Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

What is the 186 visa?

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is Australia's main permanent employer-sponsored visa. An Australian employer nominates a skilled worker for a permanent, ongoing role — and unlike the temporary 482, approval grants permanent residency from day one: Medicare, unrestricted work rights, five-year travel facility and a pathway to citizenship. Most applicants arrive here via the Temporary Residence Transition stream after two years on a 482 with their sponsoring employer; the Direct Entry stream serves skilled workers applying without that runway.

At a glance (figures updated 12 September 2026)

Figures are set by the Australian Government and change — most index on 1 July each year. Confirm the current charge on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodgement.

Understanding the strategic importance of the 186 visa

Administered by the Department of Home Affairs, the Employer Nomination Scheme is designed to let Australian employers keep highly skilled workers permanently where there is a genuine and ongoing need. Because the visa leads directly to permanent residency, it is assessed with significant scrutiny and strict compliance standards.

At Migration Vision, we approach every 186 visa application as a long-term migration strategy rather than a simple lodgement process. Proper occupation alignment, sponsor compliance, and structured documentation are critical to approval.

Streams under the 186 visa

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream

The most common pathway — for skilled workers already holding a 482 visa who have completed the required period (generally two years of full-time sponsored employment within the three years before applying) in the nominated occupation in Australia. Changing employers inside that window does not reset the clock — time with an earlier sponsor still counts, provided the employer nominating you is your most recently approved sponsor. In many cases a new skills assessment is not required, provided the occupation remains consistent.

This pathway rewards workforce continuity and gives employers retention stability. For many Migration Vision clients, the 482 → 186 transition is a planned migration progression from the day the 482 is lodged. The TRT rules in detail are in our guide from 482 to permanent residency.

Direct Entry stream

For skilled workers who have not completed the TRT pathway or who are applying directly from overseas. This stream requires:

• A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority

• At least three years of relevant work experience

• Age under 45 at time of application (subject to exemptions)

• Competent English

Direct Entry involves higher evidentiary scrutiny — skills assessment outcomes, employment documentation and ANZSCO alignment must be carefully prepared.

Labour Agreement stream

Applies where an employer operates under a formal labour agreement negotiated with the Australian Government, which may provide concessions on age, English or salary. Each agreement carries its own nomination and eligibility conditions, strictly monitored.

Eligibility criteria for the 186 visa

Occupation and ANZSCO alignment

The nominated occupation must appear on the relevant skilled occupation list and align precisely with ANZSCO. Incorrect occupation selection is one of the most common refusal reasons — duties in the nomination must match ANZSCO definitions and the genuine tasks performed in the business.

Skills assessment and work experience

Direct Entry applicants need a positive skills assessment plus at least three years of relevant full-time experience, evidenced by detailed reference letters, salary documentation, consistent role descriptions and payroll or tax records. Inconsistent or inflated claims lead to refusal.

Age requirements

Generally under 45 at the time of application. Exemptions exist — including certain long-term 482 holders transitioning under TRT and high-income earners — but age eligibility is assessed strictly at lodgement. If you are approaching 45 on a 482, the timing of your 186 lodgement needs planning now, not at the two-year mark.

English language requirements

Competent English, typically via IELTS, PTE Academic or an equivalent recognised test, unless an exemption applies.

Health and character requirements

Medical examinations and police clearances. Permanent visa applications are assessed rigorously against public interest criteria.

Employer nomination requirements

Genuine and ongoing position

The nominated position must be full-time, ongoing for at least two years, and reflect genuine operational need. The Department closely scrutinises roles that look created for migration purposes.

Salary and market rate compliance

The salary must meet the Annual Market Salary Rate and at least the Core Skills Income Threshold ($79,423 from 1 July 2026). Salary benchmarking must show the nominated worker is not paid less than Australian employees in equivalent roles. Salary compliance failures are a frequent nomination refusal trigger.

Sponsor obligations

Employers must maintain lawful operation, keep records, cooperate with audits and notify the Department of certain changes. The nomination fee ($540) and SAF levy ($3,000/$5,000 one-off) are employer costs — passing them to the visa holder is a breach of sponsor obligations.

The 186 application process (two linked stages)

1. Nomination — business legitimacy, financial capacity, genuine position, salary compliance

2. Visa application — skills assessment, employment evidence, English, identity, health and character

Consistency between the two is essential — discrepancies trigger Requests for Further Information or refusal. Migration Vision coordinates both stages under a structured compliance review.

