• 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 Australia 65 points calculator is not applicable for the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 Visa. 

All the 3 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 as specified by the administration at the time of application. 

What Subclass 186 Visa lets you do? 

The Subclass Visa 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is an Australia Permanent Residency Visa. 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 devoid of any restrictions. 

• Travel from and to Australia for 5 years from the date of approval of Visa. 

• Enroll in the universal healthcare scheme of Australia - Medicare. 

• Apply for Citizenship of Australia subject to eligibility. 

• 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 the expiry of the 5 years. To re-enter Australia after this period, a Return Resident Visa or any other appropriate Australia Visa has to be obtained. It does not impact those who hold this Visa and are within Australia. They are permitted to stay for an indefinite period. 

What is an ENS Subclass 186 Visa?

The Australia Subclass 186 Visa allows its 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 are required to complete a test for skills and receive a nomination from an authorized Australian employer. This Visa has 3 sub-categories 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 3 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 them to: 

• Receive a nomination from an authorized employer in Australia. 

• Be less than 45 years of age, except if exempted. 

• Fulfill the requirements for English language, qualifications, and skills, except if exempted.

To obtain the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa, a range of specifications for eligibility must be fulfilled by the applicants. The general criteria for all the three subcategories of this Visa are as follows:  

Position of the Visa

English Language

You must have English language skills at the competent level to qualify for the Subclass 186 Visa. 

Sign Statement for the Values

You are required to sign the statement for Values which is your acceptance to comply with rules for the law and order in Australia. 

Health and Character Requirements

Your character and health certificates will be verified as a part of the visa application assessment. 

Age Criteria

You must be below 45 years of age. If you hold Subclass 444 or 461 Visa or if you are a Researcher or Scientist the age criteria will not be applicable. 

Nomination Details

You must be nominated by an employer in Australia whose venture is currently functional in the nation. You must apply for the nomination within 6 months of its approval by the DHA. The Visa will not be approved if the position is currently unavailable or the nomination has been withdrawn. For the TRT Stream particularly, you must receive sponsorship from the employer for at least 3 years under Subclass 482 or 457. 

Registration and Licensed Membership

If you wish to work in Australia, then you must be registered, licensed, and a member of the organization. 

Work Experience and Required Skills

You must have the minimum work experience and specific skills to qualify for the Subclass 186 Visa. You do not qualify in the absence of a test for skills assessment. You need to be currently working under the labor agreement only for the Labor Agreement Stream Visa. 

The particular eligibility requirements and purpose of every stream are underlined below:

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 be operating 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 nil adverse information regarding oneself. 

The nominated position has to be: 

• The same or a closely connected position as sanctioned Subclass 457 Visa.

• Continue to remain in an authentic position.

• A minimum 2 years full-time available position from the date of approval of Visa. 

• Continue to fulfill the conditions and rate of market salary. 

The applicant of 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 2 years before the application. 

• Possess minimum Occupational English. 

• Fulfill the appropriate character and health requirements. 

Direct Entry Stream

This stream permits the applicants who are unable to fulfill the requirements for the TRT Stream 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 be operating lawfully and actively. 

• Continue to fulfill the applicable requirements for training. 

• Have nil adverse information regarding oneself. 

The nominated position has to be: 

• Continue to remain in an authentic position.

• A minimum 2 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 of 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 form 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 of this stream are required to fulfill the requirements for English language, skills, and age 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 sub-category through which you are applying. This Visa has 3 sub-categories. 

Stage 2: Ask Your Employer to Lodge the Nomination

Your employer must file a nomination for you with the Department of Home Affairs, Australia before you can apply for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa. You must apply within 6 months of the approval of the nomination. 

Stage 3: Arrange Your Documents

The Australia ENS 186 Visa requires the submission of several documents along with the application for demonstrating 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 declare its decision for your application. 

Stage 6: Obtain your Visa and begin working

If your Visa application is approved by the DHA, you will be offered the Australia Visa. 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 family members who are eligible and immigrating with you to Australia. Not all the below documents may be needed or DHA can even ask for more proof: 

• Certificate for competency in English obtained within past 3 years 

• Police certificates to prove good character 

• Form 80 for assessment of Character 

• A statutory declaration for character 

• Assessment of skills for occupation or evidence of registration from industry body 

• Documents for exemption of skills assessment 

• Resume/CV 

• Identity Proof like National Identity Card, Birth Certificate, 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 above 45 years 

• Documents for dependents/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 sub-category application form that you have submitted. Other factors include if you have provided all the required documents or not and if you have filled all the required details or not. The below table offers an approximation for the processing time duration required: