Subclass 186 - Direct Entry Stream

Subclass 186- Employer Nomination Scheme Visa

The purpose of the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa is to allow Australian employers to fill highly skilled positions with suitably qualified migrants. The scheme is designed to assist employers who are unable to meet their skilled Australian workforce needs from the local labour market.

Direct Entry Stream

The minimum requirements of the Direct Entry stream of this visa are set out below:

Employer

The business seeking to employ you must:

be actively and lawfully operating in Australia
genuinely need you to work in the nominated position under its direct control, and have the capacity to employ you in this position for at least two years

Position

The position to be filled must be:

be full-time and available for at least 2 years from the time your visa is granted
be an occupation included on the current Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

NOTE: Certain occupations on this list will be subject to additional requirements (e.g. salary, type of business operated by employer, nature of position). Please contact us for further details based on your particular circumstances.

have a salary that is:
- at least $53,900 per year (excluding any non-monetary benefits) AND
- at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for your nominated occupation

NOTES: the AMSR for your nominated occupation (excluding non-monetary benefits) must also be no less than $53,900 per year unless a concession applies.

The AMSR is the salary that an Australian earns (or would earn) for performing equivalent work on a full-time basis for a year in the same workplace at the same location.

You will be exempt from the AMSR requirement if your salary is more than $250,000 per year.

be subject to conditions of employment (other than earnings) that are no worse than those that apply (or would apply) to Australians performing equivalent work in the same location.

Visa Applicant

As the visa applicant, you must (unless a specific exemption applies in any case):

have competent English i.e.
- hold a valid passport issued by the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland (and you are a citizen of that country) OR
- an IELTS test score of at least 6 in EACH test component OR
- an OET test score of at least B in EACH test component OR
- a TOEFL iBT test score of at least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking OR
- a PTE test score of at least 50 in EACH test component OR
- a CAE test score of at least 169 in EACH test component

NOTE: In each case, the test must have been undertaken within the last three years.

have your skills assessed as suitable for your nominated occupation by the relevant skills assessing authority
have at least three years of full-time experience in your nominated occupation
be under 45 years of age
meet any mandatory licensing, registration or professional membership requirements
satisfy the relevant health and character criteria

Any Questions?