The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa is the primary permanent residency pathway for employer-sponsored workers in Australia. If you're currently on a Subclass 482 visa and have been working for your employer for at least 2 years, the 186 is likely your next step.
Three streams
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
The most common pathway. For workers who have held a Subclass 482 (or former 457) visa and worked for their nominating employer for at least 2 years. Requirements:
- Worked for the employer full-time for at least 2 years on a 482/457 visa
- Still employed by the same employer
- Under 45 years of age (with some exemptions)
- Meet the skills requirement for the nominated occupation
- Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each band or equivalent)
- No skills assessment required for TRT stream
Direct Entry stream
For applicants who don't hold a 482 visa. Requires a positive skills assessment and at least 3 years of relevant work experience. This stream is used when an employer wants to directly sponsor someone for permanent residency without them first holding a temporary work visa.
Labour Agreement stream
For workers sponsored under a labour agreement between their employer and the Australian Government.
The nomination process
Like the 482, the 186 is a two-step process:
- Employer nominates the position — the employer must demonstrate that the position is genuine, ongoing, full-time, and pays at or above market rate. The nomination fee is $540.
- Worker applies for the visa — once the nomination is approved (or concurrently), the worker lodges their visa application. The visa application charge is $4,640.
Key requirements for the employer
- Must be an approved sponsor (or apply concurrently)
- Position must be genuine, ongoing, and full-time
- Salary must be at or above market rate and meet the TSMIT ($73,150 as of 2026)
- Must comply with Australian workplace laws
- No adverse information (sponsorship breaches, worker exploitation)
Age exemptions
Generally, you must be under 45 at the time of application. However, exemptions exist for:
- Academics nominated for university positions (salary above the Fair Work high income threshold)
- Applicants who have been nominated by the same employer for 3+ years on a 457/482 visa
- Scientists, researchers, and IT professionals nominated at a salary above $167,500/year
- Some labour agreement provisions
Processing times
As of 2026, typical processing times are:
- TRT stream: 6-12 months
- Direct Entry stream: 8-18 months
- Labour Agreement stream: varies
Rights of a 186 visa holder
Once granted, the 186 visa gives you:
- Permanent residency in Australia
- Full work rights (no longer tied to a single employer)
- Access to Medicare
- Access to social security (after waiting periods)
- Ability to sponsor family members for visas
- Pathway to Australian citizenship (after 4 years of residence)
- Includes a 5-year travel facility from the date of grant
Common issues
- Employment gaps — the TRT stream requires continuous employment with the same employer. Gaps due to redundancy or changing employers can disqualify you.
- Employer changes ownership — if the business is sold or restructured during your 2-year qualifying period, ensure the new entity takes over the sponsorship obligations.
- Salary below TSMIT — even if you were paid below the threshold on your 482 visa, the 186 nomination must meet current TSMIT requirements.
The 186 visa is one of the most straightforward pathways to permanent residency, but the multi-step process (sponsor approval, nomination, visa) requires careful coordination. A registered migration agent can ensure all three stages are aligned and compliant.