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Work & skilled workersPublishedMedium impactVerified

New South Wales Provides Visa Information for Apprenticeships and Traineeships

🇦🇺 AustraliaWork Permits1 recorded versionLast change 2 Sept 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

As of 7 July 2026, NSW provides an updated visa-information list for people seeking to undertake apprenticeships and traineeships. The guidance confirms that eligibility is determined by a person's citizenship, permanent-resident status, New Zealand citizenship/residency status or whether their particular visa subclass appears on the NSW eligible visa list. Visa holders must also have the appropriate rights to work and study in Australia and satisfy the other requirements for an apprenticeship or traineeship. The updated information is intended to help prospective apprentices and trainees, employers and training providers determine whether a person holding a particular Australian visa can enter a formal training contract. Holding an Australian visa does not automatically establish eligibility; the specific visa subclass and its conditions must be considered together with the NSW apprenticeship and traineeship requirements. The guidance covers visa holders who may be eligible under specified visa categories, while other visa holders may remain ineligible depending on their status and conditions. The NSW Government's current list should therefore be used when assessing eligibility rather than assuming that all temporary residents have access to apprenticeships or traineeships. This update does not create a new visa, immigration stream or pathway to permanent residence. It is an update to NSW's eligibility information for participating in apprenticeships and traineeships.

Overview

The New South Wales (NSW) government has introduced a new guide titled 'Visa information for apprenticeships and traineeships'. This publication specifies the visa subclasses that employers in NSW are legally required to verify for individuals undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships. The update clarifies employer responsibilities regarding the legal work status of their apprentices and trainees.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Employers in New South Wales engaging apprentices or trainees
  • Individuals undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships in New South Wales who require a visa

What changed in the latest version

Before

The old New South Wales (NSW) visa guide had a different list and rules. These were for checking visa holders who wanted to do apprenticeships and traineeships. The July 2026 document replaces that guide. It has an updated list and new details about the rights and conditions of the recognised visa types. The original document does not show all the changes between the old version and the July 2026 update.

After

As of 7 July 2026, New South Wales (NSW) has an updated visa information list. This list is for people who want to do apprenticeships and traineeships. The guide confirms who is eligible. Eligibility depends on if a person is a citizen, a permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen, or a New Zealand resident. It also depends on whether their specific visa type is on the NSW eligible visa list. Visa holders must also have the correct right to work and study in Australia. They must also meet the other rules for an apprenticeship or traineeship. This updated information aims to help future apprentices and trainees, employers, and training providers. It helps them decide if a person with a certain Australian visa can sign a formal training contract. Having an Australian visa does not automatically mean a person is eligible. People must consider the specific visa type and its rules. They must also look at the NSW apprenticeship and traineeship rules. The guide covers visa holders who might be eligible under certain visa types. Other visa holders might not be eligible, depending on their status and conditions. So, people must use the current New South Wales (NSW) government list when checking eligibility. They should not assume that all temporary residents can access apprenticeships or traineeships. This update does not create a new visa, immigration process, or way to gain permanent residence. It is an update to New South Wales (NSW) rules about who can do apprenticeships and traineeships.

This clear rule matters. It places a direct legal duty on employers in New South Wales. They must actively check and confirm the correct visa status of their apprentices and trainees. Employers who do not follow this rule could face legal problems. This could affect their ability to hire or keep apprentices and trainees who are not citizens. For future apprentices and trainees, this shows they must hold a specific visa type to be eligible for these programmes in New South Wales (NSW). This makes their visa planning very important.

Explained simply

Imagine you want to start a special training course, like an apprenticeship, in New South Wales, Australia. Your boss has to make sure you have the right permission (a 'visa') to work and train. This new update is like a checklist for your boss, telling them exactly which types of permissions are okay for you to have. If your permission isn't on that list, your boss needs to check it or you might not be able to do the training.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 7 Jul 2026PublishedMedium impact
    New South Wales Provides Visa Information for Apprenticeships and Traineeships

    The government of New South Wales (NSW) has explained that employers in NSW must check if any apprentice or trainee they hire holds a specific visa. This visa must be on the 'Visa Information for Apprenticeships and Traineeships' list. This information is a guide. It makes clear which visas people need for apprenticeships and traineeships in NSW. It sets a clear rule for employers about the immigration status of their apprentices and trainees.

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