ENS stands for ‘Employer Nomination Scheme.’ The Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 is an Australian visa that enables Australian employers to sponsor overseas skilled workers for their permanent visas. These nominated workers may be already residents of Australia or maybe living and working abroad. So, in short, for a successful Visa Subclass 186 application, you will need a formal nomination and a visa application.
Reading this blog will help you know more details about this visa and its application process.
Read This:- WANT TO APPLY FOR THE EMPLOYER NOMINATION VISA 186? CHECK THESE 5 MAJOR POINTS
Useful Things To Know About ENS Visa 186
Before you proceed with your application, keep these things in mind. Having comprehensive knowledge will undoubtedly be beneficial and reduce the chance of making mistakes.
1- Who is the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) Visa for?
The Employer-Sponsored Visa 186 is designed for overseas workers who want to work in the Australian job sector and have skills that are in high demand in Australia. This visa will allow them to stay and work permanently in Australia.
2- What is the Application Process?
The application process involves two steps.
- The Australian employer has to file the nomination first.
- Once you are nominated, you can apply under the specific stream.
3- What are the Three Streams?
The Visa Subclass 186 has three streams under it.
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
This stream is granted to holders of 457 Visa who have worked for at least 2 years while holding the 457 Visa. For this stream, the applicants should be working in the same occupation under the nominating employer.
Direct Entry Stream
Direct Entry Stream is for the applicants who have no employment experience in Australia and are not eligible for the Temporary Residence Transition Stream.
Labour Agreement Stream
When an employer has a labour agreement with the Government, it can nominate an applicant under this stream.
4- Are there any special rules or eligibility criteria?
There are some general eligibility criteria that you must meet.
- Your age should be less than 50 years.
- You have to satisfy the qualifications, work skills, and English language proficiency requirements.
5- What are the eligibility criteria for an ENS Visa?
For each stream, you have to meet different specific criteria. So, before you apply, you must choose your stream wisely.
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
The general requirements include the following.
- During the last 4 years in Australia, you should have worked for at least 3 years as a full-time employee in the nominated job role while holding either a 457 Visa or a Visa Subclass 482.
- You should have a good profile that proves you have genuinely performed the tasks related to the nominated position.
- Having competent English is necessary.
- Your age should be under 45
- Mandatory requirements for professional registration and licensing must be met.
If you have applied for or held the 457 Visa before 18 April 2017, you can apply even if your work experience is two years and your occupation is not listed in the Short Term Skilled Occupations List.
But, if you applied for the 457 Visa after that date mentioned above, your occupation should be present on the MLTSSL or the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, and the work experience should be at least three years.
Direct Entry Stream
The eligibility requirements are as follows
- Your occupation should be present on the MLTSSL.
- You should go through the relevant skills assessment conducted by the proper assessing authority for the nominated occupation.
- If you have 3 years of post-qualification experience, it will be beneficial.
- A competent level of English is necessary for this stream, too.
- Your age should be less than 45.
- If you apply for any license or take membership in any professional organisation, you should meet the mandatory requirements.
- Satisfying the health and character eligibility criteria is necessary.
Labour Agreement Stream
Applicants who currently are employed or will work for an Australian employer part of a labour agreement can apply under this stream. For this stream, an employer sponsors an applicant through a work contract.
6- Can I include family members?
Yes, immediate family members can be added to your visa application.
- You can include your spouse or de facto partner of opposite or same-sex.
- In addition to your spouse, you include your dependent child or stepchild from a previous or current relationship. The children should be under 18.
- Children aged 18 to 23 can also be added to the application, provided they are unmarried and financially dependent on you or your partner.
If you are already staying and working with an ENS Visa in Australia and want to bring your family to live with you, you must apply for a family visa.
7- Do I need to continue working in any occupation?
For a specific job role, you will need to demonstrate your job role. However, it is not mandatory to continue working in the same occupation once you obtain your visa. The reason is that the ENS Visa is granted to applicants with no conditions imposed.
8- What is the process?
Once you find that you satisfy all the eligibility requirements, you have to proceed with the application procedure. Even though you have to submit different documents for the three different streams, the general application process is almost similar. For your convenience, here we present a step-by-step procedure to obtain your Visa 186.
- Step 1: Necessary things to do before applying
Before you start with your application, there are several things to consider. An Australian employer should be willing to nominate you first. If you get confirmation, you can now arrange for the health checks and skills assessment.
If you consider hiring a migration agent, hire now. After the nomination is done, the employer receives a Transaction Reference Number (TFN) from the authority. This number will be the confirmation of the nomination. - Step 2: Gather documents
Next, it is essential to gather all the relevant documents according to the checklist. There are some stream-specific documents you will need to submit. So, you must be highly careful about the whole matter. - Step 3: Apply
The application can be made online. Only, you will need to open an ImmiAccount on the website of Immigration. - Step 4: Things to do after you apply
Once you apply, the Department will inform you of receiving it shortly. You cannot see the application process updates and have to wait for at least 6 months. In the meantime, you will be required to submit information like biometrics or health certificates (if not taken before applying) whenever needed. - Step 5: Visa Outcome
In the last step, the Department will inform you about their decision.
9- What is the cost of Visa Subclass 186?
Currently, the Visa Subclass 186 application cost for the primary applicant is AUD 4115.
10- What is the 186 Visa processing time?
The 186 Visa processing time varies from one stream to the other.
- Temporary Residence Transition: 14-19 months
- Direct Entry: 6-11 months
- Labour Agreement: 7-11 months
Final Thoughts
For general visa queries, you can get in touch with any Immigration Agent in Perth. However, if you want professional guidance for every application step, it will be a better idea to consult a registered migration agent from Perth. Immigration Agent Perth, WA can help you with the entire process.
