Training (Subclass 407) visa: Surge in lodgement, integrity concerns and increased refusals
At a recent immigration law seminar in October 2025, the Department of Home Affairs shared insightful statistics and updates about the Training (Subclass 407) Visa Program, revealing significant trends and emerging policy directions for the processing and future of the Subclass 407 visa.
In particular, the Subclass 407 visa has seen an precedented increase in lodgements, largely due to many visa applicants “ageing out” of applying for the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa which had its age limit lowered in July 2024, as well as the abolishment of the COVID-19 stream of the Temporary Activity (Subclass 408) visa in early 2024:
2024–25 program year: 21,407 applications — a dramatic rise compared to the average of 4,545 per year from 2017 to 2024.
Q1 2025–26: 4,989 applications — more than five times higher than the 891 lodged in the same quarter of 2023–24.
Why has there been an increase in people applying for Subclass 407 visas?
Reasons for the increase in lodgements of Subclass 407 visa applications amongst onshore applicants include:
Student visa changes introduced in 2024 have tightened post-study pathways and introduced the Genuine Student (GS) requirement in place of the previous Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement, prompting some applicants to turn to the Subclass 407 visa.
Certain temporary visa holders are no longer able to apply onshore for the Student visa, prompting them to turn to the Subclass 407 visa.
The closure of the COVID-19 stream of the Temporary Activity (Subclass 408) visa on 1 February 2024, which previously provided an easily accessible short-term stay option for many temporary residents, has led many applicants to turn to the Subclass 407 visa.
The reduction in the age limit for the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa has precluded many applicants over the age of thirty-five (35) from applying for a Subclass 485 visa after completing their studies in Australia, resulting in many applicants turning to the Subclass 407 visa.
The Subclass 407 visa presents a more affordable alternative to employer-sponsored visa options such as the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494) visa.
The Subclass 407 visa has lower skills and qualifications requirements compared to employer-sponsored visa options such as the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494) visa.
Why has there been an increase in the refusal of Subclass 407 visa applications?
Growing concerns have developed about the misuse of the Subclass 407 Visa Program, including the Department of Home Affairs noting an increase in potentially “fraudulent” or “non-genuine” Subclass 407 visa applications which are motivated by an applicant’s desire to extend their stay in Australia, rather than to undertake genuine occupational training.
By way of background, the Subclass 407 Visa Program is intended to facilitate occupational training or professional development in Australia for a period of up to two (2) years, and is designed to enhance a person’s skills in an existing occupation, field or study or area of expertise, including through the following types of training:
Occupational Training Required for Registration
For people who need workplace training to obtain occupational licensing or registration (for example, medical, nursing, or trade-related occupations).
Occupational Training to Enhance Skills in an Occupation
For people seeking to develop skills in an occupation listed on the relevant ANZSCO framework, usually through structured workplace-based training.
Occupational Training for Capacity Building Overseas
For overseas participants sponsored by government agencies or employers to build skills and experience in a particular field.
Documentary evidence required for a Subclass 407 nomination and visa application includes and is not limited to:
a detailed training plan which is tailored to the Subclass 407 nominee/visa applicant, showing clear training objectives, the duration of the training, the content of the training and details of who would be supervising the training;
proof that the applicant has the educational and/or employment background directly relevant to a nominated occupation and the proposed training;
evidence that the sponsor/nominator is capable of providing the proposed training; and
evidence that the Subclass 407 visa applicant is a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) to Australia, e.g. through a GTE statement explaining the applicant’s intent to undertake training and how the applicant subsequently intends to utilise that training.
Importantly, the Subclass 407 visa is for genuine training tailored to a Subclass 407 visa applicant, and it is not intended to fill workforce shortages in Australia.
Since the 2024 changes to the Temporary Activity (Subclass 408) Visa, the Student Visa Program and the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa Program which have resulted in many onshore migrants no longer being eligible to apply for these visas, we have noticed an increase in legal practitioners and migration agents encouraging visa applicants to apply for a Subclass 407 visa, often touting this as a “cheap” way for an employer to sponsor an overseas worker, without properly advising them about the critical importance of a strong and detailed training plan in Subclass 407 visa applications. Here at Inclusive Migration, our immigration lawyers also received a surge in enquiries about the Subclass 407 visa, often from visa applicants who were unaware of strict training requirements of the Subclass 407 Visa Program, and were consequently surprised to receive accurate legal advice about potential issues they could face in a Subclass 407 visa application.
As a result, many poorly substantiated Subclass 407 nomination and visa applications have been lodged with the Department, including with generic or recycled training plans which have not been properly tailored to the Subclass 407 visa applicant, leading to:
an increased scrutiny on Subclass 407 visa applications to verify the genuineness of proposed training plans for a Subclass 407 visa applicant;
a rise in refusal rates where an applicant does not have sufficient qualifications and/or work experience to the nominated occupation and proposed training;
increased processing times as a result of higher caseloads and increased integrity checks.
Moving forward, the Department will be considering reforms to the Subclass 407 Visa Program, including the implementation and enforcement of integrity safeguards, as well as the potential deregulation and liberalisation of the program to better align with the objective of this program.
My Subclass 407 visa application was refused - What are my options?
If you lodged a Subclass 407 visa application in Australia which was subsequently refused, you may have the right to apply for review to the Administrative Review Tribunal, effectively “appealing” the refusal of your Subclass 407 visa application. In circumstances where your sponsor/nominator’s sponsorship application was also refused, they would generally also have to lodge an application for review of the sponsorship matter with the Administrative Review Tribunal.
Whilst awaiting the hearing and finalisation of your application for review, it is imperative that you continue gathering evidence of your ongoing eligibility for a Subclass 407 visa where possible, so as to substantiate your genuine intent to undertake occupational training with your sponsor, as well as accrue ongoing work experience which may provide you with access to more skilled visa options in the future.
Additionally, you may explore alternative visa options while awaiting the finalisation of your application for review, which may include another employer-sponsored visa such as the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494) visa.
You may explore your eligibility for General Skilled Migration to Australia, including through the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa.
As a corollary to any application for review that you lodge with the Administrative Review Tribunal in relation to your Subclass 407 visa matter, it is important that you seek advice about any alternative visa options that may be available to you, as you may be barred by section 48 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) from applying for another visa in Australia where you did not hold a substantive visa at the time of refusal.
Need help with working out your immigration options in Australia?
Our immigration lawyers at Inclusive Migration have extensive experience in advising prospective migrants to Australia about their employer-sponsored, skilled migration and family migration options in Australia.
Should you wish to discuss your eligibility for a Skilled Visa in Australia, please do not hesitate to email info@inclusivemigration.com.au, submit an enquiry using the contact form on our website or send us a message on WhatsApp.
