Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is an Australian visa for skilled workers who want to work and live in Australia permanently. Employers can nominate workers for this visa if they can’t find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to do the skilled work. There are three streams under this scheme:

1. Direct Entry (DE) Stream

This stream is suitable for skilled workers who are outside Australia or have worked in Australia only briefly. Applicants under this stream generally need a positive skills assessment for their nominated occupation, relevant qualifications and work experience, and must meet age, English, health, and character requirements.

2. Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

This stream is for skilled workers who are already working in Australia on an eligible temporary visa. Typically, applicants must hold a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand / former TSS) visa, have worked full-time for their sponsoring employer for at least 2 years, and continue working in the same occupation with the same employer. This pathway is commonly used by temporary visa holders transitioning to permanent residence.

3. Labour Agreement Stream

This stream applies to skilled workers sponsored under a formal labour agreement between an employer and the Australian Government. It is generally used where occupations fall outside standard skilled lists, or where concessions apply to age, English, or salary requirements.

Direct Entry Stream

About the Stream

The Direct Entry (DE) stream under the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is designed for skilled professionals who are outside Australia or who have
limited work experience in Australia and do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.

This pathway allows eligible applicants to obtain Australian permanent residence directly, provided they are nominated by an approved Australian employer for a genuine, ongoing position.

Stay Options

Permanent residency in Australia from the date the visa is granted.

Visa Application Fees

The base visa application charge for the main applicant starts from AUD 4,770. Additional fees apply for secondary applicants (partners and dependants).

Processing Time

Processing times vary based on occupation, employer profile, and application complexity. Most Direct Entry applications are processed within approximately 6 to 9 months, subject to case load and completeness of documents.

Eligibility & Key Requirements

To qualify under the Direct Entry stream, applicants must be nominated by an approved Australian employer, have an occupation that is eligible under the Employer Nomination Scheme, hold a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation, have at least 3 years of relevant skilled work experience, meet age requirements (generally under 45 at the time of application, with limited exemptions), and meet English language, health, and character requirements.

Important Notes on Skills & English Requirements

Skills assessment is mandatory under the Direct Entry stream. Applicants must demonstrate Competent English, typically equivalent to IELTS overall 6.0 with at least 6.0 in each band, or an accepted equivalent test, secondary applicants aged 18 years or older must demonstrate Functional English or pay the applicable second visa application charge.

Labour Agreement Stream

About the Stream

The Labour Agreement stream under the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is designed for skilled workers sponsored by an Australian employer who operates under an
approved labour agreement with the Australian Government.

Labour agreements are used where standard skilled migration programs cannot meet specific workforce needs, allowing employers to sponsor overseas workers under tailored conditions based on industry, region, or occupation shortages.

Stay Options

Permanent residency in Australia upon visa grant.

Visa Application Fees

The base visa application charge for the main applicant starts from AUD 4,770. Additional fees apply for secondary applicants.

Processing Time

Processing times vary depending on the type of labour agreement, occupation, concessions applied, and the completeness of nomination and visa documentation.

Timelines may be longer than standard Subclass 186 streams due to additional assessment requirements.

Eligibility & Key Requirements

To qualify under the Labour Agreement stream, applicants must:

• Be nominated by an employer who holds an active, approved labour agreement
• Meet the age, skills, experience, and English language requirements specified in the labour agreement
• Meet health and character requirements
• Comply with all visa conditions and Australian workplace laws

Important:

Eligibility criteria under this stream may include concessions (such as reduced English or age thresholds). These concessions are not automatic and must be explicitly stated in the employer’s
approved labour agreement.

Important Clarification on Occupation Lists

STSOL, MLTSSL, CSOL, and SOL references are outdated and no longer applicable.

Occupation eligibility under the Labour Agreement stream is not determined by standard occupation lists.

Instead, eligible occupations are specifically defined in the approved labour agreement.
Employers may sponsor occupations outside the standard skilled occupation framework,
subject to Australian Government approval.

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

About the Stream

The Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream allows skilled workers who are already working in Australia on an eligible temporary work visa to transition to permanent residency when sponsored by their current employer.

This pathway primarily applies to holders of the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand / former TSS) visa who are offered a genuine, ongoing position by their nominating employer.

Stay Options

Permanent residency in Australia upon visa grant.

