186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa

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Project Introduction

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is designed for skilled workers outside Australia, as well as skilled temporary residents living or working in Australia. It is one of the pathways to Australian Immigration（澳洲移民） and allows skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer to live and work permanently in Australia.

The subclass 186 employer-sponsored visa does not require applicants to meet an EOI points score. Applicants may be eligible if their work is relevant to the position sponsored by the employer and they have 3 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation, or have held a SID visa for 2 years, formerly the Subclass 482 Visa（482签证）, together with an eligible employer willing to nominate them.

The nominated position for a subclass 186 visa must be genuine and ongoing and is generally expected to remain available for at least 2 years after the visa is granted. Home Affairs also expects the applicant to intend to work for the nominating employer for at least 2 years after grant. However, subclass 186 is a permanent residence visa and should not simply be understood as meaning that leaving the employer will automatically cancel permanent residency. If employment ends shortly after the visa is granted, the circumstances may need to be considered based on the genuine employment intentions of both parties at the time of application and the reasons for leaving.

Latest Subclass 186 Visa Updates for 2026

From 19 September 2026, subclass 186 applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 122 (MD122), which replaced the skilled visa processing priorities previously operating under Ministerial Direction 119.

Under MD122, the highest priority is given to applications relating to Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing and Resources, as well as occupations connected with Australia’s law enforcement and defence interests. Applications lodged while the applicant was in Australia are processed at the next priority level, followed by certain offshore individual applications and then other eligible skilled visa applications.

Processing priority does not guarantee a decision within a fixed period. Actual processing times can still depend on migration program planning levels, application volumes, completeness of the employer nomination and visa application, and the complexity of the individual case. Home Affairs currently reports an 8-month median processing time for the broader Skilled Permanent visa category for July 2026, although this should not be treated as the processing time for every individual subclass 186 application.

Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa Streams

The Employer Nomination Scheme 186（186签证） is one of Australia’s permanent residence visas and allows eligible Australian employers to nominate skilled overseas workers for permanent migration.

Depending on the applicant’s visa background and employment relationship, the subclass 186 visa can be applied for through the following three pathways:

Direct Entry Stream
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
Labour Agreement Stream

Each pathway has different eligibility requirements and is suitable for different applicants. Below is a detailed explanation of each stream.

1. Direct Entry Stream

Who it may suit: Applicants who have not held a Subclass 482 Visa, or applicants who hold a temporary visa in Australia but do not meet the requirements for the Temporary Residence Transition Stream.

Application requirements:

Be nominated by an eligible Australian employer
The nominated occupation must be on the current Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and meet any applicable occupational caveats. The subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream currently uses ANZSCO 2022 occupational classifications
Have at least 3 years of relevant full-time work experience
Complete a Skills Assessment
Meet the Competent English requirement, such as IELTS 6 in each component
Be under 45 years of age, unless an exemption applies
Meet health and character requirements

Common situations:

Applicants applying directly from overseas
Applicants in Australia who have never held a subclass 482 visa
Skilled workers who do not want to wait 2 years before applying for permanent residency

2. Temporary Residence Transition Stream

Who it may suit: Applicants who currently hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa, or an eligible Bridging Visa, and have completed at least 2 years of qualifying Sponsored Employment during the 3 years before applying.

These 2 years of employment generally need to be full-time work completed in Australia while holding a subclass 457, 482 or eligible Bridging Visa. If an applicant has changed sponsoring employers during the previous 3 years, previous qualifying Sponsored Employment may also count, and the applicant may not necessarily need to restart the entire 2-year period.

Application requirements:

The applicant will generally need to currently hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa, or an eligible related Bridging Visa
Have completed at least 2 years of qualifying sponsored full-time employment during the 3 years before applying. Eligible employment with previous sponsoring employers may also count where the relevant requirements are met.
The nominated occupation must be consistent with the previous occupation
Be under 45 years of age
A new Skills Assessment is generally not required under the TRT Stream in the same way it is for Direct Entry. However, applicants must still satisfy any applicable skills, professional registration or licensing requirements.
Meet English, health and character requirements

Advantages:

A relatively streamlined application process
The employer and position have already been assessed through the initial sponsorship process
Suitable for applicants who already have Australian work experience

3. Labour Agreement Stream

Who it may suit: Applicants whose occupation is not on the standard skilled occupation list, but whose employer has entered into a formal Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs.

Application requirements:

The employer must have a valid Labour Agreement
The occupation and position must fall within the scope of the agreement
Meet the work experience, qualification and English requirements specified by the agreement
Generally be under 45 years of age
Meet health and character requirements

Common situations:

Roles in regional areas or industries experiencing labour shortages
Targeted employment in hospitality, livestock, agriculture or construction
Certain employers operating under customised agreements

For applicants considering an employer-sponsored pathway in regional Australia, the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa（494偏远地区雇主担保签证） may also be relevant.

