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Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)

Planning to live and work in Australia permanently? The Subclass 186 visa could be your perfect pathway in 2025. This visa is designed for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer, allowing you to work, settle, and build a long-term future in the country.

Under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), the Subclass 186 visa provides a clear route to permanent residency, enabling you to bring eligible family members and eventually apply for Australian citizenship. It is particularly suitable for professionals in sectors like IT, engineering, healthcare, and trades, offering stability and opportunities to grow both personally and professionally in Australia.

Why Choose the Subclass 186 Visa?

Direct Australian PR: Gain permanent residency directly through employer nomination.
Family Sponsorship: Bring eligible family members with you.
Access Public Healthcare: Enjoy Australia’s healthcare benefits.
Travel Flexibility: Enter and exit Australia freely for 5 years.
Pathway to Citizenship: Eligible to apply for Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.

Looking to work and settle in Australia? Book your free consultation now to start your journey!”

Subclass 186 Visa Streams: Choose the Right Pathway

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa offers skilled workers multiple pathways to live and work in Australia permanently. Depending on your current visa status, work experience, and employer arrangement, you can apply through one of three streams:

TRT Stream (Temporary Residence Transition)

Eligible Applicants:

The TRT stream is for Subclass 482 or 457 visa holders who have worked for the same employer in a substantially similar occupation for the required period.

Core Eligibility Criteria:

Hold or have recently held a Subclass 482/457 visa.
Complete the minimum work period with the nominating employer.
Meet English language, health, and character requirements.

Employer Nomination Requirements:

Employer must be a lawfully operating business in Australia.
Offer a genuine full-time role for at least 2 years.
Pay a salary that meets the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR).
Cover the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy and nomination charges.

Step-by-Step Process & Timeline:

Preparation (1–3 weeks): Collect identity, employment, and employer documents.
Nomination (1–2 weeks): Employer submits nomination with evidence of business operations and salary.
Visa Application (1 week): Applicant lodges the visa application with health, police, and English documentation.
Processing: Average 5–11 months, depending on complexity and priority.

Direct Entry Stream (DE)

Eligible Applicants:

Skilled workers inside or outside Australia with the required qualifications and a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation.

Core Eligibility:

Positive skills assessment (unless exempt).
Minimum relevant work experience in the nominated occupation.
Meet English language, health, and character requirements.

Employer Nomination Requirements:

Offer a genuine full-time position for at least 2 years.
Pay a salary meeting the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR).
Cover the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy and nomination charges.

Step-by-Step Process & Timeline:

Skills & Eligibility (2–6 weeks): Obtain skills assessment and gather supporting evidence.
Nomination (1–2 weeks): Employer lodges nomination with salary and business evidence.
Visa Application (1 week): Applicant submits Subclass 186 DE visa application with supporting documents.
Processing: Average 6–12 months, depending on occupation and priority.

Labour Agreement (LA) Stream

Eligible Applicants:

Workers nominated by employers under a Labour Agreement, including DAMA or other industry-specific agreements. Some concessions may apply for age, English proficiency, or occupation.

Core Eligibility:

Must meet the conditions of the approved Labour Agreement.
Occupation, English, and work experience requirements vary depending on the agreement.

Employer Nomination Requirements:

Employer must hold an approved Labour Agreement.
Provide a genuine full-time role.
Salary must meet AMSR, unless a concession applies.
Labour Market Testing may be required.
Pay the SAF levy and nomination charges.

Step-by-Step Process & Timeline:

Agreement Check (1–3 weeks): Verify employer’s Labour Agreement and applicable concessions.
Nomination (1–2 weeks): Employer submits nomination under the agreement with supporting evidence.
Visa Application (1 week): Applicant lodges the Subclass 186 LA visa application with required documents.
Processing: Varies based on the agreement but generally similar to other streams.

Feature	TRT	Direct Entry	Labour Agreement
Typical applicant	482/457 visa holders with the same employer	Skilled workers in or outside Australia	Workers sponsored under a Labour Agreement
Occupation basis	Same as current 482/457 role	Must be on the eligible occupations list	Defined by the Labour Agreement
Skills assessment	Not required	Required	Determined by the Labour Agreement (concessions may apply)
Employer proof	Genuine, full-time role; AMSR met; minimum 2 years	Genuine, full-time role; AMSR met; minimum 2 years	Genuine, full-time role; AMSR required unless concession applies
English/Age	Standard ENS requirements	Standard ENS requirements	Concessions may apply (varies by agreement)
Processing time	9 to 12 months	5 to 12 months	9 to 16 months

Subclass 186 Visa Eligibility Requirements

The Subclass 186 visa is designed for skilled workers who want to live and work permanently in Australia. To be eligible, applicants must have the required skills and qualifications for an occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List. Eligibility is demonstrated through a skills assessment, relevant license or registration, or membership with a governing body.

