If you currently hold a long-term job offer from an Australian employer, applying for the 186 ENS visa is the shortest path from working to permanent residency. This is a permanent visa under the employer-sponsored stream, allowing you to live and work in Australia long-term. This guide walks through the step-by-step process, the requirements of the three streams, and the documentation you need to prepare. The My Second World team has compiled this based on the current regulations of the Australian immigration authority, to help you picture the pathway clearly before you begin.
What is the 186 ENS visa and why consider it
The subclass 186 visa belongs to the Employer Nomination Scheme, abbreviated as ENS. This visa grants permanent resident status directly, unlike temporary visas that must be renewed repeatedly.
Once you hold this visa, you may work and reside in Australia for an unlimited period. You are also entitled to Medicare, may sponsor family members, and may apply for citizenship once you meet the residency requirements.
The core feature of this stream is sponsorship by an approved Australian business. As a result, a genuine full-time job offer is a mandatory foundation.
The three streams of the 186 ENS visa
Before applying for the 186 ENS visa, you need to determine which stream you fall under, as the requirements and documentation differ significantly between streams. The ENS programme has three distinct streams.
- Direct Entry (Direct nomination): for people who have not previously worked long-term in Australia, or who are currently overseas. This is the most common stream for Vietnamese workers.
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT): for people who already hold a 482 visa (Skills in Demand) or the former 457 visa and have worked for their sponsoring employer for some time.
- Labour Agreement: applies where a business has its own labour agreement with the government, usually for specific industries.
In addition, ANZSCO is the occupation code system the immigration authority uses to determine whether your job falls within the sponsorable occupation list. Identifying the correct occupation code from the outset helps avoid errors later on.
General requirements every applicant must meet
Regardless of stream, you must still satisfy a set of foundational requirements. These are basic requirements relating to personal circumstances and capability.
- Age: generally under 45 years of age at the time of application, unless an exemption applies.
- English: achieve Competent English, equivalent to IELTS 6.0 in all four skills or an accepted equivalent certificate.
- Job position: nominated by an approved Australian business for a genuine full-time position.
- Occupation: the job falls within the occupation list relevant to the visa stream.
- Health and background: meet health examination and character/police clearance requirements.
In addition, some cases are exempt from the age limit or the English requirement, such as high-income earners or those in special occupation groups. However, these are exceptions and are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Specific requirements of the Direct Entry stream
The Direct Entry stream is the choice of most workers applying for the 186 ENS visa from overseas. In exchange for that convenience, this stream has stricter skills requirements.
- Skills assessment: you must have a positive skills assessment result from the authority appropriate to your ANZSCO code.
- Work experience: generally requires at least 3 years of experience relevant to the nominated occupation, within the last 5 years.
- Qualifications: meet the qualification or certification requirements set by the assessing authority for that occupation.
You should therefore check early which authority assesses your occupation and what documentation is required. Information on skills assessing authorities is published at Skills Assessment Australia.
Specific requirements of the Temporary Residence Transition stream
The TRT stream is for those who have already spent time with an Australian business via a temporary work visa. Its biggest feature is more flexible skills requirements.
- Visa history: currently hold, or have previously held, a 482 visa (Skills in Demand) or the former 457 visa.
- Employment period: have worked full-time for the sponsoring employer for at least the minimum period under current requirements.
- Same occupation, same employer: continuing to work in the occupation that was sponsored, with the same business.
One advantage of this stream is that it generally does not require lodging a skills assessment, and the age requirement is also more flexible in certain situations. As a result, people who have worked stably in Australia often prefer to transition to TRT once they meet the time requirement.
Quick comparison of the two common streams
The table below helps you picture the differences between the two most commonly used streams. You should compare these against your own actual circumstances.
| Tiêu chí | Direct Entry | Temporary Residence Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant | Workers overseas or without long-term work in Australia | People who already hold a 482 / 457 visa and work for their sponsoring employer |
| Skills assessment | Mandatory | Usually not mandatory |
| Experience | At least 3 years within the last 5 years | Based on time worked for the sponsoring employer |
| Age requirement | Under 45 years of age (exemptions aside) | More flexible in certain cases |
Note that specific thresholds may be adjusted over time by the immigration authority. You should therefore confirm again with an official source before lodging your application.
The step-by-step process for applying for the 186 ENS visa
The process for applying for the 186 ENS visa consists of two major stages: employer nomination and the applicant’s visa application. These two stages may be lodged simultaneously or one after the other.
- Identify the occupation and appropriate stream: compare the job with the ANZSCO code and occupation list, then choose either the Direct Entry or TRT stream.
- The business prepares and lodges the nomination: the employer demonstrates that the position is genuine, full-time, and meets salary and labour market requirements.
- The applicant completes the skills assessment: for the Direct Entry stream, you lodge an application with the assessing authority and wait for a positive result.
- Prepare the English certificate and qualifications: sit for a certificate meeting the required level, and have educational and experience documents translated and notarised.
- Lodge the visa application: the applicant submits the visa application via an ImmiAccount, attaching all documentation and paying the fee under the current fee schedule.
- Medical exam and police certificate: undergo a health examination at a designated facility and provide a police clearance certificate when requested.
- Provide additional information and await the outcome: respond to any request from the immigration authority for additional information within the deadline, then wait for the visa decision.
Throughout the process, maintaining close communication between the applicant and the sponsoring business is a key factor. Even a small discrepancy between the nomination application and the visa application can extend processing time.
Documentation to prepare
Preparing complete documentation from the outset significantly shortens assessment time. Below are the core groups of documents applicants typically need to submit.
- A valid passport and personal identity documents.
- A job offer letter and employment contract with the sponsoring business.
- A positive skills assessment result (for the Direct Entry stream).
- An English certificate at Competent English level or documents proving exemption.
- Qualifications, transcripts and employment experience references.
- Health examination results and police clearance certificates.
All Vietnamese-language documents generally need to be translated and notarised into English. You should therefore allow sufficient time for translation and legalisation.
Tips for a stronger application
A well-prepared application not only meets the requirements but also demonstrates the genuineness of the employment relationship. This is something the immigration authority pays particular attention to.
First, make sure the nominated occupation matches the actual job and the ANZSCO code. Inconsistency between job title, duties and occupation code is a common reason for refusal.
In addition, the sponsoring business needs to have genuine financial capacity and be genuinely operating. The immigration authority may request evidence of business activity to rule out sham sponsorships.
In addition, all timelines, such as the validity of the English certificate and the skills assessment result, need to remain valid at the time of lodgement. Occupation lists and requirements can change, so you should check the information from the Australian Department of Home Affairs before making a decision.
Summary
In summary, applying for the 186 ENS visa is a path to Australian migration under the employer-sponsored stream, going through two stages of nomination and application, with three streams: Direct Entry, TRT and Labour Agreement. Direct Entry suits workers applying from overseas and requires a skills assessment plus three years of experience, while TRT is for those who have already built a history with a business via a 482 or 457 visa.
As a next step, you should identify the ANZSCO code for your occupation, check the occupation list, and discuss sponsorship possibilities with your employer. Then, plan for your English certificate and skills assessment as early as possible.
To have your profile reviewed and a pathway built to suit your specific circumstances, you can talk to My Second World’s team of migration consultants.
