The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers sponsored by an Australian employer. Because it grants permanent residence outright, the requirements are more demanding than for a temporary work visa.
It has two main streams. Direct Entry is for applicants nominated from offshore who meet the skills and experience criteria directly. Temporary Residence Transition is for workers who have held a 482 with the same employer and worked in the nominated role for the required period, generally two years.
The primary applicant visa charge is A$4,910. The employer must lodge a nomination for the specific position before or alongside the visa application.