407 Visa Without Work Experience: Can Recent Graduates Still Apply?

Last updated: 22 April 2026

Yes, you can apply for the 407 Training Visa without work experience, if you studied in Australia within the last two years.

Most employer-sponsored visas require at least one year of work experience. The 407 Training Visa has an exception specifically for recent graduates. Your study period can replace that work experience requirement.

New to the 407 Training Visa? Read the complete overview here first: 407 Training Visa — Requirements, Sponsorship & How It Works

How Recent Graduates Qualify for the 407 Visa Without Work Experience

The standard eligibility for the 407 Training Visa requires one year of full-time work experience in your nominated occupation.

If you do not have that, you qualify through the study pathway instead:

You must have completed at least 12 months of relevant study in Australia within the last 24 months.

Your study must connect directly to the occupation you will train in. A nursing degree satisfies the requirement if you are training as a nurse. It does not satisfy the requirement if you are training as an accountant.

That alignment between your study and your nominated occupation is what the Department checks.

What Else You Need to Apply

Qualifying without work experience covers only one part of the application. You still need to meet the remaining requirements.

An approved sponsor

You need an organisation approved as a Temporary Activities Sponsor to nominate you for a structured training program. Finding a willing sponsor is the biggest practical challenge for most recent graduates. Start this conversation before you finish your final semester — not after.

An approved nomination

From 11 March 2026, your sponsor must receive nomination approval before you lodge your visa application. You cannot submit everything at the same time anymore. Build lead time into your plan. Read more: 407 Training Visa Changes March 2026

A structured training plan

Your sponsor prepares a detailed document outlining what you will learn, how the training runs, and how progress gets assessed. A weak training plan is one of the most common reasons 407 applications get refused. Read more: What is a Structured Training Plan for the 407 Training Visa?

English language

IELTS 4.5 in each component or PTE overall 24.

Health and character

Standard health and character requirements apply.

Your Student Visa Is Expiring — Act Before It Does

You must hold a valid substantive visa when you lodge your 407 Training Visa application. Once your student visa expires, you lose that option if you are onshore.

Follow this sequence:

1. Identify a potential sponsor before graduation

2. Sponsor applies for Temporary Activities Sponsor approval

3. Sponsor receives nomination approval

4. You lodge your 407 visa application while your student visa is still valid

Miss that window and you may need to leave Australia or apply for a different visa while you wait.

After the 407 — Your Path to the 482

The 407 Training Visa runs for up to two years. During that time you build genuine, structured work experience in your occupation.

That experience is what opens the door to the 482 Skills in Demand Visa. If your occupation sits on the Core Skills Occupation List and your employer sponsors you, you can transition from the 407 to the 482 — and from there, work toward permanent residency through the 186 ENS Visa.

Read the full breakdown: 407 to 482 to 186 PR Pathway — Full Transition Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the 407 visa without work experience?

Yes. If you completed at least 12 months of relevant study in Australia within the last 24 months, that study replaces the work experience requirement.

Does my study have to match my nominated occupation?

Yes. Your study must relate directly to the occupation you will train in under the 407 visa. Unrelated qualifications do not satisfy the requirement.

Can I apply for the 407 visa after my student visa expires? Not if you are onshore. You must hold a valid substantive visa when you lodge. Apply before your student visa expires.

Do I need a skills assessment for the 407 visa?

No. The 407 Training Visa does not require a skills assessment. Read more: Do You Need a Skills Assessment for the 407 Training Visa?

Does the 407 visa lead to permanent residency?

Not directly. But it builds the work experience that can qualify you for the 482 visa, which does have a PR pathway through the 186 ENS Visa.

How long does the 407 visa last?

Up to two years, depending on your approved training program.

Not Sure If Your Study Background Qualifies?

RACC's registered migration agents (MARN 1572962, MARN 1172003) assess your study history, occupation eligibility, and visa timeline — and tell you exactly where you stand.

Book Consultation