Important terms 2
Part 1 Introduction 6
Basic requirements 6
Bridging visas 8
Dependants 9
Part 2 Nomination 13
Making an employer nomination application 13
Independent contractors 19
Part 3 Categories 20
Making a visa application 20
Agreement stream The Agreement stream is for applicants who are being sponsored by an
Australian employer through a tailored and negotiated labour agreement.
Applicant The applicant is the person (or persons) applying for the visa.
Bridging visa A Bridging visa is a temporary visa that allows a person to remain lawfully
in Australia for various reasons, such as while awaiting the outcome of a
substantive visa application. The type of Bridging visa granted will depend on
the persons specific circumstances.
E-lodgement E-lodgement is an application made using an electronic form using the facility
made available on the departments website.
Employer Nomination
Scheme The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) is a permanent employer sponsored
visa program which allows Australian employers to sponsor foreign skilled
workers to fill vacancies in their business.
Exemptions Exemptions allow certain requirements to be set aside. They are only available
in limited circumstances.
Independent contractor An independent contractor is a person employed under a contract for services.
Independent contractors usually have the freedom to use their own discretion
at work, and are not subject to the direction and control of the employer.
Market salary rate The market salary rate is the salary the average Australian would be paid in the
same position in the same location.
Nominator The employer who is seeking to nominate a foreign skilled worker to fill a skilled
vacancy in their business.
Nominee The person who has been nominated by the nominator to fill the position.
Regional Sponsored
Migration Scheme The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) is a permanent employer
sponsored visa which allows Australian employers in regional, remote or low
population growth areas of Australia to sponsor foreign skilled workers to fill
vacancies in their business.
Semi-skilled occupations Semi-skilled occupations are classified at ANZSCO skill level 4 and below.
Spouse A person is the spouse of another person if they are in a married relationship.
Substantive visa A substantive visa is a visa other than a Bridging visa, Criminal Justice visa or
Enforcement visa.
Temporary Residence
Transition stream The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders
who have worked with an Australian employer for at least 2 years out of the
last 3 years in the nominated position with their nominating employer, and their
employer wants to offer them a permanent position in the same occupation.
stream
Page 6
Approved
Employer Requirements:
Page 25
Nomination Scheme Temporary Age
ENS Employer Health and
(ENS) subclass Residence Visa application English language
lodges nomination character
EN186 Transition via e-lodgement capability
via e-lodgement assessment
visa stream Page 20 Skills
(Australia-wide) Page 13 requirements Page 23
Page 6
Refused
Page 6 Pages 2122
Page 25
Fee Fee
Agreement Page 11 Page 11 Dependants
stream
Page 9
Page 6
Certification by
Direct Entry
Regional Certifying
stream
Body (RCB)
Page 6
Page 17
Regional Sponsored
Approved
Migration Scheme
Regional
Requirements: (visa obligations)
Sponsored
Temporary Age Page 25
Migration Scheme RSMS Employer Health and
Residence Visa application English language
(RSMS) subclass lodges nomination character
Transition via e-lodgement capability
RN187 via e-lodgement assessment
stream Page 20 Skills
visa (Regional Page 13 Page 23
Page 6 requirements
Australia only) Refused
Pages 2122
Page 6 Page 25
No fee Fee
Agreement Page 12 Page 11 Dependants
stream
Page 9
Page 6
Part 1 Introduction
Basic requirements
Categories
The permanent employer sponsored program allows employers to sponsor highly skilled foreign workers
who are currently in Australia on a temporary basis or located outside of Australia for permanent
residence to fill vacancies in their business.
There are 2 employer sponsored visa categories:
the Employer Nomination (Class EN) Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
the Regional Employer Nomination (Class RN) Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
(Subclass187).
Overview
The permanent employer sponsored program:
allows Australian employers to satisfy genuine skills shortages by recruiting skilled workers
enhances Australias ability to compete globally
ensures integrity of the skilled migration program
generally ensures there is a net benefit to Australia.
