| Employer Nomination Scheme Visa ( Subclass 856 / | | | | ?? Have been nominated in a highly paid senior |
| 121) | | | | executive position with an annual salary, at the time of |
| The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Australian | | | | writing this article, of at least $165 000. |
| permanent residence visa programme allows | | | | Subclass 121 (Migrant) vs Subclass 856 (Residence) |
| Australian employers to pick highly skilled people and | | | | The Australian Employer Nomination Scheme |
| nominate them for a permanent visa to Australia | | | | permanent residence visas can be applied for either in |
| where they have not been able to fill the nominated | | | | Australia or outside of Australia. If you apply outside of |
| position from within Australia. | | | | Australia different criteria will apply compared to if you |
| Application Stages to the Employer Nomination | | | | apply in Australia for an ENS scheme permanent visa |
| Scheme Visa | | | | to Australia. |
| There are two stages to this visa process: | | | | Subclass 121 is the offshore subclass of visa under |
| 1) The employer applies to the Australian Department | | | | which you should apply if you are applying from |
| of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for approval of | | | | outside of Australia. |
| the nomination of the worker, | | | | Subclass 856 is the onshore subclass of visa if you |
| 2) The nominated worker applies for the visa and | | | | are in Australia and are applying for Australian |
| must satisfy the relevant criteria. | | | | permanent residence with the support of, and |
| Basic Eligibility Requirements | | | | nomination of, your Australian employer. |
| There are a number of basic requirements which the | | | | Further Eligibility Requirements |
| employer must satisfy in order to make a successful | | | | Please note that generally all visa applicants regardless |
| nomination under the Employer Nomination Scheme | | | | of whether you live in Australia or offshore must |
| permanent residence pathway. | | | | satisfy a list of basic criteria to apply successfully for a |
| The employer must ensure that the position nominated | | | | permanent residence visa under the Employer |
| is highly skilled and is on the Employer Scheme | | | | Nomination Scheme pathway. |
| Nomination List (ENSOL). | | | | Generally you must - |
| The nominated position must be available for at least 3 | | | | ?? Be under 45 years old, |
| years and the salary must be above the minimum | | | | ?? Have a score of 5 across all 4 test components in |
| salary set by the Australian government and also | | | | the IELTS tests: that is you must have at least |
| meet applicable market salary rates for the position in | | | | ?€?vocational English?€? language skills. |
| the relevant industry. | | | | ??Demonstrate that you have the appropriate skills, |
| Once the employer nomination is approved, the | | | | qualifications and/or experience to fill the position. |
| nominated worker has 6 months to apply for their | | | | ?? Have an employer who is willing to sponsor you for |
| Australian permanent resident visa before the | | | | permanent residency |
| nomination approval expires. | | | | ?? Meet any mandatory licensing, registration or |
| No Points test applicable | | | | professional membership requirements which allow |
| An applicant applying for an ENS Employer nomination | | | | you to work unsupervised and without further training |
| scheme (subclass 856) visa does not need to satisfy | | | | ?? Have a contract of employment of 3 years with |
| the points test. | | | | your nominating employer. |
| The 3 Tracks to Australian Permanent Resident via | | | | Conclusions |
| the ENS Pathway | | | | The Australian government encourages visa |
| 3 pathways for successfully applying for the subclass | | | | applications under the employer nomination scheme |
| 856 visa to permanently migrate to Australia are | | | | however, these applications are tested as rigorously |
| established by Australian immigration law, one of which | | | | as all Australian permanent residence visa applications. |
| must be satisfied by you in your visa application - | | | | If a visa application that is lodged with the Australian |
| ?? Have your skills assessed and have at least 3 | | | | Department of Immigration and Citizenship fails to |
| years relevant working experienced in the nominated | | | | satisfy any single criteria set by Australian immigration |
| occupation unless you can show compelling | | | | law for the grant of that visa, then the application is |
| circumstances to waive the 3 year working | | | | bound to fail and will be refused. |
| experience requirement, | | | | Therefore, it is important to have accurate and |
| ?? Have been in Australia on a subclass 457 | | | | up-to-date legal advice and assistance in preparing |
| temporary work visa for 2 years and worked at least | | | | your permanent residence visa application because |
| 1 year for the nominating employer, | | | | quite simply, your future is riding on it! |