Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186)
The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Permanent) (Class EN) (Subclass 186) is a permanent employer-sponsored visa. The purpose of this visa is to allow Australian employers to nominate highly skilled professionals for permanent visas.
Obtaining a subclass 186 visa is a 2-stage process:
- Nomination: The employer must lodge a nomination that specifies the details of the position and identifies the nominee.
- Visa Application: The applicant applies for Subclass 186 visa under a relevant stream.
Highlights
- You may be in or outside Australia to lodge a valid visa application.
- This visa allows you to work, study and live in Australia.
- There are 3 different visa streams: Temporary Residence Transition (TRT), Direct Entry and Labour Agreement.
- This is a Permanent resident visa and allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely.
- You are expected to work for your nominating employer in Australia for at least 2 years.
Key Eligibility requirements – Common criteria to all streams
- Your employer must have applied for approval of the nomination of the position which your visa application relates.
- If it is mandatory in the State or Territory where your position is located, you must hold or be eligible to apply for and hold a relevant licence, registration or professional membership.
- You must satisfy certain Public Interest criteria and Special Return criteria.
- You must meet health and character requirements.
- You must satisfy specific Nomination Criteria relating to the visa stream you are applying for such as being or have been the holder of a specific subclass visa for a specific period, having an occupation on the relevant list of eligible occupations or having been employed in your nominated occupation for a minimum period etc.
- You must satisfy specific criteria relating to the visa stream you are applying for.
Key Eligibility requirements – Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
- You must be under 45 years of age (prescribed applicants may be eligible for exemption).
- You must be able to demonstrate ‘Competent English’ (prescribed applicants may be eligible for exemption).
- Your position was nominated in an application for approval and in relation to the TRT stream. This nomination must have been approved by the Minister.
- If required by the Minister, you must demonstrate that you have the necessary skills to perform the tasks of the occupation to which your nominated position relates.
Key Eligibility requirements – Direct Entry stream
- You must be under 45 years of age (prescribed applicants may be eligible for exemption).
- You must be able to demonstrate ‘Competent English’ (prescribed applicants may be eligible for exemption).
- Your position was nominated in an application for approval and in relation to the Direct Entry stream. This nomination must have been approved by the Minister.
- You must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority in relation to your nominated occupation (prescribed applicants may be eligible for exemption).
- You must have been employed in your nominated occupation for at least 3 years (prescribed applicants may be eligible for exemption).
Key Eligibility requirements – Labour Agreement stream
- You must be under 45 years of age unless otherwise agreed with the Minister.
- Your position was nominated in an application for approval and in relation to the Labour Agreement stream. This nomination must have been approved by the Minister.
- You must have suitable qualifications, experience, skills and English proficiency to perform the tasks of the occupation to which your nominated position relates
- You must have been employed in your nominated occupation for at least 3 years unless otherwise considered by the Minister.