The Australia Subclass Visa, 186-Employer Nomination Scheme, permits employers in Australia to sponsor skilled overseas workers for their immigration to Australia. The applicants for a subclass 186 visa must have the essential skills required for the job. The sponsored candidates can reside and work in Australia permanently. They are also permitted to include their family members in the application.
The ENS 186 Visa is an option for overseas applicants with the required experience and skills. An employer must also nominate them in Australia to access this PR visa. Successful applicants can immigrate to Australia indefinitely to live and work.
- Direct entry stream
- Labor Agreement Stream
- Temporary Residence Transition Stream
The Visa also specifies a time limit of five years for traveling to your nation of origin. It must be noted here that the 65-point calculator for Australia is not applicable for the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 Visa.
All three streams of the Subclass 186 visa allow experienced workers with a recommendation from a citizen of Australia to arrive and work in the nation. You must fulfill the character and health requirements specified by the administration at the time of application.
What does Subclass 186 Visa let you do?
The Subclass Visa 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is a permanent residency visa in Australia. Upon approval, it permits the Visa holder and the family members, if included in the application, to:
- Reside indefinitely in Australia.
- Study and work in Australia without any restrictions.
- Travel from and to Australia for five years from the date of visa approval.
- Enroll in the universal healthcare scheme of Australia, Medicare.
- Apply for Australian citizenship if you are eligible.
- Sponsor qualified relatives for a range of Australian provisional and permanent visas.
Note: The 5-year travel restraint only inhibits re-entry into Australia upon expiring the five years. It does not impact those who hold this Visa and are within Australia. They are permitted to stay for an indefinite period. A Return Resident Visa or any other appropriate Australia visa must be obtained to re-enter Australia after this period.
What is an ENS Subclass 186 visa?
The Australia Subclass 186 Visa allows holders to live and work in the nation indefinitely. Overseas nationals who are skilled workers can qualify for this Visa, subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria. The applicants must complete a test for skills and receive a nomination from an authorized Australian employer. This Visa has three subcategories with general and particular requirements for eligibility.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 Visa?
The Subclass 186 Australia Visa has three general requirements for all applicants. The particular requirements are variable based on the stream for which you apply.
The basic general requirements for applicants necessitate that they:
- Receive a nomination from an authorized employer in Australia.
- Be less than 45 years of age, except if exempt.
- Fulfill the requirements for English language, qualifications, and skills, except if exempt.
To obtain the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa, the applicants must fill in a range of eligibility specifications. The general criteria for all three subcategories of this Visa are as follows:
Position of the Visa
Unsettled Amount
You should not have any outstanding debts in your name. If such a thing exists, you must repay the amount before submitting the Visa application.
English Language
You must have English language skills at the competent level to qualify for the Subclass 186 Visa.
Sign the Statement of Values
You are required to sign the Statement of Values, which is your acceptance to comply with rules for law and order in Australia.
health and character requirements
Your character and health certificates will be verified during the visa application assessment.
Age Criteria
You must be below 45 years of age. If you hold a Subclass 444 or 461 visa or are a researcher or scientist, the age criteria will not apply.
Nomination Details
An employer must nominate you in Australia whose venture is currently functional in the nation. You must apply for the nomination within six months of its approval by the DHA. The Visa will only be approved if the position is available and the nomination has been withdrawn. For the TRT stream, in particular, you must receive sponsorship from the employer for at least three years under Subclass 482 or 457.
Registration and Licensed Membership
If you wish to work in Australia, you must be registered, licensed, and a member of the organization.
Work Experience and Required Skills
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
The TRT Stream permits applicants who have earlier held a Provisional Work Skilled Subclass 457 Visa with the nominating employer to apply for Australia PR Visa.
For approval under the TRT Stream, the nominating employer is required to:
- Continue to operate lawfully and actively.
- Continue to fulfill the applicable requirements for training.
- Ensure compliance with the obligations as an approved sponsor for Subclass 457 Visa.
- Have no adverse information regarding oneself.
The nominated position has to be:
- The same or a closely connected position is sanctioned under subclass 457 visas.
- Continue to remain in an exact position.