Each visa category is made up of 3 streams:
the Direct Entry stream is for applicants who are untested in the Australian labour market, or
have not held a subclass 457 visa for at least 2 years out of the last 3 years with their nominating
employer or who are applying directly from outside Australia. Applicants who have a nomination that
was lodged with the department before 1 July 2012 must apply for this stream.
the Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked
for their employer for at least 2 years out of the last 3 years in the nominated position with their
nominating employer, and the employer wants to offer them a permanent position in that same
occupation.
the Agreement stream is for applicants who are being sponsored by an employer through a tailored
and negotiated labour agreement.
Nomination
Employers who are considering nominating a person under the ENS or RSMS may locate suitable people
in various ways, including:
through their efforts of testing the Australian labour market
personal contact and/or experience with the nominee
recommendation from third parties
through the SkillSelect database.
All prospective applicants must first be nominated by their direct employer in Australia. The nomination
must be received through the departments website using e-lodgement.
SkillSelect
SkillSelect is a web-based interface that enables skilled workers interested in migrating to Australia to
record their details to be considered for a skilled visa through an Expression of Interest (EOI). Australian
employers or state and territory governments can find intending migrants through SkillSelect and
nominate workers to apply for skilled visas.
An EOI may increase the chances of a skilled worker finding an employer who is willing to nominate them
for migration for a skilled visa. An EOI is not the same as a visa application. EOIs are optional for the ENS
and RSMS. If you have pre-arranged an employer to nominate you to work in Australia, it is not necessary
for you to register an EOI in SkillSelect.
SkillSelect is available from the departments website www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/ You may remain
on the database for up to 24 months, or until your migration to Australia.
Bridging visas
If you are in Australia when you make a valid application for your ENS or RSMS visa, you will
usually be granted an associated Bridging visa that will allow you to remain lawfully in Australia until a
decision is made on your ENS or RSMS visa application. If you hold a substantive visa when you make a
valid application for the ENS or RSMS visa, you are likely to be granted a Bridging visa A.
However, if you do not hold a substantive visa but a Bridging visa A or Bridging visa C, you are likely to be
granted a Bridging visa C.
Bridging visas A and C do not allow you to leave and return to Australia. If you hold a Bridging visa A
and you need to travel outside Australia while your ENS or RSMS visa application is being processed,
you must apply for a Bridging visa B by completing form 1006 Application for a Bridging visa B to seek
permission to travel, which is available from the departments website at
www.immi.gov.au/allforms/application-forms/
If you hold a Bridging visa C, you cannot be granted a Bridging visa B.
There is no charge to apply for Bridging visas A or C. However, there is a charge to apply for a Bridging
visa B. Refer to the departments website at www.immi.gov.au/fees-charges
If you are outside Australia when you make a valid application for your ENS or RSMS visa you will
not be automatically granted an associated Bridging visa. If you already hold another substantive visa when
you make the valid application for the ENS or RSMS visa and you wish to use that visa to travel to Australia,
you can apply after you have entered Australia for a Bridging visa A, which, if granted, will allow you to remain
in Australia. To apply for a Bridging visa A, you need to complete form 1005 Application for a bridging visa, to
replace a ceased bridging visa, to change bridging visa conditions or to provide lawful status during judicial
review which is available from the departments website at www.immi.gov.au/allforms/application-forms/
Dependants
Your application may cover a family unit, namely a main applicant and, if applicable, your partner and
dependants. It is important to note that your dependants must satisfy health and character requirements
before your application can be approved.
Additional charges may apply. Refer to the departments website at www.immi.gov.au/fees-charges
Partner
Your partner is your spouse or de facto partner.
Dependent children
A dependent child may be your child or stepchild. Stepchild means a child of your current partner or a
child of your former partner when the child is aged under 18 years and you have a legal responsibility to
care for that child (for example, when your former partner is deceased and you have legal custody of your
former partners child). You will need to provide a certified copy of the overseas or Australian court order
which you have in relation to the child.
