Australian employer-sponsored visas are mainly divided into temporary employer-sponsored visas and permanent employer-sponsored visas. The current temporary employer-sponsored visa categories include the 407 visa, 482 visa, and 494 visa. The permanent employer-sponsored visa is the 186 visa. Our previous article covered the 482/494/186 visas in detail – you can review it here: Recent approvals for accounting/ICT and other occupations! Still scrambling for points on the 189/190/491? Still waiting for an invitation? Switch to this PLAN A!
This article focuses on the lower-threshold 407 Employer-Sponsored Training visa, which can be used as a transitional option. We will also answer some frequently asked questions from applicants.
485 visa about to expire and you have some work experience?
The 407 may be right for you
The 407 Training visa was introduced by the Australian Government on 19 November 2016, replacing the 402 Training and Research visa. The Government’s original intent was to promote Australia’s successful training system and encourage Australian institutions to offer training opportunities that help professionals enhance their skills. If your current student visa or 485 visa is about to expire but you would like to remain in Australia to gain further work experience in your field, the 407 Training visa may be an ideal option for you.
The 407 visa is generally granted for up to 2 years. Family members can also be included in the application.
Who qualifies as a “trainee”
Three general categories
Types of training: Under the 407 visa framework, training is divided into three categories:
1. Training to obtain registration in a specific occupation
2. Training to enhance occupational skills
This is the most common category. Sponsoring organisations can provide applicants who already have some occupational experience with workplace-based training programs to help them enhance their skills.
3. Training for overseas qualifications
Skills-enhancement training explained
Let’s focus on the second category – training to enhance occupational skills.
This training is particularly suited to graduates who already hold Australian qualifications or have work experience in Australia.
The following conditions must be met:
1. Obtain a nomination from an employer.
2. The employer must be an entity lawfully registered and operating in Australia.
3. At the nomination stage, the employer must identify the nominated occupation and provide a training plan tailored specifically to the visa applicant.
4. English proficiency at Functional level (equivalent to IELTS 4.5).
5. Demonstrate a genuine intention to stay in Australia only temporarily.
6. Within the past two years, the applicant must have at least one year of full-time study or work experience closely related to the nominated occupation.
7. Sufficient funds to support their stay in Australia.
8. Adequate health insurance.
The 407 is one of the best options available
Several advantages:
1. The official visa application fee is low – only AUD 310 for the main applicant.
2. You can obtain up to 2 years of full-time work rights, with multiple entries; paid training is permitted; you can bring your spouse and children; and your spouse can work full-time.
3. No cumbersome occupational registration or skills assessment required.
4. You can change employers.
For these reasons, the 407 visa is one of the best options while you wait for a skilled migration invitation or for your 485 or 500 visa to expire and be renewed. For detailed advice, please contact NS Legal’s professional migration consultants!
FAQs on employer-sponsored visas
Q1 What is the application process and timeline for employer sponsorship?
A1: Generally speaking, all employer-sponsored applications follow broadly the same process, which is divided into three steps.
Step 1: Sponsorship
This is the employer sponsorship eligibility application. It primarily assesses the sponsoring employer’s qualifications, company size, profitability, number of employees, and so on. It typically takes 1&4 months to process.
Step 2: Nomination
This is the employer nomination application. This is the key and most challenging part of the entire employer-sponsored process. It typically takes about 2&6 months to process.
Step 3: Visa application
This is the final step, where the employer-sponsored visa is granted. Processing generally takes 3&6 months; 407 and 482 visas tend to be faster at around 1&3 months, while 186 and 494 visas take around 3&6 months.
*The processing times above are for reference only; each case is assessed on its own merits.
Q2 Which employers can sponsor me? Is the employer I’ve found suitable?
A2: A qualified and suitable employer is the key factor in your entire employer-sponsored visa application. You must find an employer that suits your circumstances in order to secure the final visa. The sponsoring companies available for each occupation differ, but generally speaking, the employer should be a company that has been established for some time, with good growth potential and strong profitability – these businesses are more likely to pass the sponsorship eligibility review. Every case needs to be assessed individually; when you find an employer willing to sponsor you, be sure to consult a professional migration adviser to evaluate whether that company is suitable to sponsor you.
Q3 Is there any risk with employer sponsorship?
A3: Everything carries some risk. Applicants – particularly those based in China – often ask me whether employer-sponsored migration is risky. I often need to spend a lot of time explaining this, because people know relatively little about employer-sponsored migration visas and therefore assume they carry significant risk, especially compared with the independent skilled 189 visa or the state-nominated 190 skilled visa.
In reality, employer-sponsored visas are also part of the skilled migration category, and they account for one of the highest proportions of skilled migration visas. Therefore, as long as the applicant meets the relevant requirements and the employer they find satisfies the Department of Home Affairs’ criteria, the risk of an employer-sponsored visa can be well managed – making it a faster migration pathway than independent skilled migration.
Q4 What are the costs of an employer-sponsored visa? Are they refundable?
A4: The costs of an employer-sponsored visa mainly include the application fee, SAF Levy, and third-party fees.
Generally speaking, visa application fees are non-refundable. Once the Department of Home Affairs begins processing your case, it means their officers have invested work; regardless of the final outcome, the application fee is non-refundable. The SAF Levy, which is also collected by the Department of Home Affairs, is likewise non-refundable.
Third-party fees need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and cannot be generalised.
Q5 Who is suitable for employer sponsorship?
A5: The 407, 482/494/186 and similar visas are suitable for a wide range of applicants; the applicant requirements have been described in detail above.
The 407 visa is suitable for young people holding WHV visas and recent international student graduates who need to accumulate work experience; while on the 407, they can look for a suitable sponsoring employer and pursue migration as their goal.
The 482/186 and 494 visas are suitable for onshore and offshore applicants whose circumstances don’t meet the points required for independent skilled migration or state-nominated migration, and who have 1&3 years of work experience – ultimately leading to Australian permanent residency. This may be a more suitable and faster pathway than the 189/190 skilled migration categories, and considerably easier than grinding through the 189/190.
If you have substantial work experience in China or elsewhere, taking the 482-to-186 route or applying directly for the 186 employer-sponsored visa to obtain Australian PR is a highly efficient and cost-effective approach.
