Permanent Work Visas
Australia offers several permanent residency visa options for businesses to address labour shortages by sponsoring skilled workers where employers are unable to source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
Features of Employer-Sponsored visa
Unrestricted Work Rights with your sponsor
Pathway to Permanent Residency
Full Study Rights
Access to Medicare
Include members of your family unit in your application
Allows for travel in and out of Australia
Do you qualify?
Please answer the below section to check your eligibility for a permanent Employer-Sponsored Visa:
Types of Permanent Work Visas
Permanent Employer Sponsored visa subclasses include:
Subclass 186
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
The subclass 186 visa was created to allow employers in Australia to bring foreign workers to live and work in Australia, indefinitely.
Subclass 186 applicants can be nominated for:
- Subclass 186 – Direct Entry Stream
- Subclass 186 – Temporary Residence Transition Stream
Subclass 187
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa
This visa allows skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer in regional Australia, to live and work in Australia permanently.
Subclass 187 applicants can be nominated for:
- Subclass 187 – Temporary Residence Transition Stream
Visa Eligibility
Learn more about permanent work visa sponsorship, nomination and visa application criteria below:
Subclass 187 - Temporary Residence Transition Stream
- Undertake Market Research for nominated occupation;
- Offer for a skilled position that is full time and ongoing for at least 2 years;
- Pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy;
- Have no adverse information known about the sponsor or any person associated with it, or it is reasonable to disregard this information;
- Evidence that the employer is actively and lawfully operating a business in Australia;
- Evidence that the position must be within the business activities and not for unrelated businesses;
- Evidence that there is a genuine need for a paid employee to fill a skilled position.
- Have an occupation on the MLTSSL List
- The visa allows skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer in regional Australia, live and work in Australia permanently;
- You must be a transitional subclass 457 or subclass 482 worker;
- Usually, you must have worked for your employer full-time for at least 3 years;
- You must be nominated by your employer;
- Have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation;
- Demonstrate competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each or equivalent) unless if you hold a passport from NZ, USA, Canada, UK and Ireland;
- Be under 45 years of age unless an exemption applies;
- Hold any required mandatory registration, licence or professional membership;
- Meet health and character requirements.
SubclASS 186 - Temporary Residence Transition Stream
- Undertake Market Research for nominated occupation;
- Offer for a skilled position that is full time and ongoing for at least 2 years;
Pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy; - Have no adverse information known about the sponsor or any person associate with it, or it is reasonable to disregard this information
- Evidence that the employer is actively and lawfully operating a business in Australia
- Evidence that the position must be within the business activities and not for unrelated businesses;
- Evidence that there is a genuine need for a paid employee to fill a skilled position.
- Have an occupation on the relevant skilled list;
- Have the required skills and qualifications needed to perform the tasks of the nominated occupation;
- Be nominated by your employer for a permanent position in your nominated occupation;
- Hold a subclass 457, TSS or related Bridging visa A, B or C
- usually, have worked for your employer for at least 3 years full time while holding a subclass 457 or TSS visa
- Demonstrate competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each or equivalent) unless if you hold a passport from NZ, USA, Canada, UK and Ireland
- Be under 45 years of age unless exemption applies through the grandfathering provisions.
- Hold any mandatory registration, licence or professional membership requirement.
- Meet health and character requirements.
Employer Sponsored Visa Timeline
Whether you are an employer or a skilled worker eligible for an employer sponsored permanent work visa, Augustine & Co. can assist with the whole process - from providing specialist legal advice, applying for nomination and visa applications, to addressing any specific requests by a case officer, until a decision is made on the visa application.
Step 1: Nomination
The sponsoring business is required to make a nomination application to nominate the visa applicant for the permanent work visa application.
Step 2: Visa Application
The applicant is then required to apply for his/her visa application to be granted a permanent employer sponsored visa application.
Current processing Time
The general processing times set by the Department for Employer Sponsored Migration are as follows:
Subclass 186 - Direct Entry
75% of applications: 8 months
90% of applications: 14 months
Subclass 186 – Temporary Residence Transition Stream
75% of applications: 17 Months
90% of applications: 21 months
Subclass 187 - Temporary Residence Transition Stream
75% of applications: 10 months
90% of applications: 17 months
Individual processing times for any given application may vary depending on an applicant’s specific circumstances, their country of origin, as well as the quality of the application lodged with the Department of Home Affairs, i.e., a decision ready application in compliance with all legislative and policy criteria.
Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa Costs
Subclass 186 - Direct Entry
- Nomination Application AUD 540
Department of Home Affairs does not charge a fee for lodging nominations under the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa.
- SAF Levy Fee (Small Business) AUD 3,000
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is payable for each nomination under the 494 programs. Small (annual turnover less than $10 million)
- SAF Levy Fee (Other Business) AUD 5,000
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is payable for each nomination under the 494 programs. Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more)
- Visa Application – Main Applicant AUD 4,115
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Application – Secondary Applicant Over 18 AUD 2,060
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Police Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to authorities that undertake your character examination.
- Medical Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to medical agencies that undertake your health examination.
Subclass 186 - Temporary Residence Transition Stream
- Nomination Application AUD 540
Department of Home Affairs does not charge a fee for lodging nominations under the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa.
- SAF Levy Fee (Small Business) AUD 3,000
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is payable for each nomination under the 494 programs. Small (annual turnover less than $10 million)
- SAF Levy Fee (Other Business) AUD 5,000
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is payable for each nomination under the 494 programs. Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more)
- Visa Application – Main Applicant AUD 4,115
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Application – Secondary Applicant Over 18 AUD 2,060
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Police Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to authorities that undertake your character examination.
- Medical Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to medical agencies that undertake your health examination.
Subclass 187 - Temporary Residence Transition Stream
- Nomination Application Nil
- SAF Levy Fee (Small Business) AUD 3,000
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is payable for each nomination under the 494 programs. Small (annual turnover less than $10 million)
- SAF Levy Fee (Other Business) AUD 5,000
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is payable for each nomination under the 494 programs. Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more)
- Visa Application – Main Applicant AUD 4,115
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Application – Secondary Applicant Over 18 AUD 2,060
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Police Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to authorities that undertake your character examination.
- Medical Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to medical agencies that undertake your health examination.
Yes, you can apply for this visa from in or outside Australia. To be eligible to apply for a 186 visa while you are in Australia, you must hold a valid substantive visa, or a Bridging visa A, B or C.
Yes, you can include members of your family unit, such as your spouse/partner and dependent children to your visa application.
A functional level of English is required by migrating family members who are 18 years of age or older.
If your current visa (substantive or bridging visa) does not have a condition that restricts you from working, you can work in Australia.
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Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Further, this info is subject to constant change based on any changes in the law, and therefore, is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute a solicitor-client relationship. The reader should consult with an immigration lawyer prior to lodging any application as each lawful case may be different.
