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:

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Please complete the below section so we can get in touch with you to discuss your eligibility for a permanent Employer-Sponsored Visa in further detail.

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

SubclASS 186 - Temporary Residence Transition Stream

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.