Training Visa (Subclass 407) | Wintr Consulting

Training Visa (Subclass 407)

Undertake occupational training in Australia to enhance skills, meet registration requirements, or build capacity.

The Training visa (subclass 407) allows you to undertake occupational training in Australia to enhance skills, meet registration requirements, or build capacity for future career opportunities. This visa allows full time workplace learning for up to two years and allows including your family. It is a temporary visa and does not lead directly to permanent residency.

The Three Stages

1. 1. Temporary Activity Sponsor (TAS)

Application for the employer to become a recognised sponsor for a wider range of temporary visas. The process is aimed at identifying key components such as lawful trade, and active trade of the Australian business. A TAS is valid for five years and allows businesses to:

nominate and sponsor an applicant for a Training visa (subclass 407)
sponsor an applicant for a Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
sponsor an applicant for a Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme

2. Nomination

The three available streams allow you to determine the most suitable stream for their purpose. There are a number of documents to provide, each to support the chosen stream. The nomination assessment largely focusses on your qualifications, structured training program, supporting letters from the employer and employment agreements, where applicable. A table outlining the three different streams is presented below.

3. Visa

The final stage of the subclass 407 visa. You are required to provide evidence of relevant qualifications, English language requirement, financial capacity, good character, and pass the health examination

Each stage must precede the one before: sponsorship before nomination, and nomination before visa. It is entirely possible to submit all three applications on the same day provided they meet validity and eligibility criteria, and they are submitted in that order.

Other helpful information:

A common misconception is that a bridging visa is issued upon submitting a nomination application; a bridging visa can only be granted to you upon submitted the third stage, your 407 visa and if you are in Australia.

You may be in or outside of Australia (but not in immigration clearance) at time of application and decision.

• You can add your family member to your 407 visa while the application is either pending decision or finalised (granted).

Fees and charges relating to applications update regularly, and most likely on 1 July of the year. Additional charges may incur depending on your location, and your immigration history. To search visa charges, use the visa estimating calculator. Please note, this calculator provides fees for visas; the cost of sponsoring can be found here.

The Three Streams

1. Occupational Training to Enhance Skills

This stream is the most commonly used and applies to eligible skilled occupations listed for the subclass 407 Training visa. It involves structured, workplace-based training to improve skills in a nominated occupation.

It is specifically tailored to your training needs

You must choose an occupation on the list of eligible skilled occupations

You must have recent and relevant prior experience. This can include work experience or study that:

is the equivalent of at least 12 months full time experience in the occupation
has occurred in the 24 months immediately before the nomination is lodged

2. Occupational Training for Registration

This stream is available if you require workplace training in order to obtain mandatory registration, membership, or licensing to work in your occupation. The requirement for registration must apply in either Australia or your home country. If registration is not mandatory, another stream may be more appropriate.

3. Occupational Training for Capacity Building Overseas

This stream provides three tailored options:

Overseas qualification: for students currently enrolled in a foreign institution who need practical training or observation in Australia for up to six months to complete their qualification.
Government support: for applicants undertaking training backed by an Australian or overseas government agency.
Professional development: for overseas employers to send professional or managerial staff to Australia for structured, classroom-based development programs.

Case Study: The Pastry Chef

Scenario: You have recently completed a Certificate IV in Patisserie in Australia; your dream is to become a Pastry chef. After an interview with the city’s top pastry hotels, you land a wonderful opportunity to learn from an experienced Pâtissier. The hotel is an existing Temporary Activities Sponsor.

Process: Wintr Consulting and the hotel will draw up a structured training program so you'll be able to learn new techniques in stages.

Outcome: You will receive a temporary visa to work full time for up to two years under the structured training program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the training under the 407 visa be unpaid?

Yes. Unpaid placements are allowed if they’re genuine and structured. The applicant and sponsor must acknowledge the arrangement through supporting documents.

Can I apply for the 407 visa while on a bridging visa?

The conditions are limited, and one such limitation is that the application must be made within 28 days after the last substantive visa ceased to be in effect. If you hold a Bridging visa and wish to make an application for a subclass 407 visa, contact us today to discuss further.

Can the training take place partly overseas?

Generally, training must occur mainly in Australia where at least 70% must be workplace-based. Limited overseas components may be approved only under the capacity-building overseas stream.

Is there a minimum age or experience requirement?

Applicants must be 18 or older. For the “occupational training to enhance skills” stream, you typically need 12 months of full-time experience in your nominated occupation within the past 24 months.

Can I change sponsors during the training program?

Only in limited circumstances such as if a new nomination and visa are approved. Training with a new organisation before approval is a breach your visa conditions which may lead to an unfavourable outcome.

Can my dependents work full-time in Australia?

Dependents can work but are usually limited to 40 hours per fortnight unless your visa grant specifies otherwise. Check your individual visa conditions for any exceptions.

Can previous work in Australia count toward the 12-month experience rule?

Yes. Previous full-time, paid experience in the same occupation—whether in Australia or overseas—can satisfy this requirement, as long as it’s within the last 24 months.

What happens if my sponsor closes or training ends early?

You must stop the training and notify the Department of Home Affairs. You may apply for a new sponsor or another visa, but the 407 can’t simply be extended beyond the approved program.

Is the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy or labour market testing required?

No. The 407 visa does not require both the SAF levy and labour market testing, unlike employer-sponsored work visas such as the subclass 482.

Can time on a 407 visa count toward skilled migration later?

It may support your work-experience record, but the 407 itself isn’t a direct PR pathway. Eligibility for skilled visas depends on the occupation, assessing authority, and other criteria.

Can I study while on a 407 visa?

You may undertake incidental or related study, but not a full-time course. The visa’s main purpose is that you remain within your structured workplace training.

What if my job role changes during the training period?

If your duties or occupation change significantly, your sponsor may need to update the training plan or lodge a new nomination. This ensures the visa remains valid for your new role.