Employer Sponsored — Subclass 186
186 Visa — Direct Entry to Permanent Residence
Permanent residence for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer — with a focus on the Direct Entry stream, explained by M2 Migration immigration solicitors.
Updated October 2026 · 18 min read min read
Discuss your 186 visa
Table of Contents
What Is the 186 Visa?
Subclass 186 is the Employer Nomination Scheme visa. An Australian employer nominates a skilled worker, and the visa gives that worker permanent residence. The visa has three streams. Each suits a different work history and a different kind of employer.
Direct Entry stream
For skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer for a role on the Core Skills Occupation List. The employer's business must be actively and lawfully operating.
- Visa application charge: base charge AUD 6,140 for the main applicant. Family members aged 18+ with less than Functional English may trigger a second instalment.
- Age and experience: most applicants must be under 45 when they apply and have at least three years of relevant work experience, unless exempt.
- Skills assessment and English: unless exempt, you need a positive skills assessment before you apply. Applicants need at least Competent English. Our skills assessment guide explains how the assessment step works.
- Timing: lodge within six months of the employer's nomination being approved.
- After grant: expected to work for the nominating employer for at least two years; travel in and out for five years from grant.
Temporary Residence Transition
For people already working for their sponsoring employer on a temporary skilled visa, usually a subclass 482.
Labour Agreement stream
Where the employer has a labour agreement with the Australian Government. See our labour agreements page.
The stream decides which documents you need, whether a skills assessment applies, and what the employer must show in the nomination.
What the 186 Visa Lets You Do
Here is what a subclass 186 grant gives you in practice, and the conditions that come with it.
Permanent residence
The 186 is a permanent visa, so a grant means you can settle in Australia without a fixed end date on your stay.
Work for your nominating employer
You are expected to work for the employer who nominated you for at least two years after the visa is granted.
A clear start window
You need to begin that employment within six months of entering Australia or of the grant, depending on where the visa was granted.
Travel in and out of Australia
The visa lets you leave and return for up to five years from the grant date. After that, a Resident Return visa is needed.
Apply from onshore or offshore
Applying in Australia means holding a substantive visa or Bridging visa A, B or C.
Include your family
Partner and dependent children can be included. Adult dependants may need Functional English to avoid a second instalment.
The visa rests on a genuine employer nomination — see the sponsorship process.
186 Direct Entry Eligibility Requirements
Nomination and occupation
- An approved employer nomination. The sponsoring business must be actively and lawfully operating in Australia and provide the nomination TRN.
- Occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List.
- Lodge within 6 months of nomination approval.
- Work for the sponsor for at least 2 years after grant, starting within 6 months of arrival or grant.
Age, experience, skills and English
- Under 45 at application unless exempt.
- At least 3 years relevant work experience unless exempt.
- Positive skills assessment within 3 years unless exempt — see our skills assessment guide.
- Competent English; test results within 3 years. Adult family members need Functional English or a second instalment of AUD 4,890 may apply.
- Health, character, Australian Values Statement, and no unpaid government debts.
- Use our age calculator to check the age cut-off before the employer lodges.
Not sure which items apply? Try our eligibility checker.
Age, Skills Assessment and Work Experience Exemptions
Standard requirements
- Age: under 45 when you apply unless exempt.
- Skills assessment: positive assessment issued within 3 years. See our skills assessment page.
- Work experience: at least 3 years unless exempt.
- Timing: lodge within 6 months of nomination approval.
When an exemption may apply
- Academic nominees — age and skills assessment exemptions subject to conditions.
- Scientists, researchers and technical specialists — subject to conditions.
- Subclass 444 or 461 holders — may be exempt from age, skills assessment and work experience if they worked for the nominating employer in the nominated position for at least 2 years in the previous 3.
Employer Nomination: What Each Party Must Meet
The sponsoring business must be actively and lawfully operating in Australia.
The employer lodges the nomination first and receives a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) for the applicant's visa application. The nomination must be approved before the visa can be decided.
Employer sponsorship process →Don't let the nomination window close
Once your employer's nomination is approved, you have six months to lodge your 186 visa application. Note the approval date as soon as your employer confirms it. Have your skills assessment, English test results and police certificates ready well before the deadline.
English Language Requirements
Check these figures against the Department of Home Affairs page before publishing.
Applicant English level
| Item | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum for main applicant | Competent English | Separate from employer nomination requirements. |
| Age of test results | Issued within 3 years of application | Book early enough for lodgement. |
Accepted tests — Competent vs Functional (indicative)
| Test | Competent (main applicant) | Functional (adult dependants) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or GT | 6 in each component | 4.5 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 50 in each component | |
| OET | B in each component |
Compare results with our English score converter.
186 Visa Costs
Main applicant charge
| Item | Amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base visa application charge | 6,140 | Concessions apply only in limited circumstances. |
| Reduced charge (Pacific Island / Timor-Leste) | Check lodgement date and passport country. |
Second instalment — adult family members
| Accompanying member aged 18+ with less than Functional English | 4,890 per person |
Employer-side costs (separate from visa charge)
| Cost item | Paid by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nomination application charge | Employer | |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy | Employer | |
| Professional fees | Applicant / employer |
See the government fees tool and employer sponsorship process.
Estimate Your 186 Visa Cost
Use our tools for an indicative total — government charges, second instalments for adult dependants without Functional English, and third-party costs such as skills assessments and health checks. Treat any figure as a planning estimate, not a quote.
Example: main applicant AUD 6,140 plus one adult dependant without Functional English (AUD 4,890 second instalment) = AUD 11,030 in government charges before other costs.
186 Visa Processing Times
The Department publishes a processing-time guide for the subclass 186 Direct Entry stream. Figures are indicative only — confirm against the live guide before you rely on them.
