Employer Sponsored Visas

Employer Sponsored Migration Visas are for skilled people who have been offered employment by an Australian business. Visa applicants must be sponsored by the Australian business and the position to be filled must be on the list of occupations identified for this visa category. The list includes occupations that require a trade qualification, diploma or degree.  In some cases, the visa applicant is required to have their skills formally assessed prior to visa application.

Employer sponsored visas include two visa subclasses:

  • Subclass 186 Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS)
  • Subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)

Under RSMS, the proposed employment must be in an area designated “regional” for this visa subclass. These areas may have difficulty in attracting local skilled workers and RSMS visas include a wider range of occupations than ENS visas.

Applicants for ENS and RSMS visas may apply for direct entry or they may apply under the temporary residence transition stream after working for two years for their sponsor in the nominated occupation while holding a subclass 457 visa.