The Employer Nomination Scheme visa falls under the Australian Department of Home Affairs and aims to address skill shortages in the Australian labor market by allowing employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency. This visa has three streams through which applicants can apply.
Employer Nomination Scheme visa Streams
- Temporary Residence Transition Stream: If you already hold or have previously held a temporary work visa subclass 457 or 482, and you wish to remain in Australia permanently, this stream is appropriate for you.
- Direct Entry Stream: If you have the necessary skill requirement and experience for the designated position, you may apply for this visa. You may be nominated by your sponsor for any position on the list of skilled jobs.
- Labour Agreement Stream: If your sponsor is part of the labor agreements, you are eligible to apply for this stream. In cases where there is a shortage of local labor and other visa options are not available, labor agreements permit Australian employers to sponsor the entry of foreign workers into Australia.
Visa 186 Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must fulfill a number of requirements in order to be qualified for the ENS visa (subclass 186), including;
- Nomination: A legitimate nomination made by a company in Australia prepared to sponsor the candidate for a long-term position.
See the requirements here - Age: Those applying must be under 45 at the time of submission. Some exceptions can be applicable.
- Skills and Qualifications: Candidates must possess the abilities, credentials, and professional experience necessary for the position being considered. It’s possible that a formal skills evaluation is necessary for the Direct Entry route.
- English Language Proficiency: Candidates must exhibit proficiency in the English language, often by passing standardized language exams like the TOEFL or IELTS.
- Health and Character Requirements: All applicants must adhere to the health and character requirements to guarantee that they do not constitute a risk to the Australian community.
Visa 186 Application Process
- Employer Nomination: The employer must submit a nomination application on behalf of the candidate as the first stage. The employer must be a recognized sponsor and demonstrate a need for the applicant’s qualifications.
- Applicant’s Visa Application: After the nomination is accepted, the applicant may submit an application for a visa. They must present proof that they satisfy all eligibility requirements, including those related to skill assessments, English language competence, physical and moral standards, and health requirements.
- Waiting Period: After submission, the Department of Home Affairs may require some time to process the application.
- Visa Decision: The applicant will learn the outcome of their visa application once it has been processed. They will be given a permanent visa if they are accepted, which will allow them to stay and work in Australia eternally.
Benefits of the Employer Nomination Scheme visa
The Employer Nomination Scheme visa offers several advantages for skilled workers seeking permanent residency in Australia:
- Permanent Residency: The ENS visa provides applicants with a pathway to permanent residency, allowing them and their families to settle in Australia indefinitely.
- Work Flexibility: ENS visa holders are free to work for their sponsoring employer or any other employer in Australia without any work restrictions.
- Healthcare and Education: As permanent residents, visa holders can access Australia’s excellent healthcare system and enroll their children in public schools.
- Healthcare and Education: As permanent residents, visa holders can access Australia’s excellent healthcare system and enroll their children in public schools.
Visa 186 Document Requirements
To apply for Visa 186, you must submit the following paperwork:
- You must submit a copy of your passport pages that contain your personal information.
- Identification Document: Please include a copy of your national identity card.
- Expression of interest: For your points-tested stream visa 186, you must submit an expression of interest.
- Proof of English language proficiency: If you are using the New Zealand stream English proficiency Is not necessary.
- Skill assessment documents: To obtain a points-tested stream visa, you might additionally need to take a skill evaluation.
- Character Documents: Along with the other character documentation, you might also need to submit Form 80 for the points-tested stream.
- Qualifications and Work Experience.
- Form 956.
- Form 956a.
- Licensing, membership, and professional registration documents (if necessary).
- To obtain a New Zealand stream visa, you must:
- Documents proving residency and income
- Documents needed for your spouse or companion:
- Their identification cards
- Divorce document (if necessary)
- Character document
- Marriage Cert
- Proof of a registered relationship, (if necessary)
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Documents needed for your dependent minor children:
- Identification cards
- birth certificate copies
- Family book with the names of the parents (As an alternative to the birth certificate).
- Form 1229 for parental approval
- Statutory declaration
- Documents needed for your dependant kids over the age of 18:
- Evidence of dependency.
- Proof that you at least financially supported your family member during the past year.
- Dependency form 47a
- Proof of English Proficiency
- Proof that they are currently studying.
Visa 186 English Language Competent Level
To show your English language Proficiency, you must provide one of the following;
- You must provide evidence that you scored the following on international English tests:
| TEST | SCORE |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | B (minimum) for each test parts |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | B (minimum) for each test part |
| PTE Academic | 50 points for each test part |
| IELTS | 6 points for the four test parts |
| TOEFL | Listening- 12 points Reading- 13 points Speaking- 18 point Writing- 21 points |
- Proof of citizenship or a passport holder from one of the nations listed below:
- New Zealand
- United States of America
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Republic of Ireland
Visa 186 Nomination Processing Time
Processing the nomination for an 186 visa could take up to six weeks. The nomination application will be examined by the Department of Home Affairs to see whether you and your sponsor satisfy the requirements. You have six months to submit an application for the 186 visa following the approval of a nomination.
Visa 186 Processing Times
- Temporary Residence Transition Stream: 13 – 19 Months
- Direct Entry Stream: 5 – 12 Months
- Labour Agreement Stream: 6 – 12 Months
Cost of Employer Nomination Scheme visa
The cost of your 186 visa application is AUD4,050. If you bring family members to Australia, you might have to pay higher fees.
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa Occupation List
The eligible positions for work visas and the level of competence needed to fill each one are listed in the occupation list of the employer nomination scheme. The working visa occupations are categorized by Australia and New Zealand using a classification system, and each job has an individual ANZSCO code. The qualifications needed to perform that occupation are represented by the ANZSCO code.
Your line of work needs to be on this list of occupations in order for you to be qualified for Visa 186. Some professions are left off the list and could come with restrictions. However, if your sponsor thinks that the employment for which you have been nominated satisfies the eligibility requirements, they must provide proof of this when they make your 186 visa nomination.
What causes Visa 186 denial
- Your nomination has been revoked by the Employer.
- The job opportunity has been filled.
- Unreliable information concerning you, your sponsor, or anybody connected to you is known to the immigration office.
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