The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is a permanent visa available in 3 streams:
- Temporary Residence Transition Stream
- Labour Agreement Stream
- Direct Entry Stream
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
After you have held your Subclass 482 visa in the medium term stream for at least 3 years and completed 3 full years of full-time work experience with the same sponsor whilst holding the subclass 482 visa. That sponsor can now nominate you for the permanent subclass 186 visa. You must also ensure that your occupation remains on the occupation list.
It must be demonstrated that the employer still needs you and the position in the company.
Other requirements include:
- You must be under 45
- You must achieve Competent English before lodging the application
- Meet certain health and character requirements
- Employer must demonstrate a genuine need for this position and that the full-time position would continue to be available for at least 2 years
- Employer must demonstrate financial viability to meet financial obligations associated with the proposed employment
What happens if you had to change employers and sponsor half way?
Generally, this means that you would need to restart the 3 year work experience requirement which may require you to first renew your subclass 482 visa to fulfill such requirements before you lodge the application for the subclass 186 visa.
Labour Agreement Stream
This is similar to the stream above. However, you would first need to have a labour agreement which allows transitioning into permanent visa for that particular occupation.
If it does allow, then you would have to hold a subclass 482 visa (in the labour agreement stream) for at least 3 years and meet the requirements of the agreement for transitioning into a permanent visa.
Direct Entry Stream
The Direct Entry Stream is available for highly skilled individuals to obtain permanent residency directly without having first demonstrated work experience on the subclass 482 visa.
Your occupation must be on the occupation list.
Other requirements include:
- You must be under 45
- You must achieve Competent English before lodging the application
- Meet certain health and character requirements
- Provide a positive skills assessment for your occupation
- Demonstrate at least 3 years relevant work experience in their occupation
- Employer must demonstrate a genuine need for this position and that the full-time position would continue to be available for at least 2 years
- Employer must demonstrate financial viability to meet financial obligations associated with the proposed employment
