The Complete Guide to Employer Nomination Scheme Visa : Subclass 186
In Australia, the demand for foreign workers is constantly increasing. Every year, the Australian job market seeks more qualified foreign workers. According to the Department of Home Affairs, the 2022-2023 Migration Program will have 160,000 places, with the Skills Stream receiving two-thirds of them. Foreign nationals will now have more opportunities to enter the country for employment, residency, and citizenship.
This is why many working individuals from around the world have the desire to visit, work, and live in Australia. However, obtaining a visa or permanent residency in Australia is not as simple as you might think, Australia has one of the most complex visa systems and it can get confusing as there are so many visa categories. One needs to have full knowledge of all visa categories before they can apply for the right kind of visa and be successful.
For overseas candidates, Australia has implemented a number of employment visas to come and work in Australia under the sponsorship of an employer for a specified period of time. Three of the most important employer visa categories are Visa subclass 189, Visa subclass 190, and Visa subclass 186.
But in this article we will be going in details and try to understand everything there is to know about visa subclasses 186
Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
The Employer Sponsored Visa 186 is specifically designed for applicants who have already been selected by a sponsored employer in Australia. Any individual who wants to apply for this subclass 186 visa category needs to find an employer in Australia who can sponsor them. In this there are three visa streams; Direct entry, labour agreement and Temporary residence transition.
1 : Direct entry: You will require a nomination from a local Australian employer , plus the occupation must be on the list of Eligible skilled occupations. If your application gets approved under this visa stream you will be able to stay in Australia indefinitely. Also You can arrive directly from your home country.
2 : Labour agreement stream: only for Employers who are a part of a labour agreement. You must be recommended by your employer and hold a job that is recognised as “skilled” and included on the list of skilled occupations. Once approved You will be able to remain permanently in Australia.
3 : Temporary residence transition stream: You can only be granted a temporary residence transition stream visa if you have recently been nominated for another visa in Australia. To be eligible for a TRT visa 186, you must hold a visa 457 or a temporary skill shortage visa (TTS) This 186 visa allows you a permanent stay in Australia.
Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) Allows you to :
- Become a permanent resident of 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.
Eligibility Requirement for Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
Skill Assessment : To perform the tasks listed on the skilled occupation list, you must possess the necessary skills. A minimum of three years of relevant work experience in your chosen profession or trade is typically required. You might need to submit a skills assessment to prove this, or you might need to have the appropriate licence, registration, or membership with a governing body.
Nomination by an Australian employer: Your future employer has to nominate you via authorized channels. This is done just to make sure they are operating legally. If the nominee has negative information about them or if the nomination is withdrawn, your visa will be denied.
Your occupation must be on the skilled occupation list: This list gets updated frequently in order to meet the changing demands. Not all occupations are eligible for all visa types either, so before applying, do check that your occupation is on the 186 visa list.
Age: You must be younger than 45 when applying for Visa 186. There are exceptions, such as for scientists, researchers, academic lecturers, or if you already hold a 444 visa and are employed by the employer who nominated you.
Health requirements:To ensure that the Australian healthcare system is not overburdened. The applicant, and any family members traveling with them, must meet minimum health requirements. While this includes tuberculosis, it is not limited to that. You’ll need to have a health examination carried out by a registered healthcare provider, and they will submit the results on your behalf.
Character requirements: The goal of these character requirements is to make sure you are a good person. If you have a criminal record, have been associated with organisations that promote antisocial behaviour, or have the potential to engage in criminal activity or sow discord in the Australian community, your application for a visa may be rejected.
In order to showcase your Character you can provide a police certificate for any country you’ve lived in and complete a form and a statutory declaration.
Meet minimum English standards: Unless you are a citizen of the UK, USA, NZ, Canada or Ireland, you need to be competent in English. You need to have met certain scores on IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, OET or Cambridge C1 Advanced tests.
Processing Time for Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
Direct entry stream: 75% of applications are processed within twelve months, and 90% are processed within nineteen months.
Labour agreement stream: Due to the low numbers of this visa type, there are no official numbers available right now.
Temporary residence transition stream: 75% application are processed within eight months while 90% of the application are processed within sixteen months
Application Fees for Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
All visa streams like Direct entry, labour agreement and Temporary residence transition cost : AU$ 4,240.
Take a look at the latest visa costs here.
Documents Requirement for Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
There is a list of documents required, so if you are planning to apply for Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) do start gathering documents as soon as possible. If any family member intends to travel with you, prepare their documents as well .
Please note that not all of these documents will be required, or immigration may request more evidence.
- police certificates proving good character
- CV/ resume
- form 80 for character assessment
- a character statutory declaration
- English competency certificate dated within the last three years
- skills assessment for occupation or proof of industry body registration
- skills assessment exemption documents
- proof of ID, such as passport, birth certificate, national identity card
- proof of name change, if relevant
- a signed Australian values statement
- marriage certificate, if relevant
- proof of good health- this should be submitted by your healthcare provider
- age exemption documents if over 45 years of age
- partner/ dependent documents, which may include ID proof, character documents, English test results, health assessment results.
Step by step application process for Employer Nomination Scheme ( Subclass 186 )
Step 1 : Start with the assessment for subclass 186 and Check that if you’re eligible for this ENS – Subclass 186 visa.
Step 2 : The second step is to have your employer sponsor you through the direct entry stream and obtain the TRN (Transaction Reference Number) from them.
Step 3 : Gather all of your documentation, perform relevant skills assessments, English language tests, and all other eligibility criteria tests.
Step 4 : Within six months of being nominated, apply for the visa. This is done through your ImmiAccount. You can do this while in or out of Australia. Pay your visa fee.
Step 5 : If the immigration department asks for more information such as biometrics or other data, they will request it and you should respond as quickly as possible.
Step 6 : You will be notified of the outcome. If it’s refused, they will tell you why and advise if you can request a review of the decision.
Visa Condition to be note for ENS - subclass 186
Between applying for the visa and entering Australia, you are not permitted to marry or enter into a de facto relationship. If you fail to notify the immigration department of an impending marriage, your visa may be cancelled.
While in Australia, you are expected to maintain your good character. You may be deported if you violate the terms of your visa, are charged with a crime, or disrupt the peace of Australian communities.
