Subclass 407 Training visa — Workplace Training in Australia

What Is the 407 Training Visa?

The Subclass 407 Training visa allows overseas workers, students and professionals to come to Australia for workplace-based occupational training, professional development, or research. Unlike the Subclass 482 (which fills labour shortages), the 407 visa is specifically focused on training and skills development.

The 407 visa is commonly used by employers who want to train overseas staff in Australian workplace practices, by overseas professionals seeking to enhance their skills through Australian workplace experience, and by organisations providing structured training to overseas participants as part of international exchange or development programs.

The 407 visa is temporary and is granted for the duration of the approved training program, up to a maximum period (currently up to two years): up to 24 months, matching the period approved in the nomination (typically 6, 12, 18 or 24 months). The primary purpose must be training; productive work must be incidental to or part of the training, not its central activity.

Training Streams

The 407 visa has three distinct streams, each catering to different training situations:

Occupational Training Required for Registration

This stream is for overseas professionals who need to complete a period of supervised workplace training in Australia as a mandatory requirement for registration, membership, or licensing in their home country or in Australia. Common examples include medical graduates completing internships, engineers needing supervised practice, and accountants requiring practical experience for professional registration.

The training must be directly required by a professional licensing or registration body, and the applicant must provide evidence that the training is a prerequisite for their registration.

Occupational Training to Improve Skills

This is the most common stream and is used when an employer wants to provide structured workplace training to an overseas worker to improve their skills in a specific occupation. This stream is appropriate when the training is not required for registration but will enhance the participant's professional capabilities.

The nominating organisation must be an approved temporary activities sponsor and must provide a detailed training plan that outlines the training objectives, activities, supervision arrangements, and expected outcomes.

Workplace-Based Research or Study

This stream caters to overseas professionals or students who need to undertake workplace-based research or study in Australia. It is commonly used by PhD students conducting fieldwork, researchers collaborating with Australian institutions, or professionals participating in knowledge exchange programs.

The nominating organisation is typically a university, research institution, or government body that will host the researcher or student.

Training Plan Requirements

The training plan is the most critical document in a 407 visa application. It must be detailed, structured, and demonstrate that the training is genuine and will benefit the participant. A poorly written training plan is the most common reason for 407 visa refusals.

What the Training Plan Must Include

• Training objectives: Clear, measurable outcomes that the participant will achieve by the end of the training period.
• Training activities: A detailed breakdown of the training activities, including what the participant will learn, how they will learn it, and the timeline for each activity.
• Supervision arrangements: Details of who will supervise the training, their qualifications and experience, and how supervision will be provided.
• Assessment methods: How the participant's progress will be assessed throughout the training period, including any formal evaluations or competency checks.
• Training vs productive work split: A clear indication of how much time will be spent on structured training activities versus productive work. The training component must be the majority.
• Resources and facilities: Details of the training resources, equipment, and facilities that will be available to the participant.
• Benefit to participant: How the training will benefit the participant's career and professional development.

Nomination Requirements

The nominating organisation must be an approved temporary activities sponsor. This is a different sponsor type from the Standard Business Sponsor used for 482 and 494 visas.

Becoming an Approved Temporary Activities Sponsor

To become an approved sponsor for 407 visa nominations, the organisation must:

• Be lawfully operating in Australia
• Have a genuine need to provide training to overseas participants
• Have the capacity and facilities to deliver the proposed training
• Have qualified supervisors available to oversee the training
• Demonstrate a track record of compliance with immigration and workplace laws

Nomination Process

Once approved as a sponsor, the organisation nominates the overseas participant by submitting the training plan, details of the nominated participant, evidence of the training need, and details of the supervision arrangements. The nomination must be lodged online through ImmiAccount.

Applicant Requirements

The visa applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Genuine training purpose: The applicant must demonstrate that their primary purpose for coming to Australia is to undertake training, not to work.
• Relevant background: The applicant should have qualifications or experience relevant to the training they will undertake.
• English language: Required English standard for 407: Vocational English — IELTS 5.0 in each component (or the Department’s equivalent in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge or OET). Where the training is required for registration or licensing, the higher English standard set by the relevant registration body applies. Passport holders from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, and applicants with at least 5 years of full-time study conducted in English, are generally exempt.
• Health insurance: Adequate health insurance must be maintained for the duration of the stay.
• Health and character: Standard health examinations and police clearances are required.
• Genuine temporary entrant: The applicant must satisfy the decision maker that they genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily for the purpose of training.

