Training visa 407: could lodging too early cost you your place in the queue?

Visa guide · 2026-08-14 · 3 min read

Are you hoping to come to Australia for workplace training? Then please read this. The Training visa (subclass 407) has a new rule from 11 March 2026. It changes when you can send your visa application. Knowing it early can save you time and stress.

How it worked before

In the past, an employer could start three things at about the same time: the sponsorship, the nomination and your visa application. A sponsor is the organisation that supports your visa. A nomination is the sponsor's request to bring you, by name, for the training. If both were approved before your visa was decided, everything was fine.

How it works from 11 March 2026

Now the order is strict. Your application is valid only if, on the day you lodge it:

your sponsor already has approval as a temporary activities sponsor, and
your sponsor already has an approved nomination for you.

Commonwealth agencies do not need an approved nomination. They still need sponsor approval.

What happens if you lodge too soon?

The application is treated as if it was never valid. The visa application charge is refunded. But you lose your place in the queue. You must start again after the approvals come through. That can be a big delay.

The hidden problem: no bridging visa

A bridging visa lets a person stay legally in Australia while they wait for a decision. Before, even an early application could bring a bridging visa. Now an invalid application brings none. So think about this case. Your current visa ends before your sponsor gets its approvals. You may have to leave Australia, or quickly find another visa.

Simple steps for applicants

Check the end date of your current visa.
Ask your sponsor if the sponsorship and your nomination are both approved.
Wait for a clear yes before you lodge.
Prepare your documents early. If a police certificate is needed, a Vietnamese citizen usually asks for the Judicial Record Certificate (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp). Certified English translations of Vietnamese documents may also be needed.

Simple steps for sponsors

Send the sponsorship and the nomination early, well before the training start date. Only an approved request counts. A request that is "in progress" does not. Plan the training dates around current processing times.

Why did the government do this?

The government wants to reduce people moving from one temporary visa to another with no clear end. This pattern can lead to unfair treatment, especially when your right to stay depends on one employer. Locking in approvals first makes the process safer.

A word about staying safe

Please deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to "secure" a visa. For official information, visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Careful timing is your best tool, so check your dates today.

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