Employer Nomination Scheme ENS (Subclass 186 Visa)

This visa allows skilled workers nominated by their employer to live and work permanently in Australia.

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186 Visa has three streams:

• Direct Entry Stream: This stream is about applicants, experienced enough in an eligible occupation.

• Transition Stream: This stream is about holders of 457 visas or 482 TSS Visas that have worked for their nominating employers for at least two or three years.

• Agreement Stream: This stream is related to applicants sponsored by an employer based on a labor agreement.

 

 

Employer Nomination Scheme or186 Visa holders can:

• Work in Australia permanently

• study in Australia

• travel from/ to Australia for five years

• register in Australia’s public healthcare system or Medicare

• sponsor relatives to come to Australia

• if eligible, apply for  Australian citizenship

 

 

General Eligibility for Employer Nomination Scheme or 186 Visa

If you have an Australian employer willing to sponsor you and meet the requirements below, you may have the eligibility to apply for a 186 Permanent Resident visa.

 

• Sponsor: Must be recommended by an Australian business before applying for this visa

• experience: Must have at least three years of experience in the nominated profession. Part-time jobs might be considered, but causal work is not considered.

• Age The age limit is 45 unless excused

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Employer Nomination

An Australian employer shall nominate the applicant before applying for this visa and the applicant shall apply six months after the approved nomination in case the application is not submitted with it.

 

In case the followings occur, the visa cannot be granted:

withdrawal of the nomination

The position unavailable

 

Duration of stay

Although this is a permanent visa, the 186 visa has a travel component that expires five years from the visa issuance date.

After expiration, applicants can apply for either: Australian Citizenship or Resident Return Visa

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Direct Entry Stream

This visa allows skilled workers nominated by their employer to live and work in Australia permanently. You might be able to apply for a Permanent Resident (PR) visa through this stream if you meet the following requirements:

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•  At least three years of experience in the related profession.

 

• Shall have English competency

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You must take an English test unless one of the following applies:

Be a Canadian, Irish, UK, US, or New Zealand passport holder

If an English proficiency test is required, you can take one of the following tests:

 

*According to Home Affairs Department, the cost of this stream starts from AUD4,240

 

*According to Home Affairs Department, the processing time is as follows:

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25% of applications: 68 Days

50% of applications: 5 Months

75% of applications: 11 Months

90% of applications: 14 Months

 

• Applying for this visa requires that you be under 45 years old.

If you have the following conditions, you can be over 45 years old:

• An Australian university has nominated you for an academic position

• Appointed by a government scientific agency as a scientist, researcher, or technical expert holding a New Zealand visa subclass 444 or 461 and have been with your designated employer for two years.

 

This requires police and medical check. Shall Meet the health and character requirements (Unless you are excused).

You must apply for a 186 visa within six months of being nominated by your Australian employer and having your nomination approved (unless the visa and nomination application are submitted at the same time).          
If the nomination is withdrawn, the visa will not be granted. The department does not associate new nominations with existing visa applications.

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Transition stream

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Current Visa

You shall be a holder of 457 Visa or TSS or related bridging visa A, B , or C to be able to  apply for the 186 Visa this stream

*According to Home Affairs Department, the cost of this stream starts from AUD4,240

*According to Home Affairs Department, the processing time is as follows:

• 25% of applications: 3 Months

• 50% of applications: 8 Months

• 75% of applications: 13 Months

• 90% of applications: 19 Months

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Required Experience​

• You must have a minimum of three years of experience on subclass 457 or subclass 482 visa working full-time for your employer. It is enough to have spent at least two years working for your employer if you had a subclass 457 visa on April 18, 2017, or if you had applied for one,

• In case you have been laid off, taken unpaid leave, or have had your work hours reduced due to COVID-19, this time may still count towards your employer's hours.

English

• The Employer Nomination Scheme visa primary applicant shall have English competency.

• If an English proficiency test is required, you can take one of the following tests:

•  shall take an English test unless one of the following applies: a Canadian, Irish, UK, US, or New Zealand passport holder.