186 ENS Employer Nomination Scheme visa

The Subclass 186 ENS visa (Employer Nomination Scheme visa) is a permanent residency visa that requires the sponsorship of a nominating employer.

You must have an occupations on the 186 Visa Occupations List
English language requirements are IELTS (or equivalent test) score of 6 in each component.
A maximum age requirement of 45 at the time of application will apply to Direct Entry stream applicants.
A maximum age requirement of 50 at the time of application will continue to apply to Temporary Residence Transition stream applicants.

Integrity: A range of amendments have been introduced to enhance the integrity of the ENS and RSMS visas, including through requiring the nominated position to be genuine, and removal of the English language and skills exemption for applicants whose nominated earnings would be over $180,000.

186 ENS Employer Nomination Scheme visa

Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186), enables employers to address labour shortages by hiring skilled workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian.

Basic Eligibility

  • You must have the necessary skills for the job
  • You must be nominated by an Australian employer
  • You must meet our health and character requirements

It is permanent visa so you may stay on 186 visa permanently.

With Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186):

You stay in Australia indefinitely
You can work and study in Australia
You can enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
You cansponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia
You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years
You can apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

The 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa  involves a two-step process:

Step 1: The first part of the application process is the nomination application. This is regarding the position to be filled, salary details, efforts to hire Australian workers and the ‘genuineness’ of the position. The business must also be viable to sponsor from overseas.

Step 2: a visa application by the nominated employee. The visa applicant must demonstrate that they meet the skills required for their occupation as well as health and character requirements.

Include family

You can:

  • include family members in your application when you apply
  • add family members to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa

For 186 visa, your family members are:

  • 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

You can also include someone who holds a subclass 457 visa or subclass 482 visa if we granted them that visa on the basis they are a member of your family.

Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members who do not apply for the visa with you might also have to meet the requirements.

You can be in or outside Australia​ when you loading your 186 visa application. You can also apply for 186 visa while you are a holder of a BVA,BVB or BVC ). If you had a history of visa being refused or cancelled, pleas contact us.

How much cost visa to Australia

Second instalment

You will need to pay an extra charge called a second instalment for any family member aged 18 years or older who:

  • applies for the visa with you, and
  • has less than Functional English

If you need to pay the second instalment for a family member, they will be eligible for English

Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186). Direct Entry stream.

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by an employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

  • you must be nominated by an Australian employer
  • your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
  • you must have at least Competent English

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Temporary Residence Transition stream.

This visa lets skilled workers who are nominated by their employer live and work in Australia permanently. The Labour Agreement stream might be for you if you currently work, or will work, for an employer who is party to a labour agreement.

  • The employer must have a labour agreement

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Temporary Residence Transition stream.

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

  • You must hold a 457, TSS or related bridging visa A, B or C
  • Usually, you must have worked for your employer full-time for at least three years
  • You must be nominated by your employer