Subclass 186

Employer Nomination Scheme visa

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

Basic Eligibility

• You must have the necessary skills for the job
• You must be nominated by an Australian employer
• You must meet our health and character requirements

Applications in the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) program are prioritised in accordance with Ministerial Direction No. 105, which affords priority to applicants working in occupations carried out in a designated regional area, working in a healthcare or teaching occupation, and applicants who have been nominated by an accredited sponsor (in that order). The ENS program is subject to Migration Program planning levels, which for 2025-26 includes 44,000 places for ENS visas (primary and secondary visa grants).

While we are unable to give a definitive timeframe for when an application will be assessed and finalised, the following is provided as a guide. ENS nomination and visa applications allocated for processing in the past month were generally lodged in:

• May 2025 for applications in relation to an occupation to be carried out in a designated regional area.
• May 2025 for applications in relation to a healthcare or teaching occupation.
• March 2025 for applications where the applicant is nominated by an Approved sponsor with Accredited Status.
• June 2024 for all other applications.

Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)

Direct Entry stream

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by an employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

• you must be nominated by an Australian employer

• your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.

• you must have at least Competent English

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD4,910.00

Processing Time

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

Labour agreement stream

This visa lets skilled workers who are nominated by their employer live and work in Australia permanently. The Labour Agreement stream might be for you if you currently work, or will work, for an employer who is party to a labour agreement.

• The employer must have a labour agreement

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD4,910.00

Processing Time

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

Temporary Residence Transition stream

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their current employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

• You must hold a subclass 457, 482 or eligible bridging visa
• Usually, you must have worked in eligible sponsored employment on a full-time basis for at least two years
• You must be nominated by your employer

Stay

Permanent

Cost

From AUD4,910.00

Processing Time

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.