Application Process

The 407 process generally proceeds through these stages. Note the March 2026 change to sequential nomination-then-visa lodgement:

1. Sponsor approval: The nominating organisation applies for and obtains approval as a temporary activities sponsor (if not already approved).
2. Training plan development: The organisation prepares a detailed training plan that meets Department requirements.
3. Nomination lodgement: The organisation lodges the nomination through ImmiAccount, including the training plan and supporting documents.
4. Visa application: Following the March 2026 changes, the participant's visa application is lodged after the nomination (sequential lodgement) rather than concurrently. Exact sequencing and any transition arrangements: the nomination must be approved, not merely lodged, before the visa application can be validly made; a visa application lodged before nomination approval is invalid. From 12 November 2026 the applicant must also be outside Australia when the visa application is made and when the visa is granted, and no bridging visa is granted for an application made outside Australia (see the November 2026 change). Applications validly lodged before 12 November 2026 continue under the rules in place when they were lodged.
5. Decision: The Department assesses the nomination and visa application and makes a decision.

Costs and Fees

Current 407 fees: Temporary Activities Sponsorship application A$420; nomination A$170; visa application charge A$535 for the primary applicant, A$535 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and A$135 for each child under 18 (up from A$430 / A$430 / A$110 before 1 July 2026), plus a A$700 subsequent temporary application charge for an applicant who lodges in Australia while holding certain temporary visas (Department of Home Affairs price list, checked 28 August 2026; from 12 November 2026 a Training visa application can no longer be made in Australia). Government fees for the 407 are generally lower than for the 482 or 494, and there is no Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy for 407 nominations. Confirm current figures on the DHA Training 407 page before relying on any figure.

Processing Times

Processing times vary by stage and current Department workload, and have been affected by the March 2026 process changes. Current published targets: 50% of Training visa applications decided within 11 months and 90% within 18 months (Department of Home Affairs, 4 August 2026); the sponsorship and nomination stages now sit in front of that, so plan for 9–12 months end to end at minimum. Because the visa must now be granted while you are outside Australia, the Department advises against booking return travel around an expected grant date.

Visa Conditions

The 407 visa comes with conditions that visa holders must comply with:

• Condition 8102: The visa holder can only undertake training or work as specified in the nomination. They cannot undertake other employment.
• Condition 8501: The visa holder must maintain adequate health insurance.
• Condition 8303: The visa holder must not engage in disruptive activities.

The visa holder must complete the training as outlined in the training plan. If the training is completed early or the arrangement changes, the sponsor must notify the Department.

Need a Training Plan? We Can Help

A training plan that does not meet the Department's requirements is a common reason a 407 nomination is refused, so the plan deserves care. Our training plans are prepared by migration professionals against the Department's published requirements; no outcome can be guaranteed. We work closely with your organisation to ensure the plan accurately reflects your training program while meeting all regulatory requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a 407 visa while I am in Australia?

Not from 12 November 2026. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted, and an application made in Australia on or after that date is invalid even if ImmiAccount accepts it. A valid application lodged before 12 November 2026 is assessed under the rules in place when it was lodged.

Can a 407 visa holder work?

The 407 visa holder can perform productive work as part of their training, but the primary purpose must be training. The training plan must clearly show that structured learning is the main activity, with productive work being incidental to or part of the training process.

Can the 407 visa lead to permanent residency?

The 407 visa itself does not provide a direct pathway to permanent residency. However, the skills and experience gained during training may help the participant qualify for other visa pathways, such as the 482 visa or a skilled independent visa.

Can family members come with the 407 visa holder?

Yes. The visa holder's spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included in the application. Family members receive full work rights in Australia.

How long can I stay on a 407 visa?

The 407 visa is granted for the duration of the approved training program, up to a maximum period: up to 24 months. The visa duration is determined by the training plan submitted with the nomination.

What is the difference between a 407 visa and a 482 visa?

The 482 visa is for skilled workers filling a labour shortage in a specific occupation. The 407 visa is for participants undertaking structured training. The key difference is the purpose: employment (482) vs training (407). The 407 visa has lower fees and fewer requirements but does not offer a PR pathway.