Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) – Introductory Guide

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is a permanent residence visa which allows eligible Australian employers to sponsor suitably skilled workers to live and work in Australia.

You may include family members in your application when you apply or/and add family members to your application after you apply but before the Department decide on your visa.

You may include family member such as

• your partner
• your dependent child or stepchild
• your partner’s dependent child or stepchild
• the dependent child or stepchild of your or your partner’s dependent child or stepchild
• someone who currently holds a subclass 457 or subclass 482 visa if the Department granted them that visa because they are a member of your family

Part A – Direct Entry Stream

Introduction

Direct Entry Stream lets skilled workers who are nominated by an employer, live and work in Australia permanently where you must

• Have an occupation that is on the list of eligible skilled occupation
• Have at least 3 years relevant work experience unless exception applies
• Have a positive skills assessment unless exception applies

According to the information released by the Department; this visa enables you to

• Live, work and study in Australia unrestrictedly
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
• Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
• Travel to and fromAustraliafor 5 years
• Access certain Australian Government payments and benefits after a certain waiting period.
• Apply for permanent residence, if eligible

Please visit here for more information about the newly arrived resident’s waiting period in relation to the Australian Government payments and benefits.

Eligibility

To be eligible to successfully apply or this visa, you must

• Have an eligible occupation
  • Please visit here for more information about the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
  • Unless exempted from the skills assessment requirement
  • Except if you have been nominated as
    • an academic as a university lecturer or faculty head by a university in Australia or
    • Scientist, researcher or technical specialist by Australian government scientific agency or
    • holding a Special Category (subclass 444) or New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (subclass 461) visa and have worked for the nominated employer in the nominated position, for at least 2 years in the last 3 years before the date you applied for the visa
    • Please refer to here for competent English language

    Condition

    Condition 8515 , You must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia

    Checklist

    • A scanned certified copy of the skills assessment
    • English test result if applicable
    • Health examination
    • Approved employer and the nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN)
    • Identity document such as current passport
    • Evidence of any licence, registration or professional membership
    • Skills and qualifications documents, documents that prove your skills and qualifications
    • Proof of your skills and qualifications such as a positive and valid skill assessment, curriculum vitae CV or resume, proof of work experience
    • Character documents such as Overseas police certificate, Australian police certificate
    • Partner document such as partner’s identity documents and character documents, current marriage certificate
    • Documents that prove a de facto relationship including the joint bank account statements, billing accounts in joint names, joint leases or mortgages and documents that show you have both lived at the same address
    • Your partner’s evidence of functional English
    • For dependants under 18 documents, identity documents, proof of relationship such as a birth or marriage certificate
    • Form 1229 consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years
    • For dependent 18 years old or older, please provide identity document, proof of relationship and character documents
    • Evidence of family member, please provide Form 47a a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over, proof of relationship
    • Prove that the family member is financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply
      • Proof they live with you
      • their tax records
      • proof they are currently studying

      Processing times

      • 50% of applications: 5 Months
      • 90% of applications: 13 Months

      Application Process

      Step1: Gather all documents and a nominated employer and position in your occupation

      Step2: Apply is visa online visa ImmiAccount

      Step3: The Department will notify you your visa outcome.

      Cost

      The visa costs AUD4770 for the main applicant.（Update date：2024.07）

      Frequently Asked Question

      What if my Visa is refused?
      You will be informed of reasons for the refusal and of your appeal rights to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

      Travel to and from Australia
      You can travel to and from Australia unrestrictedly for up to 5 years. You are required to complete Resident Return RRV to re-entry Australia as a permanent resident.

      Part B – Labour Agreement Stream

      Introduction

      The Labour Agreement Stream is desirable for applicant who are currently or will work for an employer who is a party to a labour agreement.

