Subclass 186 Visa: Work and Permanent Residency Pathway in Australia

The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa – Subclass 186 is a permanent residency visa for skilled professionals from overseas who are nominated by an Australian employer to work and settle in Australia.

This visa enables Australian businesses to sponsor skilled workers when they are unable to find an appropriately qualified Australian citizen or permanent resident for the role. The visa is available under three different streams:

• Direct Entry Stream – For skilled workers who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia.
• Labour Agreement Stream – For skilled workers sponsored under a labour agreement between their employer and the Australian Government.
• Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream – For Subclass 457 or TSS visa holders who have worked for the same employer for at least three years.

Each stream has unique eligibility rules. In most cases, this visa grants permanent residence and costs start from AUD 4,640. All applicants must meet health, character, skills, and qualification requirements, along with compliance to Australian laws.

Direct Entry Stream

• Overview: Intended for skilled professionals applying directly from outside Australia or those who have worked here only briefly and do not meet TRT stream requirements.
• Stay: Grants permanent residency.
• Fee: From AUD 4,115.
• Processing Time: Around 6–8 months for most cases.
• Key Criteria: Nomination by an eligible Australian employer, relevant occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List, at least three years of relevant experience, meeting skill assessment, qualification, and English language requirements.
• Note: Skill assessment is mandatory. English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6 in each band is required. Dependent applicants aged 18 or over must have Functional English (overall IELTS 4.5 or equivalent) within the last 12 months.

Labour Agreement Stream

• Overview: For applicants sponsored under a labour agreement between their employer and the Australian Government to address specific skill shortages.
• Stay: Permanent residency.
• Fee: From AUD 4,115.
• Processing Time: Depends on agreement complexity.
• Key Criteria: Must be nominated by an employer with a valid labour agreement, meet all skills, age, and English requirements as per the agreement, and comply with visa conditions.
• Note: From 19 April 2017, CSOL and SOL were replaced by STSOL (Short-Term Skilled Occupation List) and MLTSSL (Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List). Employers must nominate occupations listed on either list.

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

• Overview: For holders of Subclass 457 or TSS visas who have worked with their sponsoring employer for at least three years and are offered a permanent role.
• Stay: Permanent residency.
• Fee: From AUD 4,115.
• Processing Time: Typically, 6–8 months.
• Key Criteria: Full-time work for the same employer for at least three years, genuine position requirement, meeting skill and qualification requirements, and employer compliance with laws.
• Note: Skill assessment is not required. Applicants must have English language ability equal to IELTS 5 in each band (unless exempt). Secondary applicants over 18 must have Functional English (overall IELTS 4.5 or equivalent) unless exempt.

General Requirements for All Streams

• Must be under 45 years of age at the time of application (unless exemptions apply).
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Application must be submitted within six months of employer nomination.
• From March 2018, all applicants must be aged 45 or younger for all streams.

Benefits of the 186 Visa

• Live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.
• Enrol in Medicare for healthcare coverage.
• Apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).
• Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.
• Travel to and from Australia freely for five years from the grant date.

Applicant Eligibility

• Be under the age limit (45 years unless exempt).
• Be nominated by an Australian employer operating legally in Australia.
• Possess the required skills, qualifications, and English proficiency.
• Apply within six months of receiving a nomination.
• Meet all health and character requirements.
• Fulfil the criteria for the specific stream you choose.

Employer Eligibility

• Operate lawfully and actively in Australia.
• Meet training benchmark requirements (1% or 2%).
• Have a genuine need to fill a full-time skilled position for at least two years.
• Comply with workplace and immigration laws.
• Offer salary according to industry standards.
• Meet the stream-specific nomination criteria.
• Have no conflicting or misleading business information.

Health & Character Checks

• Provide recent medical examination certificates (within 12 months of application).
• Provide police clearance certificates showing no serious convictions in the past 10 years.

Eligible Family Members

You can include:

• Your spouse or de facto partner.
• Your children or your partner’s children (biological or stepchildren).