Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is a permanent visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian employer. It allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently, either through the Direct Entry or Temporary Residence Transition stream.
Subclass 186 has three different pathways
- Direct Entry Stream – This stream is for skilled workers who have never worked in Australia or have only worked for a short time. It is suitable for people who have their skills assessed and meet the English language and work experience requirements. You must be nominated by an Australian employer and your job must be on the relevant occupation list. This stream leads to permanent residency once approved.
- Labour Agreement Stream – This stream is for skilled workers who are nominated by an employer under a labour agreement. Labour agreements are made between the Australian government and employers to bring in foreign workers when there are no Australian workers available for specific jobs. You must meet the terms of the agreement, including skills, qualifications, and English requirements. This is also a permanent visa.
- Temporary Residence Transition Stream – This stream is for workers who are already in Australia on a Subclass 457 or Subclass 482 (TSS) visa and have worked for their employer for at least two or three years (depending on the visa held). The employer must be offering you a permanent position in the same occupation. You must also meet the English language, skills, and character requirements. This stream provides a pathway to permanent residency.
Benefits of Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is a visa that allows you to stay in the Australia permanently. When the visa is granted , the holder of visa ( with any of the family members included in the appli cation) is allowed to do the following:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely and work and study there (without rest riction)
- The date the visa is granted, the holder can travel to and from Australia for five years.
- Register in Medicare (Australia’s national health-care programme)
- Apply for a citizenship in Australia (subject to eligibility)
- Sponsor eligible relatives for a range of Australian visas, both temporary and permanent.
Note that the five year travel limitation only precludes re entry into Australia once the five-year period has expired; after that, a Resident Return visa or other relevant visa will be required to re-enter Australia. It has no effect on those who have this visa and are currently in Australia (who are allowed to remain indefinitely).
Information About Stream
Direct Entry Stream
About – This stream is for skilled workers who are outside of Australia or have worked in Australia for a short time. You must be nominated by an Australian employer, have your skills assessed and your job must be on the Medium and Long term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Fees – Primary applicant: AUD 4,770*. Additional charges apply for each family member included.
Processing Time – 75% of applications in 5 months & 90% of applications in 8 months
IELTS Requirement – Minimum IELTS score of 6 in each band (Competent English)
Can I Include Family in It? – Yes, you can include your partner and dependent children in your application.
Labour Agreement Stream
About – This stream is for skilled workers who are nominated by an employer with a labour agreement approved by the Australian government. These agreements are made to fill jobs that cannot be filled locally.
Fees – Primary applicant: AUD 3,115*. Additional charges apply for each family member included.
Processing Time – 75% of applications in 6 months & 90% of applications in 11 months
IELTS Requirement – English requirements vary based on the specific labour agreement, but generally require IELTS 5 or 6.
Can I Include Family in It? – Yes, your partner and children can be added to the visa application.
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
About – This stream is for applicants who already hold a Subclass 457 or 482 visa and have worked for their nominating employer for at least 2 or 3 years. The employer must offer a permanent position in the same role.
Fees – Primary applicant: AUD 4,770. Additional charges apply for each family member included.
Processing Time – 75% of applications in 6 months & 90% of applications in 10 months
IELTS Requirement – Minimum IELTS score of 6 in each band (Competent English)
Can I Include Family in It? – Yes, your spouse and children can be included in your application.
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
To qualify for this visa, as an applicant, you must:
- You must be nominated by an Australian employer who has an approved nomination under the 186 visa.
- You must be under 45 years of age at the time of application. (Some exemptions apply.)
- You must have the skills, qualifications, and work experience required for the nominated occupation.
- For most streams, you need a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority (unless exempt).
- You must have at least competent English (e.g., IELTS score of 6 in each band or equivalent).
- You must not have any outstanding debts to the Australian government or must have made arrangements to repay them.
- You must accept a genuine, full-time position in Australia for at least 2 years after visa approval.
Eligible Family Members
You can include the following members in your visa application:
- Your spouse or partner
- Your or your partner’s child or stepchild
Why choose us for Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)?
We are proud to be a registered MARA agent in Delhi. We have more than 9+ years of experience in helping our clients to achieve their Australian migration goals. Our team has deep knowledge about Subclass 186 visa process and we make sure that every step is handled with care and accuracy. We have a very high visa success rate because we guide our clients properly, keep all details transparent. We are known as one of the best visa agents in Delhi and we believe in honesty, we do not takeany kind of hidden fees or charges from you. We have expert team who check you eligibility, documents, so you get visa without any issue.
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FAQs
Yes, the Subclass 186 visa is a permanent residency (PR) visa, which means you can live, work, and stay in Australia permanently.
Yes, but it is recommended to stay with your employer for at least 2 years after getting the visa. Leaving early could raise questions about whether your job was genuine.
Yes, the Department of Home Affairs can cancel the visa if they find out the information was false or if you didn’t meet visa conditions, especially regarding employment.
Recent updates include shorter work experience requirements, more eligible occupations, and easier transitions for certain visa holders like 482 to 186. Always check the latest rules with a Regsitered MARA agent in Delhi.
Processing time for the 186 visa is usually between 5 to 10 months, depending on your stream and how complete your documents are.
Yes, you can leave your employer, but it is advised to stay at least 2 years. If you leave too soon, immigration may investigate whether the job offer was genuine.
