Subclass 186 Visa - Employer Nomination Scheme

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Last Updated: 1 July 2026

Subclass 186 Visa: Employer Nomination Scheme

Australia offers skilled workers a direct route to permanent residency through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa. This visa grants permanent residency from the day of approval, allowing you to live and work in Australia permanently, bring your family members, access Medicare, and work towards Australian citizenship.

Why Apply for the Subclass 186 Visa?

The Subclass 186 visa gives skilled workers in Australia the security of permanent residency. Unlike temporary work visas, it allows you to settle and build your future anywhere in the country.

Benefits of Australia Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa

No points test or Expression of Interest (EOI) required
Live and work anywhere in Australia
Travel freely in and out of Australia for five years
Access public healthcare services
Study in Australia without restrictions
Switch employers without affecting your visa status

*Planning to apply for Subclass 486 visa? Book a free consultation with Y-Axis today.

Subclass 186 Visa at a Glance

Detail	Information
Visa type	Permanent residency
Visa streams	Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, Labour Agreement
Age limit	Under 45 (exemptions apply)
Minimum salary	AUD 79,499 per year
English requirement	Competent English — IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent
Skills assessment	Required for Direct Entry stream only
Processing time	5 to 20 months depending on stream
Visa fee	AUD 4,910 (primary applicant)
SAF levy	AUD 3,000 or AUD 5,000 (paid by employer)
Occupation list	Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
Pathway to citizenship	Yes

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What Are the Subclass 186 Visa Streams?

The Subclass 186 visa is available through three streams: Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, and Labour Agreement. Each stream has different eligibility requirements depending on your current visa status, work history, and employer arrangement. Understanding which stream applies to you is the first step in the application process.

Feature	TRT Stream	Direct Entry Stream	Labour Agreement Stream
Who is eligible	Subclass 482 SID or 457 visa holders already working for the nominating employer in Australia	Skilled workers inside or outside Australia with a positive skills assessment	Workers nominated under an approved Labour Agreement or DAMA
Skills assessment	Not required	Required	Determined by the Labour Agreement
Age limit	Under 45, exemptions apply	Under 45, exemptions apply	Concessions may apply
English requirement	Competent English	Competent English	Concessions may apply

Subclass 186 Visa Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Subclass 186 visa, applicants must meet a set of core requirements covering age, skills, English language, health, and character. Additional requirements may vary depending on the nominated stream.

Australia Subclass 186 visa eligibility requirements including employer nomination, skills, work experience, English language proficiency, and permanent residency criteria

Age: Applicants must be under 45 years at the time of application. Exemptions may apply for high-income earners, academics, and government researchers.
Skills and qualifications: Applicants must have the required skills and qualifications for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). A skills assessment is required for Direct Entry stream applicants and not required for TRT stream applicants.
Employer nomination: Applicants must be nominated by a legally operating Australian employer offering a genuine full-time role.
Salary: The employer must pay at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of AUD 79,499 per year excluding superannuation.
English language: Applicants must demonstrate Competent English through IELTS, PTE, OET, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge C1. Citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland are exempt.
Health and character: Applicants must meet minimum health standards and hold a clean criminal record. Police clearances are required from all countries of residence.

*Want to check your eligibility? Get a free eligibility assessment for Subclass 186 visa from Y-Axis today.

Documents Required for the Subclass 186 Visa

Applicants must provide documents to verify their identity, skills, work experience, English proficiency, and eligibility for the Subclass 186 visa.

Applicant documents:

Valid passport
Recent passport-sized photographs
Positive skills assessment (Direct Entry stream only)
English language test results — IELTS, PTE, OET, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge C1
Evidence of work experience — employment contracts, payslips, tax returns
Evidence of qualifications — degrees, trade certificates, professional memberships
Health examination results from an approved panel physician
Police clearance certificates from all countries of residence
Australian Values Statement (applicants aged 18 and over)

Employer documents:

Business registration and proof of lawful operation
Evidence the role is genuine and full-time
Proof salary meets the CSIT and Annual Market Salary Rate
Nomination fee and SAF levy payment confirmation

How to Apply for the Subclass 186 Visa?

