Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is for skilled workers who want to work in Australia. This visa involves a two-step process, firstly, nomination by an approved Australian employer and then an application under the nominated stream. It is part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa programme.

This visa is a permanent residence visa. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C.

You may be eligible under this stream if you hold either of the following:

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) – in the medium-term stream unless transitional arrangements apply

 Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) – not granted under labour agreement arrangements

The Direct Entry stream is for:
people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream
people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia, or
temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream
The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a labour agreement.