Guidance for skilled workers seeking Australian employment through employer-sponsored visa pathways.
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.
The Employer Nomination Scheme provides different pathways for eligible skilled workers seeking permanent residence through employer nomination.
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.
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.
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.
Subclass 186 is a permanent employer-sponsored work visa that can provide eligible skilled workers with a pathway to settle in Australia.
Permanent residence in Australia for applicants who successfully meet the applicable visa requirements.
Live, work and study in Australia as a permanent resident.
No regional restriction is attached to the Subclass 186 visa.
Access to Medicare, subject to applicable eligibility requirements.
Include eligible family members in your application, subject to the applicable visa requirements.
Potential pathway to Australian citizenship once the relevant requirements are met.
Travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident, subject to the visa's travel facility.
Employers nominating skilled workers generally need to satisfy applicable sponsorship and nomination requirements.
To nominate a skilled worker, an employer generally needs to meet the applicable requirements, including requirements relating to:
The exact requirements can vary depending on the stream and nomination circumstances.
Depending on the stream, applicants may need to satisfy a range of requirements before applying for Subclass 186.
The occupation requirements for Subclass 186 should be checked against the current legislative instrument, rather than relying on older MLTSSL or STSOL classifications.
Applicants must satisfy the applicable health and character requirements for the visa.
Applicants may be required to complete medical examinations with an approved panel physician.
Applicants may need to provide police certificates or other character documents where required.
Applicants may need to meet any additional health or character requirements requested by the Department of Home Affairs.
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.
Demonstrate the prescribed level through an accepted English language test where required.
Some applicants may qualify for an exemption depending on their circumstances and the applicable rules.
Important: 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 may be included in a Subclass 186 application, subject to the applicable visa requirements.
Your spouse or eligible de facto partner may be included, subject to the relevant visa requirements.
Eligible dependent children may be included in your application, subject to the applicable requirements.
Eligible stepchildren may be included where the relevant visa criteria are satisfied.
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.
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.
The three streams are:
A skills assessment may be required depending on the stream, occupation and individual circumstances. Direct Entry applicants generally require a skills assessment unless an exemption applies.
There is generally an age requirement for applicants, although exemptions may apply in specific circumstances. The applicable age rules should be assessed based on the stream and applicant's circumstances.
The English requirement depends on the relevant Subclass 186 stream and whether an exemption applies. The current requirements should be checked before application.
