🇦🇺 Australia · Permanent Residency
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
Permanent residence visa for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer. Three streams: Direct Entry (skills assessment + experience), Temporary Residence Transition (3 years on 482 with same employer), and Agreement stream (Labour Agreement). Leads directly to permanent residence.
- Scoring
- Employer-sponsored
- Timeline
- 9mo–1yr
- Est. cost
- $7K
- Category
- Permanent Residency
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Subclass 186, Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), is Australia's main employer-sponsored permanent residence visa. An approved Australian employer nominates you for a permanent role, you apply for the visa, and on grant you and your family receive PR. The most common employer route to Australian permanent residence.
Three streams. Direct Entry (DE): you're nominated directly for PR, requires a positive skills assessment, 3+ years experience, MLTSSL occupation, and age under 45. Temporary Residence Transition (TRT): you've worked 3 years for the same sponsor on a Medium-term 482, no skills assessment, no age limit. Labour Agreement: covers occupations under negotiated agreements with the Department.
TRT is the workhorse path. The standard pipeline is offer → 482 Medium-term (MLTSSL) → 3 years with the same sponsor → 186 TRT. Direct Entry is faster but has tighter eligibility. Both lead to identical permanent residence outcomes. 2024 reforms reduced the TRT requirement to 2 years (down from 3) for many occupations, accelerating the pathway.
Is this visa for you?
A strong fit if you…
- You've been working for the same Australian employer on a Medium-term 482 visa for 2-3 years and your sponsor is willing to nominate you for PR via TRT.
- You have 3+ years of relevant experience, a positive skills assessment, an MLTSSL occupation, and an Australian employer offering Direct Entry PR.
- You're under 45 and on track to clear the Direct Entry requirements without going through the 482 step.
- Your employer is committed to long-term sponsorship and is willing to absorb the nomination and visa application costs.
Look elsewhere if you…
- Your occupation isn't on the MLTSSL or relevant skills list. STSOL occupations may qualify under TRT but pathway is narrower; some don't qualify at all for 186 Direct Entry.
- You're 45 or older and pursuing Direct Entry. The age cap is firm for DE; TRT has no age limit but requires the 2-3 year 482 history first.
- You don't have a permanent role offer. 186 requires the employer to offer a permanent (ongoing) full-time role, short-term or fixed-term contracts generally don't qualify.
Key requirements
- Nomination by an approved Australian employer sponsor
- At least 3 years of relevant work experience (Direct Entry stream) or 3 years on 482 with the nominating employer (TRT stream)
- Occupation on MLTSSL (Direct Entry); TRT requires MLTSSL for most roles
- Skills assessment (Direct Entry); age under 45 (Direct Entry)
Eligibility, in plain English
Sponsor with valid sponsor licence
The Australian employer must hold an approved Standard Business Sponsor licence and demonstrate they're actively trading. Many large Australian employers already sponsor, verify the licence is current before counting on the route.
Direct Entry stream: skills assessment + experience + age
Direct Entry requires: positive skills assessment from the relevant authority, 3+ years of full-time relevant experience, age under 45 at time of application, occupation on MLTSSL or relevant list, English at Competent or higher (IELTS 6.0 each band or equivalent).
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
TRT requires: 2-3 years of working full-time for the nominating sponsor on Subclass 482 (Medium-term stream) or 457 (legacy), nominated in the same occupation, English at Competent or higher. No skills assessment required, no age limit. The 2024 reforms reduced the qualifying period to 2 years for many occupations.
Permanent ongoing role
The nominated position must be a permanent ongoing full-time role with the sponsor. Fixed-term contracts and casual roles generally don't qualify. The role must continue to be available at the time of visa decision.
Salary at TSMIT or above
Same TSMIT requirement as 482, currently AUD 73,150 from 1 July 2024. Salary must also meet the annual market salary rate for the role. Both tests apply.
Health and character
All applicants must meet health and character requirements, medical examinations, police checks from all countries of residence in the past 10 years, and Australian Federal Police clearance.
Permanent residence with full work and family rights
On grant, primary applicant and dependants receive PR, work for any employer (not just the sponsor), live anywhere in Australia, access Medicare, sponsor family members. After 4 years on PR (with 1 year as citizenship-eligible resident) apply for Australian citizenship.
How the application actually goes
- 01
Sponsor lodges nomination
Sponsor lodges a nomination application for the specific role with Home Affairs, with evidence of market salary rate, role description, business activity, and (for some cases) labour market testing. Nomination fee is AUD 540; SAF levy applies.
2-4 weeks
- 02
Skills assessment (Direct Entry only)
Direct Entry requires a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority. Process and fees vary by occupation, typically 4-12 weeks and AUD 500-1,500. Not required for TRT.
4-12 weeks if DE
- 03
Visa application
Lodge the 186 visa application with supporting documents, including skills assessment (DE), 482 work history evidence (TRT), salary evidence, role description, identity documents, health, character.
1-2 weeks prep
- 04
Home Affairs processing
Processing typically 9-18 months for Direct Entry; TRT often slightly faster. Both streams have seen processing time variation in 2024-2026 reforms, check current quoted times before lodging.
9-18 months
- 05
Receive PR
On grant, you and your family become permanent residents of Australia. Sponsor obligation to employ for 2 years post-grant applies (one of the conditions of nomination).
- 06
Citizenship after 4 years
After 4 years of residence in Australia (with at least 1 year as PR), apply for Australian citizenship.
