Employer Nomination Scheme

Want to work and stay in Australia?

Explore the option of an Employer Sponsored Visa

As the name suggests, the Employer Sponsored Visa stream requires the main applicant to be sponsored by an eligible Australian employer.

The subclasses that fall under this category are:

• The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 visa
• The Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 visa
• The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Subclass 187 visa

The Temporary Option

The temporary skilled visa programme has undergone substantial changes in the past. What was once known as the Subclass 457 visa has now been completely replaced with the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 visa. While some components of the 457 visa remain the same, the most significant difference is the emergence of two pathways known as:

• The short-term stream which allows for a stay of up to 2 years; and
• The medium-term stream which has a visa duration of up to 4 years.

So which Occupation List applies to me?

Both streams require the applicant to align their skills against a Skilled Occupation List:

• The short-term stream > Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
• The medium-term stream > Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

The STSOL does not lead to a permanent visa option and will only last for a period of 2 years, with one renewal allowable onshore. The MLTSSL however, does lead to permanent residency once the TSS holder has worked with the nominating employer for at least 2 years.

The Permanent Options

Both the Subclass 186 and 187 visas are permanent visas. The main difference between the two is that the Subclass 187 requires the visa applicants to reside in an area of Australia deemed regional.

Consistent across both visas, are three different streams an applicant can apply for.

These are:

1. The direct entry stream which does not require the main applicant to have worked with the nominating employer for a period of time prior to application.
2. The temporary residence transition stream which is only applicable to existing holders of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (or a 457 visa) who have worked for the same nominating employer for at least 2 years prior to time of application.
3. The agreement stream for skilled applicants who are currently working or will work with an eligible employer who is party to a Labour Agreement.

Core requirements of an Employer Sponsored Visa:

Regardless of which stream you decide to apply for, here are the main features of an Employer Sponsored visa:

• A nomination must be in place by an Australian employer.
• The main applicant must align their skills against an Occupations List.
• A minimum of Competent English must be evidenced by the main visa applicant.
• A Skills Assessment may be required (depending on the stream).
• The applicants must meet health and character requirements.
• The applicants must satisfy the age requirements under each subclass.
• A Regional Certification must be obtained for a Subclass 187 visa application.

The Visa Application Process:

The Employer Sponsored Visas are essentially a two-step process:

1. Step 1 being the nomination process (by an eligible Australian employer); and
2. Step 2 being the visa application stage.