The Subclass 186 visa is a two-stage process involving an employer nomination and a visa application. Both are submitted through ImmiAccount. Follow the steps below to prepare and submit a complete application.

Step 1: Check eligibility
Confirm which stream applies to you based on your current visa status, occupation, and work history. Use the Y-Axis Australia Immigration Points Calculator to check your eligibility before proceeding.

Step 2: Complete skills assessment
If applying through the Direct Entry stream, obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing body for your nominated occupation. This step is not required for TRT stream applicants.

Step 3: Employer lodges nomination
Your employer submits a nomination through ImmiAccount with supporting business and salary evidence. The employer pays the nomination fee and SAF levy at this stage.

Step 4: Lodge visa application
Once the nomination is lodged, you will receive a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). Lodge your Subclass 186 visa application through ImmiAccount within six months of nomination with all supporting documents.

Step 5: Wait for visa processing
Processing times vary by stream. Respond promptly if additional documents or biometrics are requested.

Step 6: Receive your visa decision
You will be notified of the decision through ImmiAccount. If your visa is granted, your permanent residency begins from the date of approval.

*Want to apply for a Subclass 186 visa? Book your free consultation with Y-Axis today.

Subclass 186 Visa Processing Time

Processing times for the Subclass 186 visa vary by stream and depend on application completeness, occupation, and employer sponsor status.

Stream	Processing Time
Direct Entry	12 to 20 months
TRT Stream	13 to 18 months
Labour Agreement	5 to 9 months

Healthcare, teaching, and regional occupation applications are prioritised under Ministerial Direction No. 105.

Complete your health examination 2 to 3 months after lodging to ensure validity at the time of decision.
If you hold a valid substantive visa at lodging, a Bridging Visa A (BVA) is automatically granted to work and stay in Australia during processing.

Subclass 186 Visa Fees and Charges

The visa application fee is the same across all three streams. The employer pays the nomination fee and SAF levy separately at the time of lodging the nomination.

Applicant	Fee (AUD)
Primary applicant	AUD 4,910
Secondary applicant 18 or older	AUD 2,455
Secondary applicant under 18	AUD 1,230
Nomination fee (paid by employer)	AUD 540
SAF levy — small business (turnover under AUD 10M)	AUD 3,000
SAF levy — standard business (turnover AUD 10M and above)	AUD 5,000

The SAF levy is paid by the employer and cannot be passed on to the visa applicant.

Budget separately for skills assessment, English test, medical examination, and police clearance fees.
Fees are indexed annually on 1 July. Verify the latest charges at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.

Subclass 186 vs Subclass 482 — What Is the Difference?

The Subclass 482 visa is a temporary employer-sponsored visa, while the Subclass 186 visa grants permanent residency. Many workers transition from the 482 to the 186 TRT stream to obtain permanent residency in Australia.

Feature	Subclass 186	Subclass 482
Visa type	Permanent residency	Temporary — 2 to 4 years
PR granted	From day of approval	Requires separate PR application
Skills assessment	Required for DE stream	Not always required
Labour market testing	Not required	Required in most cases
Family inclusion	Yes	Yes
Pathway to citizenship	Yes	Only after transitioning to PR

Subclass 186 Visa: Pathway to Australian Citizenship

Skilled workers who hold the Subclass 186 visa can apply for Australian citizenship once they meet the residency requirements. As a permanent resident, you are eligible to apply after living in Australia for four years, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident.

Once granted, Australian citizenship gives you:

The right to hold an Australian passport
The right to vote in federal and state elections
Access to government benefits and social services
The ability to sponsor family members for Australian residency
Permanent security with no visa renewal requirements

*Want to migrate to Australia? Let Y-Axis help you through application process.

How Can Y-Axis Help You?

Y-Axis Australia is a leading immigration consultancy with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. Our visa experts provide end-to-end assistance, from eligibility assessment to application preparation, helping ensure a smooth Subclass 186 visa application process.