- A minimum of two years full-time available position from the date of approval of Visa.
- Continue to fulfill the conditions and rate of market salary.
The applicant for the Visa is required to:
- Have held the Subclass 457 visa for working in the nominated or closely connected position for the nominating employer for at least two years before the application.
- Possess minimum Occupational English.
- Fulfill the appropriate character and health requirements.
direct entry stream
This stream permits applicants who cannot fulfill the TRT Stream requirements to receive a nomination from an employer for an Australia PR Visa.
For approval under the Direct Entry Stream, the nominating employer is required to:
- Continue to operate lawfully and actively.
- Continue to fulfill the applicable requirements for training.
- Have no adverse information regarding oneself.
The nominated position has to be:
- Continue to remain in an exact position.
- A minimum of two years full-time available position from the date of approval of Visa.
- For an occupation present on the CSOL (Consolidated Skilled Occupations List).
- Continue to fulfill the conditions and rate of market salary no less satisfactory than those offered to Citizens and PR holders in Australia performing similar roles.
The applicant for the Visa is required to:
- Be aged less than 45 years.
- Possess minimum Occupational English.
- Have a successful assessment of skills for their nominated position from the appropriate authority for assessment, unless exempted.
- Have a minimum of 3 years of appropriate work experience.
- Fulfill the appropriate character and health requirements.
Labor Agreement Stream
This stream is for applicants who receive a nomination from an employer who enters into a labor contract that has been agreed to and negotiated with the Government of Australia.
The applicants in this stream must fulfill English language, skills, and age requirements as specified in the appropriate agreement. They must also fulfill the appropriate character and health requirements.
How can I apply for a Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa?
Stage 1: Verify if you meet all the requirements to work in Australia.
You must fulfill both the general requirements of the Employer Nomination Scheme (186 Visa) and the particular requirements of the subcategory through which you are applying. This Visa has three subcategories.
Stage 2: Ask your employer to lodge the nomination.
Your employer must file a nomination for you with the Department of Home Affairs in Australia before you can apply for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa. You must apply within six months of the approval of the nomination.
Stage 3: Arrange Your Documents
The Australia ENS 186 Visa requires submitting several documents and the application to demonstrate the claims made. The list of documents is specified in the checklist.
Stage 4: Submit Your Online Application
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa requires online submission of the application. You must keep ready all the documents at the time of applying. The Visa application fee must also be paid at this stage and can be done through Credit Card.
Stage 5: Wait for a verdict
It may take many months for the Department of Home Affairs to decide on your application.
Stage 6: Obtain your Visa and begin working
You will be offered an Australia visa if the DHA approves your visa application. You can then begin or continue to work in Australia.
Documents Checklist
Several documents are required for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa. You must start arranging the documents as early as possible. The documents may also be needed for eligible family members immigrating with you to Australia. Some documents below may be needed, and DHA can ask for more proof.
- Certificate of competency in English obtained within the past three years
- Police certificates to prove good character
- Form 80 for the assessment of character
- A statutory declaration of character
- Assessment of skills for an occupation or evidence of registration from an industry body
- Documents for exemption from skills assessment
- Resume/ CV
- Identity Proof like a National Identity Card, Birth Certificate, or Passport
- Proof for change of name, if applicable
- Marriage certificate, if applicable
- A signed Statement of Australian Values
- Proof of good health given by your healthcare provider
- Documents for exemption of age if over 45 years
- Documents for dependents or a common-law partner that can include character documents, ID proof, health assessment results, and English test results
What Is The Processing Time For Subclass 186 Visa?
The Processing Time for Subclass 186 Visa depends on the Visa subcategory application form you submitted. Other factors include if you have provided all the required documents or not and if you have filled in all the required details. The below table offers an approximation of the processing time duration required:
| Name of the Visa Stream | Processing Time | |
| 75% of the applications | 90% of the applications | |
| direct entry stream | Twelve Months | Nineteen Months |
| Labor Agreement Stream | not available owing to the small volume of applications. | Not available owing to the small volume of applications. |
| Temporary Residence Transition Stream | Eight Months | Sixteen Months |