Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

Features

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is for skilled workers from outside Australia or skilled temporary residents who currently live and work in Australia. The visa has three streams:

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457, visa holders who have worked for two years in the same occupation with their nominating employer, who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.
The Direct Entry stream is for people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia.
The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a labour agreement.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

have been nominated by an approved Australian employer;
are under the age of 50 at the time of application;
have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation;
provide the evidence towards having at least three years of relevant work experience;
have competent English (a score of 6 for each test IELTS component) for the Direct Entry stream;
have vocational English (a score of 5 for each test IELTS component) for subclass 457;
meet English language requirements stated in the agreement for the Agreement stream.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)

Features

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is for skilled workers from outside Australia or skilled temporary residents who currently live and work in Australia. The visa has three streams:

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457, visa holders who have worked for two years in the same occupation with their nominating employer, who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.
The Direct Entry stream is for people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia.
The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a labour agreement.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

want to live and work in regional Australia (outside of the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne);
have been nominated by an approved Australian employer in regional Australia;
are under the age of 50 at time of application ;
have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for;
have the required skills and qualifications fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body if the nominated applicant was an entrepreneur and achieve that level outside of Australia;
have competent English (a score of 6 for each test IELTS component) for the Direct Entry stream;
have vocational English (a score of 5 for each test IELTS component) for subclass 457;
meet English language requirements stated in the agreement for the Agreement stream.

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

Features

This visa is for points-tested skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government.
A visa holder can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
The family members can be included in the visa application (your partner and your or your partner’s dependent children).

Requirements

You might be eligible to apply for this visa, if you are invited. When we sent your letter of invitation, you must have:

need to submit an expression of interest;
been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list;
obtained a suitable skills assessment for that occupation;
not yet turned 50 years of age;
have competent English (a score of 6 for each test IELTS component);
achieved at least 60 points in the points test;
achieve a score of 7 for each test IELTS component, which are required by some assessing authority.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

Features

This visa is for points-tested skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government.
A visa holder can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
The family members can be included in the visa application (your partner and your or your partner’s dependent children).

Requirements

You might be eligible to apply for this visa, if you are invited. When we sent your letter of invitation, you must have:

need to submit an expression of interest;
nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list;
obtained a suitable skills assessment for that occupation;
not yet turned 50 years of age;
have competent English (a score of 6 for each test IELTS component);
achieved at least 60 points in the points test;
achieve a score of 7 for each test IELTS component, which are required by some assessing authority.

Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)

Features

This visa is for points-tested skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government, or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area.
This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in specified regional areas in Australia for up to four years.
The family members can be included in the visa application (your partner and your or your partner’s dependent children).

Requirements

You might be eligible to apply for this visa, if you are invited. When we sent your letter of invitation, you must have:

need to submit an expression of interest and are sponsored;
nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list;
obtained a suitable skills assessment for that occupation;
not yet turned 50 years of age;
have competent English (a score of 6 for each test IELTS component);
achieved at least 60 points in the points test;
achieve a score of 7 for each test IELTS component, which are required by some assessing authority.