Can I change the sponsor for my pending 407 visa after the March 2026 changes?
In March 2026, the Australian Government made changes to the Subclass 407 Training visa rules. These changes mainly affected what needs to be in place at the time a 407 visa application is first lodged.
Before the changes, it was more flexible for some applicants to lodge the visa application first and then finalise sponsorship or nomination details shortly after. The new rules are stricter and place more importance on having the correct sponsorship and nomination arrangements ready when the visa application is submitted.
Because of this, many applicants became worried about what would happen if their sponsor changed while their 407 visa application was still being processed.
Can I still change sponsors?
Based on the Department’s current position, yes.
If your 407 visa application was lodged before the March 2026 changes and your visa has not yet been decided, a new sponsoring organisation may still be able to:
- become your new Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS)
- lodge a new training nomination (GF407)
- link that nomination to your existing pending visa application
This can help in situations where:
- your original employer no longer wants to continue
- the business closes
- your training arrangement changes
- you move to another employer willing to sponsor your training
What needs to happen?
If you are changing sponsors, the new organisation will usually need to:
- become an approved sponsor (if they are not already approved)
- lodge a new nomination application
- provide all required supporting documents
The visa applicant should also upload a change in circumstances notification through ImmiAccount so the Department can properly connect the new nomination to the existing visa application.
What if the nomination was lodged before 11 March 2026?
The Department has also indicated that nominations lodged before 11 March 2026 can still be linked to pending visa applications the same way they could before the changes.
Final thoughts
The March 2026 changes made the 407 visa lodgement rules stricter, but they do not appear to stop applicants from changing sponsors while their visa application is still pending.
Every case is different, so it is important to make sure the new sponsorship and nomination documents are lodged correctly and the Department is notified properly. Contact us today to discuss these changes.