A child of any age is not considered dependent if he or she is married, engaged to be married or in a
defacto relationship.
Where a dependent adult child holds a subclass 457 visa, and is included in a permanent employer
sponsored visa application, they will be considered dependent for the Temporary Residence Transition
stream irrespective of whether they are now married or in a de facto relationship.
English requirements
The English language requirements for the permanent employer sponsored program is based on the
International English Language Testing (IELTS). More information is available on the IELTS website at
www.ielts.org/
The English language level you must satisfy will depend on the stream you apply for.
Temporary Residence Transition stream applicants must possess vocational English. This is
equivalent to a minimum IELTS score of 5 in each of the 4 test components of speaking, listening,
writing and reading.
Direct Entry stream applicants must possess competent English, which is equivalent to a minimum
IELTS score of 6 on each of the 4 test components.
Agreement stream applicants will need to meet the English language requirement specified in the
relevant agreement for the position.
The IELTS test must be completed within the 3-year period immediately before you apply for your visa.
Functional English
Ways to demonstrate this level of English language proficiency include:
an average IELTS score of 4.5 for the 4 test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing).
IELTS test scores are valid for 3 years. The nearest test centre can be found on the IDP Education
website www.idp.com/
an Occupational English Test (OET) score which is at least equivalent to IELTS 4.5
evidence you have been assessed by an Adult Migrant English Program provider in Australia as
having functional English
completion of at least 5 consecutive years of full-time study in a secondary education institution
where all the tuition was delivered in English
you hold a current passport from the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Canada or the
Republic of Ireland
evidence of a trade, diploma or higher qualification awarded by an institution in or outside Australia
which involved at least 2 years of full-time study and all instruction was in English
evidence of completion of at least one year of full-time or equivalent study in Australia for a diploma
or higher qualification and all instruction was in English.
Migrating family members who are aged 18 years or over must either have functional English or pay the
second instalment of the visa application charge.
Method of payment
Pay by credit card during the e-lodgement process.
Visa evidencing
When your visa is granted you do not require a visa label to be placed in your passport. Your visa and any
conditions associated with it, including when your visa will expire, will be linked to the passport details you
provide. The department can provide a visa label if required. Charges apply.
You can check your visa details online through the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.
For more information on VEVO or the charges visit the departments website at
www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/vevo.htm
When making an employer nomination application under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) or
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS), you must meet all the requirements outlined under
common criteria and any additional criteria relevant to the stream you wish to nominate a position against.
Active operation
In addition to the employers business being legally established, it must also be actively operating.
Businesses that have been legally established but do not have any business activity will not meet the
requirement to be actively operating.
The employer must demonstrate that their business has been actively operating for a period of at least
6months before lodging a nomination.
A business would be considered to have commenced active operation once all the infrastructure
necessary for the activities of the business is in place and the business has commenced providing
services to customers/clients. The entity must have operated for at least 6 months from the time it
actively commenced operations to satisfy the requirement to be actively operating.
The evidence needed to establish the date of active operation commenced depends on the type of
business activity undertaken. For example:
a person operating a restaurant would be considered to have commenced active operation on the
day on which the restaurant was officially opened to the public
a person providing a consultancy service would be considered to have commenced active operation
on the day they were awarded their first consultancy contract.
A business that has operated for less than 12 months must provide Business Activity Statements for
each complete quarter from the time of commencement of operations to the time of lodgement of the
nomination, to demonstrate that active operation.
In addition, they may provide a combination of the following documentation, depending on the nature of
the business activity:
contract of sale relating to the purchase of the business (where the nominator purchased an existing
business)
lease agreement relating to business premises
evidence of lease or purchase of machinery, equipment, furniture etc.
contracts to provide services
evidence of employment of staff
business bank statements covering the period of operation
letter of support from the accountant to the business.
No adverse information
There must be no adverse information known about the business or a person associated with the
business. The department may disregard any adverse information if it is satisfied that it is reasonable to
do so.
