Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa

The Subclass 186 visa is a permanent employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian employer. It allows you to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely and provides a pathway to citizenship.

To apply you must:

• Be nominated by an Australian employer for a skilled position.
• Meet the skills, qualifications, and experience requirements for the nominated occupation.
• Be under 45 years of age (unless exempt).
• Meet English language, health, and character requirements.
• Have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in your occupation (for the Temporary Residence Transition stream) or meet equivalent requirements for Direct Entry.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• Occupation must be on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or other relevant list.
• Suitable skills assessment may be required for certain occupations.
• Meet English language requirements.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Must have a nomination from an Australian employer.
• For Direct Entry stream: must meet qualifications and experience requirements, and usually be under 45.
• For Temporary Residence Transition stream: must have worked for the nominating employer on a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa for at least 3 years.

The Subclass 186 visa grants permanent residence.You can live, work, and study anywhere in Australia indefinitely.

A job offer from an approved employer is mandatory.

• The role must be in a skilled occupation eligible for Subclass 186.
• The employer must meet all sponsorship requirements.
• The employment must be genuine and full-time.
• Wage requirements:
  • The employer must pay a Market Salary Rate, which is the standard wage for a comparable Australian position.
  • Different occupations and regions have slightly different wage thresholds.
  • Typically, the wage must meet the Annual Market Salary Rate and must not be lower than the standards set by the Fair Work Commission.
  • This ensures overseas skilled workers are not employed at below-market wages.

The average gross salary in Australia is approximately A$100,000 per year, while the median salary (a more typical reflection of earnings) is around A$65,000 per year.
Salaries vary significantly based on industry, location, and experience, with a national minimum wage of A$24.95 per hour.

Processing times vary by stream and occupation:

• Direct Entry stream: typically 5–9 months
• Temporary Residence Transition stream: typically 4–8 months
  Times depend on verification of skills, employer nomination, and completeness of documentation.

The Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme Visa provides skilled workers with permanent residence in Australia through employer sponsorship. It ensures fair wages for overseas workers via the Market Salary Rate requirement and allows professionals to live, work, and study indefinitely while contributing to Australia’s skilled workforce.