How this visa works
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Establish a professional development program
Professional development programs need three participating entities:
- an Australian sponsoring organisation
- an overseas employer
- suitable overseas participants nominated by the overseas employer.
The process for establishing a professional development program is summarised in the table below.
| It is the responsibility of the… | to… |
|---|---|
| Australian sponsoring organisation in consultation with an overseas employer |
|
| Australian sponsoring organisation |
|
| Visa holder (overseas participant) |
|
See: Information form 1228i Professional Development Information (95KB PDF file)
Professional development programs
Professional development programs designed by Australian sponsoring organisations:
- must meet the needs of the overseas employer
- must enhance the professional skills of overseas participants for their present occupation
- must be academic in nature (that is, at least 55 per cent of the training program should be face-to-face or classroom type instruction)
- may not exceed 18 months in length (except in exceptional circumstances)
- may include participation in a course that would lead to the award of a recognised Australian qualification.
Practical components of the programs for overseas participants must:
- not adversely impact the Australian labour market
- not exceed 45 per cent of the program
- not exceed 35 hours in any week and 7 hours in any day
- only feature remuneration paid by the overseas employer.
Sponsorship
The Australian sponsoring organisation must seek sponsorship approval for a professional development program. Sponsorship approval will be valid for a period of up to a maximum of 3 years.
If the Australian sponsoring organisation wishes to sponsor overseas participants in a professional development program for which the sponsorship period has expired, a new application for sponsorship approval must be submitted.
Should an Australian sponsoring organisation wish to sponsor overseas participants to undertake different professional development programs, a new sponsorship will be required to cover each program. Major adjustments to the structure of approved programs will also require a new sponsorship application.
There is no limit on the number of valid sponsorship approvals an organisation may hold concurrently or the number of overseas participants who may be sponsored under each sponsorship approval.
Visa validity period
The Australian sponsoring organisation must submit visa applications on behalf of overseas participants in a professional development program. A Professional Development visa will be granted no more than 4 weeks before the start of, and expire 2 weeks after the end of, the overseas participant's professional development program.
Note: Professional development visas cannot be extended.
Professional development visa definitions
The following terms are used for this visa.
See: Definitions