Overview
Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) grants direct permanent residency which allows skilled individuals of at least 3 years of experience who have been nominated by their company to live and work permanently in Australia.
Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) has three streams:
1. Direct entry stream
This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by an employer, live and work in Australia permanently.
You must:
- have an occupation that is on the list of eligible skilled occupations;
- have at least 3 years relevant work experience, unless you are exempt;
- have a positive skills assessment, unless you are exempt;
- have at least Competent English.
It allows you to:
- live, work and study in Australia indefinitely;
- sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia;
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
Cost
The visa costs AUD4,115 for the main applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
2. 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 a party to a labour agreement.
You must:
currently work, or will work, for your nominating employer who is a party to a labour agreement;
meet the age, skills and English language requirements of the labour agreement.
It allows you to:
live, work and study in Australia indefinitely;
sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia;
apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Cost
The visa costs AUD4,115 for the main applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
3. Temporary Residence Transition stream
This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia permanently.
You must:
- hold a subclass 457, TSS or related Bridging visa A, B or C;
- usually, have worked for your employer for at least 3 years full time while holding a subclass 457 or TSS visa;
- have been nominated by an Australian employer whose nomination was approved in the 6 months before you apply.
It allows you to:
- live, work and study in Australia indefinitely;
- sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia;
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Cost
The visa costs AUD4,115 for the main applicant. There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
Overview
The Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482) lets an Australian employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can’t find a suitably skilled Australian to fill.
The Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482) has four streams:
1. Short-term stream
You must:
- be nominated to work in an occupation on the list of eligible short-term skilled occupations;
- have at least 2 years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field;
- have a relevant skills assessment if this is required for your occupation;
- work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless you are exempt;
- meet minimum standards of English language proficiency unless you are exempt from needing to show this.
It allows you to:
- work in Australia for up to 2 years or up to 4 years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies; Hong Kong passport holders may
- stay up to 5 years
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid;
- if eligible, apply for permanent residence.
Cost
The visa costs AUD1,290 for the main applicant and for each dependant 18 years and over. It costs AUD325 for each dependant under 18 years old. You will have to pay other costs for English language tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
2. Medium-term stream
You must:
- be nominated to work in an occupation on the list of eligible medium and long-term skilled occupations;
- have at least 2 years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field;
- have a relevant skills assessment if this is required for your occupation;
- work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless you are exempt;
- meet minimum standards of English language proficiency unless you are exempt from needing to show this.
It allows you to:
- work in Australia for up to 4 years or up to 5 years if you are a Hong Kong passport holder;
- study (you won’t receive government assistance);
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid;
- if eligible, apply for permanent residence.
Cost
The visa costs AUD2,690 for the main applicant and for each dependant 18 years and over. It costs AUD675 for each dependant under 18 years old. You will have to pay other costs for English language tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
3. Labour agreement stream
This visa is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labour Agreement. It lets you live and work in Australia temporarily. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.
You must:
- be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a Labour Agreement;
- have at least 2 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field;
- have a relevant skills assessment if this is required for your occupation;
- work only for your sponsor;
- meet minimum standards of English language proficiency unless you are exempt from needing to show this.
It allows you:
- work in Australian for up to 4 years for your sponsor depending on the terms in the labour agreement or up to 5 years if you are a Hong Kong passport holder;
- study (you won’t receive government assistance);
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid.
Cost
The visa costs AUD2,690 for the main applicant and each dependant 18 years and over. It costs AUD675 for each dependant under 18 years old. You will have to pay other costs for English language tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
4. Subsequent entrant
This visa is for family members of subclass 457 and TSS visa holders who are applying separately for their TSS visa and wish to join the primary subclass 457 or TSS visa holder in Australia.
You must:
- Be a partner or dependent of a subclass 482 or 457 visa holder.
It allows you to:
- live, work and study in Australia;
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid.
Cost
Primary visa holder holds a TSS visa
- The visa application charge for a subsequent entrant application will be calculated based on the stream in which the primary visa was granted (that is, a short-term, medium-term or labour agreement stream).
Primary visa holder holds a subclass 457 visa
In cases where a primary visa holder holds a subclass 457 visa, and not a TSS visa, the visa application charge for subsequent entrant applications is calculated as per regulation 1240(2)(a)(ii) – “for any other applicant”, with the charges being as follows as at 1 July 2018:
- base application charge – AUD2,690
- additional applicant charge for applicants 18 and over – AUD2,690
- additional applicant charge for applicants under 18 – AUD675
Note: if the sole applicant on a subsequent entrant application is under 18 years of age, they will be charged the base application charge and not the additional applicant charge.
You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
Overview
Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) allow regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) has three streams:
1. Employer-Sponsored stream
This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
You must:
- be nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list;
- have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation;
- have a relevant skills assessment, unless an exemption applies;
- work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless an exemption applies;
- be under 45 years of age, unless an exemption applies;
- meet minimum standards of English language proficiency.
It allows you to:
- live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years;
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years;
- if eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.
Cost
- This visa costs AUD4,115 for the main applicant, AUD2,060 for each dependent 18 years and over, and AUD1,030 for each dependent under 18 years. It costs an additional AUD4,890 if any dependent applicants who are 18 years and over do not have functional English.
- This extra charge is called a second instalment.
- You will have to pay other costs including English language tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
2. Labour Agreement stream
This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a labour agreement. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.
You must:
- be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a labour agreement;
- have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation;
- have a relevant skills assessment, if this is specified in the labour agreement;
- work only for your sponsor;
- be under 45 years of age, unless the labour agreement states otherwise;
- meet minimum standards of English language proficiency.
It allows you to:
- live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years;
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years;
- if eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.
Cost
- This visa costs AUD4,115 for the main applicant, AUD2,060 for each dependent 18 years and over, and AUD1,030 for each dependent under 18 years.
- It costs an additional AUD4,890 if any dependent applicants who are 18 years and over do not have functional English. This extra charge is called a second instalment.
- You will have to pay other costs including English language tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
3. Subsequent Entrant
This visa is for members of the family unit of a Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder who are applying separately for their SESR visa and wish to join the primary SESR visa holder in Australia.
You must:
- be a member of the family unit of a primary SESR visa holder
It allows you to:
- stay in Australia while this visa is valid;
- live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years;
- travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years.
Cost
- This visa costs AUD4,115.
- It costs an additional AUD4,890 if the subsequent entrant is 18 years and over and does not have functional English. This extra charge is called a second instalment.
- You will have to pay other costs including English language tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
