The Permanent Employer Sponsored Programme consists of the following:

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS).

The programme allows employers to nominate foreign workers for permanent residence to fill genuine vacancies in their business.

Within each of these visa subclasses there will be three streams:

• The temporary residence transition stream is for subclass 457/482 visa holders who have worked for their employer for at least the last two years in the nominated occupation and the employer wants to offer them a permanent position in that same occupation

• The direct entry stream is for applicants who are untested in the Australian labour market and have not held a subclass 457/482 visa for at least the last two years or are applying directly from outside Australia

• The agreement stream is for applicants who are being sponsored by an employer through a tailored and negotiated labour agreement or regional migration agreement.

TEMPORARY SKILL SHORTAGE VISA (SUBCLASS 482)

VISA DESCRIPTION

This visa lets a skilled worker travel to Australia to work in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor for up to four years.

REQUIREMENTS

You might be able to get this visa if:

• you have been sponsored by an approved business

• you have the required skills to fill a position nominated by an approved business.

LENGTH OF STAY

The Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 482) allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for an approved business for up to:

• four years after it is granted – if your occupation is listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

• two years after it is granted – if your occupation is listed on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).

You must be sponsored by an approved business. A business can sponsor someone for this visa if they cannot find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to do the skilled work.

You can be in or outside Australia when you lodge your application.

GLOBAL PROCESSING TIMES

• 75 per cent of applications processed in 61 days

• 90 per cent of applications processed in 6 months

Source: DHA Website

EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME (SUBCLASS 186)

Allows skilled workers to live in Australia permanently

Eligibility:

You must:

• be nominated by an approved Australian employer

• are under 45 years of age (unless you meet the age exemption)

• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements of the position

• meet the other requirements of one of the streams of this visa.

Length of stay:

Permanently

What you can do:

You can:

• stay in Australia permanently

• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

REGIONAL SPONSORED MIGRATION SCHEME VISA (SUBCLASS 187)

​Allows skilled workers to live in Australia permanently by working in regional Australia.

Eligibility:

You must:

• be nominated by an approved Australian employer for a job in regional Australia

• are under 45 years of age (unless you meet the age exemption)

• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements of the position

• meet the other requirements of one of the streams of this visa.

Length of stay:

​Permanently

What you can do:

You can:

• stay in Australia permanently

• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

You must work permanently in a regional area for two years.