Fact Sheet 52a - Occupational Trainee Visa Program

This visa allows people to complete workplace-based training 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.

Applying for an Occupational Trainee visa

Applying for an Occupational Trainee visa (also known as a subclass 442 visa) is a three step process involving sponsorship, nomination and visa application.

All applications for approval as an occupational trainee sponsor, or approval of a nomination for occupational training, should be lodged directly with the Adelaide Occupational Trainee Processing Centre (AOTPC). Occupational trainee sponsorship and nomination applications lodged elsewhere may experience delays.

All Occupational Trainee visa applications must be lodged directly with the AOTPC. Occupational Trainee visa applications lodged at other Department of Immigration and Citizenship offices, including overseas, will be invalid.
See: Adelaide Occupational Trainee Processing Centre

Sponsorship and nominations

To be approved as an occupational trainee sponsor, an organisation must be an Australian organisation or government agency that has a good business record, abides by Australian law and has the capacity to comply with sponsorship obligations. An organisation may be approved as a sponsor for up to three years. For an approved sponsor to continue to employ or engage people from overseas, they will need to reapply before the sponsorship approval ceases.

As an approved occupational trainee sponsor, an organisation can submit nominations for occupational training under one of three nomination streams. These streams are:

• Stream 1: Occupational training required for registration
• Stream 2: Structured training to enhance skills in an eligible occupation
• Stream 3: Workplace-based training for capacity building overseas

Australian Government agencies are eligible to provide occupational training but do not require approval of a nomination. Australian Government agencies still must be approved as an occupational trainee sponsor.

Visa applicants—requirements of the visa

To be eligible for this visa, applicants 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 Australian Government
• be invited to participate in the occupational training if the training is being provided by the Australian Government
• be a genuine trainee with qualifications, experience and appropriate English language skills to undertake the nominated occupational training.

Dependants

The following people may apply to accompany and stay with the occupational trainee in Australia:

• the trainee's partner
• the trainee's or partner's dependent children
• other dependent relatives living with the trainee.

Dependants—secondary applicants—are allowed to work for up to 40 hours a fortnight while they are in Australia.

Statistics

Statistical information regarding the Occupational Trainee Visa is available in Fact Sheet 2.
See: Fact Sheet 2 – Key Facts in Immigration

More information

More detailed information about Occupational Trainee visa, including links to sponsorship, nomination and visa application forms is located on the department's website.
See: Sponsored Training

Further information is available on the department's website.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national general enquiries line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Recorded information is available outside these hours.

Fact Sheet 52a Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last Reviewed March 2012.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2010.