Australia Employer Nomination Scheme Visa Subclass 186

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    Employer Nomination Scheme Visa Subclass 186

    The employer nomination scheme visa subclass 186 allows Australian employees to sponsor foreign-skilled professionals for immigration to Australia. The sponsored applicant can then live and work in Australia permanently. 

    The principal candidate for the subclass 186 visa should have the crucial skills required for a particular job. The candidates are also permitted to include their family members in the application. 

    In other words, the employer nomination scheme 186 Visa is designed for international skilled professionals who possess the required experience and skills. However, they need to be nominated by an Australian employer to gain access to this PR visa program.

    This comprehensive guide will provide details about the employer nomination scheme visa, its eligibility criteria, the different streams under this visa program, and all other related information. But before proceeding, let's give a brief insight into the subclass 186 employer nomination scheme visa.

    What is the subclass 186 employer nomination scheme visa? 

    The employee nomination scheme visa subclass 186 is available to some foreign-national skilled employees. With this permanent resident work visa, you can work and live anywhere in Australia. 

    An applicant for this visa must pass a skills test and be recommended by an approved Australian employer. This visa has three streams, and applicants must meet the requirements for each stream to be eligible.

    Benefits of subclass 186 visa 

    The following information includes the benefits of a subclass 186 visa. 

    1. Permanently reside, work, and study in Australia
    2. Use Medicare to pay for medical expenditures
    3. If qualifying conditions are satisfied, apply for Australian citizenship.
    4. Encourage eligible family members to apply for permanent residence in Australia
    5. Make several trips to and from Australia within five years of the date the visa was granted.

    Different immigration streams under subclass 186 visa

    You can work in Australia under one of three streams with the subclass 186 visa:

    • The temporary residence transition stream This stream is for workers on a temporary work (Skilled) subclass 457 visa currently in Australia. They must have worked for their nominated employer for two years in the same occupation and now want to give them a permanent position. A labor agreement must not bind the employer, and must have submitted a valid nomination under the temporary residence transition stream to the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
    • The direct entry stream The direct entry stream is for those who have never worked in Australia or have only worked there briefly. It is open to temporary residents with a subclass 457 visa who do not qualify for the temporary residence transition stream. To be eligible, you must apply directly from outside Australia.
    • The agreement stream People with a temporary work (skilled) subclass 457 visa who an employer sponsors through a labor agreement are eligible for the agreement stream. You must meet the agreement's age, skill, and English language requirements to be eligible.

    Eligibility requirement of employer nomination scheme

    All applicants for the subclass 186 visa must meet three general requirements and other specific requirements, depending on the stream they apply under.

    The following are the general requirements:
    • An Australian employer must nominate the applicant.
    • Unless there is an exemption, the applicant must be younger than 45.
    • The candidate must meet the skills, qualifications, and English language requirements.
    The following are the employer's requirements:
    • The candidate must be legally and actively operating in Australia.
    • The employer should make a full-time permanent job offer and show the employee has a legitimate need for specific abilities brought in from abroad.
    • Local and immigration laws must be followed.
    • Existing and new staff should be trained in a systematic and structured manner.
    The following are the requirements for the employee:
    • Should receive a nomination for a post that the SOL list covers.
    • The competent assessing agencies should have given the nominated occupation a positive skill assessment.
    • Should have worked in the nominated occupation for at least three years.
    • If the nomination is for a highly compensated senior executive post, the compensation must be at least $250,000. (excluding superannuation and other benefits)
    • The applicant should be able to find a job that can sponsor him long-term.
    • They should demonstrate that they have the requisite abilities for the job and the proper licensure/registration if the job requires it.
    • Must be under 45 years old.
    • Should be able to communicate in English at a functional level.
    • Have worked in the nominated occupation in Australia for at least two years on a temporary visa, including at least the previous year for the nominating employer. Those who have recently graduated and are looking for work in Australia must apply for a graduate visa.
    • Before applying for a visa, the applicant should have their health and character checked.

    Process apply for subclass 186 employer nomination scheme visa

    To successfully apply for the subclass 186 employer nomination scheme visa, You must follow the below-mentioned steps.

    Step 1: Check to see if all eligibility requirements are fulfilled

    You must meet both the overall subclass 186 visa requirements and the specific requirements of the stream for which you are seeking. You can work in Australia under one of three streams with the subclass 186 visa:

    • The temporary residence transition stream
    • The direct entry stream
    • The agreement stream

    Step 2: Get an employee nomination

    Before applying for a subclass 186 visa, your employer must submit a nomination to the Australian Department of Home Affairs on your behalf (DHA). After the nomination is approved, you must apply within six months.

    Gather all necessary documents

    You must submit many papers with your Subclass 186 visa application to prove the claims made.

    Submit an online application

    You must apply online for the employer nomination scheme (subclass 186) visa. When you use the site, you must have all your paperwork ready, as well as the visa application fee, which can be paid by credit or debit card.

    Wait for the approval by DHA

    The DHA may take many months to decide on your visa request, but this is the final step before receiving your visa.

    Obtain your visa

    Once your application has been granted, you will obtain your visa, and you will be able to begin or continue working in Australia on your visa subclass 186.

    Document checklist required for subclass 186 employer nomination scheme visa

    If you are planning to apply for the subclass 186 visa, you should start arranging the documents as soon as possible because there is a long list of documents required to apply for this visa program. 

    If you bring qualifying family members to Australia, they could also require documentation. Not every one of the following documents may be necessary, and DHA may potentially request further evidence: 

    1. Certificate of English language proficiency, obtained within the last three years. 
    2. Police clearance certificate to demonstrate that the candidate doesn't have a criminal background 
    3. Form 80 for character evaluation
    4. A legally required character statement 
    5. A skill evaluation for the occupation or proof of industry body registration
    6. Documents requesting a skills assessment exemption
    7. CV or resume 
    8. Identity documentation such as a passport, birth certificate, or national identity card
    9. Documentation of name change, if any
    10. A marriage license, if any
    11. An autographed declaration of Australian values
    12. A certificate of health from your physician
    13. Documentation proving age exemption if above 45
    14. Documents for dependents or common-law partners, such as character references, identification evidence, health assessment findings, and English test results. 

    Processing time of subclass 186 visa 

    The application form you provided determines the period it takes to process your 186 visa application. It also depends on whether you have filled out all the essential information and given all of the necessary documentation. 

    The Australian visa subclass 186 requires time to check and validate. The table below estimates the time it will take to obtain an employer nomination scheme visa. 

    Visa stream

    Processing time for 75% of applications

    Processing time for 90% of applications

    Direct entry stream

    12 months

    19 months

    Labor agreement stream

    Processing times are not available due to low application volume

    Processing times are not available due to low application volume

    Temporary residence transition stream

    8 months

    16 months

    Cost of visa processing

    The primary applicant's application fee for the employer nomination scheme visa subclass 186 is AUD 4,910. A separate fee is charged for each consecutive admission of qualified family members.

    • If the dependent is 18 years and above, an additional processing cost of AUD 2,455 is applied.
    • If the dependent is 18 years and below, an additional processing cost of AUD 1,230 is applied.
    • Biometrics and medical examinations cost AUD 60 and AUD 350, respectively.

    The cost of processing a subclass 189 visa might fluctuate without prior notification from the government.

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