Fee-Free Visa Applications

You may be eligible to make a fee-free visa application for a visa under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS), if both of the following apply:

• you are nominated by an employer
• you have a valid application for an eligible General Skilled Migration visa.

The following table provides information about which applicants may be eligible to make a fee-free visa application.

Visa you have applied for	Visa you may be eligible to apply fee-free for
subclass 885 – Skilled Independent visa	subclass 856 (ENS) visa or subclass 857 (RSMS) visa
subclass 886 – Skilled Sponsored visa	subclass 856 (ENS) visa or subclass 857 (RSMS) visa
subclass 175 – Skilled Independent visa	subclass 121 (ENS) visa or subclass 119 (RSMS) visa In addition, if you had made the application for the subclass 175 visa while holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa: subclass 856 (ENS) visa or subclass 857 (RSMS) visa
subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored visa	subclass 121 (ENS) visa or subclass 119 (RSMS) visa In addition, if you had made the application for the subclass 176 visa while holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa: subclass 856 (ENS) visa or subclass 857 (RSMS) visa

In these circumstances, you will need to complete Form 47ES, but you do not have to pay the first instalment of the visa application charge.
See: Form 47ES - Application for employer sponsored migration to Australia (557KB PDF file)

Regardless of whether you have made a fee-free visa application, you must still satisfy the visa requirements for the relevant employer sponsored visa. This includes holding a qualifying visa when applying for an ENS (subclass 856) visa or RSMS (subclass 857) visa.
See: Qualifying Visa