How can my employer apply to nominate me for the subclass 186 visa

The  Employer Nomination Scheme visa (SC 186) visa is a PR visa for migrants who wish to permanently settle in Australia through employer sponsorship.With this visa you and your family can live, work, and study in Australia permanently, with a pathway to citizenship. This visa has 3 streams thorough which you can apply for PR. You have to select the most approriate stream according to your circumstances for a successful outcome for your visa application. The 3 main streams are:

1. Direct Entry Stream: If you are applying for the  186 visa directly, you can explore this stream whether you are onshore or offshore. If you currently hold any temporary visa other than the 482 visa and you are hoping to apply for PR directly then this stream is for you.
2. Temporary Residence Transition stream: You can apply for this stream if you are currently holding an 482 visa.
3. Labour Agreement Stream: This stream is for applicants whose employers have an agreement with the Australian government.

• Have an active and lawfully operating business
• Have no adverse information on the business
• Have a genuine need for the employee
• The position for the employee must be for the business activities and not for hire for other unrelated businessees.
• Pay the Skilling Australian Fund levy
• Comply with Australian immigration and workplace laws
• Offer a position to the employee which is full time for at least 2 years.
• The contract should not limit the position for 2 years
• Pay the Annual Market salary rate if the salary is less than AUD 250,000
• Pay at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) which as for the year 2025-2026 stands at AUD 76,515
• Show that the eemploye is eligible for any licence, registration or membership.

• Nomination application fee: AUD540 (subject to stream and location), there is no refund if the application is not successful
• Visa application fee for the year 2025-2026:
  • Main applicant: AUD 4,910
  • Dependent above 18: AUD 2,455
  • Dependent under 18: AUD 1,230
• Skilling Australian Fund Levy:
  • Small (Annual turnover less than AUD 10 million- AUD 3,000 one-off
  • Other (Annual turnover of AUD 10 million or more- AUD 5,000 one-off

• The  SAF levy is tax deductible
• Only ministers of religion and religious assistants nominated under the Labour Agreement streams of the TSS or ENS visas are exempt from the SAF levy
• Refunds of the levy and the nomination application will be refunded in very limited circumstances for example where you have withdrawn the nomination application before a decision was made.