, the visa application will not be considered valid.

The Subclass 407 visa remains an important pathway for people seeking structured workplace training in Australia. However, the new rules mean that applicants and sponsors must prepare more carefully before lodging the visa application.

Planning ahead and ensuring that the sponsorship and nomination are approved first will now be a critical step in the process, book a consultation with one of our agents today.