Registered Migration Australia

Employer Nomination Scheme

Subclass 186 Visa

The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) allows Australian employers to fill highly skilled positions in Australia with someone who is currently living overseas or someone who is temporarily resident in Australia.


  • The employer must have been unable to fill the vacancy from within the Australian labour market or through their own training programs.

  • The Employer Nomination Scheme  Subclass 186 visa gives you and any family members permanent residency.


There are three Employer Nomination Scheme (186) streams:


1. TEMPORARY RESIDENT TRANSITION


If you currently hold a Subclass 457 visa, and have done so for at least two years (with the same Subclass 457 sponsor), you are eligible for the Temporary Resident Transition stream on the Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 visa.


2. DIRECT ENTRY


If you have not been working on a 457 visa for two years (with the same employer), but you can pass the skill assessment and have three years post-qualification work experience in your nominated occupation, you are eligible for the Direct Entry stream on the Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 visa.



3. AGREEMENT STREAM


If you want to nominate an applicant through a labour agreement or regional migration agreement that has been tailored and negotiated with the government before the nomination is lodged. A labour agreement can take about six months to be negotiated. It comes into effect when it has been signed by all parties involved in the negotiations.


Skills Assessment


Skills assessment is required are the requirements of the skill assessment bodies are subject to change at any time. The standards against which the skills of a person are assessed by a relevant assessing authority for a skilled occupation must be the standards set by the relevant assessing authority for the skilled occupation. Please visit the current requirements used Skill Assessment Bodies to help understand more about these requirements.


Approval to Sponsor


You must be sponsored by an eligible employer. The employer will need to meet the training benchmark. Your employer can be located anywhere in Australia to sponsor you on this visa.


Your employer you must:


  • provide evidence that they have a genuine employer/employee relationship with you;
  • be actively and lawfully operating in Australia;
  • have a need for a paid employee;
  • have a satisfactory record of training Australians; and
  • be an employer of good standing.


IELTS (or equivalent) English Requirement


Skilled Independent Subclass186 visa applicants may be required to sit an English test called IELTS or its equivalent.


Additional Requirements for the Employer Nomination Subclass 186 Visa


You must meet the requirements of age, work experience skills and/or qualifications in an occupation. The job must be at the correct salary level, full time and be offered for at least two years.


You must meet ONE of the following:


  • you must have worked full-time in Australia in the occupation for which you are being nominated, while holding a specified visa (eg a Subclass 457 visa) for at least 2 years immediately prior to applying for the visa (including at least the last 12 months with the nominating employer); OR
  • you must have qualifications assessed as equivalent to the Australian standard and have 3 years post-qualification experience in the occupation (unless the position is an exceptional appointment): OR
  •  you must be offered a managerial position which attracts a base salary of at least the amount of salary specified in a Gazette Notice (currently A$180,000).


Licensing and/or Professional Associations

In many occupations you must be registered with or obtain a license from a local authority in the state or territory where you want to practise your occupation. Contact the local authority in your relevant state or territory to enquire about the licensing or registration requirements. It may benefit to become a member of a relevant industry association for your occupation which could help with your employment and visa application prospects.

Before lodging an application for skills assessment it is recommended that you contact us first.


Occupation Lists




Other Visa Categories

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Legal Disclaimer


This website is a public resource of general information which is intended, but not promised or guaranteed, to be complete, accurate, and up-to-date. This website is not intended to provide legal advice, and therefore, does not invite or create an attorney-client relationship. Visitors to this website should not act, or refrain from acting, based upon any information available via this website, and should always seek the advice of competent counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Nothing in this website is to be considered as either creating an attorney-client relationship between the reader and Registered Migration Australia or as rendering legal advice for any specific matter. Readers are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel. Registered Migration Australia expressly disclaims any and all liability with regard to actions taken or not taken based upon the content of this website.




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