Occupational Trainee Visa

 

About the visa

This visa allows foreign nationals to complete structured and supervised workplace-based training programs or academic research in Australia on a temporary basis. The training must provide people with additional or enhanced skills in the nominated occupations, tertiary studies or fields of expertise.

This visa is available for people who are from outside Australia who wish to improve and expand their occupational skills through training with an Australian organisation or government agency.

The proposed occupational training must be one of the following in order for people to be nominated for this visa:

- Training or practical experience in the workplace required for the person to obtain registration for employment in their occupation in Australia or in their home country
- A structured workplace training program to enhance the person's existing skills in an eligible occupation
- Structured workplace training to enhance the person's skills and promote capacity building overseas.
Under this visa, the trainee is entitled to stay in Australia for up to a maximum of two years and can include dependents or accompanying family members.

Trainee eligibility

In order for the trainee to qualify for this visa, they must meet the following requirements:
- be sponsored by an approved occupational trainee sponsor
- be identified in an approved nomination for occupational training, unless the training is to be provided by the Commonwealth
- be invited to participate in the occupational training if the training is being provided by the Commonwealth
- be seeking to enter and remain in Australia to undertake the occupational training identified in the nomination
- be at least 18 years of age (unless exceptional circumstances justify a visa being granted to a person under 18 years of age)
- have sufficient English to undertake the training program and to ensure occupational health and safety standards are met
- have a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia to carry out the training for which they have been nominated
- have adequate arrangements for health insurance for the duration of their intended stay in Australia
- be of good character
In addition, the trainee must also meet various other requirements such as health and health insurance requirements.
If you are already in Australia on a student visa, you may be eligible for an occupational trainee visa if you provided you meet the specified criteria.

Sponsor eligibility

In order to sponsor people from overseas for occupational training, an organization must be approved as an occupational trainee sponsor. In order to an approved sponsor, the sponsoring company must be either:
- An Australian company that is lawfully operating in Australia OR
- A government agency