Employer Sponsored ENS Visa
The Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) – Subclass 186 visa is a permanent employer sponsored visa. The ENS visa allows employees to work for a nominated employer on a full time basis.
Employer Sponsored ENS Visa
This visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers. It allows you to live and work in Australia, have access to medicare, include family members and may eventually lead to citizenship. The ENS visa allows you to work in Australia under one of two main streams.
The Temporary Residence Transition Stream (TRT Stream)
This stream allows you to transition from the temporary 457 or TSS Visa.
- Applicants must have worked in their nominated occupation for at least 2 years out of the last 3 years.
- Applicants can now access this pathway if their occupation is on the MTLSSL, STSOL and ROL occupation lists
The Direct Entry Stream
This stream allows you to apply for to apply directly for the permanent employer sponsored visa. In order to apply for this visa
- Your occupation is on the MLTSSL
- You have passed a skills assessment with the relevant skills assessing authority
- You have worked in the occupation at the required skill level for at least 3 years.
Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa
The Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) – Subclass 186 visa is a Permanent Employer Sponsored visa that requires a company to nominate you for employment. It is similar to the standard TSS (482), visa but the TSS is temporary. The 186 is permanent.
Overview of the ENS Visa
This visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers. It allows you to live and work in Australia, have access to medicare, include family members and may eventually lead to citizenship. The ENS visa allows you to work in Australia under one of two main streams.
Nomination
Processing time
Between 4 – 16 months
Costs
Application charge is $4640 AUD
- The visa holder must be nominated by an employer and the nomination must be approved within 6 months before application
- The employee has the qualifications and skills required to fill the position
- The employee holds the required licenses and requirements for the occupation
- The employee has health insurance for the duration of their time in Australia
- The employee meets the required level of English language
- The employee is of good health and character
- You must be under 45 years of age
The time taken to process a visa application can vary depending on whether or not the employer must apply for business sponsorship approval or not. The visa application can either be lodged at the same time as the sponsorship or nomination or afterwards. The Immigration website listed the processing time for a subclass ENS visa between 4 – 16 months.
In order to apply for this visa you must be nominated by an employer in Australia. Applicants need to apply for the visa no later than six months of the nomination being approved. In order to have a nomination approved employers must:
- Offer a full-time employment agreement for at least two years
- Have a genuine need for the Applicant to work in the nominated position
- Meet the training benchmark requirements
- Offer a salary to the Applicant that is equal to the Australian Market Salary
The current visa application charge is $4640 AUD for the main applicant, $2320 AUD fro the secondary applicant and $1160 AUD for children.
The current nomination charge is $540 AUD
How Pathway to Aus helps
- Companies often have their application to receive an approved nomination because they do not fully comprehend the requirements. Our migration experts have experience processing ENS visa applications and liaise with DIBP on a regular basis. We fully understand the requirements and will ensure that our clients understand what is required and expected of them.
- Pathway to Aus ensures that all applications are processed as quickly as possible, which is vitally important in situations where time is of the essence. If possible, we aim to submit a decision ready application.
- Our Registered Migration Agents recognise and rectifies potential problems with applications prior to applications being submitted.
- We provide assistance obtaining the required skills assessment
- We provide assistance translating and obtaining any required documents such as degrees, qualification documents and letters of reference.
- We assist with including family members on the application
- We assist with rectifying problems with previous visa applications and seeking waivers for previous conditions imposed
- Finally, we also assist with obtaining the required police checks
What we will do?
Pathway to Aus will assist with the application throughout the entirety of the process and provide:
- Articulate advice on eligibility requirements and how to meet these requirements
- Assistance obtaining the required supporting documents needed for the application
- Assistance compiling and translating letters of reference.
- Prepare and submit the application to the DIBP
- Liaison with the DIBP throughout every stage of processing
- Provide updates on changing requirements to employers and employees throughout the duration of the visa
Our Clients
Steven is a migration client of Pathway to Aus who went from a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) to Short-term business visa, back to the UK, then to a 457 employer-sponsored visa and finally to PERMANENT RESIDENCY (Subclass 186). It has been a really long and drawn out process for Steven (almost 10 years), but he got there in the end.
Book a Migration Consultation
We have a ton of information on our site about various visa options and FAQs that answer most of our visitors’ questions, but if you’re still not sure where to start or you need a personalised step by step walkthrough, then schedule a call with one of our Registered Migration Agent.
Simply follow the link below and you’ll be able to pick the date & time that fits your schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
In case you don’t find an answer to your question, feel free to consult with one of our agents.
When can I apply for an ENS 186 visa?
You can apply for the ENS 186 visa from inside or outside Australia
Is the ENS 186 Visa permanent?
Yes, the 186 ENS visa is permanent. Once you receive it, you are a permanent resident of Australia.
Do I need to take IELTS in order to apply for the ENS 186 visa?
Yes, you will need to sit IELTs and have competent English in order to apply for the 186 visa, unless you hold a passport from NZ, USA, Ireland, UK or Canada.
Do I need a skill assessment in order to apply for the 186 visa?
Yes, in order to apply for the 186 direct entry stream, you will need to pass a skill assessment in an occupation that is on the MLTSSL.
If my occupation is not on the MLTSSL, can I still apply for the 186 visa?
Yes, if you apply for the 186 visa (direct stream), your occupation. must be on the MLTSSL. Not the STSOL or the State Occupation List. Immigration has identified these occupations on the MLTSSL as most in demand in Aus. There is a shortage of skilled workers in these occupations.
Do I need paid work experience in order to apply for the 186 visa?
Yes, the work experience for the 186 visa must be paid. In addition the work must be done at the required skill level. This doesn’t mean that you have worked in the occupation for 3 years. It will usually mean you have worked in the occupation for 3 years post qualification or at the fully required skill level. So work whilst study potentially won’t count.
Can I apply for the 186 visa without an employer?
No, you will need an employer to sponsor your visa in order to apply for the 186 visa.
How much do I have to be paid for the 186 visa?
You must demonstrate that you are paying the Australian Market Salary for the role. You must be paid the equivalent salary for an Australian working in the role with the same experience and education as the applicant. The wage you are being offered is at least equal to or better the prevailing wage and at least $53 900, but usually it is considerably more. Immigration does this so employers don’t hire cheap foreign workers to undercut Australians.
Do I need to undertake Labour Market testing for the 186 visa?
Unlike the TSS visa, for the 186 Direct Entry Stream, Labour Market testing is not 100% a requirement. So you don’t need to advertise the position and demonstrate you couldn’t find a suitable Australian to fill the role.
GET IN TOUCH
In case of questions, feel free to reach out to one of our experienced Registered Migration Agents.
Contact details
Give us a call
Argentina: (11) 7368 - 8134
Fiji: (679) 922 3842
Philippines: 63 968 363 5296
United Kingdom: 02039 483 865
Send an email
Gold Coast Office
2242 Gold Coast Highway,
Mermaid Beach, QLD, 4218
UK Office
5 Merchant Square
London, W2 1AY, United Kingdom
(By Appointment Only)