Skilled Worker: Have the required skills, qualifications, and at least 3 years of relevant experience. Submit a skills assessment or hold a related license/registration.
Employer Sponsorship: Be nominated by a legally operating Australia-based employer. Nominations can be rejected if withdrawn or invalid.
Age Requirements: Usually under 45, but exceptions exist for academics, researchers, scientists, or current 444 visa holders working with the nominating employer.
Health Insurance: Meet minimum health standards. Undergo a health check by a recognized provider.
Good conduct: Must have good conduct. Criminal history or association with banned groups may lead to refusal.
Police Clearance: Provide a police certificate from any country you’ve lived in and complete statutory declarations if required.
Skilled Occupation List: Your occupation must be on the Subclass 186 list.
Language Requirements: Meet minimum English proficiency through IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Cambridge C1 Advanced, or OET (unless from USA, UK, Canada, NZ, or Ireland).

How to apply for Subclass 186 Visa?

Employer Nomination Scheme

Step 1: Check your eligibility through Y-Axis Australia Immigration Points Calculator

Step 2: Make your employer sponsor you under the direct entry stream and obtain from them the TRN (Transaction Reference Number).

Step 3: Complete all of your paperwork by taking relevant skills assessments, tests in English language proficiency, and fulfilling all other tests for eligibility criteria.

Step 4: You need to apply for this visa within less than six months of getting nominated. Carry out this process through your ImmiAccount. You can do this even when you are out of Australia. Make the visa fee payment.

Step 5: If additional information, such as biometrics or other documents, or sought by the immigration department, it will be requested by them and you need to respond immediately.

Step 6: You will be told about your outcome. In case it has been rejected, they will state why and suggest that you can request a review of the decision.

Subclass 186 Visa Processing Time

Direct entry stream: The processing time of 75% of the applications is within 83 days, and around 90% would take less than six months to process Subclass 186 visa.
Labour agreement stream: As Subclass 186 visa type has very few takers, its numbers are not available.
Temporary residence transition stream: The processing time of 75% of the applications is within 83 days, and about 90% would take less than ten months to process.

Since the immigration department would not keep you updated on your application, do go through your Immigration Account to ensure they you have given them adequate information.

Subclass 186 Visa Fees and Charges

The costs of the Direct Entry stream, Labour Agreement stream, and Temporary Residence Transition stream start from AUD 4,115. Additional fees may apply depending on the number of family members included in the application. It’s also important to factor in costs for skills assessments, English tests, and health examinations, which are required for visa processing.

Can You Get Australian Citizenship from a Subclass 186 Visa?

Yes, you can! The Subclass 186 visa is a permanent residency (PR) visa, which means you can live, work, and settle in Australia for as long as you want. One of the biggest advantages of holding a Subclass 186 visa is that it opens the path to Australian citizenship.

Once you have held your PR status for a few years, met the residency requirements, and maintained a clean record, you can apply for citizenship and enjoy full rights as an Australian, including voting, access to government benefits, and holding an Australian passport.

If you’ve been dreaming of a secure future in Australia for yourself and your family, the Subclass 186 visa could be your first step toward becoming an Australian citizen.

Rights After Your Subclass 186 Visa Is Granted

Gaining a Subclass 186 visa means you become an Australian permanent resident, no matter which stream you applied through (TRT, Direct Entry, or Labour Agreement). Permanent residency offers a wide range of benefits for you and your family.

Key Rights and Benefits

Live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely: enjoy the security of permanent residency.
Access Medicare: Australia’s public healthcare system, reducing your medical expenses.
Sponsor eligible relatives: help family members apply for visas to join you in Australia.
Travel freely for 5 years: enter and leave Australia as often as you wish while your travel facility is valid. After 5 years, renew with a Resident Return Visa (RRV) if you’re not yet a citizen.
Pathway to Australian citizenship: once you meet the residence requirements, you may apply to become a citizen and gain full rights, including an Australian passport.