Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186 Visa)
The Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186) helps skilled workers settle in Australia for good. An Australian employer sponsors you for a real, ongoing job. In return, you get a permanent visa. Not a temporary one. This is not just another renewal. It is a lasting home in Australia for you and your family.
This specialized visa service page explains how the 186 visa works. You will learn who can apply. You will also learn what the three visa streams involve. And you will see what the visa is likely to cost and take in 2026. Maybe you already hold a 482 Skills in Demand visa and want to make it permanent. Or maybe you are applying fresh from New Zealand or overseas. Either way, Ezy Immigration’s licensed advisers can help. We help you pick the right stream. We also manage the whole process for you.
What Is the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) Visa?
The 186 visa is Australia’s main permanent visa for sponsored workers. It helps Australian businesses hold on to skilled staff. Many businesses do not want to lose good workers once a temporary visa runs out. The 186 visa fixes that problem.
Unlike the 189 Skilled Independent or 190 Skilled Nominated visas, the 186 visa does not use a points test. Your case rests on three things. Your employer’s nomination. Your skills. And whether your job is genuinely needed.
Once your visa is granted, you become a permanent resident straight away. You and your family can live and work anywhere in Australia. You can take any job you like. You get access to Medicare, Australia’s public health system. Later on, you can sponsor family members for their own visas. You can also work towards Australian citizenship.
The Real Challenge — and Why the 186 Visa Solves It
Most skilled migrants can find good work in Australia. The hard part is turning that job into a secure future. Temporary visas like the 482 have an expiry date. They also tie you to one employer. Points-tested visas like the 189 or 190 can mean a long wait. You compete against thousands of other applicants each year.
The 186 visa skips both of these problems. There is no points queue, because your employer’s nomination does the work. There is no renewal date, because it is permanent from day one. For many clients, the 186 visa is not a backup plan. It is often the fastest, most stable way to call Australia home. That is true as long as the employer, the job, and the applicant all meet the rules.
Understanding the Three 186 Visa Streams
The Subclass 186 visa is not one single pathway. It is three. Each one suits a different kind of applicant. Getting the right stream matters a lot. Each stream has its own rules on age, work history, and skills tests. Picking the wrong stream can cost you months of delay.
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
It suits people already working in Australia on a 482 or 457 visa. You need to have worked full-time for your employer, in your nominated role, for two to three years. The exact figure depends on when your temporary visa was granted. If you meet this, you can skip a new skills test. It is usually the easiest stream. Most of your case is already proven through your current job.
Direct Entry stream
It suits skilled workers who do not yet have that Australian work history. Perhaps you are applying from New Zealand. Or perhaps you have not worked long enough for the TRT stream. This pathway asks for a positive skills assessment. It also asks for roughly three years of relevant work experience. Your occupation must sit on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). This stream takes more preparation than TRT. But it still opens the door to permanent residency.
Labour Agreement stream
It is for employers with a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government. This is usually because their industry or role sits outside the standard occupation lists. The rules come from that agreement itself. They do not come from a fixed national rulebook. So the requirements depend on what your employer has negotiated.
| Stream | Best Suited To | Skills Assessment | Typical Age Limit | Indicative Processing (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Temporary Residence Transition |
Current or former 482/457 holders with the right work history |
Usually not required |
Generally no age limit for most applicants |
Often faster than Direct Entry |
|
Direct Entry |
Skilled workers applying from overseas, or without enough Australian work history |
Positive assessment required |
Generally under 45, exemptions may apply |
Around 9–13 months for half of applications; up to 18–19 months for the rest |
|
Labour Agreement |
Employers with a negotiated labour agreement outside standard occupation lists |
Depends on the agreement |
Set by the agreement |
Assessed case by case |
Processing times shift throughout the year. They depend a lot on how complete your application is when you lodge it. Treat the figures above as a guide, not a promise.
Who Can Apply, and What the 186 Visa Asks of You
Every 186 visa applicant needs to clear some general rules. These sit on top of the stream-specific ones. You need a real nomination from an active Australian employer. The role must be full-time and ongoing, not casual.
Your English needs to sit at a competent level. This usually means an IELTS score of 6 or higher in each part, or an accepted equivalent test. Some applicants qualify for an exemption. Your occupation also needs to sit on the right skilled list for your stream.
Your employer’s salary offer must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold. From 1 July 2026, that is AUD 79,423 a year. The offer must also match the going market rate for the role. And it must be guaranteed base pay, not bonuses or superannuation. Finally, like every Australian visa, you will need to pass standard health and character checks.
“Getting the stream right on day one is the single biggest factor in a smooth 186 visa outcome,” says the Ezy Immigration team.
The 186 visa covers a broad range of skilled jobs. These include registered nurses, software engineers, civil engineers, electricians, chefs, ICT business analysts, accountants and mechanics. Not sure if your job qualifies? That is exactly the kind of question our advisers answer every day. We check your occupation against the current Core Skills Occupation List first.