However, any adverse information which is known to the department will be taken into account in
deciding the applicants sponsorship application.
How do I determine the market salary rate for the nominated position?
The way in which you demonstrate the market salary rate differs depending on whether there is an
Australian performing equivalent work in the workplace.
For ENS
Additional specific requirements are:
the nominated position relates to an occupation that is included on the consolidated sponsored
occupation list. This list is available on the departments website www.immi.gov.au/skilled/sol/
nominating employers will need to prove that they provide training to Australians.
If your business has been operating in Australia for 12 months or more, you must be able to demonstrate
that you meet the prescribed benchmark for the training of Australian citizens or Australian permanent
residents. If your business has been operating for less than 12 months, you must be able to demonstrate
that you have an auditable plan to meet this training benchmark.
For RSMS
Additional specific requirements are:
the nominated position relates to an occupation that is classified at skill level 1 to 3 within the
Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) framework. This list
is available on the departments website www.immi.gov.au/asri/
the nominated position is located in regional Australia
the employer demonstrates that the position cannot be filled by an Australian citizen or Australian
permanent resident living in the same local area
the nominating business is located in the regional area in which the nominated position exists
a Regional Certifying Body has assessed the nomination and provided advice to the department as
to whether certain specific requirements for the nomination have been met.
IMPORTANT
The department will also assess the nomination. Employers should not assume that the department will
approve a nomination just because positive advice has been provided by an RCB.
For a list of RCBs visit the departments website at www.immi.gov.au/skills/regional-certifying-bodies.htm
Agreement stream
A labour agreement is a formal agreement between an Australian employer and the Australian
government which allows for the recruitment of a specified number of skilled workers from overseas in
response to identified skills shortages in the Australian labour market.
A labour agreement is designed to ensure that overseas recruitment supports the longer term
improvement of employment and training opportunities for Australians. Employers are required to make
commitments to the employment, education, training and career opportunities of Australians as part of
the agreement. Employers must also demonstrate there is a genuine employer-employee relationship.
A labour agreement can include the permanent resident visa ENS subclass 186 visa or RSMS
subclass187 visa, as well as the temporary resident subclass 457 Temporary Work (Skilled) visa. The
information in this booklet only relates to the permanent resident visa subclasses.
An employer wishing to enter into a labour agreement will be asked to provide information including:
the background of the company
the benefits the agreement will provide to Australia
the types of occupation and skill level sought
evidence of skills shortage
the level of English language skills required to perform the work
salary and work conditions
the employers training programs.
People who are currently on the SkillSelect database may be nominated by an employer under a labour
agreement.
The negotiation period for a labour agreement can be around 6 months. The agreement comes into effect
when it has been signed by all parties involved with the negotiations.
A Centre of Excellence located in Perth, Melbourne or Sydney will process all employer nominations
and visa applications lodged under a labour agreement. The employer will be notified which Centre of
Excellence will be responsible for their Labour Agreement.
In the case of a labour agreements, nominations will be assessed against the criteria specified in the
relevant labour agreement.
When making an application, you are required to meet the criteria outlined in:
Step 1: Visa assessment criteria
Step 2: Health and character.
IMPORTANT
You should not make any travel arrangements or finalise your affairs until the department has advised you
in writing that your visa application has been approved.
Medical examination
You may be asked to be examined by a doctor, selected by Australian authorities. This usually involves
a chest x-ray, medical examination and possibly some laboratory or specialist tests. A Commonwealth
Medical Officer will decide what is required. Any costs are your responsibility. All members of your
immediate family must meet the standards for your application to be successful. Dependents who are not
planning to migrate must also be examined.
If you are outside Australia when you apply for your visa, forms for your medical examination, together
with directions to listed doctors, will be provided by staff processing your migration application. If
you are pregnant, you are advised not to be x-rayed until after the birth of your baby, meaning that
your application may not be finished until then. Alternatively, although not preferred by the Australian
Government, you may care to discuss with your radiologist the use of a lead shielded x-ray.
