Australia Subclass 186 Visa | Employer-Sponsored PR Guide

Australia’s Employer Nomination Scheme permits highly skilled workers to apply for the Subclass 186 Visa. This employer-sponsored visa offers a permanent option in Australia to eligible candidates. This guide provides an all-inclusive perspective on the requirements for approval, stages in application and success tips as well.

Subclass 186 Visa Overview

Subclass 186 Visa is a permanent workplace visa that allows skilled workers to:

• Stay and work indefinitely in Australia.
• Bring eligible members of the family (spouse and children) to Australia.
• Access social insurance and social welfare benefits.
• Apply for Australian citizenship upon meeting residency requirements.

The 186 Visa Key Features

Three Application Streams:

• Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) – For current 482/457 visa holders.
• Direct Entry (DE) – For offshore applicants or those not on a work visa.
• Labor Agreement (LA) – For occupations under special agreements.
• State Nomination Not Required – While you need to gain nomination from a state for a 190 visa, 186 is sponsored totally by the employer only.
• Faster Processing Than GSM Visas – Normally, it is quicker than going in for independent skilled migration.

Eligibility Requirements for Subclass 186 Visa

1.  Employer Nomination

• Must be sponsored by an approved Australian employer.
• The position must be genuine and full-time.
• Employers must meet training benchmark requirements.

2. Age Requirement

• Being less than 50 years of age unless exempt from the age criteria.
• Exempted sectors include certain fields (i.e., medical sector, academicians).

3. Skills & Work Experience

• TRT Stream: For 3 years on the same visa, 457/482 visa with the same employer.
• Direct Entry Stream: Requires at least 3 years of relevant work experience + skills assessment.
• Labor Agreement Stream: Must meet the specific industry standards.

4. Proficiency in English 

• The minimum Competent level of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS 6.0) would be needed.
• Different levels may be imposed on different occupations.

5. Heath & Character Requirements 

• Physically fit needs to be checked by a medical officer.
• Must provide police clearance documents from all countries of residence.

Understanding Subclass Visa 186’s Three Streams

1. Transition of Temporary Resident Stream (TRT)

• For actual 482/457 visa holders.
• It requires a work experience with the employer sponsor for 3 years.
• Skills assessment is excluded(if already on 482 visas).

2. Direct Entry Stream

• For offshore applicants or those without prior work visas.
• Often requires a relevant skills assessment.
• With at least 3 years of work experience.

3. Labor Agreement (LA) Stream

• This stream applies to jobs with active government labor agreements.
• Employers need to maintain active labor agreements.
• The LA Stream functions in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and technology industries.

Processing Time & Visa Costs

Estimated Processing Times

• TRT Stream: Relatively quicker (within months).
• Direct Entry Stream: Generally slower, given that the skills assessment itself consumes good time.
• Labor Agreement Stream: Time taken differs accordingly based on the terms of the agreement.

Visa Application Fees

• Primary Applicant: The base visa application fee must be paid by the primary applicant.
• Additional Applicants: An additional charge is made for each dependent listed in the application, with that charge differing according to the dependent’s age.
• Additional Costs: Applicants may also incur costs for health checks, police certificates, and document processing.

(Note: Exact fees depend on current government rates and individual circumstances.)

How to Increase Your Chances of Subclass 186 Visa Approval?

• Ensure that your skills assessment is accurate (this is critical for Direct Entry).
• Check for employer compliance with sponsorship obligations.
• Submit complete and clear documents.
• Fulfill the English requirements with a strong test score.
• Go to a registered migration agent for more complicated cases.

What Are the Advantages of Opting for Abhinav Immigration Services for Subclass 186 Application?

• Over 30 Years of Experience in Immigration.
• High Success Rates for Employer-Related Visas.
• End-to-End Support (Skill Assessment, Documentation, Submitting).

Let’s get started; for more information or assistance, connect with our experts today.

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