The Employer Nomination Scheme visa – Subclass 186 – is one of the most used pathways to permanent residency available to skilled workers in Australia. Unlike points-tested visas, it ties your permanent residency directly to an employer who is willing to sponsor you on a long-term basis. No points test and no waiting for an invitation (needed for 189/190/491 visas).
For many of our clients, this is what makes the 186 particularly attractive. There is no points test, no queue, and no dependence on State nomination. If you have the right employer, the right occupation, and meet the eligibility criteria, the pathway is relatively clear.
The visa itself grants permanent residency from day one of the grant – meaning you and your family can live, work, and study in Australia without restriction. You will also be able to access Medicare and travel freely for five years, with a pathway to Australian citizenship once you meet the residence requirements.
There are three streams under the 186 – the Temporary Residence Transition stream, the Direct Entry stream, and the Labour Agreement stream – each suited to different circumstances. Understanding which stream applies to you is the first and most important step.