The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is a permanent, employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers nominated by an eligible Australian employer. For eligible applicants, it offers a genuine pathway to permanent residence, but only once the requirements of the relevant nomination stream have actually been met.
A job offer or employer nomination on its own is not enough. Your occupation, skills, work experience, English ability, age, visa history, health and character can all shape whether your application succeeds, so it pays to understand where you stand before you commit to the process.
Before applying, take the time to work out which Subclass 186 stream applies to you and what evidence you’ll need to back it up.
What Is the Subclass 186 Visa?
The Subclass 186 visa is a permanent visa offered through three main streams:
- Direct Entry stream
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
- Labour Agreement stream
Each comes with its own eligibility rules. The TRT stream suits certain temporary skilled visa holders who have already completed the required period of sponsored employment, while Direct Entry sets different expectations around occupation, skills and experience.
Getting the stream right from the outset makes everything that follows far more straightforward.
1. You Need an Eligible Employer Nomination
Your employer has to be eligible to nominate you, and the position on offer needs to meet the applicable nomination rules – including those relating to the role itself and the salary attached to it.
For the TRT stream, the nomination generally has to come from the same employer who sponsored your qualifying temporary skilled visa, and it needs to meet the relevant timing requirements as well.
In other words, your employer’s eligibility carries just as much weight in a Subclass 186 application as your own qualifications do.
2. Check Your Occupation and Skills
What counts as an eligible occupation depends entirely on the stream you’re applying through.
Under the Direct Entry stream, your nominated occupation needs to satisfy the relevant skilled occupation requirements, including any caveats that apply to it, and you’ll need to hold the skills and qualifications the occupation calls for. A skills assessment may also be required, depending on your occupation and personal circumstances.
Under the TRT stream, occupation eligibility works a little differently – it’s tied to the occupation associated with your qualifying temporary skilled visa rather than assessed fresh.
If your occupation requires registration, licensing or professional membership, you’ll need to show that you meet those requirements too.
3. Understand the Work Experience Requirement
Work experience requirements aren’t the same across streams.
Under the TRT stream, you’ll generally need two years of eligible, sponsored full-time employment in Australia within the three years before you apply. That employment has to meet the Department of Home Affairs’ specific requirements, including those tied to your temporary skilled visa and nominated occupation.
Direct Entry applicants work under different rules entirely, so it’s worth not assuming the TRT two-year benchmark applies to you if you’re going down that path instead.
Hold on to employment contracts, payslips and other employment records as you go – they’re often what makes or breaks your ability to demonstrate this requirement later.
4. Meet the English Language Requirement
English ability is another key piece of the puzzle.
Both Direct Entry and TRT applicants generally need to demonstrate Competent English, unless a specific exemption applies to your situation. It’s worth double-checking that your test result, or other accepted evidence is still valid at the time you apply.
Don’t assume an English test you used for an earlier visa will automatically carry over and satisfy your Subclass 186 application.
5. Check the Age Requirement
Applicants generally need to be under 45 when they apply for the Subclass 186 visa.
That said, exemptions and concessions do exist for certain applicants, including some academics, researchers, scientists, medical practitioners and long-term sponsored workers.
Because your age directly affects which pathways remain open to you, it’s worth assessing your eligibility well before you approach the cut-off.
6. Check the Salary Requirements
Salary plays a central role in the employer nomination process.
For relevant ENS nominations, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) applies. For nomination applications lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the CSIT sits at AUD $79,423.
But the income threshold isn’t the only box to tick where applicable, your employer also needs to factor in the Annual Market Salary Rate and any other relevant nomination requirements. It’s worth having your employer confirm the position and salary meet current nomination rules before you go any further.
7. Meet Health and Character Requirements
You, along with any eligible family members included in the application, will need to meet Australia’s health and character requirements. Depending on your circumstances, this can mean health examinations and police certificates.
If you’ve lived in more than one country, it’s worth sorting these documents out. Early police certificates from multiple jurisdictions can take time to arrive, and leaving them until the last minute is a common source of delay.
8. Prepare Your Supporting Documents
Every claim in your application needs evidence behind it. Depending on your circumstances, that might include:
- Passport and identity documents
- Employment contracts and payslips
- Employment records
- Qualification certificates
- Skills assessment documents, where required
- English language evidence
- Registration or licensing documents
- Police certificates
- Health examination information
- Previous visa documents
- Family member documents
- Evidence supporting any exemptions you’re relying on
Anything not already in English will typically need to be translated in line with Department requirements.
9. Consider Your Visa History
Your current and past Australian visas can influence your Subclass 186 pathway, and this matters most for TRT applicants, given how closely that stream is tied to qualifying temporary skilled visas and sponsored employment.
If you’ve changed employers or occupations, held several temporary skilled visas, faced a visa refusal or cancellation, or your visa history is otherwise complicated, it’s worth working through your circumstances carefully before you apply.
Understanding the Subclass 186 Application Process
Once you’ve confirmed your pathway and eligibility, the visa application is generally lodged online through ImmiAccount, along with the required documents and visa application charge.
For the TRT stream, your employer submits the nomination first and receives a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). You can generally use that TRN to lodge your visa application without waiting for the nomination itself to be approved.
After you’ve lodged, the Department may come back asking for additional documents, health examinations, biometrics or other information – so it’s worth staying reachable and organised in the weeks that follow.
Get Professional Help With Your Subclass 186 Visa
The Subclass 186 visa can be a genuine pathway to permanent residence, but whether it works for you depends on your individual circumstances and the stream you’re applying through.
Before you lodge anything, make sure you have a clear handle on your employer nomination, occupation, skills, work experience, English ability, age, salary, visa history and documentation requirements.
If you’re not sure which Subclass 186 pathway fits your situation, Pathway Visa Services can help you understand your options and get your application ready.
FAQs
1. What are the main Subclass 186 visa requirements?
Ans: It depends on your stream, but requirements can include an eligible employer nomination, a suitable occupation and skill set, sufficient work experience, English ability, meeting the age requirement, and satisfying health, character and documentation standards.
2. How much work experience is required for Subclass 186?
Ans: Under the TRT stream, you’ll generally need two years of eligible sponsored full-time employment in Australia within the three years before applying. Other streams follow different rules.
3. What English level is required for Subclass 186?
Ans: Direct Entry and TRT applicants generally need to demonstrate Competent English, subject to the applicable rules and any exemptions that might apply.
4. Is there an age limit for Subclass 186?
Ans: Applicants are generally expected to be under 45 when they apply, though certain exemptions and concessions can apply.
5. Do I need a skills assessment for Subclass 186?
Ans: Possibly – it depends on your occupation, stream and individual circumstances, so it’s worth checking what applies to your specific case.
6. Can I include my family in my Subclass 186 application?
Ans: Yes, eligible family members can generally be included, provided they also meet the relevant health and character requirements.
Also Read: Ministerial Direction 119: New Skilled Visa Processing Priorities
