Lithuania Shuts In-Country Permit Route for Many Indians; Australia Makes Training Visa Offshore-Only (November 2026)

Lithuania’s new temporary residence permit (TRP) filing rules from 1 November 2026 explained for Indian workers and students: who can still apply inside Lithuania, why reports say Indians have no eligible VFS channel abroad, and who is exempt. Plus Australia’s Migration Amendment (Training Visas—Application Requirements) Regulations 2026, which make the Subclass 407 visa offshore-only from 12 November 2026, and the 17 visa types already barred from switching to a student visa onshore.

Krosz Visa Desk · Updated 2026-11-08 · 9 min read

Two countries have quietly closed in-country routes that many Indians relied on. Lithuania now stops most people who arrive on a Schengen visa from filing for a work or bachelor-study residence permit inside the country, a change in force since 1 November 2026 and reported this week with India named among the most affected nationalities. And from 12 November 2026, Australia will only accept Subclass 407 Training visa applications made from outside the country. Here is what each change means and what to do.

*Information checked on 8 November 2026.*

The quick take

Lithuania, from 1 Nov 2026: work and bachelor-study TRP applications can no longer be filed in Lithuania by people there on a Schengen visa or another country’s national visa.
Still allowed in Lithuania: holders of a Lithuanian TRP, a Lithuanian national (D) visa, an EU/Schengen residence permit, or people staying visa-free.
Indians: Deloitte’s analysis says Indian nationals currently have no eligible VFS channel abroad for a standard work-based TRP.
Not affected: EU Blue Card (highly qualified) applicants and renewals of existing permits.
Australia, from 12 Nov 2026: the 407 Training visa must be lodged and granted offshore; onshore applications become invalid unless the Minister specifies an exempt class.
Already in force in Australia: 17 visa types, including visitor, working holiday and graduate visas, cannot switch to a student visa onshore.

At a glance

Change	Who it affects	When	Status
Lithuania: TRP filing inside the country	Work (non-highly qualified) and bachelor-study applicants on a Schengen or third-country national visa	From 1 Nov 2026	In force
Lithuania: VFS centres abroad	Applications no longer accepted via VFS in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan	From 1 Nov 2026	In force (per Deloitte)
Lithuania: EU Blue Card and renewals	Highly qualified workers; existing TRP holders	Ongoing	Unchanged
Australia: 407 Training visa	Anyone lodging a 407 application in Australia	From 12 Nov 2026	Law made; starts in 4 days
Australia: student visa switching	Holders of 17 listed visa types in Australia	Since 2 Oct 2026	In force

Timeline: Australia made 407 Training visas depend on approved sponsorship and nomination from 11 March 2026, barred 17 visa types from onshore student visa applications from 2 October, registered the 407 offshore-lodgement rule on 30 October; Lithuania tightened work and bachelor TRP filing from 1 November; the 407 offshore rule starts on 12 November 2026 — Sources: Federal Register of Legislation (F2026L01348, F2026L01449 and its explanatory statement); LRT/BNS (3 Nov 2026); EY (6 Nov); Deloitte Lithuania; Business Today (7 Nov 2026).

Lithuania tightens where you can file a residence permit

What changed: according to Lithuania’s Migration Department, as reported by the public broadcaster LRT on 3 November 2026, new legal amendments took effect on 1 November 2026 for people seeking a temporary residence permit (TRP) for employment or undergraduate (bachelor’s) study. If you are in Lithuania on a Schengen visa, whether issued by Lithuania or another Schengen state, or on a national visa issued by another country, you can no longer submit that TRP application inside Lithuania.

You can still file in Lithuania if you hold a valid Lithuanian TRP, a Lithuanian national visa, a residence permit from another EU or Schengen country, or are staying under the visa-free regime. Everyone else in these categories must generally apply through a VFS Global external service centre abroad. EY notes that the number of such external locations has also been reduced, and Deloitte Lithuania lists Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as VFS locations that stopped accepting Lithuanian TRP applications from 1 November.