If you are in Australia when you apply for your visa, you should arrange to have the medical examination
and any associated tests completed before the visa application(s) are lodged. The necessary forms
(26and 160) are available from the departments website www.immi.gov.au/allforms/
You may have already had a health assessment for the visa you currently hold. However, the department
reserves the right to request additional health assessments as part of this visa application process.
Doctors
Doctors may charge you fees in accordance with their usual practice. They may recommend that you
have other treatment or specialist consultations. This may be in your own interest because listed doctors
know what is required for the assessment of your examination results in Australia.
Character
To enter Australia, applicants must be of good character.
In order for the Australian Government to determine whether you and your dependants aged 16 years or
over (including non-migrating family members) are of good character, you will be asked to provide police
checks for each country you have resided in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years. This includes
Australia if you have resided in Australia for a total of 12 months or more over the last 10 years.
In some instances, applicants may also be required to provide personal details to enable additional
character checks to be done. Complete and include with your application, a form 80 Personal particulars
for character assessment for each applicant aged 16 years or over included in your application. This form
is available from offices of the department or from the departments website
www.immi.gov.au/allforms/application-forms/
To avoid unnecessary delays in processing your visa application, you can begin to seek police
checks before you lodge your application. More information on penal clearances is available from the
departments website www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/
Note: You may send a certified copy of your police check, however, the department may request the
original police check at a later date.
Visa refusal
If your ENS subclass 186 or RSMS subclass 187 visa application is refused and you wish to seek review
of the decision, you may be eligible to do so through the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT)
More information is available on the MRT website www.mrt-rrt.gov.au/
Visa obligations
Visa cancellation
The department has the power to cancel your RSMS visa if you have not made a genuine effort to
commence employment with your RSMS sponsor within 6 months of:
your first entry to Australia if you were granted an RSMS visa while you were outside of Australia, or
the visa grant if you were granted an RSMS visa while you were in Australia.
The department may also seek to cancel your RSMS visa if you have commenced employment but:
the employment has terminated within 2 years of commencement, or
you did not make a genuine effort to remain in the nominated employment for the period.
You will be given an opportunity to provide, in writing, the reasons why your visa should not be cancelled.
To ensure you have provided all the necessary documents with your completed application form it is
recommended that you use the checklist on the departments website www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/
when you prepare your application.
The information below provides you with some general guidance on preparing your application.
Other documents
You must provide all documents necessary to support your claims to eligibility when you make your
application.
If you cannot provide all the documents when you make your application, you must tell the department
which documents are missing and when you expect to be able to provide them.
If you do not provide all the necessary documents a decision may be made on the information you have
provided. It is in your interests to support your application with as much information as possible at the
time of application.
Certified copies
Do not supply original documents with your application. If we require an original document at any stage,
we will ask for it.
You should provide certified copies of original documents. This means a copy which is authorised as
a true copy by a person before whom a Statutory Declaration may be made. Such authorised persons
include the following: a magistrate, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, Commissioner
for Affidavits, a person before whom a Statutory Declaration may be made under the law of the state in
which the declaration is made, a solicitor, registered medical practitioner, bank manager, postal manager
and Australian Postal Corporation Officer with 5 years service.
English translations
Documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by an English translation completed
by a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
You should ask at your nearest office of the department for more information about how to get your
documents translated.
We suggest you check off each of the following documents as you attach it to your application to ensure
that you include all necessary documents.
All applicants
The visa application should be lodged after or at the same time the employer nomination is lodged. At
the latest, the visa application must be lodged within 6 months from when the employer nomination was
approved.
All applications will be processed at a Centre of Excellence in Australia. This information booklet explains
how to make visa applications and how they are processed.
You must have a visa to travel to and stay in Australia.
You should read all information and instructions about the class of visa you want. If you do not think you
can qualify for a visa, you may wish to reconsider whether to apply because any visa charge paid will not
be refunded if you are unsuccessful.