How Ezy Immigration Guides You Through the 186 Visa Process
A 186 visa application moves through three stages. Each stage can cause delay if it is not handled well.
Ezy Immigration’s Registered Migration Agents and Licensed Immigration Advisers work with you at every stage. We check your employer’s eligibility before the nomination is lodged. We liaise directly with Home Affairs and the skills-assessing bodies. We gather and check every supporting document. We also advise you on bridging visa options, if your current visa is about to expire.
Moving across from a 482 visa? We make sure that switch happens at the right time. We can also talk you through other options. This could be a 494 Employer Sponsored visa, or a points-tested visa like the 189 or 491. We will not take on a case we believe will not succeed. That means you get an honest answer from day one.
Let Ezy Immigration Handle the Detail, So You Do Not Have To
The 186 visa can genuinely change the shape of your future. But it rewards careful preparation. A missed document can cost you months. So can the wrong stream, or a salary that falls short. That is exactly why clients come to Ezy Immigration, rather than going it alone.
We start with a Free Preliminary Evaluation. This checks whether the 186 visa is truly your best route. Or whether another pathway suits you better. From there, our licensed advisers set out a clear plan. We handle the correspondence and keep you updated at every step. You are never left guessing. Read what past clients made of the experience on our testimonials page. Or meet the team behind Ezy Immigration here.
Your Permanent Home in Australia Starts With the Right Advice
The Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186) is, for many skilled workers, the clearest route into Australian life. It skips the points race. It rewards a real employer relationship. It hands you permanent residency from day one, not after years of renewals.
But three different streams, shifting salary rules, and strict paperwork all add up. It pays to get things right the first time.
Ezy Immigration has spent over a decade helping skilled workers, and the employers who sponsor them. We know how to get real results through Australia’s employer-sponsored visa system. Whether you are ready to apply now, or you simply want to know where you stand, our team is ready to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa?
The Subclass 186 visa is Australia’s main permanent residency visa for skilled workers. An approved employer nominates you for the role. Once granted, you and your family can live, work and study in Australia for good. You also get Medicare access and a path to Australian citizenship. Unlike the 189 or 190 visas, there is no points test involved.
- What are the three streams of the 186 visa?
The 186 visa has three streams. Temporary Residence Transition suits current or former 482/457 holders with the right work history. Direct Entry suits skilled workers without that history, who need a positive skills assessment. Labour Agreement suits employers with a special agreement covering roles outside the usual occupation lists.
- What is the difference between the 186 visa and the 482 visa?
The 482 Skills in Demand visa is temporary. It ties you to one employer for a set period. The 186 visa is permanent from the day it is granted. It gives you full work rights with any employer, Medicare access, and a path to citizenship. Many 482 holders later moved to a 186 visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream.
- How much does the 186 visa cost in 2026?
The base Department of Home Affairs charge for the main applicant is around AUD 4,910. There are extra charges for a partner or children. Employers also pay a nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Applicants often budget separately for skills assessments, health checks and English tests. Ezy Immigration can give you a full cost estimate.
- How long does the 186 visa take to process?
Processing time depends on your stream and how complete your application is. In 2026, Direct Entry applications are taking about nine to thirteen months for half of applicants. The rest can take up to eighteen or nineteen months. Temporary Residence Transition applications often move faster, since much of the evidence is already proven.
- Is there an age limit for the 186 visa?
Direct Entry and Labour Agreement applicants generally need to be under 45 when they apply. Exemptions can apply, such as for high-income earners or senior academics. The Temporary Residence Transition stream generally does not apply this age limit to most applicants. It is worth checking your own case with an adviser.
- Do I need a skills assessment for the 186 visa?
A positive skills assessment is usually required for the Direct Entry stream. It must match your nominated occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List. Temporary Residence Transition applicants usually do not need a fresh assessment. This applies if they already hold, or have held, a 482 or 457 visa in the same role. Labour Agreement rules vary by agreement.
- Can I include my partner and children in a 186 visa application?
Yes. You can include your spouse or de facto partner, and any dependent children, in your application. Family members included this way become permanent residents too. They get the same work, study and Medicare rights you receive. They must also meet standard health and character checks.
- What is the minimum salary for a 186 visa nomination?
Your employer’s offer must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold. From 1 July 2026, this is AUD 79,423 a year. It must also match the going market rate for the role. More senior or specialised roles may fall under a higher Specialist Skills Income Threshold instead. This must be guaranteed base salary, not superannuation or added perks.
- Can I apply for the 186 visa from New Zealand without moving to Australia first?
Yes. Direct Entry and Labour Agreement applicants can generally apply while still living in New Zealand. You still need to meet the skills, English and occupation rules for your role. The Temporary Residence Transition stream is different. It usually requires you to already be working for your nominating employer inside Australia.
How would you like to proceed with your Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) plans?
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