What it costs
Nomination application fee
Employer pays
AUD 540
Skilling Australians Fund levy
Employer pays, one-off for permanent
AUD 3,000-5,000
Visa application fee (primary)
AUD 4,770
Visa application fee (dependant 18+)
AUD 2,385
Visa application fee (dependant under 18)
AUD 1,195
Skills assessment (Direct Entry)
AUD 500-1,500
Health examinations
AUD 350-500 per person
Legal/migration agent
Often employer-paid
AUD 4,000-10,000
Total typical cost (single, Direct Entry)
Employer + employee combined
AUD 12,000-22,000
Common pitfalls
- Filing Direct Entry without a positive skills assessment. The assessment is the gate, file it well before the nomination.
- Direct Entry candidates over 45. The age cap is firm, no waivers for skill or experience. TRT (after 3 years on 482) has no age limit, so workaround is to enter on 482 first.
- Switching jobs during the 482 → 186 pipeline. TRT requires 3 years with the same sponsor in the same nominated occupation. Job changes reset the clock; promotions to a different occupation can also reset.
- Permanent role test fails. The nominated position must be a permanent ongoing full-time role. Fixed-term contracts, project roles, and casual arrangements get refused at nomination.
- Salary below TSMIT or below market rate. Same issue as 482, both tests apply, both have to be cleared.
- Forgetting employer's 2-year post-grant employment obligation. Sponsors are committed to employing the nominated person for at least 2 years after PR grant. Sponsor non-compliance can affect future nominations.
Consider these instead
AU
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent
If you can score 80+ points and your MLTSSL occupation has a strong invitation history, 189 PR is independent of employer ties.
Read more →
AU
Subclass 482 — Temporary Skill Shortage
If you're not ready for Direct Entry but want to start working in Australia, 482 Medium-term is the standard 3-year bridge to 186 TRT.
Read more →
AU
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated
If you can secure state nomination and your points are mid-range (75-85), 190 PR is achievable without employer dependence.
Read more →
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Direct Entry and TRT?
Direct Entry: applies directly for PR with skills assessment, 3+ years experience, age under 45. TRT (Temporary Residence Transition): applies after 2-3 years on Subclass 482 Medium-term with the same sponsor, no skills assessment, no age limit. TRT is the more common pathway because it works for candidates who don't meet DE eligibility.
How long does 186 take?
9-18 months typical for Direct Entry; TRT often slightly faster. 2024 reforms have changed processing approaches, check current quoted times before lodging.
Can I include my family in 186?
Yes. Spouse/partner and dependent children apply as dependants and receive PR at grant with full work and study rights. Each dependant has separate fees.
Does the sponsor have ongoing obligations after I get PR?
Yes. The sponsor commits to employing the nominee in the nominated role for at least 2 years after PR grant. Sponsor non-compliance can affect future nominations the sponsor wants to make.
What if I want to change jobs after getting 186?
On PR you can work for any employer. The sponsor's 2-year employment commitment is on them, not you, there's no obligation on the visa holder to remain with the sponsor. In practice, most candidates do stay for the period out of relationship/loyalty.
Can I switch from another visa to 186?
Yes. The most common pathway is 482 Medium-term → 186 TRT after 3 years. 485 graduates often move to 482 then 186. 189/190 candidates with strong points don't typically need 186 (since they get PR directly), but the route is available.
Is 186 better than 189?
Depends on your situation. 189 is independent (no employer tie) and arguably has higher prestige. 186 ties you to an employer for 2 years post-grant. If you have a sponsor and points won't reach 189 round cutoffs, 186 is the practical path. If your points are 85+ and you want independence, 189 is the cleaner outcome.
Other Australia visas
Permanent Residency
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent
Points-tested permanent residence visa for skilled workers. No employer sponsor or state nomination required — candidates lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and receive an Invitation to Apply based on their points score. Nomination-free, globally competitive.
Permanent Residency
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated
Points-tested permanent residence visa requiring a nomination from an Australian state or territory government. State nomination adds 5 points to your score; each state publishes its own occupation lists and requirements for nomination.
Permanent Residency
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)
Five-year provisional visa for skilled workers nominated by a state/territory to live and work in a regional area of Australia. Regional nomination adds 15 points — significantly boosting scores. After 3 years of regional residence and work, eligible to apply for permanent residence via Subclass 191.
Work Visa
Subclass 482 — Temporary Skill Shortage
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa allowing Australian businesses to fill skills gaps with overseas workers. Streams: Short-term (2 years, limited renewal), Medium-term (4 years, pathway to PR), and Labour Agreement (negotiated with Home Affairs). Most professional roles fall under the Medium-term stream.
Permanent Residency
Subclass 124 — Distinguished Talent
Permanent residence visa for individuals with an internationally recognised and distinguished record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in their field. No employer sponsor or state nomination required. Covers arts, sport, academia, and the professions. A recommending organisation provides the mandatory recommendation.
Business / Investor
Subclass 188 — Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional)
Provisional visa for business owners and investors with significant capital, nominated by a state or territory. Streams include Business Innovation (own/manage a business), Investor (AUD 1.5M+), Significant Investor (AUD 5M+), and Entrepreneur. Leads to permanent residence via Subclass 888.
Ready when you are
Find your immigration path.
Pick where you're headed. We score you against every visa we cover in that country.
1 of 4 selected.
Show me my matches, free→