Australia Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
Who this visa is for
The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) allows eligible Australian employers the option to sponsor suitably skilled overseas applicants to live and work permanently in Australia. It provides eligible employers with access to a pool of highly skilled foreign workers who are experienced, skilled in their field, and willing to work in Australia.
What this visa lets you do
The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is one of the pathways to Australian permanent residency. It allows a person who has been nominated by an employer and meets other eligibility requirements to:
Stay in Australia indefinitely
Work and study in Australia (without restriction)
Provision to travel to and from Australia for the span of five years from the date visa is granted
Enroll in Australia’s universal health and medicare
Apply for Australian citizenship (subject to eligibility)
Sponsor relatives for a variety of visas, including temporary and permanent ones
Note; The five-year travel ban only prevents re-entry into Australia after the expiry of the five-year period, after which time a Resident Return visa or other suitable visas will need to be obtained. This does not affect the visa holders who are inside Australia.
General eligibility criteria
The Employer Nomination Scheme has three (3) main categories under which applicants can apply:
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
Direct Entry stream
Labour Agreement stream.
The following is an overview of the purpose and eligibility requirements for each stream.
Temporary Residence Transition stream
The Temporary Residence Transition stream allows applicants who have held a 457 visa sponsored by their employer to apply for permanent residency.
To become eligible for the Temporary Residence Transition category:
the employer who makes the nomination must:
Continue operating while remaining in full legal compliance
Have continued to uphold the relevant training standards
Has complied with all of its obligations as a Subclass 457 approved sponsor.
Has no unfavorable information against it
The position or opening must meet the following criteria:
be in a position that is either the same as or similar to one for which you were approved on your Subclass 457 visa.
continue to be a genuine position
The position must be full-time and available for at least two years after the visa is granted.
offer pay and benefits that meet Australian standards, as well as comparable to those given to citizens or permanent residents in similar jobs.
the visa applicant must:
have worked for at least two years in a nominated position, with the nominating employer, since obtaining their Subclass 457 visa.
Have a basic knowledge of English for vocational purposes
Meet health and character requirements needed for the program.
Direct Entry stream
The Direct Entry stream allows applicants to be nominated for Permanent Residence by an employer, even if the applicant does not meet the requirements of Canada’s Temporary Resident Transition Stream.
To be eligible for approval under the Direct Entry stream:
the employer who makes the nomination must:
Continue operating while remaining in full legal compliance
Have continued to uphold the relevant training standards
Has no unfavorable information against it
The position or opening must meet the following criteria:
be a genuine position
The position must be full-time and available for at least two years after the visa is granted.
be for a job on the Consolidated Skilled Occupations List (CSOL).
offer pay and benefits that meet Australian standards, as well as comparable to those given to citizens or permanent residents in similar jobs.
the visa applicant must:
Be under 50 years of age
Demonstrate Competent English
Succeed in a skills assessment for your nominated occupation, conducted by the relevant assessing authority (unless excused).
have at least three (3) years of working experience in a related field or domain.
Meet health and character requirements needed for the program.
Labour Agreement stream
The Labour Agreement stream is for applicants who are nominated by an employer that has entered into a ratified Labour Agreement with the Australian Government.
Applicants for this stream must meet a number of criteria, including age, skills, and English language requirements provided under the relevant agreement, as well as health and character requirements.
This list does not include all possible eligibility requirements and further conditions may apply.
