Visa & law
Subclass 407 changes: offshore application and grant required from 12 November 2026
New subclass 407 applications from 12 November 2026 generally must be lodged offshore and granted while the applicant is offshore. Valid applications lodged earlier remain under the rules applying at lodgement, and an offshore 407 application does not provide a linked bridging visa.
Australia has formally changed the place-of-application rules for the Training visa (subclass 407). From 12 November 2026, a new applicant will generally need to be outside Australia when lodging the application and when the visa is granted.
The change was registered on 30 October but does not commence that day. The legal commencement date is 12 November. A valid application lodged before then continues under the rules applying when it was made.
1. The old and new position
| Issue | Valid application before 12 November | New application from 12 November |
|---|---|---|
| Location at lodgement | Rules applying at lodgement continue | Generally outside Australia |
| Location at grant | Determined under the earlier applicable rules | Applicant must generally be outside Australia |
| Submission from Australia through ImmiAccount | Validity depends on the earlier rules | Invalid even if the system accepts submission |
| Bridging visa | Depends on the earlier application and circumstances | No bridging visa linked to an offshore 407 application |
| Sponsorship and nomination | The 11 March 2026 prior-approval settings remain relevant | Temporary Activities Sponsor and nomination approval are still generally required first |
An invalid application is not the same as a visa refusal. Home Affairs says that an onshore application caught by the new rule will be invalid even if ImmiAccount permits submission, and a decision that the application is invalid cannot be merits reviewed.
2. Who should review their plan now?
- People in Australia planning to use subclass 407 for further workplace training;
- people approaching visa expiry who expected a bridging visa after lodging 407;
- sponsors whose sponsorship or training nomination is not yet approved;
- applicants planning to lodge offshore and return on another visa while waiting;
- businesses or training providers using an old training commencement and relocation timeline.
Subclass 407 remains a genuine structured training visa, not an ordinary employment visa. Offshore lodgement does not reduce the requirements for the training plan, English, health, character, insurance or the applicant's circumstances.
3. Existing valid applications are not automatically cancelled
Home Affairs says a valid subclass 407 application made before 12 November will continue under the rules in place at lodgement, including the sponsorship and nomination changes that commenced on 11 March 2026. The new amendment does not itself require those applicants to withdraw or cancel an existing 407 visa.
4. Can an applicant return to Australia while the application is processed?
Home Affairs says an applicant may travel to Australia on another valid visa during processing, subject to that visa's conditions. The applicant must still be outside Australia when the subclass 407 visa is granted. Continuous offshore residence during the whole processing period is therefore not the rule, but a workable departure plan is essential.
An offshore 407 application does not generate a linked bridging visa. Lawful stay, visa conditions, departure and any return to Australia must be addressed separately. Processing times are historical workload information, not a promised return date.
5. Sponsorship and nomination sequencing remains
A typical 407 matter still has three distinct steps: Temporary Activities Sponsor approval, approval of the individual training nomination, and the trainee's visa application. Since 11 March 2026, a non-Commonwealth sponsor generally needs current sponsorship and nomination approval before a valid visa application can be made.
The Commonwealth-agency wording on the Home Affairs page concerns a nomination exception. It should not be expanded into a general conclusion that every government-connected applicant can lodge a subclass 407 application in Australia after 12 November.
6. A practical timeline
- Confirm the current visa expiry date, conditions and lawful departure and return options.
- Confirm a genuine training purpose and an individualised training plan rather than an ordinary position description.
- Obtain sponsorship and nomination approval under the applicable rules before visa lodgement.
- For applications made from 12 November, plan the offshore lodgement location, stay and evidence requests.
- If travelling to Australia on another visa during processing, comply with its conditions and plan to be offshore for the 407 decision.
- Keep training commencement, accommodation and travel flexible; do not treat a processing-time estimate as a grant promise.
Frequently asked questions
Can I lodge from Australia after 12 November if ImmiAccount lets me submit?
The interface may allow submission, but Home Affairs says an application caught by the new rule will be invalid. A technical submission is not proof of a valid visa application.
Does lodging on 11 November automatically protect me?
Only a valid application made before commencement receives the transition treatment. Do not rush an incomplete or invalid application merely to obtain an earlier date.
Will an offshore 407 application provide a bridging visa?
No linked bridging visa arises from the offshore application. Any stay in Australia requires another valid visa and compliance with its permitted stay and conditions.
Does returning to Australia during processing invalidate the 407 application?
Not merely because the applicant travels on another valid visa. The other visa's conditions apply, and the applicant must be outside Australia when the 407 is granted.
Does the change make subclass 407 easier to obtain?
No. It changes place of application and grant. It does not relax the training, sponsor, nomination or applicant criteria, promise faster processing or guarantee grant.
Need to map your 407 timeline before 12 November?
Contact XIVisa on WeChat at xivisa1 with your current location, visa and expiry date, proposed training occupation, sponsor, nomination status and intended training start date. We can help organise the general requirements, evidence and travel timeline. There is no need to send passport details in the first message, and no visa outcome is guaranteed. This article is general information and not individual immigration advice.
Discuss your plans on WeChat
Add XIVisa on WeChat: xivisa1. Mention the article you read and briefly describe your current visa, location and plans so we can understand your enquiry. Please do not send passport numbers or other sensitive documents in your first message.
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