1. Visa Overview

• The Subclass 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme, ENS) is a permanent residency visa that allows skilled workers nominated by an eligible Australian employer to live and work in Australia permanently.

• Once granted, holders may live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely, and can also access public healthcare benefits such as Medicare (subject to eligibility).

• The Subclass 186 visa consists of several streams, designed to accommodate applicants with different backgrounds and circumstances.

2. The Three Main Streams of the Subclass 186 Visa
a. Direct Entry Stream
b. Temporary Residence Transition
c. Labour Agreement Stream

 

3. Key Eligibility Requirements

Applicants for the Subclass 186 visa must meet the following requirements (specific conditions vary depending on the chosen stream):

Employer Nomination / Sponsorship

-Must be nominated by an eligible Australian employer who meets sponsorship requirements.

Nominated Occupation

-The nominated occupation must be on the relevant Skilled Occupation List (SOL) or other applicable lists.

4. Visa Validity & Rights

1.   The Subclass 186 visa is a permanent visa, granting the holder the right to remain in Australia indefinitely.

2.   Eligible partners and dependent children may be included in the application as secondary applicants.

3.   The visa usually allows multiple entries to and from Australia for 5 years after grant.

4.   Holders may access permanent resident benefits, including Medicare (subject to eligibility).

Further Information

For additional visa information not covered here, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186