If you want to apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Direct Entry subclass 186, you must have a positive skills assessment from one of the assessing authority bodies. The assessing authorities can be found on this page.

In order to apply for a subclass 186 visa through either the direct entry or temporary residence transition stream, you are required to show proof that your English language abilities are at the competent level. The competent level is equivalent to at least 6.0 in reading, speaking, listening, and writing on the IELTS (or PTE equivalents).

The subclass 186 visa has no condition that says you must remain with your employer for 2 years. Likewise, there is no condition that your employer commit to your employment for two years.

To apply for a Skills in Demand visa subclass 482, the applicant can be either outside Australia or currently residing in Australia.

If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa (A, B, or C) and have complied with all the conditions of your current visa, including adherence to the requirements of any previous visas held.

Yes, a vocational English language level is necessary for subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa applications. This requirement is compulsory and must be met at the time of application.

The vocational English language test is waived for applicants with passports from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, or Ireland. For more information on the English language requirement, please visit this page.

A 482 visa applicant can be sponsored by an approved, standard business sponsor or an employer with a labour agreement.

These employers are businesses approved by the Department of Home Affairs to sponsor skilled foreign workers for genuine, unfilled positions that cannot be occupied by suitably qualified Australian candidates.

To meet the employment requirements for the subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa, you must have at least one year of full-time work experience, or its equivalent in part-time or casual positions, in the nominated occupation or a related field.

You are generally required to work a full-time schedule of 38 hours per week while on a 482 visa, as most nominations specify that the position must be full-time.

The subclass 482 Skills in Demand permits the main applicant to include family members in the visa application, provided they have approval from their employer.

No age restriction applies when applying for a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. However, age is an important factor when seeking a permanent residency visa, such as the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186).

The Subclass 186 permanent resident visa has age restrictions. However, there are specific exemptions for certain professions and regions.

The skill assessment requirement varies depending on the occupation. If both your passport country and your occupation are listed in this table, you must obtain the relevant skills assessment, unless you qualify for an exemption. For full details regarding the skill assessment requirement for subclass visa 482, please visit this page

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482) is valid for up to four years, depending on the employer’s nomination. However, holders of a Hong Kong passport may be eligible for a visa with a validity of up to five years.

After this initial period, visa holders may have the option to apply for a further extension or transition to a permanent residency subclass 186 visa, depending on their specific circumstances and qualifications.

Yes, the Skills in Demand (SID) visa offers a pathway to permanent residency via the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186). This pathway relies on the employer’s willingness to nominate you for the ENS visa after you have resided and worked in Australia on the subclass 482 visa for a minimum of two years.

Yes, you can change sponsors at any time however you must find a new sponsor within 180 days of ceasing employment with your current/former sponsor.