Visa Application Fees

The base visa application charge for the main applicant starts from AUD 4,770. Additional charges apply for partners and dependent family members.

Processing Time

Processing times depend on the occupation, employer compliance history, and application quality. Most TRT applications are processed within approximately 6 to 9 months, subject to departmental workload.

Eligibility & Key Requirements

To qualify under the TRT stream, applicants must:

• Hold an eligible Subclass 482 visa
• Have worked full-time for the nominating employer for at least 2 years
  immediately before application
• Continue employment in the same occupation with the same employer
• Be nominated for a genuine, ongoing position
• Meet health and character requirements
• Have an employer who has complied with Australian immigration and workplace laws

Skills & English Language Requirements

A skills assessment is generally not required under the TRT stream. Applicants must demonstrate Competent English, typically equivalent to IELTS overall 6.0 with at least 6.0 in each band, unless exempt.

Secondary applicants aged 18 years or older must demonstrate Functional English or pay the applicable second visa application charge.

Age Requirement

Applicants must generally be under 45 years of age at the time of application. Certain exemptions and concessions may apply depending on occupation, earnings, or labour agreement conditions.

Benefits of the Subclass 186 Visa (Updated – December 2025)

With the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, you and eligible family members included in your application can:

• Live, work, and study in Australia permanently
• Access Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system
• Apply for Australian citizenship, subject to meeting residency and character requirements
• Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence (as permitted under migration law)
• Travel to and from Australia freely for 5 years from the date of visa grant
  (after this period, a Resident Return Visa may be required to maintain travel rights)

Eligibility Criteria for Subclass 186 Applicants

To be eligible for the Subclass 186 visa, applicants must meet all general requirements and the specific criteria of the stream under which they apply.

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be nominated by an approved Australian employer that is lawfully operating in Australia
• Be under 45 years of age at the time of application
  (age exemptions may apply in limited circumstances, such as high-income earners, certain occupations, or labour agreements)
• Be nominated for a genuine, ongoing position
• Meet health and character requirements
• Demonstrate required English language proficiency, unless exempt
• Meet the skills, qualifications, and work experience requirements
  relevant to the nominated occupation
• Satisfy the criteria of the applicable stream:
  • Direct Entry
  • Temporary Residence Transition
  • Labour Agreement

Stream-Specific Notes

Direct Entry Stream

• Positive skills assessment is mandatory
• Minimum 3 years of relevant skilled work experience
• Applicants may be inside or outside Australia

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

• Must hold an eligible Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa
• Must have worked full-time for the nominating employer for at least 2 years
• Skills assessment is generally not required
• Must continue in the same occupation with the same employer

Labour Agreement Stream

• Applicant must be sponsored under an approved labour agreement
• Age, English, or skills concessions may apply
  only if explicitly stated in the labour agreement
• Occupations are determined by the labour agreement,
  not standard occupation lists

English Language Requirements

• Most applicants must demonstrate Competent English, typically:
  • IELTS overall 6.0, with 6.0 in each band,
    or an equivalent test score
• Secondary applicants aged 18 years or older must demonstrate
  Functional English or pay the
  second visa application charge

Health assessments are conducted to ensure applicants do not pose a risk to public
health or create undue demand on Australia’s healthcare system.

Character Requirements

Applicants aged 16 years or older must:

• Provide police clearance certificates from
  every country lived in for 12 months or more in the last
  10 years
• Declare all criminal history, if any

Each application is assessed individually under Australia’s
character test, as defined by migration law.

Eligible Family Members

You may include the following eligible family members in your Subclass 186 visa application:

• Your partner or spouse, including:
  • Married partners
  • De facto partners (including same-sex partners)
• Dependent children, including:
  • Your biological children
  • Your partner’s children
  • Stepchildren

All family members must meet health and character requirements applicable to their age.

Applying for 186 Visa requires a great level of caution. From obtaining a positive skill assessment to identifying the correct stream and demonstrating exemption requirements for age, skills and English, there are many challenges in the process.

At Aussizz Group, our experienced and highly professional group of
migration agents
have assisted a great number of applicants successfully with Employer Nominated visas. With over 8 years of experience in the immigration industry, we are perfectly positioned to assess your eligibility, choose the right stream, and provide a favorable outcome.

Get started with us today! We are equally determined to help you achieve your goals!