Employer-Sponsored Salary Requirements

When lodging a nomination, the employer must ensure that the salary for the nominated position meets at least the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) or the applicable minimum income threshold, whichever is higher.
From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) has increased to A$79,423. For subclass 186 employer nominations to which the CSIT applies, the nominated salary must also satisfy requirements such as the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR). Therefore, simply paying A$79,423 does not automatically mean the salary requirements are met.
In some high-income exemption circumstances, for example where an applicant has held a subclass 482 or 457 visa in Australia for a number of years and their salary meets the Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT), an age exemption may be available. The FWHIT for the 2026–27 financial year is A$190,100. Certain eligible subclass 457 or 482 visa holders whose income met the applicable FWHIT during the relevant period and who satisfy the other requirements may qualify for an age exemption under the subclass 186 TRT Stream.

Subclass 186 Visa Fees

As of September 2026, the Visa Application Charge for the primary applicant for a subclass 186 visa starts from A$6,140. Visa charges may change between financial years, while additional applicant charges, second instalment charges relating to English language ability and other costs may vary according to individual circumstances. Before applying, applicants should confirm the latest amount through the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator.
For additional applicants, the charge is A$2,455 for applicants aged 18 or older and A$1,230 for applicants under 18.
Note: If a nomination or visa application was submitted before a fee change took effect, the previous fee may continue to apply.

Which Subclass 186 Stream May Suit You?

Situation	Suggested Stream
No 482 visa history and want to apply directly for PR	Direct Entry
Already hold a 482 visa and have completed 2 years of qualifying work	TRT Stream
Employer has a Labour Agreement	Labour Agreement

If you are unsure which pathway applies to your circumstances, you are welcome to Contact Us for a Free Assessment.

How Do CSOL, ANZSCO 2022 and Skills Assessment Apply to 186 Direct Entry?

For the Direct Entry Stream, the nominated occupation is an important part of the eligibility assessment.

Home Affairs currently uses ANZSCO 2022 for the Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186, including occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List. The current Skilled Occupation List also identifies any occupation-specific caveats and the relevant assessing authority for skills assessments.

When assessing a Direct Entry application, applicants and employers should therefore confirm:

whether the nominated occupation is eligible under the current CSOL framework
whether the correct ANZSCO 2022 code has been selected
whether the actual duties of the position match the nominated occupation
whether any occupational caveat applies
which authority is responsible for the Skills Assessment
whether the applicant has a valid positive Skills Assessment
whether the applicant has the required relevant work experience

Home Affairs currently requires Direct Entry applicants to have a Skills Assessment unless an exemption applies. Relevant occupational registration or licensing must also be held where required.

For more information about assessment authorities and occupational assessment requirements, see Skills Assessment.

Applicants who also want to understand how the current CSOL and ANZSCO 2022 framework works can review 482 Occupation List and CSOL.

Benefits of Employer-Sponsored Migration in Australia

Compared with independent skilled migration such as the Skilled Independent Visa 189（189签证） and state-nominated skilled migration such as the subclass 190 visa, the subclass 186 visa offers several significant advantages within Australia’s broader Employer Sponsorship（澳洲雇主担保） system.

Employer Sponsorship with Direct Access to Australian Permanent Residency

Unlike the 189 and 190 visas, the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa does not require applicants to first hold a temporary visa before applying for permanent residency in every case. Once the visa is granted, the applicant becomes an Australian permanent resident.

After obtaining PR, eligible family members can live in Australia indefinitely, with greater flexibility in work, study and everyday life, while also gaining access to many of the benefits available to Australian permanent residents.

Permanent Residency and Benefits for Eligible Family Members

The visa allows eligible spouses and dependent children to be included as secondary applicants so that the family can obtain permanent residency together.

Eligible family members can enrol in Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare, providing access to public hospital treatment, emergency care, vaccinations and eligible medical services and significantly reducing healthcare costs.

For families with school-aged children, eligible dependent children may also attend Australian public schools without paying the international student tuition fees generally applicable to temporary international students.

Greater Travel Freedom and Career Flexibility

Subclass 186 visa holders can travel to and from Australia multiple times during the visa’s applicable travel facility, making it easier to manage business travel, family visits or other overseas commitments.

The subclass 186 visa also covers a relatively broad range of occupations. Provided that the occupation, position, employer and applicant satisfy the applicable requirements, workers from a range of industries may be able to pursue employer-sponsored permanent residency.

A More Direct Application Process

Unlike the 189 and Skilled Nominated Visa 190（190签证）, which require applicants to go through the SkillSelect points system and wait for an invitation, the subclass 186 visa does not require an EOI points score. Instead, the application is lodged through employer nomination and the visa application process, making the pathway more direct.

In general, processing times may range from approximately 6 to 19 months depending on the stream and individual circumstances, making it suitable for applicants who have already secured an employer and want to progress towards permanent residency.

Subclass 186 Visa Application Process

Preliminary assessment of the applicant’s circumstances and development of a tailored visa strategy
Sign the service agreement
Prepare the employer nomination documents
Employer Lodges the Nomination Application（雇主向移民局递交提名申请）
Lodge the Visa Application
Department of Home Affairs telephone verification, if required
Wait for the visa decision
Employer-sponsored permanent residence visa granted