Employer Nomination Scheme

The direct entry stream visa type enables skilled workers with nomination from an employer to live and work across Australia permanently.

Step-by-Step process to apply for Visa

Eligibility Criteria

1. Check for an eligible occupation

Your occupation should be listed in the relevant skilled occupations.

2. Work experience

For those candidates with their skills assessment requirements approved, should have a minimum of 3 years applicable work experience in their nominated occupation.

3. Licensing, registration and membership

You should be a licensed, registered or a member of a professional body if its compulsory in the state or territory in which you would like to work.

4. Completed and approved skills assessment

The applicant needs to submit skills assessment that directly implies that they have requisite skills to work under the nominated position.

5. Be nominated

It is necessary for you to be nominated by an Australian employer who is operating his business actively and lawfully.
You should apply for the visa within a period of 6 months after your nomination approved.

Nomination by an Employer

Nomination could be defined as the process of recognizing a position that is needed to be filled through an overseas skilled worker in a particular business. Depending on the type of visa, stream and also the required occupation, the employer must be approved as a sponsor or they must require to have negotiated a labour agreement with the Department.

Employer that use the labour agreement can only nominate foreign workers under occupations that are specified in the labour agreement provided by them. Skilled Occupation Lists is however used for other types of visa and streams that further limits the type of occupation that can be included in the nomination.

1. Age criteria

You should be under 45 years of age to become eligible to apply for this visa type.

2. Meet the health requirements

You and other family members who are applying for the visa should meet all health requirements. The authorities can also ask to submit health information for family members irrespective of them immigrating to Australia along with the main applicant.

3. Meet the character requirement

You and your family members, those are aged 16 years and above and are applying for this visa should meet the character requirements defined by the Australian government. However, the authorities can also ask to submit the character information for those family members that are not immigrating to Australia along with the main applicant.

4. Get the Australian values statement signed

If you are aged 18 years or above, the it is necessary for you:

5. Level of English language proficiency

You should have at least competent English in order to be grated this particular stream of visa.

6. Pay back debts to the Australian Government

In case you own any outstanding money towards Australian Government, the it should be paid back in the given time.

Cost of the visa

Processing Time

Applications lodged with all required supporting documents are processed more quickly.
Time taken to process Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186): Information last updated on 26 September 2019

Visa	Stream	75 percent of visa processed	90 percent of visa processed
186 – Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)	Direct Entry Pathway	18 months	20 months