Flowchart: an Indian applying for a Lithuanian work or bachelor-study temporary residence permit can still file in Lithuania if they hold a Lithuanian TRP, a Lithuanian national visa, an EU or Schengen residence permit or are visa-free; if they are there on a Schengen visa or another country’s national visa they cannot file in Lithuania and must use an external VFS Global centre abroad, which reports say is not available to Indian nationals; EU Blue Card applicants and renewals keep the old procedure — Based on LRT/BNS (3 Nov 2026), EY Tax News (6 Nov 2026), Deloitte Lithuania and Business Today (7 Nov 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Why Indians are singled out

Indian passport holders need a visa for Lithuania, so the visa-free option does not help them. Deloitte’s analysis, cited by Business Today on 7 November 2026, says nationals of India, Azerbaijan, Ghana, Cambodia and Mongolia currently have no eligible external channel for a standard work-based TRP. In practice, an Indian candidate generally needs a qualifying basis inside Lithuania first, such as a Lithuanian national (D) visa or an existing EU/Schengen residence permit. A Schengen tourist or business visa no longer works as a stepping stone.

Who is not affected

Highly qualified workers applying for an EU Blue Card can keep using the existing procedure while legally in Lithuania. Renewals and changes to an existing TRP are also unchanged; LRT notes renewal is available when a work-based permit has no more than six months left. Sources differ slightly on student scope: LRT, EY and Business Today include bachelor’s-level study, while Deloitte’s note focuses on work permits. Master’s and doctoral routes were not described as changed.

What Indian travellers should do: if you have a Lithuanian job offer or a bachelor’s admission, do not travel on a Schengen visitor visa hoping to file the permit after arrival. Ask your employer or university which legal basis you need before you travel, and whether a Lithuanian national (D) visa route is available. If you already live in another EU or Schengen country on a residence permit, you can still file inside Lithuania. Employers should check a candidate’s immigration status before finalising the offer and relocation dates.

Australia makes the Subclass 407 Training visa offshore-only

What changed: the Migration Amendment (Training Visas—Application Requirements) Regulations 2026 were made on 29 October and registered on 30 October 2026 (F2026L01449). From 12 November 2026, a Subclass 407 applicant must be outside Australia when applying and outside Australia when the visa is granted (and not in immigration clearance). The only exception is a class of people the Minister may specify in a separate legislative instrument; secondary reports say none had been released by 5 November.

The 407 visa lets people do workplace-based training for up to two years to build skills for their occupation, field of study or expertise. The government’s explanatory statement says the aim is to stop people in Australia using the 407 to prolong their stay beyond their original purpose. It builds on the 11 March 2026 change that already requires an approved sponsor and nomination before a 407 application can be lodged.

Flowchart: from 12 November 2026 an Australian Subclass 407 Training visa application must be lodged from outside Australia and the applicant must be outside Australia at grant, unless they fall in a class the Minister specifies; applications lodged before 12 November follow the old rules — Source: Migration Amendment (Training Visas—Application Requirements) Regulations 2026 (F2026L01449) and its explanatory statement.

Effective date and transition: the rule applies to applications made on or after 12 November 2026. Applications lodged before that date follow the old rules, and merits review remains available if a 407 visa is refused. Onshore applications lodged from 12 November by people outside any specified class will not be valid.

The wider picture: no onshore switch to a student visa

The 407 change follows a broader move on student visas. Since 2 October 2026, the Migration (Student Visa Applications to Be Made from outside Australia) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01348) lists 17 visa entries whose holders cannot lodge a student visa application inside Australia, up from 9 under the late-September version, according to The Koala News. The list covers visitor visas (600, 601 ETA, 651), working holiday visas (417, 462), the Temporary Graduate visa (485), and work visas including the 407, 408 and 482.

