The subclass 186 visa is an employer sponsored permanent visa, also known as an Employer Nomination Scheme visa (ENS visa) (subclass 186).
What is the 186 visa?
Skilled workers who have at least 3 years of full-time work experience in a skilled occupation may be eligible for this visa. Like the TSS visa (subclass 482), this visa requires an employer to nominate you for the visa, and a separate application for the visa itself.
Who is eligible for the 186 visa?
There are 2 streams for the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) and each have different requirements:
- Direct Entry stream: if you have 3 years of full time work experience in an occupation on the Medium-Long Term Skill Shortage list, and a positive Skills Assessment from a relevant skills assessing body, you may be eligible to be nominated in this stream, regardless of the length of time you have been working for your nominating employer.
- Temporary Residence Transition stream: if you have been working for your employer on a subclass 482 visa full time for 2 years, you may be eligible for this stream without the need to obtain a positive Skills Assessment. Any periods of unpaid leave cannot be counted.
In both streams, visa applicants will need to prove that they;
- have the requisite standard of English
- pass the character test and
- meet the health criteria for grant of the visa.
What is the processing time for a 186 visa?
The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) can take anywhere between two months and one year to be processed. Information on current processing times based on the stream can be found here.
