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 is a three step process involving sponsorship, nomination and visa application.

All applications for approval as an occupational trainee sponsor, approval of a nomination for occupational training and application for a visa must be lodged directly with the Adelaide Occupational Trainee Processing Centre. Applications lodged at other DIAC 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 and 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 Commonwealth agencies are eligible to provide occupational training but do not require approval of a nomination. Commonwealth agencies are still required to be approved as an occupational trainee sponsor.

Applicants

To be eligible for this visa applicants must meet the requirements of the visa, including:

• being sponsored by an approved occupational trainee sponsor
• being identified in an approved nomination for occupational training, unless the training is to be provided by the Commonwealth
• being invited to participate in the occupational training if the training is being provided by the Commonwealth
• having the qualifications, experience and English language skills to undertake the nominated occupational training.

Student eligibility

If an applicant is in Australia on a student visa, they may be eligible for an occupational trainee visa if they:

• have successfully completed the principal course of study for which their student visa was granted and want to undertake a period of supervised work experience for professional registration either in Australia or in their home country
  or

• have successfully completed the principal course of study at the diploma or higher level, in Australia, for which their student visa was granted and want to undertake a supervised occupational training program in a closely related field for up to 12 months.

Dependents and associated requirements

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

• the trainee's partner
• the trainee's or their partner's dependent child
• other relatives living with the trainee who is dependent on them.

Dependents (secondary applicants) are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week while they are in Australia.

All secondary applicants who intend to accompany the applicant or join the applicant later in Australia must be sponsored and be listed in the nomination and visa application.

Secondary applicants who have not been listed in the nomination or visa application and who want to join the applicant in Australia at a later time will need to lodge a visa application with a letter from the primary visa applicant's sponsor confirming that they will accept responsibility for the secondary applicants for the period of their stay in Australia.

Health Insurance - all secondary applicants must hold adequate private medical and hospital health insurance cover for the entire time they are in Australia.

Sufficient Funds - evidence of sufficient funds or other means to support family members is required.

Health - all secondary applicants must meet health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination.

Statistics

In 2008-2009, 4946 Occupational Trainee visas were granted.

The major source countries for occupational trainees in 2008-2009 were China (526), Germany (568); France (494), United Kingdom (321),; India (317); United States of America (240); and the Netherlands (220).

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 web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

Fact Sheet 52a. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last Reviewed 9 November 2009.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.