Bridging visas
If you apply in Australia for a substantive visa that can be granted to you in Australia, you will usually be
granted an associated Bridging visa to allow you to remain lawfully in Australia until a decision is made
on your substantive visa application. This includes if you seek merits review of a decision to refuse your
substantive visa application. The type of Bridging visa you would be granted depends on your specific
circumstances and visa status when you applied for the substantive visa.
The initial Bridging visa you are granted will only allow you to remain in Australia and will cease
immediately if you leave Australia. If you wish to travel overseas while your substantive visa application is
being processed, you should contact the case officer who is dealing with your application, to discuss your
options.
Family members
For most visas, family members (partners, dependent children or dependent relatives) who apply at the
same time can apply on the same form and pay one charge. A child who is born after an application
is made (but before it is decided) will be automatically included in the parents application, once the
department is notified of the details of the newborn child. In some circumstances, a partner or dependent
child can be added to an application.
Limitations on applications
If you are in Australia, you may be prevented from making further applications if, for example:
you do not hold a substantive visa or Bridging visa A, B or C, or
you have had a visa cancelled or refused since you last arrived in Australia.
In these cases, the department can provide you with information about which visas, if any, you can apply
for.
Withdrawal of applications
You can withdraw your application by advising the department in writing at any time before a decision is
made. Any charges that you paid at the time of application are usually not refunded.
Interviews
If you are invited to attend an interview, you must attend on the date and time agreed with the
department. If you do not, the department can process your application and make a decision on the
basis of the information it already has.
Invitation to comment
If another person gives the department information that could result in you being refused a visa, the
department will generally give you an opportunity to comment on the information. You will need to
comment by the date stated in the request.
Visa decisions
Processing times vary between offices. You will be notified by the department when a decision has been
made on your application. The processing time service standards are available from the departments
website www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/client-services-charter/visas/8.0.htm
If you are refused a visa, you will be notified why you were refused and, if applicable, where you can apply
for a merits review of the decision. You will be notified of your time to seek review of your time to depart
Australia.
When the department advises you, or a person you have authorised to act and receive communication on
your behalf, of the decision on your visa application, you will be taken to have received the notification:
7 working days after the date of the letter (if sent in Australia), or
21 working days after the date of the letter (if sent outside Australia).
If the notification is handed to you, you will be taken to have been notified at that moment.
If the notification is faxed or emailed to you, you will be taken to have been notified at the end of that day.
If you are applying for a Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa, you will need to ensure the
nominating business is located in one of the following postcodes to qualify as a regional employer for the
purposes of RSMS.
A Regional Certifying Body will need to assess the nomination against set criteria if you are applying under
the RSMS Direct Entry stream. For more information on RCBs please see page 17 of this booklet or visit
the departments website www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-187/
For a list of Regional Certifying Bodies visit the departments website
www.immi.gov.au/skills/regional-certifying-bodies.htm
For further information on RSMS please consult page 6 of this booklet or visit the departments website
www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-187/
RSMS postcodes
Australian Capital Territory 4517 to 4519
Entire territory 4522 to 4899
New South Wales (except Sydney, South Australia
Newcastle and Wollongong) Entire state
2250 to 2251 (Central Coast)
Tasmania
2256 to 2263 (Central Coast)
Entire state
2311 to 2312
2328 to 2411 Victoria (except Melbourne
2420 to 2490 metropolitan area)
2536 to 2551 3211 to 3334
2575 to 2594 3340 to 3424
2618 to 2739 3430 to 3649
2787 to 2898 3658 to 3749
3753
Northern Territory
3756
Entire territory
3758
Queensland (except the greater 3762
Brisbane area and the Gold Coast) 3764
4124 to 4125 3778 to 3781
4133 3783
4211 3797
4270 to 4272 3799
4275 3816 to 3909
4280 3921 to 3925
4285 3945 to 3974
4287 3979
4307 to 4499 3981 to 3996
4515
Western Australia
Entire state