Hello, everyone.
We are your trustable migration partner, OPARTNERS.
In today’s column, I am going to explain briefly about Subclass 407 Training Visa which became popular these days. However, as these are general information about the visa, I sincerely advise you to obtain professional consultation with registered migration agents for further details of your case.
Definition of 407 Training Visa
407 Training visa is for people who want to stay and work Australia on a temporary basis to participate in on-the-job occupational training and seek for professional development for their career. This visa is appropriate to get on-the-job occupational training to supplement formal study and improve visa applicants’ occupational skills related with their jobs.
Like other work visas such as TSS, ENS or RSMS, to be granted Training visa, it is required to have a sponsor who can offer on-the-job occupational training to visa applicants. Moreover, like TSS visa, the occupation of the visa applicant must belong to the list of eligible skilled occupations specified by the Department.
The Department of immigration makes it clear that this Training visa programme is not appropriate for people whose sole intention is to ‘work’ because the visa is basically for occupational or professional “training” to develop their skills further.
Three types of 407 Training Visa
There are three types of occupational training covered by this visa:
- workplace-based training required for registration
- structured workplace-based training to enhance skills in an eligible occupation
- training that promotes capacity building overseas,
Most of the Training visa applicants belong to the second type “workplace-based training to enhance skills in an occupation”, and in this case, it is mandatory to provide a structured training programme to meet the specific training needs for the applicants.
Procedure to get 407 Training Visa
Like TSS visa, there are three applications involved for the Training visa and details are as below;
1) Sponsorship
As explained before, to get the Training visa, it is required to have a sponsor (employer), and they must meet the specific requirements regulated by the Australian department of immigration.
The Training visa sponsor must be either an organisation lawfully operating in Australia or Australian or Foreign government agency. The sponsor also must demonstrate their financial stability and capacity to comply with the specified Sponsor Obligations.
2) Nomination
In the nomination application, a Training visa sponsor can nominate a visa applicant with a structured training programme.
This training programme is very important for the nomination application, and it must state detailed information about the training, for example, training places, schedule, contents and so forth. The training programme must be related to the occupation of the visa applicant. The visa applicant must participate in the training program at least 30 hours per week.
3) Visa Application
In visa application process, the department of immigration assesses eligibility of a visa applicant. The applicant must meet the requirements and main criteria are as below;
– English: at least Functional English (IELTS overall 4.5 band score)
– Qualification or work experience: At least 12 months full-time work or study experience occurred in the 24 months immediately before the visa application.
– Other requirements
- Health and Character requirements
- Health insurance
- Financial capacity to support visa applicant themselves and accompanying family members.
– Duration of the visa: Maximum 2 years
Advice for those who consider the 407 Training Visa
Since the 457 visa was abolished and replaced with the TSS visa, international graduates cannot apply for TSS visa upon completing their Australian study as previously they could. TSS visa requires at least two years of full-time work experience which obtained within the last five years after completing relevant study. For those who are not qualified for the graduate visa or those who cannot get enough work experience on the gradate visa, or those who cannot apply for another temporary visa like the student visa, the Training visa recently becomes very popular and we have received a lot of inquiries.
The Training visa is surely an attractive option for many international students and graduates because it allows a visa applicant to work full-time for maximum two years. However, whether the work experience gained on this visa can be counted towards “two years full time work experience for TSS visa application” is still questionable.
The department’s official stance about this matter is that ‘work experience through occupational training on the Training visa is unlikely to be counted towards TSS visa application.’ This is because the objective of the Training visa is to upgrade a visa applicant’s occupational skills, so the Training visa applicant cannot be considered ‘fully-skilled worker’ for the occupation. Hence, the level of their tasks and duties performed on the Training visa cannot be the same as those of qualified workers and therefore they are not equivalent with the tasks and duties required for the TSS visa applicant.
Of course, the Department of immigration assesses every case on a case-by-case basis depending upon the holistic circumstances of the individual applicant, but still there is a risk saying that ‘Work experience gained through the Training visa can be considered for the two years of relevant work experience for the TSS visa.’ For that reason, potential Training visa applicants must bear in mind this risk.
Nevertheless, the Training visa has advantages both for a visa applicant and their sponsor. From the visa applicant’s point of view, they do not need to attend school, but instead they can develop their occupational skills while working at least 30 hours per week. From the sponsor’s point of view, they can hire a trainee, paying minimum salary as per Australian awards. If they hire an employee on the TSS visa or other work visas, their income threshold must be minimum $53,9000 per year which may be a big financial burden for small or start-up businesses.
Moreover, there is a possibility that the department ‘may’ count the work experience obtained on the Training visa towards TSS visa’s minimum 2-year work requirement, so for those who do not have a further visa option, it is worth considering to apply for the Training visa.
If you need any professional consultation or assistance regarding the Training visa, please contact Opartners immediately.
(Disclaimer)
The information provided in this website serves as a general guidance only and does not constitute migration advice. We accept no responsibility for any consequences that arise from any action taken on the basis of the information available in this site. We recommend that people seeking advice on migration law should seek advice from a registered migration agent.
MJ PARK
Registered migration agent
0955026
Email inquiry : admin@opartners.com.au
Telephone inquiry: +61 08 6454 9910