Employer Nomination Scheme visa

What this visa is for#

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is a permanent residence visa sponsored by an Australian employer. It sits in the skilled category and the stream is Employer sponsored (PR).

This visa exists to let an Australian employer nominate a worker for permanent residence. The visa and the nomination are linked, so the employer part and the visa part are both part of the overall process.

A granted subclass 186 visa gives permanent residence. Permanent residents can generally live in Australia indefinitely, work, study and enrol in Medicare if they meet Medicare's rules.

Because this is an employer-sponsored permanent visa, the job, the employer and the visa applicant's evidence all matter. The Department of Home Affairs looks at the nomination and the visa application together as part of the same overall pathway.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who are being nominated by an Australian employer for a skilled position on a permanent basis. It is aimed at workers whose employer is prepared to take part in the nomination process and provide the required business and position evidence.

This visa is for people who are applying through an employer-sponsored permanent residence pathway, rather than through family, study or humanitarian programs. It is commonly used where there is an ongoing role in Australia and the employer wants to sponsor a worker for permanent residence.

This visa is for people whose occupation, employment history, qualifications, registration or licensing, and English language evidence may all need to be examined as part of the process. Depending on the stream and the occupation, the evidence can be detailed and may involve material from both the employer and the worker.

This visa is also for family units where dependants are included in the application. A partner and dependent children can often be added if the application is set up that way and the required identity, relationship and character documents are provided.

What it costs#

The government visa application charge for the subclass 186 is:

• Main applicant: $6,140
• Additional applicant 18 or over: $3,070
• Additional applicant under 18: $1,535

These are the government charges for the visa application itself. The government charge is the same no matter who lodges it, whether that is the applicant personally, a registered migration agent, or an Australian legal practitioner.

Separate from the government charge, a migration agent or lawyer may charge professional fees for preparing and lodging the application, checking documents, communicating with the Department, and helping with the nomination paperwork. Those professional fees are set by the agent or law practice, so they vary from one provider to another.

Other third-party costs can also come up during the process, depending on the facts and the documents needed. These can include health examinations, police certificates, skills assessments, translations, and fees for replacement civil documents.

Government charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. The amount payable is usually the amount that applies on the date the application is lodged.

How long it takes#

Published processing guidance: Commonly 6-12 months including nomination.

That timeframe is a general guide, not a fixed service standard. Some applications move faster, while others take longer because the Department asks for more information, checks take longer than expected, or the nomination and visa material do not line up clearly.

Processing time is affected by how complete the application is when lodged. If identity documents, employment records, English test results, police clearances or health steps are missing, the file can slow down while those items are obtained and uploaded.

Employer-side delays can also affect timing. If the business has not prepared the nomination material properly, or if the position details and salary evidence need clarification, the nomination stage can hold up the visa stage.

What the process involves#

The process usually starts with the employer deciding to nominate a position. The nomination is a separate part of the process from the visa application, even though they are connected and assessed together in practice.

The employer usually needs to provide information about the business, the position, and the terms and conditions of employment. This can include business records, position details, salary information and material showing that the role is genuine and ongoing.

The visa applicant then prepares the personal side of the application. This usually includes identity documents, passport pages, birth or marriage records where relevant, employment references, qualifications, licences or registrations where relevant, and any stream-specific evidence.

In some cases, a skills assessment may be required. In some cases, English language evidence is also required. The exact document list depends on the stream, the occupation and the applicant's circumstances.

Health and character checks are usually part of the process. That commonly means completing health examinations when requested and obtaining police certificates from relevant countries.

Family members included in the application also need their own supporting documents. These commonly include identity documents, relationship evidence, and police or health documents where required.

After lodgement, the Department may ask for more information. A request can go to the visa applicant, the employer, or both, and the response usually needs to be uploaded by a set deadline.

If the application was lodged while the applicant was in Australia and a bridging visa comes into effect, it is important to check that bridging visa's conditions. A bridging visa does not automatically carry the same work, travel or study rights as the substantive visa held before lodgement.

When a decision is made, the Department notifies the applicant in writing. If the visa is granted, the grant notice sets out the visa grant date and conditions. If further action is needed after grant, that will depend on the grant notice and the person's travel and employment arrangements.

What commonly goes wrong#

A common problem is incomplete evidence at lodgement. Missing passport pages, unclear employment references, absent civil documents, or incomplete nomination material can lead to delays and requests for more information.

Another common issue is inconsistency between the nomination and the visa application. If the job title, duties, salary, dates of employment, location, or business details do not match across documents, the Department may need clarification before it can move forward.

Documents can also expire during processing. Passports, police certificates, English test results, skills assessments, registrations and licences may have validity periods, and an application can stall if updated versions are needed later.

Poor file quality causes practical problems. Scans that are cut off, untranslated documents, unreadable stamps, or uploads in the wrong document slot can make it harder for a case officer to assess the file quickly.

Some applicants forget to tell the Department about important changes. A change of address, a new passport, a marriage, a separation, the birth of a child, or a change in employment arrangements can all affect what information the Department holds on file.

Deadlines are often missed because emails are overlooked. Requests for further information may have a set response date, and failing to respond in time can lead to a decision being made on the material already available.

Health and character steps can also slow a case down. Delays in booking medicals, waiting on police certificates from overseas, or not disclosing all required countries of residence can push the timeline out.

Another practical mistake is assuming a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa held before lodgement. Work rights, travel rights and study rights depend on the bridging visa conditions, not on the previous visa.

Employer-side errors are also common. A business may lodge nomination documents that do not fully explain the role, or the payroll and organisational evidence may not support what the nomination says about the position.

Finally, some applications are prepared on the assumption that one document will "probably be enough". Employer-sponsored permanent visas are document-heavy, and gaps that seem minor at the start can become significant once the Department starts checking the detail.

Frequently asked questions#

What is the subclass 186 visa?#

The subclass 186 is an employer-sponsored permanent residence visa. It is for a worker who is nominated by an Australian employer under the Employer Nomination Scheme.

How much is the 186 visa application charge?#

The government charge is $6,140 for the main applicant. It is $3,070 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over, and $1,535 for each additional applicant under 18.

How long does a 186 visa take?#

Published processing guidance is commonly 6-12 months including nomination. Actual processing time can be shorter or longer depending on the completeness of the application, the nomination evidence and whether the Department asks for more documents.

Can family members be included in a 186 visa application?#

Family members can often be included in the application if the application is set up that way and the required documents are provided. Each included person may also need identity, relationship, health and character documents, depending on their age and circumstances.

Does using a migration agent change the government fee?#

No. The government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application.

A registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner may charge separate professional fees for their work. Those fees are in addition to the government charge and can vary between providers.

About this page. This is general information about how the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.