Employer Nomination Scheme visa

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

Direct Entry stream

Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)

With this visa, you can

• stay in Australia indefinitely

• work and study in Australia

• enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare

• sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.

Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits. 

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa – it lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

You become a permanent resident on the day we grant the visa.

Your permanent residency for citizenship purposes starts:

• on the day we grant the visa if you are in Australia

• on the day you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia

Include family

You can:

• include family members in your application when you apply

• add family members to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa.

For this visa, your family members are:

• your partner

• your dependent child or stepchild

• your partner's dependent child or stepchild

• the dependent child or stepchild of your or your partner's dependent child or stepchild.

You can also include a subclass 457 visa or subclass 482 visa holder if we granted them that visa as a member of your family. To meet this requirement, they must hold the eligible visa and must be included in your application when you apply.

Labour Agreement stream

This visa lets skilled workers 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.

With this visa, you can

• stay in Australia indefinitely

• work and study in Australia

• enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare

• sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.

Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits. 

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa – it lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

You become a permanent resident on the day we grant the visa.

Your permanent residency for citizenship purposes starts:

• on the day we grant the visa if you are in Australia

• on the day you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia

Include family

You can:

• include family members in your application when you apply

• add family members to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa.

For this visa, your family members are:

• your partner

• your dependent child or stepchild

• your partner's dependent child or stepchild

• the dependent child or stepchild of your or your partner's dependent child or stepchild.

You can also include a subclass 457 visa or subclass 482 visa holder if we granted them that visa as they are a member of your family.

Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members who do not apply for the visa with you might also have to meet the requirements.

Temporary Residence Transition stream

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

With this visa, you can

• stay in Australia indefinitely

• work and study in Australia

• enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare

• sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.

Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits. 

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa – it lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

You become a permanent resident on the day we grant the visa.

Your permanent residency for citizenship purposes starts:

• on the day we grant the visa if you are in Australia

• on the day you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia.

Include family

You can:

• include family members in your application when you apply

• add family members to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa.

For this visa, your family members are:

• your partner

• your dependent child or stepchild

• your partner’s dependent child or stepchild

• the dependent child or stepchild of your or your partner's dependent child or stepchild.

You can also include a subclass 457 visa or subclass 482 visa holder if we granted them that visa as they are a member of your family. To meet this requirement, they must hold the eligible visa and must be included in your application when you apply.

Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements.