Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)
Employer Nomination visa enables skilled workers, who are nominated by their Australian employers to live and work in Australia permanently.
If you are seeking assistance in this visa category, Discuss your Case with us today.
Employer Nomination Visa has 3 streams
- Temporary Residence Transition Stream
- Direct Entry Stream
- Labour Agreement Stream
There are 2 stages for each of the above streams
- Nomination Application (by the employer) – must be lodged before or at the same time as the nominee’s visa application
- Visa Application (by the Nominee) – can apply for exceptional circumstances if they don’t meet age, skills or English requirements
We can assist you in preparing your one or more applications, Contact Us. We also offer solutions for people looking to apply for Partner Visas, TSS Visas and 190 Visas.
For Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream the applicant must:
- Be under 45 years of age
- Meet English requirement
- Be nominated by the employer who sponsored your temporary work visa
- Sponsored by your current employer for whom you have worked full-time on Subclass Subclass 482 visa for at least 3 of the 4 years prior to nomination for Subclass 186 visa. Since Subclass 457 visa has now been removed the grandfathering provisions apply – therefore if you held (or had applied for and were later granted) a Subclass 457 visa on or before 18 April 2017, your employer must have sponsored you to work full-time for at least 2 years prior to nominating you for this visa.
- Have required skills – the Department may ask you to obtain a skills assessment to demonstrate that you have the skills.
For Direct Entry (DE) Stream the applicant must:
- Be under 45 years of age
- Meet English requirement
- Be employed in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis, where nominated occupation is listed in the Medium to Long Term Skill Shortage List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL) which is for employers located in the regional areas of Australia.
- Be nominated by an approved Sponsor/employer
- Have a skills assessment
Contact us to find out if you are eligible for nomination for the TRT or DE stream through your employer.
For Labour Agreement Stream the applicant must:
- Be under 45 years of age
- Meet suitable English language skills as per the Labour agreement
- Currently work or will work for an employer under the Labour agreement
- Be nominated by an approved Australian sponsor/employer
- Must hold a 457 or 482 visa under the Labour Agreement if in Australia
To know more, visit our FAQs page.
Advantages of Subclass 186 visa
- Permanent residency in Australia
- Unrestricted entry and departure for 5 years
- Enrol in Medicare
- Apply for Australian Citizenship when eligible
- Work and study in Australia
- Sponsor eligible relatives
Find out more. Read our blog/ watch video here.
The nomination takes around 4-6 weeks for approval and processing time for a visa application is around 5-7 months if the application is “Decision Ready” i.e. the Migration Agent has lodged all the relevant documents to the Department for assessment with your application.
Fill our Contact Us form today to check your eligibility for this visa and we will get back to you shortly.
186 Visa Australia - Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the 186 Visa in Australia?
To be eligible for the 186 visa in Australia, you must:
- Be under the age of 45 at the time of application
- Have been nominated by an Australian employer and have that nomination approved within six months before you apply
- Possess the required skills, qualifications and any mandatory registration or professional membership for the position you have been nominated for
- Demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency
- Meet health and character requirements for migration to Australia.
What are some other requirements I must meet when applying for a Subclass 186 Visa?
There are some additions to the 186 visa requirements listed above.
You must also provide evidence that demonstrates your capacity as an employee or business owner in Australia, with suitable work or business qualifications and/or experiences relevant to your occupation.
You may also need to demonstrate financial capacity or resources if you are relying solely on personal funds during your first two years in Australia.
Additionally, if you are employed in certain occupations or industries you may need additional certifications or registration documents as part of your application for the 186 employer nomination scheme visa.
How long does it take to process an application for a Subclass 186 Visa?
Processing times for the 186 employer nomination scheme visa vary depending on factors such as how complex your case is and how much documentation needs to be verified.
Generally speaking, the 186 visa processing time can take anywhere from eight weeks up to several months; however, this can also depend on individual circumstances.
It’s possible to keep track of processing times online via the employer-sponsored visa 186 Processing Times page on the Department of Home Affairs website.
