Subclass 186 Visa - Employer Nomination Scheme

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Last Updated: 23 October 2026

Subclass 186 Visa: Employer Nomination Scheme

The Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa allows skilled workers to obtain Australian permanent residency through employer sponsorship. Successful applicants can live and work in Australia permanently, bring eligible family members, access Medicare and work towards Australian citizenship. The visa has three streams: Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry and Labour Agreement.

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 79,423 per year (CSIT), or the market salary rate if higher
English requirement	Competent English: IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent
Skills assessment	Required for Direct Entry stream only
Processing time	TRT and Direct Entry: 21 months for 50% and 25 months for 90% of applications. Labour Agreement: 50 days for 50% and 12 months for 90% of applications
Visa fee	AUD 6,140 (primary applicant)
SAF levy (paid by employer)	Turnover below AUD 10 million: AUD 3,000 Turnover AUD 10 million or more: AUD 5,000
Occupation list	Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for Direct Entry and TRT, and the approved agreement for Labour Agreement applicants
Pathway to citizenship	Yes, after 4 years of residence, including 12 months as a permanent resident

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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 457 or 482 visa holders with at least 2 years of full-time sponsored employment in the last 3 years	Skilled workers with at least 3 years of relevant work experience, unless exempt	Workers nominated under an approved Labour Agreement or DAMA
Skills assessment	Generally not required	Required unless exempt	As specified in the agreement
Age limit	Under 45, unless exempt	Under 45, unless exempt	Concessions may apply
English requirement	Competent English, unless exempt	Competent English, unless exempt	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?

To apply for the Subclass 186 visa, you must be nominated by an Australian employer for a skilled position. You can then lodge your visa application through ImmiAccount, either alongside the nomination or within six months of its approval.

Step 1: Check eligibility

Check the age, English language, skills, work experience and employer nomination requirements for your chosen stream.

Step 2: Complete a skills assessment
Direct Entry applicants generally need a positive skills assessment for their nominated occupation, unless exempt. This is usually not required for the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.

Step 3: Employer lodges nomination
Your employer submits a nomination with business, employment and salary evidence and pays the nomination fee and Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.

Step 4: Submit your visa application
Lodge your visa application through ImmiAccount alongside the nomination or within six months of its approval. Include all required supporting documents.

Step 5: Complete processing requirements
The Department of Home Affairs may request additional documents, health examinations or police certificates. Respond within the specified deadlines.

Step 6: Receive your visa decision
You will receive the decision through the Department of Home Affairs. If approved, you become an Australian permanent resident from the date the visa is granted.

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

Subclass 186 Visa Processing Time

The Subclass 186 visa processing time varies by stream. Home Affairs decides half of Direct Entry and TRT applications within 21 months, and half of Labour Agreement applications within 50 days.

Stream	50% decided within	90% decided within
Direct Entry	21 months	25 months
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT)	21 months	25 months
Labour Agreement	50 days	12 months

Subclass 186 Visa Fees and Charges

The Subclass 186 visa fee is AUD 6,140 for the primary applicant, AUD 3,070 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over, and AUD 1,535 for each applicant under 18. The fees are the same across all three streams. Employers pay the nomination fee and Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy separately.

Applicant	Fee (AUD)
Primary applicant	AUD 6,140
Secondary applicant 18 or older	AUD 3,070
Secondary applicant under 18	AUD 1,535
Nomination fee (paid by employer)	AUD 540
SAF levy, employer turnover below AUD 10 million	AUD 3,000
SAF levy, employer turnover AUD 10 million or more	AUD 5,000

Subclass 186 vs Subclass 482 : What Is the Difference?

The Subclass 482 visa visa allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia temporarily under employer sponsorship, while the Subclass 186 visa grants permanent residency. Subclass 482 visa holders who complete the required period of sponsored employment and meet the other visa criteria can also apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.

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.