Australia Employer Nomination Scheme Direct Entry visa

Skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List.

• Eligible occupation

  Your nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Employer nomination

  You must be nominated by an Australian employer whose business is actively and lawfully operating. You must apply within 6 months of the nomination being approved; the nomination must be approved before the visa can be granted.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Nominated salary

  For subclass 186 nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD79,423. Where the proposed annual salary is less than AUD250,000, the employer must show that both the annual market salary rate and the worker’s pay, excluding non-monetary benefits, are at least the relevant income threshold, and that the worker will not be paid less than the annual market salary rate.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Relevant experience

  Unless exempt, most applicants need at least 3 years of relevant work experience in their occupation. Applicants exempt from the skills assessment requirement are also exempt from the work experience requirement.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Skills assessment

  Most applicants need a positive skills assessment for the nominated position before applying. It must not have been issued more than 3 years before the application. The route page lists exemptions for specified academics, scientists, researchers and technical specialists, and certain subclass 444 or 461 visa holders who worked for the nominating employer.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Occupational registration

  You must hold a licence, registration or professional membership if it is mandatory for your occupation in the state or territory where you intend to work.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Age

  Usually, you must be under 45 when you apply. The route page lists exemptions for specified academic and scientific nominations and certain subclass 444 or 461 visa holders who worked for the nominating employer.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Competent English

  You must have at least Competent English. One way to demonstrate it is an IELTS Academic or General Training score of at least 6 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking; the official Competent English page lists other accepted evidence.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Health

  You and any family members applying with you must meet the health requirement. The department might ask for health information about family members who are not coming to Australia.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Character

  You and family members aged 16 or over who apply with you must meet the character requirement. The department might ask for character information about family members who are not coming to Australia.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian values statement

  If you are 18 or over, you must have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian Government debt

  If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Where you can apply

  You can apply from inside or outside Australia, but not while in immigration clearance. If applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Main applicant visa application charge; limited concessions applyimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$6,140 per person
• Second instalment for each applying family member aged 18 or over who has less than Functional Englishimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$4,890 per family member
• Employer-paid ENS nomination charge; subject to stream and locationimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$540 once
• Employer-paid Skilling Australians Fund levy: business with annual turnover below AUD10 millionimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$3,000 once
• Employer-paid Skilling Australians Fund levy: business with annual turnover of AUD10 million or moreimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$5,000 once

1. Get ready

   • Check your occupation

     When you arrive

     Check that the position your employer will nominate is on the Core Skills Occupation List.

   • Get your skills assessed

     When you arrive

     Unless exempt, obtain a positive skills assessment before applying and check that it remains valid.

     You’ll need: Positive skills assessment, or evidence of an exemption

   • Prepare your English evidence

     When you arrive

     Obtain evidence of Competent English before lodging your application, including test results where needed.

     You’ll need: Competent English evidence

   • Get the nomination reference

     When you arrive

     Ask your employer to submit its nomination and give you its Transaction Reference Number; you do not need to wait for nomination approval to apply.

     You’ll need: Nomination Transaction Reference Number

   • Gather your identity and work records

     When you arrive

     Prepare your passport pages, CV, qualifications, work-experience evidence and any mandatory occupational registration evidence.

     You’ll need: Passport pages, CV or résumé, Qualifications and work-experience evidence, Licence or registration evidence, if applicable

   • Gather character and family records

     When you arrive

     Prepare the police certificates and, if family members are applying with you, the relationship, dependency and consent documents that apply.

     You’ll need: Police certificates, where required, Family identity and relationship evidence, where applicable, Child consent documents, where applicable

2. Apply

   • Apply in ImmiAccount

     When you arrive

     Complete the online application, attach your documents, pay the application charge and keep the Transaction Reference Number.

     You’ll need: Supporting documents, Nomination Transaction Reference Number

   • Check for requests

     When you arrive

     Check ImmiAccount for requests for more information or health examinations and provide what the department asks for.

     You’ll need: Additional documents, if requested

3. Visa

   • Check the visa decision

     When you arrive

     Keep the written decision, which gives your visa grant number, start date and conditions if the visa is granted.

     You’ll need: Visa grant notice, if granted

4. Travel

   • Check your travel documents

     When you arrive

     Before travelling, check that you have a valid visa and a valid passport or other travel document.

     You’ll need: Valid passport or other travel document, Valid visa

5. Settle in

   • Begin your nominated employment

     1 day after you arrive

     If the visa was granted outside Australia, you agree to begin work within 6 months of entering Australia; the department expects you to work for your nominating employer for at least 2 years.

Permanent residence and, if eligible, Australian citizenship.

• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/employer-subsite/Pages/salary-requirements.as…Official
• Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) Direct Entry streamimmi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/gl…Official
• Cost of sponsoring immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english…Official

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.