The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (186) allows Australian businesses to sponsor people to work in Australia on a permanent visa, provided that it is for a position listed on the Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL).
What’s the process?
To sponsor a person for a 186 visa, your business will need to ‘nominate’ your overseas employee. As part of your nomination application, you must prove that:
- Your business is active and lawful
- Your business has a genuine need for the position
- You will pay the applicant a market salary rate
- You will employ the individual in a skilled position from the CSOL
There are two streams in which you can nominate an overseas employee – either via the Temporary Residence Transition Stream or the Direct Entry Stream.
Transition Stream
If the person you wish to sponsor already lives in Australia temporarily on a 457 work visa employed in your business, you can nominate them for a 186 permanent visa under the Transition Stream.
Direct Entry Stream
Your business can nominate a person for a 186 visa under the Direct Entry stream if the person has never worked in Australia, has not held a 457 visa for the last two years with a nominating employer, or if they are applying from outside of Australia.
How we can help
Our Registered Migration Agents servicing Perth, Melbourne and Sydney can:
- Advise on whether your business is eligible to nominate an overseas employee
- Assist with your nomination application to and provide consultancy on corporate migration strategy for your business
- Provide support and advice to each individual visa applicant
- Help you remain compliant with your requirements and obligations as a sponsor by providing ongoing advice
Interstaff has assisted businesses with their sponsorship and nomination requirements and obligations for over 25 years. Businesses interested in becoming an approved sponsor are encouraged to contact us at visas@interstaff.com or call 08 9221 3388 to discuss your business migration needs.
“I want to say thank you to the Interstaff team for assisting us through the 186 Visa process – especially when we had questions and your team were quick to answer them. I would recommend Interstaff to anyone in need of a migration agent. I’d give them 10/10. Once again, thank you to your team for an excellent job.”