Due to the recent Migration legislation changes, temporary visa holders who intend to continue their stay in Australia are left with fewer visa options. Examples of these changes which were implemented on 1 July 2024 are:
- Visitor visa (subclass 600) and Graduate visa (subclass 485) holders can no longer apply for a Student visa while onshore; and
- international students who are above 35 years of age are now ineligible for a 485 visa unless exemptions apply to them.
To those who are eligible for Permanent Residency(PR) visas under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) stream (subclasses 189, 190, and 491) who haven’t lodged their Expressions of Interest (EOI) yet; or those who are gathering work experience to become eligible for employer sponsored visas (TSS 482, ENS186, and SESR 494); and are running out of visa options to stay onshore, the Training Visa (subclass 407) may be an option for you.
This article intends to provide an overview of the 407 visa and cite practical examples on how this visa works for certain occupations.
Overview
The 407 visa has five occupational training streams for different objectives. These are for enhancement of skills, for registration, and for capacity building overseas through overseas qualification/government support/professional development. This article will only focus on the commonly used streams: occupational training for registration and occupational training for enhancement of skills.
The general requirements are: you should have an employer/internship host who is an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS) and is willing to nominate you in a program in which you are suitable; your occupational training should be provided directly by your sponsor (exemptions apply); and that you have at least a functional English (https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/functional-english).
Enhancement of skills stream
Under the enhancement of skills stream, your nominated occupation should be on the skills list and you should have at least 12 months of work/study experience in your nominated occupation. For example, if you have recently completed a packaged Cookery and Hospitality course in Australa and you are over 35 years of age, you can be sponsored as a Chef on a 407 visa if you can find a restaurant who is willing to sponsor you.
You should have an internship supervisor who has the expertise to train you and you should also have a customised training plan based on your skills gaps and training objectives. The duration of 407 visa will depend on the length of your training. Most 407 visas are granted for 12 months but some are granted for 2 years.
Registration stream
This stream is for people who require occupational training to gain registration in their nominated occupation. The training should be in the workplace and the applicant should have the appropriate qualifications and experience to undertake the occupational training.
For example, Pharmacists are required to undergo internship before they can get their full registration in Australia. They can use the 407 visa to undertake their internship in their workplace if they are sponsored by their employer or by another entity. Similarly, Registered Nurses can also use the 407 visa when they process their RN registration in Australia via the Outcome Based Assessment (OBA).
Note that under this stream, it is not a mandatory requirement that the occupational training should be provided by the sponsor. For example, our company, BridgeAus Migration Consultancy, can sponsor Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, or other professions requiring registration on 407 visa but the occupational training can come from a third-party institution.
If you are considering applying for a 407 visa, it is suggested that you seek advice and/or assistance from an Immigration Lawyer or a Registered Migration Agent.