Employer Nomination (Subclass 186)

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) is a permanent resident visa for skilled workers who want to work in Australia. It is part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa program. Applicants must be nominated for migration by an employer in Australia and apply for the visa within 6 months of the nomination. The visa has three streams:

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years in the same occupation with their nominating employer (who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.

The Direct Entry stream is for:

– people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia or temporary residents who do not betagan this site qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream

• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer
• be under the age of 50 at the time of application, with some exceptions
• have the required skills and qualifications for the position (including any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body)
• have the required skills and qualifications for the position
• have appropriate English language skills (at the time of application lodgement),unless exempt
• meet health and character requirements
• meet the requirements of the relevant stream.

Some people over 50 years of age may still apply under certain exempt categories, such as being nominated by senior academics, researchers, religious ministers, or under certain occupations already holding visas (eg doctor on a 457 visa, direct entry as a New Zealand citizen/citizen’s family member, etc).

Successful applicants receive a permanent residence visa. It allows the holder and any family members who have also been granted this visa to:

• stay in Australia indefinitely
• work and study in Australia
• enroll in Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• travel to and from Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted (after that a resident return visa or another visa is required)