Migration Amendment (Training Visas – Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026

The Migration Amendment (Training Visas – Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026 represents a major shift in how the Subclass 407 (Training) visa is managed. Registered on March 10, 2026, and taking full effect on March 11, 2026, this legislative change moves the application process from a flexible model to a rigid, sequential one.

The New Regulatory Framework

The amendment, made under the authority of the Migration Act 1958, fundamentally changes the validity requirements for lodging a Subclass 407 visa.

Strict Sequential Lodgement

Under the new rules, an application is only valid if the following conditions are met at the time of lodgement:

• Approved Sponsorship: The applicant must be sponsored by a person or organization that is already an approved temporary activities sponsor.
• Approved Nomination: The program of occupational training must have been nominated under paragraph 140GB(1)(b) of the Act and already approved under subsection 140GB(2).
• Active Status: The nomination approval must not have ceased under regulation 2.75A at the time of the visa application.
• Formal Identification: The visa application must explicitly identify the previously approved nomination.

Key Impacts for Applicants and Sponsors

This update effectively ends the practice of "concurrent lodgement," where applicants would file their nomination and visa applications simultaneously.

The "Bridging Visa" Gap

For onshore applicants, this change introduces a significant timing risk. Since a visa application cannot be lodged until the nomination is approved, applicants cannot trigger a Bridging Visa simply by filing a placeholder application while waiting for a nomination decision. If a current visa expires before the nomination is approved, the applicant may lose their lawful status in Australia.

Operational Timeline

The amendments apply to all visa applications made on or after March 11, 2026. Applications submitted prior to this date are governed by the previous regulations.

Official Reference Summary