Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme

As part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa Program, the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is for skilled workers who want to work in Australia. It involves two steps--nomination by an approved Australian employer and application under the nominated stream.

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.

This visa has three streams:

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for

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

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
• temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or
• people with a nomination lodged before 1 July 2012.

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

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer
• are younger than 50 years of age, unless you are exempt
• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements, unless you are exempt
• apply under the stream for which you have been nominated.

Subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa

As part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa Program, the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187) is for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia. It involves two steps -- nomination by an approved Australian employer and application under the nominated stream.

The visa is a permanent resident visa. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a certain sort of bridging visa.

This visa has three streams:

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) visa holders who have worked for their employer in their nominated occupation for two years and their employer wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.

The Direct Entry stream is for:

• people who have never, or only briefl​y, worked in the Australian labour market
• temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream; or
• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements, unless you are exempt
• applicants with a nomination lodged before 1 July 2012

The Agreement stream is for people nominated by an employer through a labour agreement.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer for a job in regional Australia (Regional Australia includes all the areas except the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne)
• are younger than 50 years of age, unless you are exempt
• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements, unless you are exempt
• apply under the stream for which you were nominated.