Chart: 17 visa entries are now barred from applying for an Australian student visa onshore: 6 work visas, 6 visitor, transit and crew visas, 2 working holiday visas, the Temporary Graduate visa and 2 diplomatic or consular categories — Count of entries in the Migration (Student Visa Applications to Be Made from outside Australia) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01348); subclass 482 is listed twice. Earlier list of 9 per The Koala News.

What Indian travellers should do: if an Australian host organisation plans to train you on a 407 visa, apply from India. If you are already in Australia on another visa and want a 407, lodge before 12 November or plan to leave and apply offshore; an onshore application after that date will not be valid. Students should apply for their student visa from India rather than entering on a visitor visa and switching. Make sure your sponsor’s approval and nomination are in place before you apply.

What to do now

Check your legal basis before you fly. For Lithuania, confirm whether you need a Lithuanian national visa first; for Australia, apply from India.
Do not use a visitor or Schengen visa as a bridge. Both countries now block that route for these permits.
Australia 407 applicants already onshore: lodge before 12 November 2026 or plan an offshore application.
Ask your employer or university for their latest guidance; Lithuanian employers are being told to check status before hiring.
Confirm on official sites. Check Lithuania’s Migration Department and Australia’s Department of Home Affairs before you apply.

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Sources

*This article reflects information published up to 8 November 2026 and is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm requirements with Lithuania’s Migration Department or Australia’s Department of Home Affairs before you apply or travel.*

Frequently asked questions

What changed in Lithuania on 1 November 2026?

Foreign nationals seeking a temporary residence permit (TRP) for ordinary employment or bachelor’s-level study can no longer file the application inside Lithuania if they are there on a Schengen visa or on a national visa issued by another country. In-country filing remains open to holders of a valid Lithuanian TRP, a Lithuanian national visa or an EU/Schengen residence permit, and to people staying visa-free. Others must apply through a VFS Global external service centre abroad.

Can Indians still apply for a Lithuanian work permit from India?

Deloitte Lithuania, whose analysis Business Today cited on 7 November 2026, says nationals of India, Azerbaijan, Ghana, Cambodia and Mongolia currently have no eligible external channel for a standard work-based TRP. In practice, Indian candidates generally need a qualifying basis inside Lithuania, such as a Lithuanian national visa, an existing Lithuanian TRP or another EU/Schengen residence permit. Check the latest position with Lithuania’s Migration Department before you start.

Does the Lithuania change affect EU Blue Card applicants or renewals?

No. Highly qualified workers applying for an EU Blue Card can keep using the existing procedure while legally in Lithuania, and renewals or changes of an existing TRP are not affected. LRT reports that a work-based permit can be renewed when no more than six months are left before it expires.

What is changing for Australia’s Subclass 407 Training visa?

Under regulations registered on 30 October 2026 (F2026L01449), from 12 November 2026 applicants must be outside Australia when they lodge a 407 application and outside Australia when the visa is granted, unless the Minister later specifies a class of people who may apply onshore. An onshore application by anyone else will not be a valid application.

I applied for a 407 visa before 12 November. Am I affected?

No. The explanatory statement says the new rules apply to 407 applications made on or after 12 November 2026. Applications lodged earlier are assessed under the rules in place when they were lodged. Merits review also remains available if a 407 visa is refused.

Can I switch from an Australian visitor visa to a student visa inside Australia?

No. Since 2 October 2026, holders of 17 listed visa types, including the Visitor (600), ETA (601), eVisitor (651), Working Holiday (417), Temporary Graduate (485), Training (407) and Skills in Demand (482) visas, cannot lodge a student visa application while in Australia. Apply for the student visa from India instead.

Can Krosz help with Lithuania or Australia visas?

Yes. A trained Krosz visa expert can check which route fits your situation, review your documents and prepare your application one-to-one. The service fee is ₹1,999 + 18% GST, with government fees shown separately. Decisions always rest with the destination country’s authorities.

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