Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) Visa

Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) Visa

The subclass 186 visa 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 program.

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.

The visa has three streams:

Temporary Residence Transition stream: is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years, while holding a subclass 457 visa, in the same occupation with their nominating employer (who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.

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

Agreement stream: is for people sponsored by an employer through a labour agreement.

What you Can Do

This is a permanent residence visa. It lets you and any family members who have also been granted this visa to:

• stay in Australia indefinitely
• work and study in Australia
• enrol in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses
• apply for Australian citizenship (if you are eligible)
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• travel to and from Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted (after that time, you will need a resident return visa or another visa to return to Australia)

Applicant requirements

An applicant for this visa must:

• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer within the six months before you apply
• are under the age of 50 at the time of application, unless you are exempt
• have the required skills and qualifications for the position (at time of application lodgement you must have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for
• you must hold any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or you must already be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body)
• have appropriate English language skills (at the time of application lodgement), unless you are exempt
• meet health and character requirements
• meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply

Employer Requirements

You can nominate a skilled worker for this visa if:

• you actively and lawfully operate a business in Australia
• you have a genuine need for a paid employee to fill a skilled position
• you offer a skilled position in the applicant’s field that is full time and ongoing for at least two years
• you pay a market salary rate
• you comply with Australian immigration and workplace relations laws
• there is no adverse information known about your business or any person associated with your business
• You must nominate the applicant in one of the three streams and meet the requirements of that stream.

Heenan & Browne Visa and Migration Services can advise employers and visa applicants on the requirements of Employer Sponsored visas. We can assist with the visa process from start to finish. To arrange a consultation with one of our Registered Migration Agents, please call our office on 0490 324416 or send us an email at [email protected].