EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME
(Subclass 186 Visa)

The 186 visa grants permanent residency through employer sponsorship. It's the most direct pathway to living and working in Australia permanently when you have skills an Australian employer needs.

What Is the 186 Visa?

The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) lets skilled workers become permanent residents of Australia when nominated by an approved employer.

Key benefits:

✓ Permanent residency immediately
✓ Live and work anywhere in Australia
✓ Include family members
✓ Access Medicare and social services
✓ Pathway to Australian citizenship
✓ No visa renewal required

186 Visa Requirements

English: IELTS 6.0 each component OR PTE 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing, 54 speaking
Sponsorship: Approved Australian employer
Nomination: Valid employer nomination
Occupation: Listed on Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
Health and character: Must meet Australian standards
Age: Depends on stream (some streams have no age limit)

Three 186 Visa Streams

Direct Entry Stream

For skilled workers applying directly for permanent residency.

Requirements:

Occupation on CSOL
3 years relevant work experience (unless exempt)
Positive skills assessment (unless exempt)
Under 45 years old (exemptions apply)
English: IELTS 6.0 each component

Suitable for: Experienced professionals with strong qualifications

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

For current 482 or 457 visa holders transitioning to permanent residency.

Requirements:

Hold subclass 482, 457, or related bridging visa
Worked full-time for 2 years with approved sponsor(s)
Nomination approved within 6 months before application
No age limit
English: IELTS 6.0 each component

Suitable for: 482 visa holders ready for permanent residency

Labour Agreement Stream

For workers under specific government-employer labour agreements.

Requirements:

Position covered by approved labour agreement
Worked under agreement for specified period
Customised requirements based on agreement
Age and experience vary by agreement

Suitable for: Specialised industries with labour agreements

186 Visa Application Process

Step 1: Employer Sponsorship

Your employer must be (or become) an approved standard business sponsor.
Required:
Lawfully operating Australian business
Good compliance history
Financial capacity
Training benchmarks met
Validity: 5 years

Step 2: Employer Nomination

Employer nominates you for permanent position.

Must demonstrate:

Genuine position available
Terms and conditions meet Australian standards
Salary meets threshold ($76,515+ from July 2025)
Position is necessary for business

No Labour Market Testing required for 186 visa

Step 3: Visa Application

You submit your 186 visa application.

You must provide:

Skills assessment (if required)
Work experience evidence
English test results
Health examinations
Police certificates
Evidence of relationship to employer

Core Skills Occupation List for 186 Visa

456 occupations eligible for 186 Direct Entry and TRT streams.

Key industries:

Healthcare (doctors, nurses, allied health)
IT and technology (developers, analysts, cybersecurity)
Engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical)
Trades (electricians, plumbers, carpenters)
Business and finance (accountants, managers)
Education (teachers, university lecturers)
Sciences and research

Recent additions: Data Analyst, Child Care Worker, Retail Manager, Legal Secretary

Understanding Occupation Caveats for 186 Visa

Some occupations have specific conditions that must be met.

Chef (Caveat 3, 4):

Cannot work in mass production kitchens
Cannot work in limited-service restaurants (small cafes)
Must be in full-service restaurant or hotel

Accountant (Caveat 2, 11, 13):

Cannot be bookkeeper or accounting clerk role
Business needs $1M+ annual turnover
Company must employ 5+ people
Must perform genuine accountant duties

ICT Business Analyst (Caveat 2):

Cannot be for ICT support role
Must perform genuine analyst duties

Always verify your occupation's specific caveats before applying.

Salary Threshold for 186 Visa

Minimum salary: $76,515 annually (from July 2025)

Must be:

Equivalent to market rate for occupation
Guaranteed in writing
For full-time permanent position (at least 35 hours/week)
Paid in Australian dollars

Exemptions may apply for:

Labour Agreement stream
Certain charitable or religious organisations
Academic positions

Salary is indexed annually – check current threshold when applying.

186 Visa Processing Times

Processing times vary significantly by stream and individual circumstances.

Typical ranges:

Direct Entry: 12-24 months
TRT Stream: 8-18 months
Labour Agreement: Varies

Factors affecting processing:

Completeness of application
Skills assessment complexity
Priority processing (if eligible)
Health and character checks

186 Visa Costs

Main visa application fee: Check current fees (updated regularly)

Additional costs:

Skills assessment: $500-$1,500 (varies by authority)
English tests: $300-$400
Health examinations: $300-$500 per person
Police certificates: Varies by country
Document translations and certifications

Employer costs:

Nomination application fee
No Skilling Australians Fund levy for 186 (only for temporary visas)

Your Rights on 186 Visa

✓ Live permanently in Australia
✓ Work for any employer anywhere in Australia
✓ Study without restrictions
✓ Enrol in Medicare (public healthcare)
✓ Access social security benefits (after waiting period)
✓ Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residency
✓ Travel in and out of Australia for 5 years
✓ Apply for Australian citizenship (after meeting requirements)

482 to 186 Visa Pathway

The most common route to 186 permanent residency:

Timeline

Years 1-2: Work on 482 visa (Core or Specialist Skills stream)

Year 3: Apply for 186 TRT stream after 2 years full-time work

Result: Permanent residency

Key Advantages

No age limit via TRT stream
Time with any approved employer counts
Same occupation as 482 (or closely related)
Skills assessment may not be required
Established employment history in Australia

Requirements

2 years full-time work on 482/457 visa
Maintained visa conditions
Same or similar occupation
Employer willing to nominate for permanent position
Meet English and health/character requirements

Why Choose RACC for Your 186 Visa

RACC's registered migration agents (MARA 1572961) specialise in 186 permanent visa applications:

Assess which stream suits your circumstances
Verify occupation eligibility and caveats
Advise on skills assessment requirements
Guide employers through nomination process
Prepare comprehensive visa applications
Handle complex cases (age exemptions, experience calculations)
Monitor application progress and respond to requests

20+ years experience | 186 visa specialists | Proven success rate

Book 186 Visa Consultation

Small careless mistakes may result in visa rejection. Book a FREE consultation with Registered Migration Agents will help you get the visa without any headaches.

Why RACC?

20+ years of experience
Prepare for your application to the Immigration
Preparation of Police Check
Arrange for new Insurance
Advice on Medical Checkup
Don't let small careless mistake resulting in a Visa rejection
You can also apply from outside Australia
4.8 out of 5 customer satisfaction
Our Team speak multiple languages
English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bahasa, Sinhalese, Malay, Thai, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Hindi, Punjabi etc...
Registered Migration Agents (MARN1572962, MARN1172003, MARN2518802)