      Eligibility

      To be eligible to successfully apply or this visa, you must

      • Currently work or will work for your employer under a labour agreement
      • Have a suitable English language skill, experience, skills according to the labour agreement
      • Be licensed, registered or a member of a professional body if it is mandatory required from your proposed State
      • Be nominated by an approved Australian employer whose business is actively and lawfully operating in Australia and party to a labour agreement
      • Be under 45 years of age when you apply, unless exempted by the labour agreement.
      • If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive 457 or TSS visa issued under a labour agreement.
      • Meet the health requirement for both you and your family members who apply for this visa with you
      • Meet the character requirement
      • Sign the Australian values statement
      • Not owe any debt to Australian Government
      • Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused

      Condition

      Condition 8515 , You must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia

      Check list

      • Approved employer and the nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN)
      • Identity document such as current passport
      • Character documents such as Overseas police certificate, Australian police certificate
      • Partner document such as partner’s identity documents and character documents, current marriage certificate
      • Documents that prove a de facto relationship including the joint bank account statements, billing accounts in joint names, joint leases or mortgages and documents that show you have both lived at the same address
      • Your partner’s evidence of functional English
      • For dependants under 18 documents, identity documents, proof of relationship such as a birth or marriage certificate
      • Form 1229 consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years
      • For dependent 18 years old or older, please provide identity document, proof of relationship and character documents
      • Evidence of family member, please provide Form 47a a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over, proof of relationship
      • Prove that the family member is financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply
        • Proof they live with you
        • their tax records
        • proof they are currently studying

        Processing times

        • 50% of applications: 70 Days
        • 90% of applications: 4 Months

        Application Process

        Step1: Gather all documents and a nominated employer and position in your occupation

        Step2: Apply is visa online visa ImmiAccount

        Step3: The Department will notify you your visa outcome.

        Cost

        The visa costs AUD4770 for the main applicant.（Update date：2024.07）

        Frequently Asked Question

        What if my Visa is refused?
        You will be informed of reasons for the refusal and of your appeal rights to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

        Travel to and from Australia
        You can travel to and from Australia unrestrictedly for up to 5 years. You are required to complete Resident Return RRV to re-entry Australia as a permanent resident.

        Part C – Temporary Residence Transition Stream

        Introduction

        The Temporary Residence Transition Stream allows skilled workers who are nominated by their employer live and work in Australia.

        According to the information released from the Department, this visa enables you to

        • Live, work and study in Australia indefinitely
        • Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
        • Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

        Eligibility

        To be eligible to successfully apply or this visa, you must

        • Hold a subclass 457, TSS or related Bridging visa A, B or C
        • Have worked for your employer for at least 3 years full time while holding a subclass 457 or TSS visa
        • Have been nominated by an Australian employer whose nomination was approved in the 6 months before you apply
        • Have an eligible occupation
          • Please visit here for more information about the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
          • Please refer to here for competent English language

          Condition

          Condition 8515 , You must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia

          Checklist

          • English test result if applicable
          • Health examination
          • Identity document such as current passport
          • Evidence of any licence, registration or professional membership
          • Skills and qualifications documents, documents that prove your skills and qualifications
          • Character documents such as Overseas police certificate, Australian police certificate
          • Partner document such as partner’s identity documents and character documents, current marriage certificate
          • Documents that prove a de facto relationship including the joint bank account statements, billing accounts in joint names, joint leases or mortgages and documents that show you have both lived at the same address
          • Your partner’s evidence of functional English
          • For dependants under 18 documents, identity documents, proof of relationship such as a birth or marriage certificate
          • Form 1229 consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years
          • For dependent 18 years old or older, please provide identity document, proof of relationship and character documents
          • Evidence of family member, please provide Form 47a a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over, proof of relationship
          • Prove that the family member is financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply
            • Proof they live with you
            • their tax records
            • proof they are currently studying

            Processing times

            • 50% of applications: 7 Months
            • 90% of applications: 13 Months

            Application Process

            Step1: Gather all documents

            Step2: Apply is visa online visa ImmiAccount

            Step3: The Department will notify you your visa outcome.

            Cost

            The visa costs AUD4770 for the main applicant. （Update date：2024.07）

            Frequently Asked Question

            What if my Visa is refused?
            You will be informed of reasons for the refusal and of your appeal rights to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

            Travel to and from Australia
            You can travel to and from Australia unrestrictedly for up to 5 years. You are required to complete Resident Return RRV to re-entry Australia as a permanent resident.