Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is a permanent employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers nominated by an eligible Australian employer. It provides eligible applicants with a pathway to permanent residence through the Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, or Labour Agreement stream.
At Jurist Migration, we assess your current visa, employment history, occupation, qualifications and employer circumstances to help determine which Subclass 186 pathway may be suitable for you.
Three Streams of the ENS (Subclass 186)
The Employer Nomination Scheme provides different pathways for eligible skilled workers seeking permanent residence through employer nomination.
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream
Designed for eligible skilled workers transitioning from an eligible temporary employer-sponsored visa to permanent residence.
The current TRT pathway includes specific requirements relating to your visa history, nominated occupation, employment and sponsoring employer.
Direct Entry Stream
For skilled workers who do not qualify through the TRT pathway.
Applicants generally need to meet the relevant skills, qualifications, work experience, English, registration and skills assessment requirements, unless an exemption applies.
Labour Agreement Stream
For skilled workers nominated under an approved labour agreement between an Australian employer and the Australian Government.
The applicable occupation, skills, English, age and other requirements can depend on the specific agreement and any available concessions.
Benefits of Subclass 186 Visa
Subclass 186 is a permanent employer-sponsored work visa that can provide eligible skilled workers with a pathway to settle in Australia.
Permanent Residence
Permanent residence in Australia for applicants who successfully meet the applicable visa requirements.
Live, Work & Study
Live, work and study anywhere across Australia as a permanent resident.
No Regional Restriction
No regional restriction is attached to the Subclass 186 visa, giving complete geographical flexibility.
Medicare
Access to Australia's world-class public healthcare system (Medicare), subject to applicable eligibility rules.
Eligible Family Members
Include eligible family members in your application, subject to the applicable visa requirements.
Future Citizenship
Potential pathway to apply for Australian citizenship once the relevant residency requirements are met.
Travel Facility
Travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident for 5 years from visa grant date, subject to the visa's travel facility.
Employer Requirements for Subclass 186
Employers nominating skilled workers generally need to satisfy applicable sponsorship and nomination requirements. To nominate a skilled worker, an employer generally needs to meet requirements relating to:
The exact requirements can vary depending on the stream and nomination circumstances.
Eligibility Criteria for Skilled Workers
Depending on the stream, applicants may need to satisfy a range of requirements before applying for Subclass 186.
Important Notice: The occupation requirements for Subclass 186 should be checked against the current legislative instrument, rather than relying on older MLTSSL or STSOL classifications.
Health & Character Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the applicable health and character requirements for the visa.
Health Requirements
Applicants may be required to complete medical examinations with an approved panel physician.
- Medical examinations where required
- Health assessments requested by the Department
Character Requirements
Applicants may need to provide police certificates or other character documents where required.
- Police certificates where required
- Accurate residence and personal history
Important: Applicants may need to meet any additional health or character requirements requested by the Department of Home Affairs.
English Language Requirements
English requirements for Subclass 186 depend on the relevant stream and the applicant's circumstances. Where English is required, applicants must generally demonstrate the prescribed level of English through an accepted test or qualify for an applicable exemption.
Accepted English Test
Demonstrate the prescribed level through an accepted English language test where required (e.g. IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1).
Applicable Exemption
Some applicants may qualify for an exemption depending on their circumstances, passport citizenship, and the applicable rules.
Important Notice: English test requirements and accepted test arrangements can change, so your circumstances should be checked against the current Department of Home Affairs requirements before lodging an application.
Eligible Family Members
Eligible family members may be included in a Subclass 186 application, subject to the applicable visa requirements.
Spouse or De Facto Partner
Your spouse or eligible de facto partner may be included, subject to the relevant visa requirements.
Dependent Children
Eligible dependent children may be included in your application, subject to the applicable requirements.
Stepchildren
Eligible stepchildren may be included where the relevant visa criteria are satisfied.
Other Eligible Dependants
Other eligible dependent family members may be included where the relevant criteria are met.
The eligibility of each family member should be assessed based on their relationship, age, dependency and individual circumstances.
Ready to Apply for Permanent Residence through Subclass 186?
Speak with our registered migration agents for professional employer sponsorship and Subclass 186 visa guidance.
FAQs About Employer Nomination Scheme
What is the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)?
The Subclass 186 visa is a permanent employer-sponsored visa for eligible skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer. It has three streams: Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry and Labour Agreement.
What are the main streams of the 186 Visa?
The three main streams are the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream for eligible temporary visa holders transitioning to PR, the Direct Entry (DE) stream for skilled workers nominated directly, and the Labour Agreement stream for workers under an approved government labour agreement.
Is a Skills Assessment required for Subclass 186?
For the Direct Entry stream, a positive full skills assessment in the nominated occupation is generally mandatory (unless an exemption applies). For the TRT stream, a skills assessment is generally not required unless specifically requested by the Department.
What are the age requirements for Subclass 186?
Applicants must generally be under 45 years of age at the time of application, unless an eligible exemption applies (such as high-income threshold earners, academic researchers, or specific regional medical practitioners).
What English language level is required?
Applicants generally need to demonstrate Competent English (such as IELTS 6.0 in each test component, PTE Academic 50 in each component, or holding a valid passport from the UK, USA, Canada, NZ, or Ireland).
