Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa

Employer Sponsored Visas
Key Eligibility Criteria
Common Questions
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Subclass 186

Employer Nomination Scheme

The Subclass 186 is Australia’s primary permanent employer-sponsored visa, giving skilled overseas workers the ability to settle in Australia long-term. What sets it apart from the 482 is that it grants permanent residency from the moment it is approved — there is no temporary period to work through first. For many skilled workers, it represents the end goal of their Australian migration journey.

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What You Can Do With This Visa

Once granted, holders can live and work in Australia indefinitely, study without restrictions, access Medicare, sponsor eligible family members, and travel freely in and out of Australia for five years. After meeting the residency requirements, holders can also apply for Australian citizenship.

Three Streams

The 186 visa operates across three streams.

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

This is designed for people already working in Australia on a Subclass 482 or legacy 457 visa. After two years of employment with the sponsoring employer, the worker can be nominated for permanent residency through this stream. The occupation does not need to be re-assessed against any occupation list, as it was already approved at the 482 stage.

Direct Entry Stream

This stream is open to workers both inside and outside Australia who have not held a 482 or 457 visa. It requires at least three years of relevant work experience, a positive skills assessment, and the nominated occupation must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). This stream typically has longer processing times than the TRT stream.

Labour Agreement Stream

This mirrors the Labour Agreement stream of the 482 visa but leads directly to permanent residency. It applies where the employer holds a formal Labour Agreement with the Australian Government, and is commonly used in sectors such as aged care, horticulture, and meat processing.

Key Eligibility Criteria

Applicants across all streams must be under 45 years of age at the time of lodgement, meet English language standards, and satisfy health and character requirements. The sponsoring employer must be actively operating, hold a genuine ongoing position, and pay the market salary rate for the role.

Processing Times

Timeframes vary by stream. The TRT stream generally moves faster, while the Direct Entry and Labour Agreement streams can take considerably longer depending on the complexity of the case and current departmental workloads.

Pathway to Citizenship

The 186 visa is not just a permanent residency grant — it is also the stepping stone to Australian citizenship. Once holders meet the required residency period, they are eligible to apply, making this one of the most complete migration outcomes available through the employer-sponsored pathway.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Common Questions To 186 Employer Nomination Scheme

Considering whether a Employer Nomination Scheme is right for you can be a daunting task.  Here are some of the more common questions we get asked.

What are the prerequisites for a 186 Employer Nomination Scheme?

How difficult is the process for a 186 Employer Nomination Scheme?

As with all Visas, preparation is key. Having a sound strategy, collating and structuring documents as required by the department, and preparing submissions accurately are critical to minimise challenges during the process.

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How much does a 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Cost?

Along with migration agency fees, government fees are payable and vary depending on circumstances, and may include registration, nomination, assessment and testing costs.

Contact Us to discuss your particular case to get an estimation of costs involved for you.

How do I begin?

The best first step is to Get Advice from an experienced professional in Immigration Law.

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   Amali Weerasinghe 
 10 September 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you so much Michelle, for your guidance and expertise throughout the visa process. Your extensive experience as a case officer was instrumental in helping me to understand what was needed. Your instrucstions was always clear. You were always approachable enabling me to ask questions even if they seem simple. Also you were responsive throughout the process sending us timely reminders.  I highly recommend Michelle's services for anyone woshing to have a smooth process during their visa process. Many thanks again Michelle.
  
 
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 9 September 2026
 
 
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 27 April 2026
 
 
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 23 April 2026
 
 
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 15 April 2026
 
 
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