- Window to lodge after nomination approval: up to 6 months.
- Skills assessment and English validity at lodgement: issued within 3 years.
- Missing documents often lead to requests for more information.
How to Apply for the 186 Direct Entry Visa
Your employer's nomination and your visa application are linked — follow the usual order below.
Check core requirements
Confirm occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, age, work experience, English, health and character, and any licensing requirements.
Skills assessment and English
Arrange a positive skills assessment (if required) and Competent English results, each issued within three years of lodgement. See our skills assessment guide for occupation-specific steps.
Employer lodges nomination
Your employer lodges the nomination and provides the nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN) for your visa application.
Prepare supporting documents
Gather identity, employment, qualification, character and family evidence. Translate non-English documents.
Lodge visa and pay charges
Apply through ImmiAccount within six months of nomination approval. Main applicant charge AUD 6,140.
Respond while processing
Monitor ImmiAccount, respond promptly to requests, and maintain lawful status if you applied onshore.
Decision and after grant
Work for your nominating employer for at least two years, starting within six months of entry or grant. Plan travel within the five-year re-entry facility.
Documents You Will Need
Gather evidence before you lodge. Non-English documents need certified translations.
Identity and occupation
- Passport identity pages and name-change evidence.
- CV, qualifications, employment references (3+ years unless exempt).
- Licence or registration if required for the occupation.
- Nomination TRN — apply within 6 months of approval.
- Form 956 if a legal practitioner acts for you.
Skills, English, character and family
- Skills assessment within 3 years unless exempt.
- Competent English results within 3 years.
- Police certificates, Values Statement, debt arrangements.
- Partner and child identity, relationship and consent documents as applicable.
See our document preparation guide and document checklists.
Including Family Members in Your Application
Partner
Spouse or de facto partner — marriage certificate or 12+ months de facto evidence. See our partner visa overview.
Dependent children
Children under 18 need identity and relationship evidence. A child under 5 can be included without a passport. Form 1229 or statutory declaration if consent is required.
Dependants aged 18+
Identity, relationship and character documents. Form 47A and financial dependence evidence where applicable. Less than Functional English may trigger AUD 4,890 second instalment.
Visa Conditions, Travel and Permanent Residency
Work commitment
- Expected to work for nominating employer for 2+ years after grant.
- Begin within 6 months of entry or grant.
Travel and re-entry
- Travel facility up to 5 years from grant.
- Resident Return visa needed after five years.
- Permanent status continues — only re-entry rules change.
Path to citizenship
The 186 gives permanent residence — the starting point for citizenship by conferral. Residence requirements depend on lawful residence in Australia. See our citizenship by conferral page.
186 Visa FAQs
The subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa is a permanent visa. The Direct Entry stream is for skilled workers whom an Australian employer nominates directly. Once it is granted, you can live and work in Australia indefinitely. You are expected to work for your nominating employer for at least 2 years after the grant, and you must start that employment within 6 months of arriving or being granted the visa, depending on where you were when it was granted.
Your employer must be actively and lawfully operating a business in Australia. The job they nominate you for must be on the Core Skills Occupation List. The employer lodges the nomination, and you then need the nomination's Transaction Reference Number to lodge your own visa application.
The Department of Home Affairs lists the main applicant's visa application charge at AUD 6,140, with concessions only in limited circumstances. Some applicants also pay a second instalment of AUD 4,890 for each accompanying family member aged 18 or over who does not have Functional English. Eligible citizens of certain Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste may qualify for a reduced charge.
The Department publishes a processing-time guide based on recently decided applications. It is indicative only and does not predict your own timeline. Complete applications with strong evidence tend to move more smoothly than those that need follow-up requests.
Generally you must be under 45 when you apply. Some people are exempt, including certain academic nominees and certain scientists, researchers or technical specialists, and some holders of a subclass 444 or 461 visa who meet the work requirements.
Most applicants need at least 3 years of relevant work experience and a positive skills assessment issued no more than 3 years before the visa application, unless an exemption applies. Most subclass 444 or 461 holders relying on the exemption must have worked for the nominating employer in the nominated role for at least 2 of the 3 years before applying.
You need at least Competent English. Test results must be no more than 3 years old at the time of application. Accompanying adult family members generally need Functional English, or the second instalment charge applies.
You can apply from either. If you apply onshore, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C, and you must not be in immigration clearance. Many applicants are already in Australia on a temporary sponsored visa and move to the 186 as their route to permanent residence.
You must lodge within 6 months of the nomination approval. Gather your skills assessment, English results, police certificates and employment evidence early.
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can be part of the application, and certain dependants aged 18 or over may also qualify. Each person needs identity and character documents, plus relationship evidence. Adult dependants without Functional English may trigger a second instalment of AUD 4,890.
The core set includes passport identity pages, your CV, qualifications and employment references, a valid skills assessment or exemption evidence, English test results, police certificates, and any licence or registration evidence for your occupation. Form 956 applies if a lawyer or other representative is acting for you. Translate any non-English documents into English.
You can travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years from the grant date. After that, you need a Resident Return visa to re-enter as a permanent resident. New Zealand passport holders should tell the immigration officer on arrival that they hold a permanent Australian visa and do not want a subclass 444 visa.
The 186 involves two linked matters, the employer's nomination and your visa application, and a mistake in either can affect both. As migration lawyers, we advise on eligibility, exemptions, timing and document strategy, and we can act for both employer and applicant.
Speak With an M2 Migration Solicitor About Your 186 Visa
Our migration solicitors can check your employer nomination, skills assessment and eligibility before you lodge.
Or email us at info@m2migration.com.au