Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)
The subclass 186 visa gives skilled workers permanent residence on the strength of an employer’s nomination. It is the most common permanent destination for people who start on an employer-sponsored temporary visa. We help you choose the right stream and prepare the supporting documents.
The Employer Nomination Scheme is a permanent visa with three streams: Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition and Labour Agreement. Most people we assist come through the Temporary Residence Transition stream after working with their sponsor on a 482. We work with you and your employer to find the right stream and gather the supporting documents.
- TypePermanent
- SponsorNominating employer
- StreamsDirect Entry, Transition, Labour Agreement
- Often followsA 482 visa
Why nominate
Why nominate for permanent residence
The 186 turns a good sponsored worker into a long-term member of your team.
Keep the people you trained
Staff who already know your business stay, instead of walking away when a visa ends.
Less rehiring and retraining
Fewer cycles of recruiting, onboarding and re-sponsoring for the same role.
Workers who commit
Permanent residents can plan their lives in Australia, which supports commitment to the role.
Reward your best
A clear route for loyal 482 staff to settle, which helps you retain them.
Two stages to a 186 visa
2 stagesThe 186 has two stages: the employer’s nomination, then the worker’s visa application. The employer must already be an approved sponsor. If it is not, that approval comes first, as a third step.
- Employer
- Visa applicant
Stage 1
Nomination
Lodged by the employer
- A genuine, full-time position in an eligible occupation
- Pay at or above the market rate and the salary threshold
- Transition stream: the worker has about 2 years with the sponsor on an eligible temporary visa
- Direct Entry stream: the worker has the skills and experience, with a skills assessment
Stage 2
Visa application
Lodged by the worker, within 6 months
- Lodged within 6 months of the nomination being approved
- Generally under 45, unless an exemption applies
- English at the level required for the stream
- Health and character requirements, including police checks
This is a summary. Requirements differ by stream and change over time, so we confirm what applies to your situation.
The three streams
| Stream | Best for |
|---|---|
| Direct Entry | Skilled workers, onshore or offshore, who have not worked for the sponsor under a temporary visa. A skills assessment is required. |
| Temporary Residence Transition | People who have worked for their sponsor for about 2 years on an eligible temporary visa such as the 482. |
| Labour Agreement | Workers nominated under a labour agreement the employer has in place. |
Overview
The Employer Nomination Scheme (186) is a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by their employer.
- It has two stages: the employer nominates the position, and the worker applies for the visa within the time allowed.
- There are three streams, and which one applies depends on the worker’s history with the employer and their circumstances.
Who this suits
Employers who want to keep a skilled worker for the long term
Workers who have been with the employer and want permanent residence
Skilled workers nominated directly from outside Australia, where the stream allows
Key facts
- Permanent residence, with the freedom to change employers after the visa is granted
- Generally for applicants under 45, unless an exemption applies
- The visa application must be lodged within 6 months of the nomination being approved
- The employer must be an approved sponsor and nominate a genuine position
Employer fees: sponsorship, nomination and levy
- 186 nomination, Temporary Residence Transition streamNil
- 186 nomination, Labour Agreement stream$540
$540 for a non-regional position, and nil for a regional position.
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, 186$3,000 to $5,000
A one-off charge. $3,000 if the business turnover is under $10 million, and $5,000 if it is $10 million or more.
These are the Department of Home Affairs charges paid by the employer. They can change, so confirm the current amounts with the Department before you lodge. The Skilling Australians Fund levy cannot be passed on to the worker. The visa application charge for the worker is separate, and our professional fees are separate.
What you need to qualify
- The employer must be an approved sponsor or otherwise able to nominate, with a genuine ongoing position.
- The occupation must be eligible for the stream, and the pay must meet the required market rate and threshold.
- The worker needs the skills, qualifications and work history the stream asks for, a skills assessment where required, and the English level that applies.
- The worker and any family members must meet health and character requirements.
Skills assessment
Skills assessment, with our help
The Direct Entry stream requires a skills assessment. Other streams may too, depending on the occupation.
Many applicants ask us to help with their skills assessment, because the assessing authority’s rules are strict and a weak application can cost months.
Ask about a skills assessmentAssessing authority fees are set by the authority and are separate from ours.
- The right authorityWe identify the assessing authority and the assessment that applies to your occupation.
- Eligibility firstWe review your qualifications and experience against the requirements before you pay any fees.
- Guidance on your evidenceWe explain what the authority expects, such as employment references and duties, and review what you have gathered before you submit.
- Support to the outcomeWe help you understand and respond to the authority’s requests until the outcome is issued.
Documents you will need
- Business records and evidence of the position and its salary
- The worker’s identity documents, qualifications, employment history and English results
- Skills assessment, where the stream needs one
- Evidence of the worker’s time with the employer, for the streams that depend on it
- Police certificates and health examination results when requested
After the visa is granted
- The worker becomes a permanent resident and can live and work in Australia.
- The employer’s nomination obligations are generally complete, but any earlier sponsorship obligations should be reviewed.
- Permanent residence is the starting point for later steps, including citizenship when eligible.
How we help
- We choose the stream first. Your work history, age and skills are matched to the right stream before any money is spent.
- We check what could go wrong. The employer’s evidence, the payroll history and the 6-month deadline are verified and tracked.
- We prepare both applications together, so the nomination and the visa tell the same story.
- We stay with the file. Your registered migration agent handles every Home Affairs request through to the grant.
Common pitfalls
- Nominating before the business is an approved sponsor
- Nominating a position that is not genuine or ongoing, or paying below the market rate
- Details in the nomination that do not match the worker’s visa application
- Relying on memory for the worker’s sponsored work history instead of payroll evidence
- Changing the role or conditions of the job while the application is being decided
- Asking the worker to cover sponsorship, nomination or recruitment costs
Not sure whether this applies to your business? Ask us
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Frequently asked questions
Does the employer need to be an approved sponsor?
Yes. The employer must be an approved sponsor and nominate a genuine position. If your business is not yet approved, that comes first, and we prepare it together with the nomination.
What does the employer need to show?
That the position is genuine and ongoing, that the pay is at least the market rate and the salary threshold, and that the worker meets the requirements of the stream. We help prepare evidence that stands up to scrutiny and keep the nomination and visa application consistent.
Can we nominate someone who has not worked for us before?
Yes, through the Direct Entry stream. The worker needs the right skills and a skills assessment, and we check this before you commit.
What happens if the worker leaves after the visa is granted?
Once the 186 is granted the worker is a permanent resident and free to change employers. Before that, the nomination is tied to the position, so please speak with us before making any change to the role.
Is there a deadline after the nomination is approved?
Yes. The worker must lodge the visa application within 6 months. We coordinate both applications and track the timing so nothing lapses.
Talk to us about your sponsorship
Tell us about your business and the role you need to fill. We will review your circumstances and explain the suitable pathway and next steps.