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The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 visa is a permanent residency visa for overseas skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian employer to work in Australia.
It is a two-step application process:

• Nomination by an approved Australian Employer for an occupation or position required for business.
• Visa application by the skilled overseas worker under the nominated stream

The applicants can be in or outside when lodging an application for ENS visa; however, when applying in Australia, it is mandatory to have substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C.

1. Temporary residence transition stream

   if you are 457 visa holder, worked in Australia for last two years (excluding period of unpaid leave) in the same occupation with the nominating employer, who is now ready to offer you a permanent position in that occupation.
   To be approved under the Temporary Residence Transition stream:

   • The nominating employer must:
     • Continue to be actively and lawfully operating
     • Have continued to meet the relevant training requirements
     • Have complied with its obligations as a Subclass 457 approved sponsor
     • Have no adverse information against it
   • The nominated position must:
     • Be the same (or a closely related) position as was approved for the Subclass 457 visa
     • Continue to be a genuine position
     • Be a full-time position available for a minimum of two (2) years from the time the visa is granted
     • Continue to meet the market salary rate and conditions (provide terms and conditions no less favourable than those afforded to Australian citizens and Permanent Residents in similar roles)
   • The visa applicant must:
     • Have held a Subclass 457 visa to work in the nominated (or closely related) position, with the nominating employer, for at least the two (2) years prior to application
     • Have at least Vocational English
     • Meet relevant health and character requirements
2. Direct entry stream

   If you have not been a 457 visa holder, but have work experience for minimum 3 years in your nominated occupation and have an employer to sponsor you for that particular nominated occupation, you can apply under the Direct Entry Stream.
   To be approved under the Direct Entry stream:

   • The nominating employer must:
     • Be actively and lawfully operating in Australia
     • Meet the relevant training requirements
     • Have no adverse information against it
   • The nominated position must:
     • Be a genuine position
     • Be a full-time position available for a minimum of two (2) years from the time the visa is granted
     • Be for an occupation listed on the Consolidated Skilled Occupations List (CSOL)
     • Provide terms and conditions no less favourable than those afforded to Australian citizens and Permanent Residents performing similar roles
   • The visa applicant must:
     • Be under 50 years of age
     • Demonstrate Competent English
     • Hold a successful skills assessment for your nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority (unless exempted)
     • Have at least three (3) years of highly relevant work experience
     • Meet relevant health and character requirements.

   Please Note: Skill Assessment is mandatory under this stream. However, English level equivalent to IELTS 6 (each module) is required. Additionally, any secondary applicant who are over 18 need to meet the Functional English ability (Overall IELTS 4.5 or equivalent) in last 12 months.

3. Agreement stream

   This stream is applicable to those who are sponsored by an employer in Australia through a labour agreement.
   Applicants under this stream need to meet the age, skills and English language requirements provided under the relevant Agreement, in addition to relevant health and character requirements.
   The above list is not intended to be exhaustive and further eligibility requirements do apply.
   This is a permanent residence visa. It lets the visa holder 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 eligible)
   • Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
   • Travel to and from Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted.