407 Eligibility Checklist: Skills, Experience & English—What You Actually Need

If you are weighing up the 407 visa Australia, the core idea is simple: you complete structured, workplace-based training that builds skills for your current job or field. It is a temporary visa and, in most cases, can run for a period of up to two years, long enough to complete a well-planned program without going round in circles.

Who the 407 is for

Home Affairs recognises three training purposes. One is training required for registration, licensing or membership. Another is structured training to improve skills in an eligible occupation. The third supports capacity building overseas, which can include practical components tied to a foreign qualification or government-backed programs. If your goals sit inside one of those boxes, you are looking at the 407 training visa for the right reasons.

Skills and experience: what you must already have

For the “improve skills” stream, you cannot arrive cold. The nomination normally expects recent, relevant background in the occupation: the benchmark is the equivalent of at least 12 months of full-time experience in the last 24 months before nomination. That experience can include employment and, in some cases, study that equates to workplace hours. Check your CV against the role tasks, not just the job title, as assessors look for a sensible match. These are headline 407 training visa requirements you should line up before anyone lodges a form.

English: the “functional English” rule, updated

The 407 asks you to demonstrate functional English, and the department lists clear ways to do it. You can show a qualifying passport (UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Ireland), certain English-medium study, or test results taken in the 12 months before applying. Since 7 August 2025, accepted tests and scores include IELTS with an average 4.5, PTE Academic with an overall 24, and several others; online or at-home versions do not count. If your test pre-dates that change, some results remain valid within specific time limits. This is the English lens for any training visa Australia applicant.

Sponsor, nomination and the training plan

You cannot apply in a vacuum. An approved Temporary Activities Sponsor must back you and lodge a nomination for the exact training type, with a program tailored to your needs. Day to day, the plan should run for at least 30 hours per week and be predominantly on the job; a common compliance yardstick is at least 70 per cent workplace-based. This structure keeps the program real, measurable and defensible if audited. Treat these as baseline 407 visa Australia requirements for any serious case.

What a good plan looks like

Think in modules. Map the skills gap you are closing, list the tasks and rotations, name the supervisors, and add a timetable that shows progression from observation to guided practice to independent work. Include assessment points and the link to your current occupation or study. Avoid filler activities or long classroom blocks that push the program away from workplace learning. This is also where you record equipment access, risk controls and how you will log attendance and competency.

Sponsor duties and changes along the way

Sponsors carry ongoing obligations: keep records, deliver the training as nominated and stay within the scope of approval. If the role, site or program shifts, do not just patch it on the fly. Significant changes often need a fresh nomination or updated documents, and visa conditions can restrict what work you can do outside the nominated training. Staying ahead of those details is part of 407 training visa sponsorship best practice.

Health, character, insurance and age

Expect standard checks. Arrange adequate health cover for the whole stay, meet character and health requirements, and be mindful that applicants are usually 18 or older at time of application. Your health assessment depends on length of stay, country risk and intended activities, so the panel clinic will tailor exams to your situation. Keep certificates and policy schedules handy; officers often ask for them at short notice.

How long can you stay and what can you do

The visa can be granted for the period needed to complete the training, up to two years. You should work within the program set out in the nomination, not drift into general employment. If you plan to include family, check their English evidence and insurance too. If you are unsure about timing, use the department’s processing-times tool as a guide and build buffer into your start date.

Evidence checklist you can actually use

Line up a current passport, detailed CV, qualification transcripts and any licensing requirements. Add employer references that confirm dates, hours and duties. Include the signed training plan with modules, schedules and supervision, plus proof of the sponsor’s approval. Attach English evidence that matches the updated test rules or education pathways. Round it out with insurance, funds evidence if relevant, and police checks where requested.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Vague plans sink cases. If your training looks like regular work or lacks clear learning outcomes, it invites questions. Another trap is misaligned experience; if your last year has been in a different role, explain the link or consider a different stream. Many applicants also overlook the 12-month recency on English tests and submit scores that are now out of date. Finally, keep an eye on any change of duties or location and tell the sponsor early so documents can be updated before it turns into a compliance issue.

Quick next steps

Confirm your training stream, confirm your sponsor’s approval status, and run a gap analysis against the skills you will build. Agree the weekly schedule and supervision, then gather evidence in one go instead of piecemeal uploads. If any part of your profile is borderline, address it upfront in a cover note rather than hoping it slides through the net. The aim is a complete, tidy file that reflects a real training program, not a wish list for later.

Tags: 407 training visa requirements, 407 training visa sponsorship, 407 visa Australia, training visa Australia

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