Changing Employers on an ENS (Subclass 186) Visa: What You Need to Know at Every Stage

The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (Subclass 186) is one of the most popular pathways to Australian permanent residency for skilled workers. However, because the visa is employer-sponsored, your employment situation plays a critical role throughout the application process.

One of the most common questions applicants ask is:

“What happens if I change employers?”

The answer depends entirely on when the change occurs. Changing employers before lodging, while the application is processing, or after the visa is granted can lead to very different outcomes — some manageable, others requiring a complete restart.

This guide explains, in plain English, what happens at each stage and how to protect your visa status.

Understanding the ENS (Subclass 186) Visa

The ENS visa allows skilled workers to obtain Australian permanent residency through sponsorship by an approved Australian employer. The visa can be lodged through different streams, most commonly:

• Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream

• Direct Entry (DE) stream

In all cases, the visa is built on a nomination by a specific employer for a specific role. That employer–employee relationship is central to the application’s validity.

Changing Employers Before Lodging an ENS Visa

Many ENS applicants hold a Skills in Demand (SID) visa (Subclass 482) before transitioning to permanent residency.

Working Under a SID (Subclass 482) Visa

The SID visa is subject to condition 8607, which means:

• You must work only for your sponsoring employer

• You must work in your nominated occupation

If your employment ends, you generally have up to 180 days to:

• Find a new sponsor

• Lodge a new visa application

• Or leave Australia

What Happens if You Change Employers Before Lodging the ENS?

If you leave your employer before the ENS nomination and visa are lodged:

• Your original employer cannot sponsor the ENS visa

• A new employer must lodge a fresh ENS nomination

• If applying through the TRT stream, you will usually need:

  • A new SID nomination with the new employer

  • In some cases, a new SID visa

  • Additional time working for the new sponsor before becoming eligible

In practical terms, changing employers at this stage often means delaying permanent residency plans.

Situations Where Changing Employers May Not Affect the ENS Application

There are limited scenarios where a change in employment does not disrupt the ENS process.

1. Working for an Associated Entity

If you move to an associated entity of your sponsoring employer:

• You generally do not breach condition 8607

• The original sponsor may still be able to lodge the ENS nomination

However, this flexibility usually applies only to the TRT stream. For Direct Entry applications, the actual employing entity must be the sponsor.

2. Business Name or Structure Changes (Same ABN)

If your employer:

• Changes its business name, or

• Restructures internally

  
  

but retains the same ABN, the Department will typically consider it the same sponsoring entity.

3. Exempt Medical Occupations

Certain medical roles — such as:

• General practitioners

• Resident medical officers

• Paediatricians

  
  

may benefit from exemptions allowing more flexibility with employment arrangements.

When a New Nomination Is Required

If your employer is acquired by another company and the business operates under a new ABN, this is generally treated as a new sponsor. In these cases:

• A new nomination is required

• Any planned ENS application must reflect the new entity

Changing Employers After Lodging the ENS Visa

Once both the ENS nomination and visa application have been lodged, the Department assesses them on the assumption that:

• You are employed by the nominating employer, and

• You intend to continue working in the nominated position

  
  

What If You Leave Your Employer During Processing?

If you change employers after lodging the ENS application:

• The basis of the nomination is no longer valid

• The Department cannot approve the visa

• Both the nomination and visa application must be withdrawn

  
  

This means:

• You must find a new sponsoring employer

• A completely new ENS application must be lodged

• Application fees already paid are not refundable

  
  

Unfortunately, there is no mechanism to “transfer” an ENS application from one employer to another once it has been submitted.

Your Visa Status If Employment Ends

Your immigration status will depend on the visa you hold at the time employment ceases.

Subclass 482 (SID) Visa

If you stop working for your sponsor:

• You generally have up to 180 days to:

  
  

  • Secure a new sponsor

  • Lodge another visa

  • Or depart Australia

You may work for other employers during this period, provided you remain lawful.

Bridging Visa Linked to an ENS Application

If your ENS application is withdrawn:

• Your bridging visa will typically cease 35 days later

• You must apply for another visa within that period to remain lawful

Other Visa Types

Each visa has its own conditions. The consequences of ceasing employment depend on:

• The visa subclass

• Any attached work or sponsorship conditions

Professional advice is strongly recommended if your employment ends unexpectedly.

Changing Employers After the ENS Visa Is Granted

This is where the rules change significantly.

Can You Leave Your Employer After Grant?

Yes. Once the ENS visa is granted, you become an Australian permanent resident.

This means:

• There are no work restrictions on the visa

• You may work for any employer

• You may change occupations or stop working altogether

  
  

The Two-Year Intention Requirement Explained

During the ENS application, you declare an intention to remain in the nominated role with your sponsor for at least two years.

This is a declaration of genuine intention, not a binding contract.

As long as:

• Your intention was genuine at the time of application, and

• The information provided was accurate and truthful

  
  

there is generally no issue if your circumstances change after visa grant.

Problems may only arise if authorities later determine that:

• The position was never genuine, or

• Misleading or false information was provided

Key Takeaways

• Before lodging an ENS visa: changing employers usually delays or resets your application

• After lodging but before grant: changing employers requires withdrawal and starting again

• After grant: you are free to change employers as a permanent resident

• Associated entities, ABN continuity, and certain medical roles may offer exceptions

• Timing and accuracy are critical at every stage

Final Thoughts

The ENS (Subclass 186) visa offers a valuable pathway to permanent residency, but it is highly sensitive to changes in employment.

Understanding how employer changes affect your application — and when flexibility exists — can save time, money, and significant stress.

If your employment circumstances are uncertain, seeking advice before making changes is often the difference between a smooth transition and starting again from scratch.