407 visa changes from 12 November: offshore application and grant
Reviewed 3 November 2026, Sydney
From 12 November 2026, new Training visa (subclass 407) applications will generally require the applicant to be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is granted. The legislation changes both the application-location requirement and the grant-location requirement, subject to any applicable ministerially specified class exception. November amendment
Where the offshore application rule applies, an application submitted from Australia will be invalid, even if ImmiAccount accepts it. A valid application can be assessed, but still has to satisfy the requirements for grant. Applying from the correct location does not guarantee a visa. Home Affairs guidance Explanatory statement
Who is affected?
The new location requirements apply to visa applications made on or after 12 November 2026. They do not apply to an earlier valid visa application simply because it remains undecided after that date. November amendment
If you have already lodged a valid 407 visa application before commencement, the applicable earlier rules continue to govern it. Keep your visa lodgement record and check validity if there is any uncertainty. A sponsorship application, nomination lodgement or saved ImmiAccount draft is not the same as a valid visa application. Explanatory statement
For example, if your nomination was lodged in October but you make your visa application on 12 November, the new location rules apply to that visa application. Starting the process earlier does not preserve the previous position.
Still preparing? Check the approvals as well as your location
The November change does not replace the sponsorship and nomination requirements introduced in March. For someone preparing to apply now, the sponsor must already be an approved temporary activities sponsor. Unless the sponsor is a Commonwealth agency, the training nomination must also be approved, remain effective and be identified in the visa application. These requirements apply to visa applications made from 11 March 2026. March amendment Current application requirements
The Commonwealth agency nomination exception does not itself provide an exception from the new offshore location rules. Check the approval documents and the separate location requirements before deciding when to apply. Do not rush an application that fails the validity requirements to try to beat the commencement date.
Are there exceptions to the offshore rule?
The legislation permits the Minister to specify classes of applicants who may apply inside or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance. That class exception also permits grant inside or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, provided the applicant belonged to the specified class when the visa application was made. An exception must be supported by the operative instrument; do not assume one applies because of your occupation, sponsor or current visa. November amendment
We have not verified a relevant specified-class instrument as at 3 November 2026. That is not a statement that none exists. Check the current rules before relying on an exception.
Before making travel or training plans
Check your current visa expiry and conditions, sponsorship and nomination approvals, and intended application location. Keep these records together so any advice is based on your actual position.
Home Affairs warns that an offshore application does not provide a linked bridging visa. Processing times vary, so do not plan around an assumed grant date. Check whether health examinations are needed and can be completed before travel. Home Affairs guidance
For help checking your next steps, contact WiseKangaroo about a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Does an ImmiAccount receipt prove my application is valid?
No. Home Affairs expressly warns that the system may accept an application that is invalid under the new location rule. Check the legal requirements, not just the submission confirmation. Home Affairs guidance
Can an earlier valid application still be granted while I am in Australia?
The earlier grant-location provision permits grant inside or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance. The November amendment does not replace that provision for valid applications made before commencement. Other applicable requirements still matter. Current grant requirement November amendment
Must I stay offshore throughout processing?
Not necessarily. Home Affairs contemplates travel on another valid visa, subject to its conditions. For applications subject to the new rules, the general requirement remains to be outside Australia at grant. Home Affairs guidance
General information only, not advice about an individual application. Check the rules and your circumstances before acting.