Can’t Apply for 407 Training Visa? Alternative Visa Options to Stay in Australia in 2026

If you plan to apply for the 407 Training Visa in Australia, recent changes to the process could affect your application timeline. Previously, applicants were able to lodge the sponsorship, the nomination, and the visa application at the same time. This was crucial especially if the applicant’s visa was expiring soon.

However, as of 11 March 2026, the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs announced some important changes. Applicants must now wait for the nomination to be approved before they could lodge the visa. Because of this, the process is now significantly longer, and applicants may need to look at alternative visa options to remain in Australia.

In this article we will explain what has changed in the process, what this means for the applicants, and what visa options may be available in the case that they are not able to apply for the 407 visa in time.

Not sure how the 407 visa changes affect you? Pathway to Aus can help you understand your options.

407 Visa Changes in 2026

The major change is that applicants are now unable to lodge a valid visa application unless the nomination has been approved. 

It is important to note that it may take several months for the nomination to be approved, which means that applicants must plan much earlier than before.

What This Means for 407 Visa Applicants

This means that timing is now critical. If the applicant’s visa is expiring soon, they may not have enough time to wait for the nomination to be approved in order to lodge their visa application. 

We are now seeing more applicants planning alternative visa options in case their nomination is not approved before their visa expiry.

This does not mean that the 407 visa is no longer available as an option, only that it may take longer and that planning ahead is more important.

Alternative Visa Options to Stay in Australia

Here is a list of alternative visa options to explore in the case that you do not have enough time to wait for a nomination approval before your visa expiry.

1. Employer-Sponsored Visa or Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482)

On this visa, employers are able to bring in skilled workers, who are not Australian workers, to fill the gap in the labour shortage. There are four streams in this visa: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, Labour Agreement, and Subsequent entrant streams. With this visa, the applicant can stay for up to 4 years in Australia (Hong Kong passport holders can stay up to 5 years) with the exception of the Subsequent entrant stream where you can only stay as long as your visa is valid. The Skills in Demand visa costs from about $3210AUD.

For more information regarding this visa, click here.

To be eligible for this visa, you must:

• be nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor
• have the appropriate skills for the job
• meet the standard for English language proficiency

Employer-sponsored visa requirements:

• Unlike the 407 visa, you can generally lodge your visa while the nomination is being processed provided that it has been submitted
• Typically at least 1-2 years of relevant work experience (depending on which stream and occupation). For more information regarding this, please refer to this page. 
• Employer must be willing to pay at least TSMIT $76515 + super on a full time basis, note that the TSMIT will increase on 1 July 2026 to $79,499. Click here for more information on this.

2. Student visa (Subclass 500)

For the Student Visa, the applicant can participate in an eligible study program in Australia, travel in and out of Australia, and work up to 48 hours every two weeks when the study program or training is in session. With this visa, you can stay up to 6 years in line with your study program. The cost of this visa is from about $2000AUD.

Refer to this page for more information.

To be eligible for this visa, you must:

• apply online in or outside Australia
• be enrolled in a study program in Australia and hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when your visa is decided
• hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), or fall in one of the exemption categories
• hold an eligible substantive visa if in Australia

3. Partner Visa (Subclass 820 and 801)

On the Partner Visa, you can live, work and study in Australia, travel to and from Australia, attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program if you are eligible, apply for access to Australia’s public health care scheme, sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia, and apply for citizenship if eligible. With this visa, you can stay either temporarily (while you wait for your permanent Partner Visa) or permanently in Australia. The cost of this visa is from about $9365AUD.

For more information on the partner visa application, click here.

For this visa, you must:

• be in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen as a spouse or de facto relationship partner
• have your spouse or de facto partner sponsor you
• be in Australia when you apply and any family who apply with you must also be in Australia 
• be in or outside Australia when your temporary visa application is decided

Partner Visa requirements:

• Australian partner – you may be eligible for a partner visa
• Partner on a substantive visa (e.g. 482) – you could be added as a dependent on their visa

The changes to the 407 visa do not mean the visa is no longer available as an option for you, but they do mean that the process now needs more time and planning. If you are not able to wait for the nomination approval, alternative visas such as the employer-sponsored visa, student visa, or partner visa may be options to help you remain in Australia.

Because every situation is different, it’s important to understand your options early and plan the right pathway based on your circumstances, visa expiry, and long-term goals in Australia.

How Pathway to Aus Can Help

At Pathway to Aus, our team of experts can help students, graduates, and workers understand their visa options and plan their pathway in Australia. Whether you are looking at the 407 Training Visa, employer sponsorship, student visa options, or partner visa pathways, we can help you understand the requirements and the steps involved.

We can assist with:

• Understanding your visa options
• Planning your visa pathway in Australia
• Student visa and course options
• Employer sponsorship pathways
• Partner visa information
• Connecting you with registered migration agents if needed

If you’re unsure what to do next, it’s always better to ask questions early and plan ahead, especially with the recent changes to the 407 visa process.

You can contact Pathway to Aus to discuss your situation and we can help point you in the right direction for your study and visa pathway in Australia.