Employer Checklist for a Visa 186 Nomination

For a subclass 186 nomination to succeed, the business must meet several requirements and prepare its documentation thoroughly. This checklist helps the employer avoid missing any important point.

Business eligibility — check first

Before starting the application, confirm the business meets the following:

• Genuinely operating in Australia
• Holds a valid ABN
• No history of serious breaches of migration or workplace obligations
• Not barred from the list of employers allowed to sponsor
• Able to pay the market salary rate for the position

Business documents

• Certificate of Registration / ASIC extract
• ABN verification print-out
• 2–3 years of financial statements (or at least business activity statements)
• Evidence of genuine operation: client contracts, invoices, office lease
• Description of the organisational structure and number of employees

Position documents (nomination)

• Detailed job description aligned to the ANZSCO code
• Evidence the position genuinely exists (a genuine position)
• Letter from management confirming the ongoing need for the position
• Proposed salary structure (at least at the market salary rate)
• Labour Market Testing results (where applicable — DE stream)

Documents for the nominated employee (nominee)

For the TRT stream:

• Evidence of having worked at least 2 yearsPending verification in the most recent three years (payslips, tax payment summaries)
• The original and current employment contracts
• Evidence of working in the correct ANZSCO code

For the Direct Entry stream:

• Qualifications + skills assessment (where the occupation requires it)
• Evidence of work experience

Common to both streams:

• The nominee’s passport
• Health examinations (book the appointment in advance)
• Police clearance certificates (from every country lived in for more than 12 months since the age of 16)

The nomination lodgement process

1. The employer lodges the nomination through ImmiAccount
2. DHA processes the nomination (2–6 months depending on the stream)
3. Once the nomination is approved, the nominee lodges the visa application
4. DHA assesses the visa (concurrently or after the nomination)

The nomination and visa application can be lodged at the same time (concurrent lodgement) to save time.

Commonly overlooked points

• Police clearances are needed from every country the nominee has lived in for more than 12 months since the age of 16 — not only their home country and Australia
• The health examination must be done through a DHA-appointed Panel Physician — you cannot choose your own doctor
• Financial statements need to be signed by a certified accountant