186 visa processing time

The Home Affairs processing-times tool, read on 12 September 2026, shows the TRT stream at 50% of applications decided in 14 months and 90% in 22 months, and Direct Entry at 50% in 13 months and 90% in 21 months. The labour agreement stream runs shorter, at 50% in 58 days and 90% in 12 months. Both main streams have lengthened since August: the 90th percentile is about seven months longer than it was, so plan the wait on the current figure, not last month's. Processing is prioritised by occupation and location rather than strict lodgement order. Ministerial Direction 122 has set the order since 19 September 2026. Seven sectors come first: construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources. Roles linked to law enforcement or defence also come first. This applies whether the applicant is in Australia or overseas. Other applicants in Australia come next, then those who applied from overseas. A priority level is an order of work, not a timeframe. Decision-ready documentation remains the strongest controllable factor.

Where 186 applications go wrong (and how to avoid it)

1. Incorrect ANZSCO classification — nomination duties don't match

2. Insufficient evidence of a genuine position — the role reads as created for the visa

3. Salary below market rate or below the Core Skills Income Threshold

4. Age or English ineligibility discovered too late — especially applicants nearing 45 mid-482

5. Inconsistent employment documentation between the 482 years and the 186 nomination

6. TRT clock miscounted — unpaid leave, employer changes or occupation changes that reset or break the two-year requirement

Because the 186 confers permanent residency immediately, the Department applies heightened scrutiny. If a nomination or visa is refused, review rights at the Administrative Review Tribunal are strictly time-limited — our visa refusals and appeals page explains the process and deadlines.

186 sponsorship for employers Australia-wide

Migration Vision manages 482 → 186 transitions for employers across Australia — metro or regional, online or at our Brisbane office. The two-year TRT runway is where 186s are won or lost: we track the clock, keep the evidence file building from day one, flag age-limit and occupation-consistency risks early, and lodge decision-ready. Employer and worker sit at the same table — one adviser, both stages.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the 186 visa cost in 2026?

The visa application charge is $6,140 for the primary applicant for applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026 ($3,070 per additional applicant 18+, $1,535 under 18). The employer pays the $540 nomination fee and a one-off SAF levy of $3,000 (turnover under $10 million) or $5,000 — employer costs cannot lawfully be recovered from the worker.

How long does the 186 visa take to process?

The Home Affairs processing-times tool, read on 12 September 2026, shows the TRT stream at 50% of applications decided in 14 months and 90% in 22 months, and Direct Entry at 50% in 13 months and 90% in 21 months. Both lengthened over August. Ministerial Direction 122 has set the order since 19 September 2026. Seven sectors come first: construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources. Roles linked to law enforcement or defence also come first. This applies whether the applicant is in Australia or overseas. Other applicants in Australia come next, then those who applied from overseas.

Is the 186 visa permanent residency?

Yes. Approval grants immediate permanent resident status — indefinite stay, unrestricted work rights, Medicare, a five-year travel facility and a pathway to Australian citizenship.

Can 482 visa holders apply for the 186 visa?

Yes — that is the most common pathway. The Temporary Residence Transition stream generally requires two years with the sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation while on the 482.

Is a skills assessment required for the 186?

Under the Direct Entry stream, yes. TRT-stream applicants generally do not need a new skills assessment if the occupation remains consistent with their 482.

What is the age limit for the 186 visa?

Generally under 45 at the time of application, with exemptions including some long-term TRT transitions and high-income earners. Age is assessed at lodgement — if you are approaching 45 on a 482, plan the timing early.

Can family members be included?

Yes. Eligible dependants can be included in the application and receive permanent residency with the primary applicant; additional charges apply per person.

Why choose Migration Vision for your 186 visa

• Corporate-level migration advisory

• Detailed occupation classification analysis

• Employer compliance review

• End-to-end nomination and visa management

• Strategic PR planning aligned with long-term migration objectives

We approach each Employer Nomination Scheme application with precision, compliance awareness, and a commitment to secure outcomes.

Reviewed by Dr Asad Muhammad Khan, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2619525. Processing-priority section updated 23 September 2026 (Ministerial Directions 121 and 122). Updated 12 September 2026 — fee, threshold and processing figures current as at that date; confirm current figures with the Department of Home Affairs before lodgement. This page is general information, not migration advice for your circumstances.