Who this visa is for

Under the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186), eligible Australian firms may sponsor adequately qualified foreign workers to settle permanently in Australia and begin employment there.

What this visa lets you do

A Permanent Residency visa is available under the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186). Upon approval, the holder (and any family members listed in the application) may:

• Remain in Australia forever
• Study and work in Australia (without restriction)
• Travel to and from Australia is permitted for five years after the visa is issued.
• Enroll in Medicare, Australia's national health insurance programme
• Apply for Australian citizenship (subject to eligibility)
• Visa sponsorship for eligible relatives for a variety of temporary and permanent Australian visas

Note: The five-year travel restriction only precludes re-entry into Australia once the five-year period has passed; at that point, a Resident Return visa or another appropriate visa must be obtained in order to re-enter Australia. Those who are in Australia with this visa are unaffected (who are allowed to remain indefinitely).

General eligibility criteria

There are three (3) streams in the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186):

• Stream for Temporary Residence Transition (TRT)
• Stream for Direct Entry
• stream for labour agreements.

The objective of each stream and its general qualifying conditions are listed below.

Below are the purposes and general eligibility requirements for each stream.

Temporary Residence Transition stream

Candidates who have held a Temporary Work (Skilled) visa Subclass 457 with the nominating employer are eligible to apply for Permanent Residence through the Temporary Residence Transition stream.

In order to be approved under the Temporary Residence Transition stream, you must:

• the nominating employer must:

• continue to be actively and lawfully operating
• Maintain relevant training requirements
• As an approved sponsor under Subclass 457, the company has met its obligations
• have no adverse information against it

• the nominated position must:

• It must be the same (or a closely related) position that was approved for a Subclass 457 visa
• continue to be a genuine position
• The position must be full-time and available for a minimum of two (2) years after the visa is granted
• Provide terms and conditions not less favorable than those afforded to Australian citizens and Permanent Residents in similar roles (maintain the market salary rate and conditions).

• the visa applicant must:

• Hold a Subclass 457 visa to work in the nominated (or closely related) position with the nominating employer for at least two (2) years prior to application
• have at least Vocational English
• meet relevant health and character requirements

Direct Entry stream

The Direct Entry stream enables candidates who don't fit the criteria for the Temporary Residence Transition stream to be nominated for permanent residence by their employer.

Direct Entry applicants must meet the following requirements:

• the nominating employer must:

• be actively and lawfully operating in Australia
• meet the relevant training requirements
• have no adverse information against it

• the nominated position must:

• be a genuine position
• The position must be full-time and available for a minimum of two (2) years after the visa is granted
• The occupation must be listed on the Consolidated Skilled Occupations List (CSOL).
• Ensure that terms and conditions are no less favourable than those afforded to Australian citizens and Permanent Residents occupying similar positions

• the visa applicant must:

• be under 50 years of age
• demonstrate Competent English
• Obtain a successful skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation (unless exempt)
• Work experience of at least three (3) years in a highly relevant field
• Health and character requirements must be met.

Labour Agreement stream

The Labour Agreement stream is for candidates whose employers have signed a labour agreement, with the Australian Government being the most recent to do so.

The relevant Agreement's age, skill, and English language criteria, as well as any other applicable health and character requirements, must be met by applicants under this stream.

Additional eligibility requirements do exist, and the aforementioned list is not meant to be comprehensive.

Make an enquiry with one of our experienced and qualified Migration Consultants if you would like more information or to see if you qualify.