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Employer nomination scheme (ENS) – Subclass 186 visa

Employer nominating a worker for the ENS 186 permanent visa

Overview

The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa is a permanent residence visa that allows Australian businesses to sponsor skilled workers for ongoing roles.
This pathway is available to both current employees transitioning from a temporary visa and new employees recruited from inside or outside Australia.

There are two main streams for the 186 visa:

  • Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream – for employees already working with you on a SID 482 visa.
  • Direct Entry (DE) Stream – for new hires who may not have worked with your business before but have the skills you need.

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE TRANSITION (TRT) Stream

For businesses wishing to transition a current sponsored employee into permanent residency from a SID 482 visa.

To nominate under TRT, employers must:

  • Be the most recent approved sponsor of the visa applicant.
  • Operate a legally established and ongoing business in Australia.
  • Show a genuine need for the nominated role in the business.
  • Prove that the business is financially viable.
  • Offer a full-time position available for at least two years.

Pay the employee a salary in line with the market rate and not below the required threshold.

DIRECT ENTRY (DE) Stream

For businesses wishing to sponsor a new employee or someone not currently employed under their sponsorship.

To nominate under DE, employers must:

  • Operate a legally established and ongoing business in Australia.
  • Show a genuine need for the nominated position.
  • Demonstrate the role cannot be filled by the local labour market.
  • Prove financial capacity to support the role.
  • Offer a full-time position available for at least two years.

Provide terms and conditions of employment that meet the market salary rate and applicable thresholds.

FAQs - frequently asked questions

The 186 visa grants permanent residency in Australia, allowing employees to stay indefinitely.

  • TRT is for employees you are already sponsoring on a temporary visa (SID 482), giving them a pathway to PR.
  • DE is for new or external candidates you want to sponsor directly for permanent residence.

Yes. For both TRT and DE, you must demonstrate a genuine need for the role and that it cannot reasonably be filled through the local labour market.

The nominated role must be available for a minimum of two years, and the employment contract should reflect this.

Yes, but your business must be financially viable and able to support the ongoing employment of the nominee.

Yes, under the Direct Entry (DE) stream, you can nominate a candidate who has not previously worked for your business.

The employer–employee relationship under the 186 visa follows standard Australian employment law. If issues arise, dismissal must be managed in line with Fair Work obligations and applicable legislation.

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