Australia - Employer Nomination Scheme

121 / 856 - Employer Nomination Scheme
This is a permanent visa allowing the holder to travel to, enter and remain in Australia for a period of 5 years from the date of grant. This visa may be renewed.
The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) allows Australian employers to sponsor highly skilled individuals for permanent residency in Australia. The employee can be either from overseas or a highly skilled temporary resident currently in Australia. This visa allows the applicant and any dependent family members included in the visa application to live in Australia as permanent residents.

There is no points test for this visa.

Main Criteria

There are 2 main stages in applying for ENS;
1. Nomination – the employer’s stage
Firstly the employer must apply to Department of Immigration for approval of a nominated position. This involves meeting the following requirements;
  • - the position be full-time, be permanent and available for at least 3 years and not exclude the possibility of extending;
  • - be a highly skilled occupation that is on the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL);
  • - The position must be paid the required minimum base salary which is currently $43,440 for all positions on the ENSOL list except for IT positions which are a minimum base salary of $59,477.
  • - Employment must be in compliance with Australia workplace legislation
  • - The business must demonstrate that;
        1. it is a lawful and actively operating business and is in a satisfactory financial position;
        2. it needs for a paid employee to fill a specific position in the business; and
        3. has a current training plan for existing Australian employees and a satisfactory record of training.
2. Visa Application – the employee stage
To be eligible to apply for this visa the employee must be able to meet one of the following 3 criteria;
  •  - To have been working full-time in Australia for the last two years, in the occupation for which they have been nominated. You must also have spent at least the last year working for the employer who is nominating you.
  •  - To have at least three years experience working in the nominated occupation have had their skills assessed as suitable by the relevant skills assessing authority.
  •  - To have been nominated to fill a highly paid senior executive position with a salary of more than $165,000 per annum (excluding superannuation or allowances)

You must also:

  • - You must be over 18 and under 45 years of age at the time of application.
  • You will be required to meet health, public interest, character and special return criteria.
  • - You must have Vocational level English language.
  • - Have an offer from an Australian employer who is willing to sponsor you for permanent residency and be able to provide a signed letter of offer or contract.
  • - be able to demonstrate that they have the appropriate skills, qualifications and/or experience to fill the position
  • - be able meet any mandatory licensing, registration or professional membership requirements
- In exceptional circumstances a waiver may be available for work experience, English language or age.