HRD Corp has introduced an important revision to the training grant application requirements for levy-based training schemes. Under Employer’s Circular No. 2/2026 dated 7 May 2026 (read full circular here), the revised requirements will take effect for new grant applications submitted from 15 June 2026 onwards.

At first glance, this may look like a normal administrative update. In practice, however, it will affect how HR, L&D teams, business heads and training providers plan training dates, submit grant applications, respond to queries and manage claims.

Previously, employers were generally required to submit grant applications at least one day before the training commencement date, and approved training programmes had to commence within six months from the date of the training grant application.

Under the Revised Position, the Rules are Tighter

Employers must now obtain grant approval 14 calendar days before the training commences. Approved training must also commence between 14 calendar days and 90 calendar days from the grant approval date.

There are also other important changes. Each grant application will now be limited to one query only, and employers must respond to the query within five calendar days. HRD Corp may reject or treat the application as expired if the query is not addressed accordingly.

Another major change is that employers will no longer be allowed to modify an approved grant. If there are changes after approval, the employer must cancel the approved grant and submit a new application. Appeals will also no longer be considered under the revised requirement.

This is where employers need to be careful. In the past, HR may have been able to adjust certain items after approval. Moving forward, the approved grant details must be treated with much more discipline. Training dates, course details and approved particulars must be properly confirmed before submission.

What Employers Should Do Now

HR and L&D teams should review their training planning process before the revised requirement takes effect.

As a practical step, employers should build a longer lead time into their training calendar. For planned training, HR should work backwards from the proposed training date and ensure that there is enough time for internal approval, grant submission, HRD Corp processing, and possible query response.

Employers should also tighten coordination with training providers. Course details, trainer particulars, training dates, venue, mode of delivery, participant list and quotation details should be properly checked before submission. Since approved grants can no longer be modified, accuracy at the front end becomes more important.

Top 5 Relevant FAQs 

The following FAQs are extracted from HRD Corp’s announcement and are the most relevant for HR and L&D teams (other than the highlighted changes) managing training grants.

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