Australia's primary employer-sponsored permanent residency visa, available through three streams: Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, and Labour Agreement.
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa is a permanent residency visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia indefinitely. It is one of the most sought-after Australian visas because it grants the holder full permanent residency status, including the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia, access Medicare, and eventually apply for Australian citizenship.
The 186 visa is an employer-sponsored visa, meaning an Australian employer must nominate the worker for a specific position. There are three streams under this visa, each catering to different circumstances and pathways.
Unlike the temporary 482 visa, the 186 visa grants permanent residency from the date of grant. The visa holder is not tied to the sponsoring employer after the visa is granted and can change jobs freely.
The 186 visa grants permanent residency from day one. Once granted, you can live, work, and study anywhere in Australia without restriction. You can also sponsor eligible family members for permanent residency and travel freely in and out of Australia for five years.
The TRT stream is for workers who have held a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand — or the earlier TSS / 457) visa with a sponsoring employer and are being nominated by that employer for permanent residence. It is the natural progression from temporary employer-sponsored work to permanent residence.
For eligible 482 visa holders, TRT is generally the most straightforward path to permanent residency. A formal skills assessment is generally not required (one was provided for the 482), and the employer's track record of employing the worker is itself evidence the position is genuine.
The TRT visa-holding period was previously 3 years and has been changed under the Skills in Demand framework. Confirm the current period and any transitional rules on the DHA 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream page before relying on it.
The Direct Entry stream is for workers who do not meet the TRT pathway — for example, those who have not held an eligible Subclass 482 / earlier 457 for the required period. It allows employers to nominate overseas workers directly for permanent residency.
Unlike the TRT stream, Direct Entry generally requires a positive skills assessment obtained before lodging the visa application and current at the time of application.
Direct Entry is appropriate when an employer wants to nominate a highly skilled worker from overseas without first using the temporary Subclass 482, or when the worker is in Australia on a different visa (such as student or working holiday) and the employer wishes to sponsor them directly for permanent residency.
The Labour Agreement stream is available to workers whose employer has a labour agreement with the Australian Government that provides for permanent residency. Not all labour agreements include a PR pathway, so it is essential to check the specific terms of the agreement.
Requirements under this stream are governed by the terms of the individual labour agreement and may include concessions to the standard eligibility criteria, such as lower English language requirements or a broader range of eligible occupations.
| Feature | TRT Stream | Direct Entry | Labour Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prior 482 / 457 visa | Required — {{VERIFY: current holding period}} | Not required | Per agreement |
| Skills Assessment | Generally not required | Required | Per agreement |
| Occupation list | Same as 482 nomination | {{VERIFY: current 186 DE occupation list}} | Per agreement |
| Age limit | {{VERIFY}} (exemptions apply) | {{VERIFY}} (exemptions apply) | Per agreement |
| English requirement | {{VERIFY}} | {{VERIFY}} | Per agreement |
| Income threshold | Aligns with CSIT — {{VERIFY: $ current and 1 July 2026 indexed figure}} | Aligns with CSIT — {{VERIFY}} | Per agreement |
Regardless of the stream, all 186 visa applicants must meet these general requirements:
Applicants must generally be under the maximum age (currently 45) at the time of application. Exemptions exist for certain situations, including high-income earners above the Fair Work high income threshold ({{VERIFY: current Fair Work high income threshold $}}), academics, scientists, and researchers nominated by an Australian university or research institution, and certain TRT applicants. Confirm current exemptions on the DHA 186 page before relying on them.
Applicants must demonstrate the required English standard for 186: {{VERIFY: current English standard — minimum scores per accepted test (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, OET) and current passport-based exemptions}}.
All applicants and family members included in the application must undergo health examinations and provide police clearances. Health examinations must be completed by a panel physician approved by the Department of Home Affairs. Current police clearance country/period rule: {{VERIFY: countries-lived-in period rule}}.
The employer must meet several requirements when nominating a worker for the 186 visa:
Being granted a 186 visa and permanent residency in Australia comes with significant benefits:
After holding permanent residency for at least one year (and meeting overall residence requirements), you can apply for Australian citizenship. As a citizen, you gain the right to vote, hold an Australian passport, and access full government benefits.
Current 186 fees: {{VERIFY: all current DHA 186 fees — nomination, SAF levy (small / large business per year of nomination), visa application charge (primary / partner / child / dependent), and the second instalment VAC where it applies}}. Fees and the SAF levy are subject to change — confirm on the DHA 186 page before relying on any figure.
Processing times vary by stream and application completeness. Current published targets: {{VERIFY: current processing-time ranges per stream on DHA Visa processing times page}}.
Yes. Once the 186 visa is granted, you become a permanent resident with full work rights. You are not tied to your sponsoring employer and can work for any employer in any occupation anywhere in Australia.
The age limit applies at the time of application. If you are over 45, you may still be eligible if you meet one of the exemption criteria, such as earning above the Fair Work high income threshold, or if you are nominated under specific circumstances. Consult a migration agent for advice on your specific situation.
Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants. They will also receive permanent residency.
For the TRT stream, you must be in Australia at the time of application and at the time of visa grant. For the Direct Entry stream, you can be in or outside Australia when you apply, but you must be in Australia at the time of visa grant (unless you applied outside Australia).
No. The 186 visa is not a points-tested visa. Eligibility is based on the employer's nomination, the worker's skills and qualifications, and meeting the specific stream requirements.
The 186 visa is your pathway to a permanent life in Australia. Book a consultation with our registered migration agent to discuss your eligibility and plan your application.
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